|
Arts & Entertainment Archive 2002-03 NO. 24
|
|
The Good North faces right direction
by Rema Rahman
Staff Writer
rahmanre@shu.edu
|
|
It seems The Good North has some serious explaining to do. The band does just that on their debut full-length album, “An Explanation” on Primary Voltage records, an independent record label based out of Cambridge, Mass. The Boston indie rock scene has generated yet another young, but potentially great band.
Formed in summer 2001, the band’s sound is far beyond its young years together. Though the album has its share of rough edges, their music can be both refreshingly new and their lyrics creatively on point.
The band is made-up of lead singer Luke O’Neil, guitarists Johnny Healey and Mick Taggart, Dave Riley on bass and Mike Morriessey on drums.
“Postcards” kicks off the CD with a catchy hook, plus some pretty heartfelt lyrics. The song is basically about coping with the distance that separates two loved ones. If the Strokes and The Cure got together, the song they would produce would probably sound pretty close to this.
“Saved from the Crash” is a song in which Taggart and Healey display their guitar talents. The dark guitar-laden song is set up against O’Neil’s voice echoing in the background. Riley’s bass intro is frighteningly familiar to that of Bush’s “Comedown.”
One of the most original tunes, mostly in lyrics, is “No Hope for the Jobless.” In it, O’Neil belts out about how one is forced to work a crappy job to pay off debt. It also has a catchy hook, something not found often on this album.
Later on in the album the pace noticeably picks up with “Visions of You.” This song speeds up the pace of the overall tone of the album considerably.
“This is Your Final Chance” has an early U2 ring to it, mostly found in the guitar solo.
The CD’s closing track, “Falling Out” is another dark and moody tune. Its depressing and mellow sound adds to the disc’s overall dark but truthful tone.
The album lacks only a more polished sound, but their rough edges will be smoothed out as the band is driven to continually to take their sound to the next level.
The band members are fused together by their similar tastes in music and a drive to make it big in the music business. They’ve come a long way from playing in basements around the Boston area.
|
|
|
More Arts & Entertainment >>
|
| |
|
|
|