Reeve Oliver is one of those bands that slips under
the radar for a while and then drops into the mainstream out of nowhere and
surprises everyone.They have even been seen playing with the likes of Taking
Back Sunday, Rufio, Yellowcard, The Aquabats, Thrice, and many other major
players in the underground and mainstream scene. Comparisons to Jawbox, Jimmy
Eat World, and other indie notables immediately come to mind when listening to
this self released record, but don't limit yourself to thinking that these guys
are just another indie/emo band; they are far from it at times.
The
recording is very well done, and for an indie release is far beyond anything
I've heard lately. The songs are well written and have catchy hooks here and
there, and make you want to sing along and dance a bit upon second and third
hearings. The formula is of course tired, but doesn't seem worn out here. Sean
O'Donnell's (Dogwood) vocal delivery fits perfectly with the music which never
misses a beat and uses no "fancy" mechanics that are present in most indie rock
music these days. This is as good as it gets as far as song writing goes. I use
the term indie loosely here, because it transcends mere indie. There's little to
no flaws on this record, and I look forward to many other records in the future
from this amazing trio.
Rating: 9 out of 10
