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SeepeopleS
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Columbia Daily Tribune, April 2007 Review: Apocalypse Cow Vol. IThe Massachusetts band SeepeopleS lists as its influences everything from Beta Band to Pink Floyd to Radiohead, but if band members tried to emulate such sonically distinct groups, they'd certainly fail. Fortunately, they didn't. Instead, the 17-track album seems to capture the musical concepts of the influences, wrap them all together and infuse them with an essence of alt-country. The cover alone should have been an indication that listeners expecting a rip-off of "OK Computer" would have been "OK Wrong," with the image of a haloed bovine in sepia tints more rustic than rock. The album plays like multiple albums in one, leaving you to wonder 40 minutes in whether you're still listening to the same band. A sign that it lacks cohesion? Far from it. Instead, it shows a range that the band has seemed to acquire for its third album, set for release Tuesday. Lyrically, lead singer Will Bradford's soft-toned voice carries well from the opening rocker "Don't Panic" to closers like "Last Breath." The transition is perhaps made easier because the album goes from panicked rock to soothed acceptance of the lack of control in life to systems and machines, both literal and figurative. Musically, the influences are often apparent, if not obvious. The exception is on songs that take on the SeepeopleS' natural groove, which hints at a little twang. Floyd with a twang? Sounds sketchy, but it works. Recommended tracks: "Don't Panic," "Stranded on the Sidewalk," "Last Breath." By Mary T. Nguyen |
Apocalypse Cow Vol. I