 Voice Of Addiction - www.voiceofaddiction.com
Sampler (released 2006)
Self Produced
Interesting...very interesting. There are some great undertones of rockabilly here, but rarely does it get to make an appearance; as well there are some interesting political jabbering going on, but never authoratative enough to make it stick. Voice Of Addiction, hailing from Chicago, play a seemingly sedated mix of pop, punk, rockabilly, ska and...name another fringe genre of punk! The music is tight, but like I said, it's as though the band is fighting to keep a beast under wraps. There are occasions where Voice Of Addiction cuts loose and makes a bit of a rockabilly or ska inspired statement, but it's so rare on this four track disc, that one can become bored. I read through the promo materials that arrived with the album, and I was really excited to hear a new take on rock/punk meets rockabilly and ska, but while the underpinnings for greatness are there, they never really blossom. Most of the time the band offers a slow, think jazzy, approach to their sound. You can pick up on the muted rockabilly sound from vocalist Ian, as he just seems to be a nice fit for that sound. The guitars on the album, while exceptional, lack a certain sonic explosion that comes with a exciting dancable ska hit or a country inspired happy-as-horseshit and corn-fed stomper. I suppose you could probably look at this release from the band as a sort of early eighties retrospective, because sometimes it comes across as something more post-punk. I had high hopes for this disc, but my disappointment should be asailed by the band the day they decide to let fly with the energy they've been holding back on this release. -MG |
