| CD REVIEW Royal Bangs |
 |
|
Band : Royal Bangs This American PopRock band hails from Knoxville Tennessee, and was formed in 2005. Although today’s line-up consists of singer/ keyboarder/ extra beats provider Ryan Schaefer, guitarists Danny Sale and Jason Campbell, bassist Henry Gibson, and drummer Chris Rusk, it’s with original members Danny Sale and Jason Campbell still in the band that they eventually recorded the May 2008 released debut album We Breed Champions through independent US label Audio Eagle (founded/ run by Patrick Kearney of The Black Keys). With positive reviews to back ‘em up the band was then invited to play at 2008’s Bonnaroo festival, where they again got away with rave reviews (even from Rolling Stone magazineand Spin.com), this time for their wacky show! German based City Slang released the album in Europe a year later, again to positive reviews. In the US, Audio Eagle released the band’s new album in September, to coincide with the band starting off a two-month US tour. “Thanks” to our own delay in getting albums reviewed (there’s really too many being released, you know, and we can hardly keep up with the small amount of people the Concrete Web team is made up from – noticed how cunningly I’m slipping in an ad for people of the Leuven vicinity with a need to write about music to get off their lazy ass and get in contact with our editor-in-chief; find his e-address on the editorial page) I’ve already read several reviews in other magazines/ on other websites, and I have to say that generally speaking I agree quite totally with the buzz and raving that’s goin’ on around this band! With the band’s quircky keyboard playfulness, imaginative double RockPop guitar approach, and wacky vocal inflections combining into a Psychedelic whole, comparisons to the likes of Animal Collective, Architecture In Helsinki, Clark, Modest Mouse, Passion Pit, TV On The Radio, White Denim, Yeasayer are probably not far off (being acquainted with only half of ‘em I can only be possitive thus far), the Knoxville Voice even comparing the band on their debut album to “…Radiohead vs 15 bottles of Southern Comfort… If you’re into any of the above, I strongly suggest you check out the songs (5 off each album!) the band posted at myspace.com/royalbangs. 94/100 Tony. |