Running Violet - You Could Be Dancing

Running Violet

​You Could Be Dancing
self-released; 2016

3.8 out of 5

By J Simpson
​

There is a certain disconnect, an uncanny sense of cognitive dissonance, when you hear music intended to be fun that's been created in a very serious setting. Just think of an ad for some kind of tropical cruise with music that sounds sourced from some sweatshop song factory. Instead of seeming fun and free, it sounds grim, dystopian and entirely counter-intuitive. When we hear music this artificial and disingenuous we recoil, as if from a hot flame or a deadly adder.

This dichotomy strikes right at the heart of the quest for authenticity in this artificial digital world. With godlike/demoniac algorithms dictating and predicting so much of what we see and hear, each and every day, and multimillion dollar marketing campaigns for the most trivial of daily realities, we strive for real, unadorned, unabashed creativity, expression and connection.

Enter Running Violet, a young quartet from Toronto, Canada. You Could Be Dancing is their first release, meant to convey the intimate immediacy of their high-energy rock n' roll. Rather than focusing on demographics and trending tones, The Running Violets have simply dished out six tracks of high-octane frenetic guitar solos and vocal harmonies over a simple rhythmic bedrock. Instead of obsessing over the minutiae of the recording process, The Running Violets worked hard to maintain a mood, to ensure their infectious energy comes across the ether.

And it does, it really does! Running Violet deals in a kind of retro rockabilly with some modern garage flourishes - a bit of reverb, a little twang. Consider title track "You Could Be Dancing" with its reminder "You could be dancing, until the sun starts to shine," which also serves as a kind of mission statement and manifesto for this brand of infectious indie rock.

The final track "So Damn Cold" is a reminder why it matters - "Keep on moving / you've been so damn cold."

For those sick of cynical pop tunes that favor style over substance, or the assumption that we'll buy and listen to anything we're told, Running Violet is here to revive your faith in the power of positive, fun, infectious rock n' roll!

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