Downtown -Self Titled Debut

(CD, 2LP)

Released on Coup De Grace

CD Review by Michael Giambra / Rockstarpix.TV

Downtown is a refreshingly haunting album masterpiece that echoes the intense vibrations of Bowie, Lennon’s White Album era Beatles tunes and even some arty prog rock like Yes or early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett. The albums original twelve track commingling beckons updated sounds that reminds listeners of the guitar and rythyms sections of The The, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, Love and Rockets, The Flaming Lips. A mellow, transcendental soundtrack that takes the listener on a magical audible journey that sparkles a path of musical history and sonic audio recordings technical evolutions. Downtowns self titled debut flows with syrupy psychedelic undulations with tracks like 'Nothin' But You', 'Thunderstorm' and 'Still Drownin’. 'Colorful Little Boxes' is a trippy Pink Floyd / Syd Barrett concoction that reminds the listener of the 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' album. An inspired album filled with finely crafted of unique experimental original music that stands out as an exceptionally strong debut album.

“Twilight seems to hearken back to the miasmic majesty of late 80s/early 90s shoegazing types such as My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive.” - Nude UK review

“Rolling by like ocean waves, these tunes feature modern day electronics that combine seamlessly with classic pop melodies. Their music is a blend of a wide variety of artists...including but not limited to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and Spiritualized. Rarely has a debut album sounded so good.” - Baby Sue

“This remarkable debut from the duo Downtown is at once unabashedly blissful and utterly melancholic.” - Genre

“This contagiousness tries to push sludge through your veins like top-notch heroin (specifically "Thunderstorm"), yet it's the punches of adrenaline on a track like "Long Winter Gone" that get it into your system at a steadier rate. Downtown have tightly woven an album that pays as much respect to the "Long, Long, Long"-era Beatles (see: "Colorful Little Boxes") as it does to the 21st century work of New Order - and that there is a blend that will waken the senses.” - Slightly confusing to a Stranger

Fans of Spiritualized, Pink Floyd, Mazzy Star, Interpol, Ambulance Ltd. and Psychedelic Furs should indulge. Now, pour that glass of wine, light the candles and prepare for the storm. This is the perfect soundtrack to these cold winter nights.

‘Feels so good in the afternoon. When the summer thunderstorm darkens the room. The heat runs out of the window

Downtown hail from NYC by way of Detroit, MI. The duo of Robert Kaeding & Eric Brendo migrated East for fresh perspective & the chance to launch Downtown properly. After months and months of recording & performing in clubs throughout NYC, they were discovered by Flood & Alan Moulder, producer & engineers extraordinaire, whose credits include Smashing Pumpkins, U2, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, PJ Harvey and countless other seminal rock & electronic acts of the past 20 years. The duo were flown to the UK to record demos in conjunction with Polydor, who also recognized the unique vibe Downtown exudes. Their sound hovers somewhere between White Album-era Beatles & early Pink Floyd, all the while embracing modern-day technology. They completely wowed their mentors, churning out 5 blistering works in a matter of days. Flood even participated, playing bass on 2 tracks.

The album was produced in part by Downtown’s own Robert Kaeding along with Flood & Alan Moulder and Toni Halliday and was mixed in its entirety by Paul Logus (David Bowie, Blondie). It is a listening experience of magnificent proportions. Heart-wrenching melodies drive layers of swirling guitars, mellotrons, lush soundscapes and haunting vocals. Song after song, this album holds you firmly in its grasp. From the lead track Twilight (the album’s first single), to the second single, Fallin’, thru to the ominous Thunderstorm, the mod-pop of Nowhere to Hide & the progressive twist of One More Trip Downtown, this album takes you on a journey from beginning to end.

Rockstarpix.TV Rating: B+ ( 8, a solid classic debut album)

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Rockstarpix.TV Producer - Mike Giambra

Michael Giambra produces an impressive, professional still and video portfolio with his production of RockstarPix TV. For the past 20 years, he has completed freelance and commercial assignments with a number of major US and Canadian music publishing giants. "Giambra’s work is a visual showcase of optical landmarks of news, sports, politics, and social documentation focusing primarily on his passion, rock music." Michael’s traditional still silver and color photography archives have been printed, displayed & appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, Miami Herald, Associated Press (Miami, FL Bureau)Reuters News Service, Associated Press & Gannett Newspapers / USA TODAY and Buffalo Spree Magazine. His current video production company RockstarPix TV/ Michael Giambra Productions is working on a number of new music and video interview segments with musicians and entertainers from around the world.