As "From Atop Your Suitcase", the lead track on More Seas Than Before, starts its barrelling, staggering gallop, years of indie rock past come to mind. Not even a decade ago, bands mindful of melodic hooks and the experimental potential of de-tuned guitars still ruled the land, and Garland Buckeye's CD is no exception. But "throwback", in Garland Buckeye's case, refers more to the gusto with which they play their tunes -- throwing back shots of their native Kentucky booze, to be sure -- than to mid '90s lip service.
It's that rock-or-be-damned attitude that makes More Seas Than Before a rewarding listen. Traveling the musical road less taken, Adam Trumbo and Brad Gordon's vocals warble and groan over constantly flip-flopping hard rock riffs, all within fourteen pop-length songs. These aren't showy displays of math-rock wizardry, but tunelets based on solid '60s-'70s rock. Certainly, a bit of trimming wouldn't hurt; the hefty garage-rock licks in "Crime Payments" aren't bolstered by the rest of the song's meandering arragements. The strongest cut here, "Attest", sports no filler, packing enough anthemic power to stave off an entire army of Rivers Cuomo wanna-bes.
Former "Seattle sound" producer/progenitor Jack Endino handled some of the post-production here, adding heft to the endless riffs churning from Garland Buckeye's guitars. Fans of clean-cut pop might not dig the convoluted choruses or sonic grit, but they'd be hard-pressed to deny the energy this band brings to the rock and roll table.
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