Something Like Sound

Background: 1090 Club has been a busy group. Since I first saw the band two years ago, opening for Waking Ashland, they’ve toured extensively and put together a brand new record called Natural Selection. When I first saw 1090 Club, they caught my attention with their non-traditional setup and distinct sound. Of all the indie bands out there, 1090 Club is one of the few groups I know of that employs extensive piano and violin, while shunning the bass guitar.

After seeing 1090 Club again last week (this time opening for The Appleseed Cast), I noticed that something about them had changed: they had intensified and focused their sound. A few days later our music blog “Something Like Sound” was contacted by the band’s label with an offer to review the yet-to-be-released record Natural Selection. The record is an exciting mix of rock, indie, and pop that will appeal to fans of The Get Up Kids, Modest Mouse, and similar acts.

Best Song: This is really a toss up, there are a number of great tracks on the record. Narrowing it to two, “ITSON” and “Happiness” stand out and help establish the first half of the album. “ITSON” has some of the catchiest lyrical hooks I’ve heard on an opening song in a while, in addition to the in-your-face beats and instruments that kick open the first track. “Happiness” is another hard-hitting mix of violin, guitar, piano, drums and vocals. With a good dynamic, this track uses layering to emphasize lyrics during verses and instrumentation during the chorus.

Song To Skip: Ironically, a song titled “Skipping” is the track to skip. It’s not that it’s a bad song, it simply is more laid back than the rest of the album, wandering between heavy instrumental interludes and reverb-laden vocals. The hard-to-follow format of the song causes it to blend into the back end of the album.

Final Thoughts: After seeing 1090 Club perform with intensity and vigor, it’s nice to see that their sophomore release lives up to the sound of their live show. They definitely have an easily accessible, yet distinct sound that will certainly take them a long way in the music world.

Listen to “ITSON” right here!

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Special thanks to 1090 Club and Noel at SideCho Records for helping us bring you this early review

Natural Selection comes out March 24, 2009