Search - Reeve Oliver :: Touchtone Inferno

Creating A Good Sequel

Robert Hammond | Oshkosh, WI | 03/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most people, unfortunately, don't know this band. They were months away from a big break, the recorded this album for Capitol Records, then were subsequently dropped before its release. Curses upon Virgin Records. How can they still be Virgin after screwing so many bands?

Anyways, Capitol/Virgin really missed out on a great 12 track pop gemini. Sean O'Donnel really puts his heart out there in the typical emo fashion, but like a great band does, it manages to expand the music into something greater than a single genre.

The first two tracks were taken from the last album and were reworked and produced as radio single hopefuls. Madachu was taken from a previous EP, which may be the best song they've written, and was glad to see it on a full album.

The new songs also rocked. Endless Bummer is probably had the potential of being a a minor hit on some midwest radio station, and is probably my favorite of the new stuff. Wings and Clean Up Mission Hills are examples of how they remove themselves from the emo genre, and create music that you'd never hear on a Dashboard CD. They don't rely on the chug-chug of guitars, but rather clever melodies and always unexpected turns in their lyrics to make a good listening experience.

Reeve Oliver closes off the album with The Leg, which has one of their better hooks in the chorus and leaves you with a good feeling.

I recommend everything this band has done, not a bad song in the bunch, and this would be a great place to start."