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So there's this new band outta Oakland, CA called Rogue Wave. They've just put out their very first CD, Out of the Shadow, on their own Responsive Recordings label, and already they're racking up impressive opening act slots for bands like Spoon, The Clientele, and Mates of State! And that kinda makes you want to hate them, am I right?
But then you listen to the music, and it's no wonder they're getting slotted with such amazing bands: these guys are really amazing themselves. Rogue Wave is the brainchild of former Desoto Reds member, Zach Rogue, who wrote and performed pretty much everything on this release himself with the help of a handful of friends. (He's since recruited a full band, featuring Gram LeBron formerly of Schrasj, Sonya Westcott and Pat Spurgeon.)
These songs rock out like Paul Simon joined Elephant 6: lotsa cool noisy and experimental stuff going on, but the hook-filled melodies and the gorgeous harmonies call to mind 1960's-pop-classics. (Zach sounds especially Paul Simon-esque on tracks like "Be Kind & Remind" or "Man-Revolutionary!".) Elliott Smith fans would also enjoy melancholy acoustic tracks like "Kicking the Heart Out" and "Perfect". On the whole disc, only "Postage Stamp World" loses my interest with its country-riffic shuffle-along slide-guitar style. But all in all, just an incredible debut release! (janice.09.03)
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