STILL SINGLE

A space for thoughts on music and culture, as written by Doug Mosurock and a select handful of individuals. This is intended as a supplement to our regular feature Still Single, published on Dusted Magazine. Updates will run here more frequently, and may feature writing on music not covered in the column. Compact discs are still not accepted for review -- we have more than enough vinyl and the occasional cassette to worry about.

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March 16, 2010

Rope – “Montagne” b/w “I Can’t Pretend to Understand” 7” (All Hands Electric)

NYC rock in name and deed, driving and electrified, bright and just a little dirty, with a sound that could have come from any point from the opening of CBGB onward. “Montagne” rides a persistent, upbeat drum lockdown across the nighttime party horizon, chilly and racing past with cleanly sung vocals, electric violin scratch and solid guitar riffage (courtesy of Zachary Cale and Federale’s John Stendrini). It fades out, only to come back in an extended instrumental coda that lays into that groove for just a little while longer. They’ve nailed that late ‘70s/early ‘80s studio vibe down cold, right through to the all-analog recording and mastering; if nothing else, it will remind you of the same sort of manufactured excitement you’d feel from hearing, say, “The Driver’s Seat” by Sniff ‘n’ the Tears, which, if you’re me, is not a bad thing to aspire to. “I Can’t Pretend to Understand” makes out with the girl you had an eye on right in front of you, slightly gloomy but earnest power-pop with the violin adding a level of sound you wouldn’t often consider in modern rock. For what this is, I love it. It’s cool when bands acknowledge what they are up front, but aspire to more than three chords and getting blackout drunk, and can effectively pull it off. I look forward to watching these guys play some time. (http://www.allhandselectric.com)
(Doug Mosurock)

2 years ago • 0 notes