The Evening Descends

(Dead Oceans)

Wide eyes stare from the jacket of Evangelicals sophomore effort The Evening Descends. The jacket even folds out into a poster, complete with handwritten lyrics (for those of you into that sort of thing).  If the postered eyes are staring in fear, or drug induced euphoria, it is hard to tell since psychedelic pop is their mantra.

Singer/guitarist Josh Jones’ spacey falsetto dominates the sound, which is not necessarily a good thing.  An 80s influence is apparent even without the sound bite from which I swear is an old Hanna Barbara cartoon.  If U2 and the Flaming Lips had ever spawned, the Evangelicals would be their offspring.

The track “Paperback Suicide” has an almost haunting keyboard, like a evil child pressing the keys with malicious glee.  “Dead in the Headlights” starts off strong with echoing guitar riffs, but ends 2 minutes later than it should have.  “The Evening Descends” is a decent match  for a lonely evening drive or maybe just to hold up that nifty poster.

Should the Evangelicals put on a show anything like the [Flaming] LIps then they may be worth checking out.– Jason Moody

The Evangelicals will play Bloomington March 4th.  For more information or to listen to their single, “Skeleton Man” go to http://www.myspace.com/evangelicals.

Deep Shivers Run For My Daughter

(Self-released)

Upon the first fifteen seconds of listening to The Alarmists (Calm Down) newly released EP, Deep Shivers Run For My Daughter, my ears perked at the opening bass lick. My heart quickened with eager anticipation of what was to come in the next twenty-odd minutes. The local trio produce an array of interesting sounds: from contagious hand-clapping to haunting vocals of Isaac Brock’s ghost. Each song is varied in concept with a thorough mix of rhythms.

Self-produced, mixed, mastered and recorded makes for some freedom for the Bloomington band. However, the fact also may be a contributing factor to Deep Shivers’s greatest weakness: percussion. Don’t get me wrong the percussion isn’t bad, offbeat or any other negative expletive, but it drowns those bass licks I love so much and even the vocals out at times. Straining to hear what makes the given track whole isn’t something an audience should be required to do. Crashing cymbals can take anyone unawares.

“Hot Noise, Bright Lights” is the highlight of Deep Shivers with well placed pauses and sensual lyrics like ‘, Curves and perspiration/ Frames of hips in battle with every throbbing kick drum.’ Did I mention the groovy bass licks? Sorry, just checking.

Overall, I must say that I am highly impressed with the quality of music found on this album. Neal, Michael, Jeremy and even Andrew [see CD's linear notes] should be proud of this album that they sell for a steal at five bucks at their shows– that’s cheaper than the door cover at your local drinking hole.

Deep Shivers Run For My Daughter took me by surprise and life isn’t quite as nice without those interspersed surprises. And, of course, if you don’t believe me then just ask Alexander Hamilton.–Jason Moody

For more information about The Alarmists (Calm Down) visit http://myspace.com/thealarmistscalmdown

Moonbeams

(Baskerville Hill/ Secretly Canadian)

Twenty years after grunge– the oftentimes over-hyped Seattle sound –the city turns-out a melodious effort.

TMTS’s [Throw Me the Statue] debut, Moonbeams, is a synthesizer and rhythm peppered work. The guitars bounce unlike the band’s Pacific Northwestern forebears. Yet, TMTS does use some distortion in its compositions. The guitar effects within the album are not nearly as metallic as those associated to grunge, nor are the songs reliant on feedback. These effects are used to accent not overpower a track and the listener. Record label Secretly Canadian adds another multi-instrumental recording into its distribution catalogue, as TMTS also incorporates glockenspiel, melodica, horns, and euphonium to create the group’s personal take on pop music.

Should one close their eyes, one may hear something that reverberates a soundtrack found within a Wes Anderson [The Life Aquatic] film: A composition that is mirthful, but never becomes sugar drenched nor processed. And is a record that is not, necessarily, bittersweet. The CD’s lyrical straightforwardness– check-out “Girlfriend’s Car” and “This Is How We Kiss” –extracts an unfleshy minutia from the observations of songwriter Scott Reitherman. Moonbeams is finalized with slow numbers, ie. “Heart Signs Faintly” and the title track, that offset the album’s overall energy; making it a balanced work.

A listener will not get an earache upon hearing TMTS’s frosh album. He or she will be imparted with a subtle sweetness.– Rus Segety

For more information about Throw Me the Statue visit http://www.myspace.com/throwmethestatue

The Player’s Pub

424 South Walnut

It is the night of the first snow flurries in Bloomington; the Wednesday of IU finals week, and a friend and I go to The Player’s Pub.

The band enjoys a break between sets. They casually speak amongst themselves in front of a fair sized dance floor. A number of tables sit with great views of the musicians. Is there something amiss though? Where is the audience? People must be scared to come out in the cold.

We are made welcome by our waitress, who offers us drinks from the beer and wine list– no 3-way liquor license, so no chance for a gin and tonic. No big deal.

We settle back to enjoy the music. Mel Chance and The Notables play a smoking swing/big band set that have us tapping and humming along in no time. The band banters back and forth with us and the diehard patrons in the place. The energy at times is a bit low, but I expect it would be better with a larger audience.

The Pub has been open at this location for about 4 years. It offers a wide variety of music nightly including “jazz, blues, bluegrass, pop, country, and more.” Besides live music and dining, there is a comfortable lounge with a big screen TV. And get this, a free pool table– no quarters needed! The only real downer is that the restrooms are on the tiny side. If you are here on a busier night expect to wait in line. So show up early.

I find The Player’s Pub a warm, welcoming, and relaxing place to go. The staff is friendly. The food is delicious. I enjoy hearing good music and it would sound even better with a larger crowd of warm bodies to further fill-out the acoustics of a good act and club room. Get over there and enjoy yourselves. It is a good place to be.–GE Barsic

The Player’s Pub, Ages 21+. Door cover varies. For more information call (812)334-2080 or visit www.theplayerspub.com

Frankly, I am teethed on brasher stuff. However, Bishop Allen delivers intoxicating and satisfying pop on the slant—the unconventional imagery of ironclads [“The Monitor”], wedding crashers [“Click, Click, Click, Click”], abandoned pianos [“Corazon’]; and its indie sounds on the New Order-ish, more playful though, track “Rain” as well as the toned-down Pixies-like “Middle Management”. Pop songs reinvented, and as a former girlfriend would tag these ‘happy day music.’ Joy and joy again, both Bishop Allen, and Ellen, give wherever they now may be -ish and -like alike.