There is a very intricate and dense tack taken during Soul Searching by the Calgary alt-rock band 36?. The track has a tremendous vocal harmony that is further highlighted through the turbulent and tempestuous arrangement. The act is able to further establish their own unique styling with Beauty/Strong, a trip-hop inspired track in the vein of Massive Attack or early-oughts Bjork. There is a warmth to this composition that keeps listeners on the edges of their seats; the instrumentation here is stellar and tells a narrative before Taylor’s vocals begin.
The Man At The Door is tremendously emotive and draws from the emotive rock tradition. The richness of the production allows 36? to hang with Say Anything? and Taking Back Sunday. A driven set of drums emphatically punctuate the track before the bottom drops out; 36? are able to change the tempo of this effort on a dime and succeeds in keeping where do we go from here?’s momentum high.
are you scared yet? is a fun effort that links together Franz Ferdinand with Weezer while furthering the same spontaneity that is present through this album; each element (vocals, drums, guitar) are given ample time to shine even as the elements create a cohesive and coherent composition. the love is in your head is stylistically distinct from the other efforts on where do we go from here?; hints of seventies and eighties rock (Eagles, ZZ Top, “Joe’s Garage”-era Zappa) make for a grandiose and gritty effort that will stick with listeners long after the album has ceased.
where do we go from here? is available from 36? Bandcamp for $10 Canadian; make sure to visit their Facebook for more information about live show dates and further news.
Top Tracks: are you scared yet?, the love is in your head
Rating: 8.7/10
36? where do we go from here? / 2014 Self / 17 Tracks / http://yourfavoriteband.bandcamp.com/album/where-do-we-go-from-here / https://www.facebook.com/yourfavoritebandever
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
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