[[ we have a winner. ]]
Our hats go off to Captain Coconut, winners of our Battle of the Bands competition! With an overwhelming batch of votes in their corner, Captain Coconut had the lead over second- and third-place competitors Grace and Julian and Red Doyle. Catch the victors playing at NYU's Strawberry Festival on Friday, May 2.
|
Armand Aviram is a singer-songwriter whose songs, though well constructed, are seemingly outdated. If we were
in 1998 and Aviram wanted to release this EP, he would have had at least a modest radio hit on his hands. It would
fit somewhat comfortably among hits like Marcy Playground's "Sex & Candy" or the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris." There's
something very alluring about his songs that often manifests itself in a comforting familiarity. One has to
wonder if the pleasure one may feel over Aviram's songs comes from nothing more than nostalgia for alternative
rock from the '90s. The production on this EP sounds highly professional. Every element in the arrangements sounds slick, especially Aviram's confident vocals. Aviram is obviously a strong performer who has a solid sense of songwriting as a form. The musicianship is also to be commended. The weakest aspect may be the lyrics (such as on "It's So Sad I Could Cry"), which are at times a bit pedestrian: the type of earnest musings one formulates on a LiveJournal during high school. These lyrics, coupled with the excessive gravity of Aviram's delivery, ultimately produce an end result that further detracts from the merit of his work. |
|
[[ listen to song clip  visit band website ]]
|
|
|
Given the utter rawness of his songs, Red Doyle's music is not for everyone. Doyle's voice feels distant and the guitar
is played haphazardly at best. But for those seeking a spiritual cousin to Television Personalities (for all you part-time
punks out there), Red Doyle is it. He's got a simple, refreshing sense of melody, but this minimalism doesn't detract from the emotional core of his songs. Instead, it lends his songs an incredible charm. "The Buenos Aires Shuffle" stands out, partly because it's an instrumental track, but mostly because it has a bark and bite that is entirely unexpected. It would be great to hear more of that sort of candor from Red Doyle in the future. |
[[ listen to song clip  visit band website ]]
|
|
|
TreeUnion is the product of Dylan Byrne (guitar and lead vocals), Branden Stroup (bass) and Will Lopez (drums). Their lyrics focus
primarily on environmental themes, as well as those of peace and love. This concern for environmental issues is what helped to land
them a spot at NYU Program Board's "Off the Grid" sustainable energy concert. Though some bands that focus on these themes could end up seeming redundant or preachy, TreeUnion largely succeeds. A song like "Finally," which has a chorus with the lyrics "I'm so in love with life right now," will make even the most jaded listener bop along to the melody and the band's infectious cheer. Even at lyrical weak points, the band's adept instrumentation and Byrne's vocals spur the songs on. Moments of musical innovation are often sandwiched between straight folk-rock guitar riffs on the band's "Extra Life" EP. TreeUnion may not be the most cutting-edge band out there, but their music is fun, lively and undeniably enjoyable. |
|
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
 |
In the world of music, all genres and time periods are endlessly intertwined. Therefore, musical creativity comes less from original ideas and
more from drawing upon musical movements of the past to influence the present. IY certainly employs various musical genres from the '90s - most notably, ska and grunge. But at times the band's music seems to be more like a caricature of these genres than a homage. On the opening numbers of their EP "For Fire," you can see the flannel, feel the Seattle rain and virtually taste the drops of a diluted teen spirit. The majority of the tracks on "For Fire" don't merit a second listen, or even a full first listening. They are simply too predictable. But the band is not entirely undeserving of praise. The vocals are strong, and the instrumentation and production are even stronger. Because of this, the songs that favor emotion over presentation (like the mid-tempo, acoustic numbers) are quite enjoyable. Either way, IY will have to create a sound more reflective of where music is headed, instead of where it's been, in order to ensure any sustainability or success. |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
|
Perhaps the most disappointing thing I've learned in college is that every dude you see on the street is some sort of acoustic guitar singer-songwriter.
