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22 December 2023
THE BAND: Formed in 1993, the band consists of Nathan Means (bass/keyboards/vocals), Phil Manely (guitar/keyboards/bass/vocals), and Sebastian Thompson (drums/vocals/bass/guitar/programming).
THE MUSIC: I would like to start this review with an analogy I made up, because that's what I do when I am alone and the power goes out; I make up analogies and play naked chess.
If your basic rock 'n' roll is steak and potatoes, then Trans Am is a sonic smorgasbord of sound. The album starts out with the instrumental "Outmoder", which sounds somewhat like The Breeders on a caffeine trip. The caffeine buzz is cut off with the political "Uninvited Guest", which blends artificial applause with sound clips of George W. Bush, on top of a looming synthesized beat. I like this unique approach to the age-old political song, because Trans Am back off from the in-your-face antics of punk, and let Dubya's buffoonery speak for itself.
As Liberation rolls forward, Trans Am exhibit a wide range of sounds, from '80s synth-pop, to sober acoustic riffs, to eccentric electric guitar solos. From the first track to the last, Liberation has somewhat of a concept album feel, with most songs transitioning seamlessly into the next.
THE VERDICT: I like how the album is essentially instrumental, and how the band is forced to paint a landscape of emotion without the aid of lyrics. The drumming on this disc is phenomenal, and came close to making a 6'4" cracker like me want to get up and dance. The only criticism is the clean, polished sound of the album-- it's so slick you could eat off of it. Now, back to playing naked chess.
THE MUSIC: I would like to start this review with an analogy I made up, because that's what I do when I am alone and the power goes out; I make up analogies and play naked chess.
If your basic rock 'n' roll is steak and potatoes, then Trans Am is a sonic smorgasbord of sound. The album starts out with the instrumental "Outmoder", which sounds somewhat like The Breeders on a caffeine trip. The caffeine buzz is cut off with the political "Uninvited Guest", which blends artificial applause with sound clips of George W. Bush, on top of a looming synthesized beat. I like this unique approach to the age-old political song, because Trans Am back off from the in-your-face antics of punk, and let Dubya's buffoonery speak for itself.
As Liberation rolls forward, Trans Am exhibit a wide range of sounds, from '80s synth-pop, to sober acoustic riffs, to eccentric electric guitar solos. From the first track to the last, Liberation has somewhat of a concept album feel, with most songs transitioning seamlessly into the next.
THE VERDICT: I like how the album is essentially instrumental, and how the band is forced to paint a landscape of emotion without the aid of lyrics. The drumming on this disc is phenomenal, and came close to making a 6'4" cracker like me want to get up and dance. The only criticism is the clean, polished sound of the album-- it's so slick you could eat off of it. Now, back to playing naked chess.
artid
2198
Old Image
6_8_transam.jpg
issue
vol 6 - issue 08 (apr 2004)
section
entertainmental