Young Antiques
A Man, Not a Biography
[Two Sheds Music, 2011]
Download This Album:
Amazon MP3 l iTunes
If I could describe Young Antiques’ latest effort A Man, Not A Biography in three words, those words would be: dusty, whiskey and classic. Dusty because the songs sound like they come from years of rough, sweaty, blue-collar life experiences. They’re the kind of songs you expect the boys from the mill or manufacturing plant to listen to when they kick back and get together for some beers at the end of the workday. I say whiskey because, if whiskey were a feeling, the mood of this album would most certainly capture it. When I hear this record I want to sit on a stool in a smoky bar with a glass in hand, wallowing in my sorrows; down on my luck, but still very much alive. And, finally, classic because there’s a timelessness to this album — it feels like a country road in November and downtown Atlanta in the summer, all at the same time.
True to their past work, Young Antiques deliver 13 Southern-flavored songs that blend both country rock and punk into a mellow concoction that never tries too hard, but is always engaging. They join the ranks of classics such as Tom Petty and contemporaries like Gasoline Heart to keep the Southern rock tradition alive and well. There’s nothing cutting edge about the album, but if hard-charging rock ‘n’ roll is what you’re looking for, A Man, Not A Biography will be your drink of choice. You’ll get your fill of foot-tapping good times that kick the worries to the curb, as well as more pensive moments that wail and brood about the sorrows of life.
Young Antiques make me want to get up and take the night by storm. They also make me feel lonely and depressed. The best music is both bitter and sweet. It keeps us wanting to find meaning and enjoyment in life and celebrates the times we manage to find it. But it also pays tribute and laments all the pain that takes up much of our free time here on Earth. We cry when it hurts, but not always from the pain. Sometimes we cry because it hurts so good. I know that sounds cheesy, but go listen to A Man, Not A Biography and try to tell me that it doesn’t make complete sense.
More Info:
Web: www.youngantiques.com
Bandcamp: www.youngantiques.bandcamp.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/youngantiquesrock
Twitter: www.twitter.com/youngantiques
Ocean is Theory
Future Fears EP
[Razor & Tie, 2011]
Download This Album:
iTunes
If you’ve spent any time listening to Ocean is Theory in the past, you’ll likely be surprised by their latest, iTunes exclusive EP, Future Fears. I personally had written them off a few years ago as just another post-hardcore/post-punk/post-who-knows-what-else band doing their worst to impress sceneyboppers with their attempts to ape As Cities Burn. This may sound harsh but I want to make it perfectly clear how little I cared for this band before I fill you in on my reaction to this record. You know a release is strong when it can make anti-fans pull a 180. Ocean is Theory has delivered just such a release. And I absolutely love it.
The band has definitely grown up on this record. Somewhere along the way they must have sat down and really assessed the direction they were headed and decided to make some critical changes. Most bands get bogged down in their genre and pine away from changing with the times, but this willingness to evaluate and expand their sound shows a lot of maturity. For one thing, they have dropped some of the faux-dramatic screamo characteristics that haunted their earlier efforts and have adopted a more mellow, almost ‘90s indie pop vibe. This isn’t to say they’ve abandoned their old sound entirely; Ocean is Theory is still predominantly a guitar-led melodic rock band. They just trimmed the fat off, leaving a simple, driving rock machine, free of the clutter of their earlier releases. The result is three solid, hook-laden tunes you could hear on modern rock radio, but that retain enough honesty and authenticity that they don’t get sucked into the generic abyss of the mainstream.
Whether or not you have previously come into contact with Ocean is Theory, Future Fears is a fun and refreshing little EP (it’s actually a primer for their upcoming full-length this fall) that is definitely worth checking out. It’s simplicity and drive are infectious. In contrast to their earlier work, it’s nothing short of a musical renaissance for the band. I’m personally blown away by their progression and am looking forward to hearing how they evolve in the future.
More Info:
Web: www.oceanistheory.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oceanistheory
MySpace: www.myspace.com/oceanistheory
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oceanistheory
