Scenic Underground - Scenic Underground

Scenic Underground

​Scenic Underground
self-released; 2017

3.7 out of 5

By Ryan Ansel

Los Angeles-based indie rock band Scenic Underground recently released their debut album Do It For Yourself.  

The group describes the album as “British-influenced” pop rock, employing the suaveness of Alex Turner with the catchiness of bands like Oasis and The Black Keys. Frontman Joel Herr wrote the words and foundation of the tracks, as bassist Alfredo 'Alfi' Lucero Canaan and drummer Theron Lynott worked to arrange the songs.

Though this is the first project that the group has put forth, the songs assume a crispness that you usually only find in bands with an abundance of musical chemistry. Not much more stands out beyond the sheer liveliness of the record, but I feel that in time, this group could produce more diverse sounds and acquire a following. 

The songs all pack a punch. Lyrically, Herr discusses love and all of the ups and downs that come with it. 

“Silence In The Sound” is a type of intervention by Herr, approaching someone in a bad relationship as he promises, “Take me and I'll show you all the ways I've found / To never let this world beat you to the ground / Maybe I just found the silence in the sound,” which is subtly poetic and also really comforting. The song is also the singer’s reflection of who he is as a man. 

“The Maker” is one of the most fun tracks on the album. It seems to draw from some country rock influences by the sound of its palm-muted guitar riff during the verse. At the same time, it feels like a Black Keys song with a little more flavor.

​I think that a follow-up record to Do It For Yourself will help the band to signify their sound with more songs and experience playing together. Perhaps, the band will move into a more “indie” direction and dabble in synths and reverb, or maybe they will continue to embrace their British-rock style with different tunes. Either or, I think that this band would benefit a ton from releasing more content in the future to follow this album.

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