sidewave - big time

Sidewave

Big Time
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Sidewave is a four-piece band consisting of Phil Golyshko (guitars/vocals), William Collins (guitars/synths), Matt Russell (bass) and Brandon Dickert (drums/vocals) that released high-quality demo versions of their upcoming album that they have entitled Big Time. The band upon release of this material stated, “the main objective of this album was to be heavy and beautiful at the same time” and this is something they achieve throughout the album. The most blatant example of this is the way the guitar riffs full of distortion contrast against the reverb-laced lead vocals. Big Time would have sounded a lot less appealing if the lead singer (Golyshko) had a typical exaggerated voice that sounds somewhere between Eddie Vedder and a trucker that has been on the road for too long. Instead the vocals are soothing, attractive and even at times they sound ethereal and angelic. Somewhere between Sigur Ros and My Bloody Valentine.

The first song we are introduced to is “Honest to God,” which starts off with a rocking riff you would hear from a band like Queens Of The Stone Age. The verse is hard while the chorus feeds into their vision by creating a shoegazey veil of white noise that lends itself to beauty. They pull off a great opener that has elements of 90’s alternative band and got me amped for what else they can create.

The good tunes continue with “Sun Drop” as Golyshko delivers an inspired vocal performance against the crashing drums and distorted guitars. As much as I enjoyed the parts that rocked I enjoyed the cerebral moments even more. A bit before the three- minute mark the guitars are loosely picked and a constant kick drum provides a sparse canvas for the vocals to really shine within the harmonies.

“Unkind” reaches grandiose heights in hard rock fashion while “New Attacks” contains an ample amount of kinetic energy.
They end with their most accomplished track called “This Is Who You Are,” which is one of those songs that keeps getting higher when you think it has nowhere else to go.

Fans of 90’s alternative band like Hum, Shiner and even The Smashing Pumpkins will eat this up. I am eagerly anticipating their full-length as their demo sounds better than a majority of albums I have heard this year.

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