It seems that at NYU, the ability to strum along on an acoustic guitar while crooning sweetly - the formula for the archetypical sensitive heartthrob - is
something of a prerequisite, akin to high AP scores and a charming admissions essay. Thecitylights is the musical extension of one David Gwaltney, a fittingly shaggy-haired and chisel-jawed young man, equipped with little more than an acoustic guitar and some thoughtful percussion. As such, thecitylights' "The Snitch" is perhaps an amalgamation of the aforementioned conditions at this university - a kind yet reserved theme song for the intellects gathered at this fine institution. Sounding like a reverbed Isaac Brock, Gwaltney's greatest flaw could indeed be the same as his greatest success: pretty singing and guitar playing is always nice, and everyone likes it. But c'mon, everyone else seems to be able to play the guitar, too. |
 |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
 |
The Turnstiles are a self-described "crunk/folk-rock" band consisting of Kevin Dean on vox/guitar/drums and Roland Fuoco on bass/guitar/piano. While their
musicianship is a little bit amateur and the production is shabby, I have to give them props for being fairly eclectic. Of the five songs on their MySpace,
standouts included the Weezer-esque, poppy guitar rock of "Out Of Focus" and "Knock." "No Progress Yet" sounds like a work in progress (no pun intended) and
"Balcony Song" is a bouncy, acoustic-based number that has its moments. On the other hand, the repetitive jamming on "1, 2, 3, GO" gets tiring pretty quickly, and there are times when it's easy to zone out, only to come back three minutes later and find that the song is still going. The drumming could be tightened up, but overall this band gets an A for effort. |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
|
"Champions of the Year" starts off with a dramatic flourish: an energetic piano beat that accompanies Chicago-inspired jazz riffs. It is an unusual but
welcomed beginning to a song that can confuse the listener once the chorus breaks. Film major Peter Scalzitti is obviously inspired by piano-heavy musicians
such as Ben Folds and Coldplay, but he lacks the maturity and confidence necessary to successfully perform over a piano interlude. His vocals are highly stylized, similar to that of Phantom Planet, Chris Carrabba or other legions of musically comparable artists. Because of this, they come across as infantile, insincere and vaguely reminiscent of a three-hour car ride in which a young teenybopper vainly whines along to The Fray on repeat. You want the singer to shut up, but because of the mesmerizing piano, you don't want the song to end. Just like The Fray, Scalzitti's piano-playing skills are in an absolute musical master class. However his vocals are not entirely reprehensible. To give Scalzitti credit, his belts are not altogether off-key. But undoubtedly the strongest part about this musician is his songwriting. Reshaping his vocal style and skill would help this fledgling balance out the scale, which is now clearly tipped by his piano skills, and create a more professional and unique sound. |
 |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
 |
Many bands have been forged with only a love for music and steady friendship as a foundation. For longevity's sake, bands are compelled to find additional motives
for music-making. Unfortunately, Hush, Siren is still searching. Of course, most bands in infantile stages can't support the heavy costs of professional production, but even with the most elementary production programs, a band's merit can be ascertained. In this case, Hush, Siren has a fair amount of potential, but they need a greater amount of work to get them where they need to be. Their demo track "Chalice" is a meandering, ethereal piece that sacrifices tempo in the name of mood. "This is Really Difficult," offers better instrumentation by guitarist Denver Hughes and percussionist Darrell Dumas, but lead singer Jessica Salzinski's vocals often fall flat. Given that they've only begun playing gigs this month, Hush, Siren has ample time to perfect their craft. |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
|
Given that the majority of New York City college bands makes music in two categories - hipster-electronica or heartfelt-acoustic-indieness - Captain Cocount is a
breath of fresh air. Composed of students from NYU, SUNY-Purchase, Manhattan School of Music and Ethical Culture Fieldston, Captain Coconut is clever, gleeful, unadulterated funk. Their groove begins with the opening chords of the title track off their EP "Shoop!" and rides all the way through. Their music transports the listeners to some of music's most compelling time periods: the 1920's jazz era, early '90s neo-soul and the experimental funk of the '70s. Their songs are almost entirely instrumental, which is a blessing, for Captain Coconut's band members are truly skilled at what they do. Their skill can be heard through handcrafted melodies on songs like "Black Sara" or through vivid improvisation on songs like "Ampersand." Perhaps their mastery comes from their experience. In the two years since the band's formation, they've played a host of New York City area gigs at venues like CBGB, The Knitting Factory and Canal Room, where they already won a battle of the bands competition. As long as there's a demand for funky music, Captain Coconut will keep making their dynamic and impressive sounds. |
  |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
 |
Hey, did you see that SNL skit last week with Ashton Kutcher? The one that makes fun of John Mayer, Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews? If you thought it was funny, you'll
probably want to skip to the next review. But if you sat there with your Yamaha acoustic and flip-flops and couldn't find the humor, then Nick Joseph and Jake Harper
are your guys. Singer/guitarist Joseph gives Mayer a run for his money with the inoffensive piano lullaby "The One" and channels Jack Johnson sitting on a beach drinking out of a coconut with "My Kind Of Wonderful." They even use the phrase "sweeter than a nectarine!" That's some mighty good chill-out music. |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
|
Grace Weber and Julian Waterfall Pollack are both accomplished musicians in their own right, but together, they create an effortless, extraordinary kind of music. The duo met last year as freshmen in Goddard residence hall, where they instantly began writing music, and the rest is history. Their jazz-inflected songs are slick, self-assured compositions. Weber's astonishing voice is the centerpiece, and her singing is consistently excellent. She's naturally gifted, and some of the most exciting moments occur when she hits that diva-patented high note. But she doesn't have to; her voice is just as impressive when it's restrained. Pollack adds delicate piano-playing and sings along on "Watchin' The Days Go By." Occasional acoustic guitar and drum beats spring up, but the foundation of each song is on vocals and piano accompaniment. Despite this relatively limited palette, the music is lively and intricately arranged. No matter what your personal tastes, it's difficult to not be impressed with Grace and Julian. |
 |
|
[[ listen to song clip visit band website ]]
|
|
[[ voting's over. ]]
Voting's over. Check the top of the page to see who was chosen as the winner for this year's Battle of the Bands!back to top