Posted on: September 25, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The opening strains of “Moving Around” has a very tenuous set of vocals and a much more insistent set of drums. This allows for two distinct strains of style to be present during the early part of “Slingshot Echoes”, and gives the band an ability to blend styles from the eighties , nineties, and the present. The band gets added style points by allowing the bassist to have a very dominant role during “Moving Around” instead of relegating eir to the periphery of the track.

“Luxury Spirits” continues along with the style that Mezzanine Owls started the disc off with, but the track just feels as if the band is creating an entirely new approach to the sound. The twinkling sound that is present during this track allows all of the spectrum to be captured. It is comparable to the style of Mezzanine Owls, which appeal to the widest array of individuals. “Coyote” is a slow dance song; while still having the same general sound that the band bases their music around, but with the added bonus of Mezzanine Owls adding hints of country (at least alt-country) music to the song. “Coyote” passes by quickly and moves into “Lightbulb”, a track that is perhaps unparalleled on “Slingshot Echoes” for instrumental substance. The bass comes back in a big way during this track, and the energy that the opening has allows the band to have a high amount of momentum before the track even starts.

Mezzanine Owls never are constraints by too specific of a focus or a limitation on their ability; “Slingshot Echoes” reaches its apex with “Lightbulb” and continues at a high clip through the second half of the disc. The wide-open guitar work and martial drumming during “Graceless” gives Mezzanine Owls yet another style to call their own, and this track is just one of many that has a sound similar to the soundtrack of “The Chocolate War’”. Mezzanine Owls are at the bottom of the ladder current in regards to their popularity. If a few intrepid radio stations could put this, even into low rotation, chances are the posse that the band could reasonably claim would expand incredibly. Mezzanine Owls cut single after single and yet have the ability to unite all of these singles into a cohesive album that does not smack of anything in the way of weakness. Find a copy of this album and listen in, for the Mezzanine Owls are the future.

Top Tracks: Lightbulb, Graceless

Rating: 7.2/10

Mezzanine Owls – Slingshot Echoes / 2006 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.mezzanineowls.com / [email protected] / Reviewed 25 February 2007

[JMcQ]

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