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The Music “Welcome to the North”
Capitol Records, 2004
Produced by Brendan O’Brien
CD Review by Michael Giambra, Rockstarpix.TV
Let’s get one thing straight, The Music is a young and very talented band from Leeds, UK. It’s no surprise that they have been tapped to open for the latest Velvet Revolver and Incubus mega-rock tours coming up this fall. Very rock, very hip with a comfortable amount of room to grow (rumor even has it they are friendly and polite). It seems that they are poised perfect for success. Great opportunity lies ahead for this band. The Music are commonly dubbed by the US and UK press as “the next big thing” out of England’s Northern scene. This could be true and plainly put, but there is more to the story here mate.
Robert Harvey leads his band The Music with a voice that has matured well since The Music’s eponymous 2003 debut. “Welcome to the North” is a concrete effort for guitarist Adam Nutter, bassist Stuart Colman and drummer Phil Jordan. In this writer’s opinion, it is their strongest musical effort, to date. “Welcome to the North” is a steady and focused departure from the “groove based, shoe gazer” hits that gave them their start.
The Music’s second full length release was helmed by and gleamed by knob tweaker extraordinaire Brenden O’Brien (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen) in his Atlanta based Southern Tracks Studio, Essential track from The Music’s latest project include “Bleed from Within”, “Open your Mind”, “Into the Night” glimmers signs of epic-layered, tribal rock mastery.
Something good for rock music is happening here! A fine bridging of the UK and US craggy rock-gap. I sense I will be returning to this album to enjoy its subtleties for a long time to come. There is a synergy of classic tones on tales that has been yearning to bleed from my speakers for a lengthened time. What a great recording of these musicians known cleanly as The Music. A fitting title, because they naturally shift focus on their harmonious creations, rather than any cheap sideshow gimmicks. Hats off to Brenden O’Brien and his production team on this creation. The Music made the right choice by going with this seasoned professional on this effort. Listening to the album conjures visions of the album being recorded in some silk draped Irish Castle, U2 style. Very inspired studio sessions are showcased here in the second album.
Listening to The Music “Welcome to the North” it is apparent that these men have resolved to build and fly a full-functioning tonal fueled rocket. The musical landscape that is “Welcome to the North” unfolds like a brilliant journey and glimpse into the future of rock history. From its opening track, “Welcome to the North”, you sense Harvey and company are tipping their hat to their idol rock predecessors while at the same time giving them directions to the latest party. Singer Robert Harvey expresses that The Music wants to reach a large variety of people with their latest effort. This is obvious from the universal appeal that “Welcome to the North” provides the listener. Dare I say this album tracking reminds me of select chapters of “Sgt. Peppers” or even Jane’s Addiction’s “Ritual de Lo Habitual”? It flows, honestly. There are heady thoughtful progressions interweaved into these mysterious and eclectic tracks. I swear that I can hear the jangle echoing riffs of Johnny Marr and the Edge in there and it is hard not to compare Harvey’s voice to Bono’s. (*As I write this I am watching Bono sell Ipod’s for Macintosh). Yet, it works together in an inspired, modern way. I hear a retro-rock sound that is evolving into its own new entity.
I love this album because you don’t get hit over the head with any contrived image or emotional hand grenades that so many US and UK bands have lobed at their fans recently. “Welcome to the North” is a strong cohesive rock album that stands on the merits of the players, the production and the music. There is no thematic overture or manufactured pretenses of the composition. I listened to it from the start to the end and never lost interest in any of the 11 tracks or the overall brilliant and inspired sound quality. “Welcome to the North” is absolutely original rollicking inspired psychedelic rock bliss. The Music’s influences are not hard to narrow down. Thunderbolts and lightning of Led Zeppelin, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Jane’s Addiction, U2, New Order, The Verve, and Queen blaze up immediately. Of course there are more, but these songs are definitely on par with the masters.
They are young and cool and the latest “best thing” out of Leeds, England. Listening to The Music “Welcome to the North” brings back memories of the first time I listened to U2 “Boy” or Jane’s Addiction “Nothing's Shocking”. It was a new sound something was gracefully changing in music, and it was good. “Welcome to the North” consists of 11 strong tracks bound around evolved song writing, honest desire and solid musicians. This album bleeds talent and commitment to the music.
Rating: A - 9 *(Excellent, solid consistent and cohesive musical effort. Classic must have material for any rock collection)
The Music just finished up a series of select club appearances across the US (Troubadour Los Angeles, The Bowery Ballroom, NYC and The Mod Club in Toronto) Rockstapix.TV / Michael Giambra Productions will be producing and interviewing the band with exclusive feature videos covering their upcoming tour with Incubus in October, 2004.
http://www.rockstarpix.tv
http://www.themusic.uk.com/
http://www.littlebigman.com/pr/TheMusic/
produced by Michael Giambra / rockstarpix.tv Copyright 2004
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