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Otis Finch: The World According To Otis (EP) So many great CDs come into Left Off The Dial to be reviewed,
but its not too often that something comes in just ringing with commercial
radio potential. At least four of
the seven tracks on Otis Finchs debut EP, The World According To Otis,
have that certain something that sounds like it just might match with
alternative commercial radio play lists. After
listening to the disc for only a week, not only was I singing along with all the
songs as they played, I found myself singing and humming when the music wasn't
even playing. The melodies were
constantly dancing in my head. Dont get me wrong Otis Finch does not sound like N
Sync. Rather the Washington D.C.
bands music is catchy in the way of the Dave Matthews Band or perhaps Train.
Nearly all of the songs on The World are upbeat and danceable,
and some have funk and groove undertones. The
band creates thick textures on most of the songs, layering a funky bass and
acoustic guitar with electric guitar and smooth vocal harmonies.
On Where Is She, the band at one point lets the vocals take a
backseat to the melody created by a busy electric guitar, and bassist Dave
Mehring even gets a solo something not uncommon on this disc. The lyrics on The World seem to flip-flop between
the cathartic declarations of Stop Pretending and the self-doubt of
Im No Superhero. Yet, as
Brad Pabian sings, condemning the materialistic, superficial acquaintances of
his past in Stop Pretending, the band kicks out a groovy, happy melody
which helps keep the songs overall tone from turning self-righteous. The EP closes with a loosely constructed, acoustic tune,
Imperfect Circles, which is refreshing when contrasted with the discs
unusually tight (but effective) production for a debut effort.
Still, Otis Finchs musical style, being quite rooted in jazz,
indicates that the bands live performances would be less rigid. The World According To Otis will easily have you bopping your head and tapping your toes upon first listen. And I dare you not to sing along!
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