Album Reviews
To be completely honest, it’s been incredibly
difficult writing this. Trying to pinpoint the sound
or genre that Denison Marrs fits into isn’t as easy
it sounds. They’ve got wailing vocals, but they’re
not ‘emo’ or hardcore. They’re melodic and eerie, but
they’re not exactly ambient. They’ve got diversity
and appeal, and those are both things that a lot of
bands lack. They appeal to the snobby indie kids with
fancy hair, the church youth groups… shoot, they even
appeal to your mom.
The Central Florida based five piece has been
creating their own un-definable form of rock and roll
since 1995, playing all over the United States. Their
newest self-titled release on Floodgate Records (home
to Forever Changed and Cool Hand Luke) in short is a
beautiful piece of art. Denison Marrs has
accomplished a lot in almost years – a tour with
Stavesacre (and a split EP) and have even shared
stages with Blindside, David Crowder Band, and As I
Lay Dying at the annual Cornerstone Festivals.
The 10 song album isn’t exactly covering new ground,
but merely reviewing their style deeper with more
style and grace. Denison Marrs’ albums include “Then
is the New Now,” “Holding Hands at 35,000 Feet,” and
the critically acclaimed “World Reknown for Romance”.
All seem as mere building blocks to their newest
album, which is by far one of the best and strongest
of their works.
There surprisingly seem to be no bum tracks, which
are easily expected once a band has been around for a
while. The only slight annoyances found in the album
are repetition, such as in “Moving Slowly”. Sometimes
the album can tend to get a little intense, which
almost is an oxy moron due to its mellow vibe. This
album covers more of life, and the lyrics seem to
have a rosy tint to them. The standout tracks include
“The Right Time,” “Dancing Over Me,” and “Last Hope,”
though all the songs convey a positive message of
friends, love, faith and hope. |
~
Thea ICT
Long under-rated, the band was given the opportunity by Floodgate
Records to write and hammer out each song in a group effort,
to a satisfying payoff. Thus the simple title, calling it
"very true to who they are as a band, at this time in their
lives." Long time fans will find this offering less emo than
past efforts, more of a modern rock feel. The same tight
rhythm section prevails, the same raw energy and moody
soundscapes, but the lyrics are a bit more life-oriented,
covering basics like everyday life, love, and faith.
Providing the lyrics with the CD would have made this music
even more accessible, but that may not be a goal, I don't
know. Catchy hooks and lead singer Eric Collins' passionate
vocals lead me to believe otherwise. "Dancing Over Me" with
its throbbing guitars and yearning vocals is a standout, as
is the slowly building "Burn Bright". This just may get
these guys some long deserved recognition.
~
Kevan Breitinger
Denison
Marrs(Homepage)
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