Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The Monikers - The Birds

6/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Monikers

The Birds
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5


By Mike Przygoda

The Birds by The Monikers mixes up some great influences into a smart concise EP. There are garage rock influences of bands like The Strokes and Kings Of Leon along with some more jazz-pop stylings of The Sea and Cake and a vocal influence from Patrick Stump. There are lots of catchy melodies and hooks throughout the record.

Two of the strongest elements of the group include their bassist and the harmony vocals that enhance almost every song. The bass tone is smart and fits each song nicely, and the melodic Peter Hook-like lines that are played are catchy and drive each song. The harmony vocals are gorgeous and complement the lead vocal very well, never getting in the way, only magnifying a great melodic line or harmonic progression.

The opening title track is a driving rocker. There are some shoegaze drenched guitars and some dance-y rhythms from the drums that move effortlessly back and forth to half time. The tone of the snare is a little hollow on this track, but it improves as the EP goes on.  “Don’t Know What To Do” opens with an R&B like bass line and drum fill that is a fake out for the dreamy jazzy song that follows. The aforementioned gorgeous backing vocals fill out the space in the verses nicely. The bridge is well constructed and erupts into an excellent guitar solo that sounds like an edgier Jerry Garcia. “Get It To You” has some great, distorted guitar tone throughout.

“Through The Night” is a minor key jam that has the best drum tone on the EP. The closing track “Will To Fight” is a soulful ballad. The piano works and is a good addition to the song, interacting well with the guitar during the break between the first chorus and second verse.

Overall, the band has lots of great strengths going for it between good songwriting and excellent performances. There are some times that the lead guitar is playing a countermelody that is a little busy and distracting from the vocal, but most of the time it works as a an alternative motif. It would be great to hear the band focus on the tone of the instruments a bit more to enhance what is already going on.
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact