July 12
You should take this opportunity to check out Massachusetts' The Casual Lean.
Formed in 2003, The Casual Lean have been making waves around New England, and now their debut album SWEARS will soon be rocking stores across the US.
Swears was recorded and produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou at Godcity, his Salem, MA based recording studio.
The Casual Lean's angular -- indie rock sound isn't exactly what you'd imagine someone like Ballou latching onto; but as they say, opposites attract and Ballou has been talking about them (like in that link to an interview with hardcore/metal webzine Lambgoat.com) since they recorded the album over 2 years ago.
The Casual Lean's Swears is due in stores July 17th, 2007. Check out 3 songs from the album on the band's MySpace profile. Mammoth's review of Swears will be posted in the next week or two, and for the record... the 4th song on the album, "Bye Bye Pilot" is nothing less than amazing.
Posted by Sean-Michael on Mon, June 25, 2007 @ 11:26:00 PM
Leave a Comment
July 12
THE CASUAL LEAN "Swears" (Orange Peal)
Review by Corey Schmidt
If I was a member of THE CASUAL LEAN, I'd probably want to swear too. After all, the band has been sitting on its full-length debut, the bluntly titled Swears, for two years and counting. Subjects of failed recording contract negotiations, the band pressed on and, despite the fact that the band has essentially been given the shaft up until now, chose to properly release the album with Orange Peal. And it's a good thing because Swears is a bouncy and witty album with an emphasis on good times, angular riffage, and shaky rhythms. The band roars out the gates in "The Bride" where the vocalist dominates a chorus with his slightly gruff yet inviting style in a rather quick manner. His performance throughout the record is just as consistent with standouts coming in "Torch" (a story about his grandparents' legacy) and the mid-tempo, climactic "The Deer." "Third Degree Burns" is probably the sexiest track the band has written thus far with its added synthesizer notes while "The Blackout" tempts with the guitarists' more technical and shifty axework, not to mention the gang vocals and clever lyrics ("and when they tell us to save a little face, we tell them that's why we don't shave"). It's a shame Swears hasn't had a proper release until now because it's a damn impressive debut that's somewhere in-between the rougher post-punk passages of THE PHOTO ATLAS and the new-wave stylings of BLOC PARTY. Considering the age of the songs, I wouldn't be surprised to see an even greater follow-up from THE CASUAL LEAN on the horizon.
www.orangepeal.com
Leave a Comment
June 25
This group pulls out the same emotive and powerful brand of rock. Vocalist Justin reminds me of someone I can't quite pinpoint it at the moment, with his strong, yet subtle voice that somehow knows when to fall apart and break or just break through with a howl. This is most evident on my favorite track Keep It On which is a massive buildup tune that relies on strings, guitar and the chorus to propel it.
There is something comforting about this band, although they have similarities to other classic indie bands; they somehow take ownership of this instead of hiding behind it. The group has made an excellent record and is definitely one to keep an eye and ear on. This was a CD I almost passed over, the cover was boring and the name was sort of interesting, but not enough to get me to sit and listen to it. Then one day it came up on random in my player, and I thought Who is this? It sure sounds like somebody I have heard before, but I don't know for sure.
Needless to say, this record is one that will grow like a weed in your player. It will keep coming back no matter how much you take it out, yet it will somehow magically reappear and will be there in the background until you finally realize, it isn't a weed at all, but instead, a beautiful flower. Do yourself a favor and start leaning on The Casual Lean!!!
~ Wayne
June 24 2007
SkyLinePress.net
Leave a Comment
view all 3 posts
gooliaaaaa
you guys are wicked good. come down to oxford MA and
play for us :]
posted Jul 18
dane_julia
nice song
posted Jul 18
taintedxxlove
you guys sound really good.
posted Jul 17
Anna Belle
i love ur music itz awesome :)
posted Jul 16
NJBASSKAT
best band ever, mcr might loose their power, becuase
you guys are incredible!!! -kandyce
posted Jul 16
cleveridiot
WOOHOO!
posted Jul 16
NJBASSKAT
thanks for sharing so much awesome music, other bands
are selfish. -kandy
posted Jul 14
gracieeexcore
I had NO IDEA you guys were local. that makes my day
SO MUCH you have no idea
posted Dec 18