|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About
LOTD
|
The Verdict:
The Quick and the Dead
In scanning through The Verdicts press kit, I tripped over one sentence in particular, They seek to appeal to the masses, and entertain, no matter what the occasion. I found this sentence interesting for two reasons. One, most bands dont want to admit that their goal in making music it to have it appeal to the masses, and two, this sentence, for better or worse, sums up their music pretty well. The music is diverse in its hints of various genres throughout the album yet is undeniably pop-oriented. Upon first listen of These Are Dreams, I am instantly taken by the lead singers soft, John Mayer-like vocals. His voice floats over the steady beat that marches through the soft pop tune that seems ready-made for a show on the WB. Id like to think the group has greater hopes than landing a spot on Smallville, but if they dont, then they have certainly achieved their goal. Never Seen You Run breaks away from the teen pop, soundtrack-friendly tune ever so slightly and infuses a little bit of No Doubts early days. Their instrumentals are clean and polished, but I still dont hear anything that makes me stand up and think, wow, this is really great. Now dont get me wrong, Im not saying this group sucks. In fact, in this group definitely knows how to sing and play music well. There are moments throughout the album that shine brightly with talent and great promise. Its like being the parent disappointed with his kid for getting Bs when you know he could do so much better, while someone else is thrilled that his average child just narrowly pulled off a B on his latest exam. For starters, Id like to see the lead singer mix his voice up a bit more and get away from the monotonous softness. In moments when he starts to let go a little bit, like in Lies and Didnt Mean to Make You Cry, he shows the most promise. Id also like to see more of the female voice, because the two compliment each other really nicely. Overall, The Verdicts music and vocals are pleasing to the ears, non-offensive, and upbeat; but it seems that they are being a little too conservative for their own good. Sure, they might be able to turn the ear of the pop followers, but this group seems more than capable of pushing the boundaries of the typical pop sound. Their music and vocals are already where a lot of bands only wish they could be; now they need to take it to the next level and show us what theyve really got.
Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase this album. About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
