Few imported bands fare well with the American young adult demographic. The recent saturation of radio airwaves with domestic talent is something that the Music could change, perhaps heading up a renaissance British invasion.
The Music's latest release, "Welcome to the North," is a collection of catchy mainstream rock that is likely to entice many music lovers looking for authentic flair.
"Welcome to the North" begins with a mellow title track before picking up the tempo. "Freedom Fighters" is an exhilarating rush of electrifying guitar riffs and riveting percussion coupled with anthem-style lyrics guaranteed to cause tremors.
On "Fight the Feeling," the Music takes a breather with whimsical guitar and haunting vocals that come together to create a dreamlike experience. The song "Cessation" features furious rhythms and racing percussion coupled with a heartfelt theme that is easy to relate to: the frustration experienced when trying to remain true to one's self.
The album's highlight comes in the track titled "Bleed From Within." The song ventures away from their usual, but they still seem to be comfortable.
"Shock rings out across the desert sky/ The sun is bleeding into mine eye," sings lead vocalist Rob Harvey on "Bleed From Within."
Harvey sounds nearly identical to U2's Bono in the track's intro. The band quickly demonstrates how much they've fallen under the influence of bands such as Filter with tribal percussion and mesmerizing musical patterns layered beneath a singer's powerful pipes. Harvey's uncharacteristic guttural sounds only add to the track's primal ambience.
The Music establish themselves as textbook British rock with their sophomore release and successfully take their sound to a new level. At the end of it all, however, they fail to be memorable. Their style is too repetitious from one track to the next and they fulfill the criteria for a "rock band" too rigidly.
The Music will be playing with Incubus at Fall Fest on Oct. 29.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
