The Prime - Listen

​The Prime

Listen
​self-released; 2023

By Matt Jensen

I always love a good comeback story and The Prime qualifies. The band first formed in 2009 and quickly got work making music. In 2010 they released their first album and in 2012 followed up with their second album. I’m not sure of the details but it would be about ten years before they got back together to collaborate once again for the album Listen. I couldn’t find their first two albums on major platforms but their most recent is certainly there.

The first thing I need to mention is the production. This is the kind of production I think fits with rock music. I don’t know about you but I’ve been feeling like almost all popular music is sounding quantized and locked into a grid. These recordings strike a nice balance. It sounds like a band playing live together in a room but the mix sounds just about perfect. For me if you get a good drum and bass sound the rest usually falls into place and the rhythm section on Listen is dynamic, rich and robust.

As far as the album goes Listen is compact and doesn't contain an ounce of fat. The total run time is a little over a half-an-hour but also contains nine songs. Out of those nine songs there were a couple that stuck out to me. 

“Nova'' comes off the gates with an energy that’s somewhat reminiscent of My Morning Jacket. I love it when a band does this trick of letting the guitars and bass dip for about a second while the drums and vocals stay steady. When this is executed well as heard on “Nova” you get some magic. The verse then seques into an expansive chorus. This song got my adrenaline pumping. There’s something about it that makes you feel like you can conquer anything.

Another standout track was the title track “Listen.” This is a gritty one and I desperately want to know how to get such a distorted bass sound without sounding harsh, which is often the case. Beside the bass tone the song is just a blast. It’s a little dark and misty but also contains a chorus that will make you want to learn the lyrics.

“Bring It Back” felt like the most technically impressive song. Kudos to the drummer for knocking it out of the park. That drum beat drove the song. The guitar and bass work is nothing to scoff at either. This felt like a song that needed to be experienced live.

​Rock music seems to be going the way of the dodo at least in terms of the Billboard charts. The Prime is doing their part to keep that flame alive. Two thumbs up.

theprimechicago.com

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