Strange Cut band leader and bassist Rob Dessimoz from Richmond, Virginia has coaxed a cohesive collaboration with guitarists Nathan Burns (Mexico City, Mexico), Josh Schmidt (Washington, D.C.) and Andrew Hylton (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), as well as lead vocalist and lyricist Jarrod Brown (also from Richmond). A “continent spanning labor of love” made possible by home studios and Dropbox. This kind of collaboration wouldn’t have even been possible some years ago, without all band members being physically present in one recording studio. The band’s first full length outing, Strange As It Seems, was self-recorded and mixed/mastered by Ohana Sound Studio. The debut album is a collection of songs about romance and regret. From murder ballads to chaotic spoken word, to “an ode to baby making music.” The 12-tracks display a range of rhythms, wandering melodies and smokey vocals. At its core is an eclectic record made by guys with music taste that was “exploded” by the Napster era. Generally speaking, you’ll hear a mix of alternative, grunge, rock and indie styles.
“Backlit Gown” opens up the album with meaty bass lines, low drum grooves and funky beats, not to mention searing guitar riffs. My first impression of Strange Cut makes me think of bands like Fastball and Queens of the Stone Age, and solo artists like Leonard Cohen, and maybe Gerry Rafferty. Next up “You Poor Devil” steps things up with a quick rocking sound – part heavy rock, part grunge – featuring catchy guitar riffs and some fantastic drum fills! At this point already, you wouldn’t know it that this quartet recorded this album in four different locations. “Shotgun Reasons” features sultry guitar/bass grooves and a more upfront lead guitar. I really liked the drum beat to this one a lot. In fact, I like everything about his song – especially the solo parts in between the words. Lyrically, the band sings about “the lady in the lake” which I think is some old-time fantasy story, like from centuries ago. “Hail Mary” has a very different sound and style. I would say more on the side of traditional alternative with elements of spooky dark rock grooves – whatever that may be. Great tune in my opinion. “Say What You Will” offers a fantastic guitar sound – fuzzy, heavy and warm. There’s also some wood or wooden percussion sounds, hand claps, acoustic guitar, synths and piano, giving this song a lot of great textures and variety. I would recommend listening to this one. Mirroring the last track is “Say What You Want” and this one is heavy. I mean, the bass/drum rhythm just pounds at the heart – it sounds so good – and the guitar solo? Whoa! There are some classic rock elements to be had here. Give this one a try and turn it up – I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it. “Snake Feet” is another track that offers the listener a different sound and style. It has a soulful/R&B vibe in some way, with a sexy, mysterious and funky groove. Great number all around. The next track “Black Kerouac” – not to be confused with Jack – has got a big, fat bass sound and a fast, funky beat. There’s also a nice contrast between the rhythm and lead guitars. “Tangents” is another great song with a mysterious sound, coming off dark and brooding. There’s something old school about this track that I really like. It has elements of early alternative and new wave. Familiar musical elements, but with a fresh sound. “Trigger Happy Love” features a pop musical style, but with dark edges. Lyrically, it’s about a love story of a different kind – I think it involves stalking. Musically, there’s a lot of great stuff going on here – a different guitar sound, tambourine and a very catchy, radio friendly, rock melody. “After Thoughts” starts off in yet another direction. The drumbeats are varied, Jarrod Brown the vocalist, narrates the song in a Kerouac beat poet style, while another vocal track hangs lightly in the background. The song changes tempo closer to the song’s end with a heavy, sludgy beat and a scratchy sounding guitar. The song ends with the sound of a static popping, well used vinyl record playing, which transitions into the last track, “Rapture.” This song ends things in a fast, frenzied indie rock style and a crazy number of fast drum fills, bass lines and chord changes. The band really has a crazy amount of energy here and not one moment where they catch their breath. A memorable track. Strange Cut states that maybe they should have stuck with a style and question if anyone even listens to albums anymore? Well, I for one still do, and highly recommend listening to this entire album. I think you’ll find that this band, with their “rag-tag” way of recording songs in their own home studios and exchanging them on Dropbox, makes for something original and fresh. I understand people often look for just a few songs that they can put on their own playlist, but if you have more than just a few moments to spare, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with Strange As It Seems.
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