It is often said that knowledge equals power. In the world of politics and government, this is more than likely true. After all, an informed populace will undoubtedly make better decisions, and will be more likely to try and keep their elected government accountable to the people which elected it. When it comes to music, however, it's a completely different story. In most cases, the more one finds out about a band, the more one finds reason to dislike them. Take, for example, Oasis. When they were an unknown English band, it was difficult not to like songs like "Live Forever" or "Wonderwall." Shortly thereafter, it became widespread knowledge that the Gallagher brothers were both complete louts, and much of the fun of listening to them was gone.
Keeping this in mind, then, perhaps Leo Nine has the right idea. Their website contains no information about them, apart from a link to their label and a sound clip. Their album came without a press kit to introduce the members (Either that, or I fucked up. -- Ed.). Even the liner notes offer little help, revealing only the names of the band members and the fact the album was recorded in Australia. Thus, when listening, one must approach the record without any sort of preconceptions as to who Leo Nine's members are. Unlike many albums, you'll have no expectations -- no idea what's coming when you press the "play" button.
As it turns out, the answer is excellent guitar-rock in the mold of bands like Powderfinger or Travis. Lead singer Caleb James sounds like Jeff Buckley, his voice displaying the ability to range from baritone to falsetto and back again, often in the same song. The music is similarly stellar, with each song showcasing a band that clearly knows what it's doing. "Easy now", for example, with its swirling guitar and exploding chorus, sounds like a surefire radio hit. In fact, the same could be said for any of the songs on this EP. There are five songs here, and nary a weak moment to be found. Undoubtedly, the high point comes near the end of "Tied Down," which sounds like an outtake from The Bends-era Radiohead, as the acoustic guitar slowly gives way to waves of crashing electric riffs.
In the end, there's something of a conundrum. If Leo Nine catches on, they'll undoubtedly lose a great deal of their mystery, and in doing so may possibly become a great deal more difficult to listen to. On the other hand, it would guarantee more albums from the band and continued exposure to their refreshingly good music. As hard as the former would be to accept, the latter is just too good a proposition to pass up.
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