EP Review: If We Were Gods - Messy Lazy Crazy - Three Chord Pony Records (2008)
This is a band I would like to hear live. The production quality is fairly lo-fi, and the vibe seems a little off point in the recording. A live gig might expose a bit more of the audible talent that gets obscured by the over- (or under-) working at mix/master stage.
The main downside is the mix. The vocals are too quiet and swamped with bus-shelter reverb, only occasionally letting through some
snatches of cracked male vocal. The drums were apparently recorded from the back of the beer-stable in super-wide stereo and the guitars and synths drenched with cave-verb-001. The result is overly muddy and throws the elements out of balance, becoming tiring on the ear. The AC/DC reminiscent guitar work in Kings Are Crazy is a little assaulting given the restrained intensity of the EP.
The elements that fit perfectly are the horns, particularly in the trombone solo on That's the Way, and if the dry backing vocals were able to absorb some of the drum-verb, both elements might fit a bit better.
The musicianship is decent enough and the structure and composition are nicely complex. The individual arrangements are carefully and
competently constructed, and the pieces as a whole certainly have enough variation and harmony to hold their own. The lead vocal sounds a bit like a cross between that bald cockney guy from Eastenders and Mark 'Chopper' Reid, but is commendable for its uniqueness.
The compositional talent and musicianship is all there. With a little more confidence and experience at studio level, and perhaps a little
'less is more', this could approach the pristine standards we've come to expect in today's reggae.
http://www.myspace.com/ifweweregods
Spin Zero
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