(Photo by Todd Zimmer)
As a reviewer who had not been aware of The Slowdown, its debut album did not disappoint. The sixteen-track, hour-long album A solidly sold the band.
Tearing in with the first track, “Acting Strange Of Late,” the band holds nothing back as to what the rest of the album will sound like. A promiscuous mess of guitars, synths, drums, and words rises up to bear a fantastic modern rock-inspired, heavy indie sound. With the combination of distorted riffs, clean and plucky bass, and smooth percussion overtones, this six-piece band definitely knows how to write a song.
The album, collectively, is full of highs and lows of all kinds: the tempo, the lyrics, the emotions—all of it. Songs like “A Mirror, A Touch” appear soft and mellow at first, and quickly build up into a prog-rock epic. This specific song is a thriving example of how the band can lead you on a rollercoaster ride. Despite these ups and downs, The Slowdown will still stick in your head. Catchy hooks from “Runaway” and “Wardance” will repeat themselves endlessly in your head.
It’s refreshing to know that a band with six members can coherently compose songs that display the talents of each member. There isn’t a time in A that I felt as though talents were being lost. Every guy in the band appears in tune with his part of the song and showcases it brilliantly. The music is intricate and mastered beautifully. The vocals seem low at times, but the sound of guitars carries the song forward.
Some of the best songs on this album come from the formidably experimental tracks. My personal favorite, closing track “Whispering Lights,” combines an acoustic diddy with a bluesy electric lead, and pseudo-hip-hop drumming to create an absolutely wonderful song. Soft lyrics with corresponding harmonies complete the track. In other cases, such as “Unable To” and “Tears From the Compound,” the tracks keep the slow tempo with the experimental sound.
Out of everything this album is, dull is not one of them. There is guaranteed to be at least one song from A that will resonate with any rock fan. Some songs are clearly rock, some indie, some indefinitely experimental—it’s simply a great album. Not every song will stick with every listener, but surely several tracks will be taken away.
The Slowdown celebrated the release of A at The Riot Room this past Friday evening. The official release of the album is Tuesday, December 11. See more photos below from Todd Zimmer, from the band’s recent show at recordBar on November 24.
–Steven Ervay
| Steven is the intern of Midwest Music Foundation and The Deli – Kansas City. He can’t go to 21+ shows yet and that bums him out. |