2016 - Self Released
This is Mascot Theory's third full length album, added to which there was an excellent e.p 'taster' that came out earlier this year and included a tremendous live version of their 'classic' song 'Monterey.' So are there any songs of that quality and epic nature on this new recording? The answer to that is 'yes, most definitely' and not just one but several and the remaining songs on this ten song recording are pretty good as well!
I've seen the band described as 'Americana tinged folk country rock,' which is as good and as accurate as anything I can come up with. Each of those elements can be heard on the disc, (although I'm not too convinced that there is much that can be labeled folk) and dependant on the song, in varying doses, bringing as much variety to this excellent 'rootsy' recording as anyone could wish to hear.
The lineup has remained the same throughout the years the band has existed, consisting of Erik Kjelland, lead songwriter and vocalist as well as acoustic guitar and harmonica, Adam White is on lead guitar and vocal, Nick Fry plays upright bass and vocals and Paul Metz on drums, percussion and vocals. They are helped out on this recording by the skills of Lillie Mae Rische on fiddle, Scarlett Rische on mandolin, Biff Blumfumgagnge also on fiddle, Sam Wilson, pedal steel guitar and Paul Heinecke on horns.
The instrumentation is varied and often quite heavy, but whereas on some albums the vocals would be drowned out, this band is good enough to ensure the blend and balance allow the vocals the space they need to be easily understood. That is obviously an important consideration bearing in mind the excellence of those lead and harmony vocals, and yet thanks to the balance there is still plenty of instrumental colour and variety. Add to that the fact that Erik Kjelland has never written a better collection of songs, all beautifully arranged by the band, and it's relatively easy to work out why so much of their work has that 'epic' quality.
The album gets underway with thudding percussion and a melodic guitar sound on The best is yet to come, soon joined by the expressive lead vocal and excellent harmonies on a quite anthemic song. If the title is correct we're in for a treat because most bands would look on this song as being as good as it can get with its tremendous melody and excellent arrangement and performance. Fault line is a much slower and sparser melodic song with lovely steel guitar and an excellent lead vocal that gradually raises the emotions as do the excellent harmonies on what could well be the catchiest and most 'hooky' song on the album. Maybe this song could be Trust And Bones 'Monterey?' (Look it up!) Your eyes give you away is another strong melodic song, with excellent lead and harmony vocals and a varied instrumentation. The song flows from gentle and melodic and gradually takes on more power and dynamism with keyboards, harmonica and mandolin, alongside the guitars, fiddle, percussion and bass, creating a mini epic in atmosphere. Whilst having a rolling, easy going mid tempo country rock atmosphere, Old time revival is another song that is an exercise in this bands ability to take a good song and imbue it with an epic quality. The tempo changes are partly responsible but the lead and harmony vocals are responsible for so many emotional variations with excellent fiddle and the usual melodic guitars and vocal, supported by harmonica, bass and twangy guitar driving the song on. Right from the start Align has an epic quality, thanks to the regimental percussion, the dynamism of the arrangement and the vocals. There are several varied tempos during the song and the texture and colour changes signal a varied emotional content on this excellent tale that varies from mid tempo down to a slow moodiness, all combining to enhance the emotional content.
I've read and heard that many think this band will be the next 'big thing. Since their first release there has been a consistency of quality; that was up until the release of this tremendous new recording that ups the ante by at least a notch ensuring that the next 'big thing' claim has plenty of substance! An excellent album by a tremendous band.
http://themascottheory.com/
This is Mascot Theory's third full length album, added to which there was an excellent e.p 'taster' that came out earlier this year and included a tremendous live version of their 'classic' song 'Monterey.' So are there any songs of that quality and epic nature on this new recording? The answer to that is 'yes, most definitely' and not just one but several and the remaining songs on this ten song recording are pretty good as well!
I've seen the band described as 'Americana tinged folk country rock,' which is as good and as accurate as anything I can come up with. Each of those elements can be heard on the disc, (although I'm not too convinced that there is much that can be labeled folk) and dependant on the song, in varying doses, bringing as much variety to this excellent 'rootsy' recording as anyone could wish to hear.
The lineup has remained the same throughout the years the band has existed, consisting of Erik Kjelland, lead songwriter and vocalist as well as acoustic guitar and harmonica, Adam White is on lead guitar and vocal, Nick Fry plays upright bass and vocals and Paul Metz on drums, percussion and vocals. They are helped out on this recording by the skills of Lillie Mae Rische on fiddle, Scarlett Rische on mandolin, Biff Blumfumgagnge also on fiddle, Sam Wilson, pedal steel guitar and Paul Heinecke on horns.
The instrumentation is varied and often quite heavy, but whereas on some albums the vocals would be drowned out, this band is good enough to ensure the blend and balance allow the vocals the space they need to be easily understood. That is obviously an important consideration bearing in mind the excellence of those lead and harmony vocals, and yet thanks to the balance there is still plenty of instrumental colour and variety. Add to that the fact that Erik Kjelland has never written a better collection of songs, all beautifully arranged by the band, and it's relatively easy to work out why so much of their work has that 'epic' quality.
The album gets underway with thudding percussion and a melodic guitar sound on The best is yet to come, soon joined by the expressive lead vocal and excellent harmonies on a quite anthemic song. If the title is correct we're in for a treat because most bands would look on this song as being as good as it can get with its tremendous melody and excellent arrangement and performance. Fault line is a much slower and sparser melodic song with lovely steel guitar and an excellent lead vocal that gradually raises the emotions as do the excellent harmonies on what could well be the catchiest and most 'hooky' song on the album. Maybe this song could be Trust And Bones 'Monterey?' (Look it up!) Your eyes give you away is another strong melodic song, with excellent lead and harmony vocals and a varied instrumentation. The song flows from gentle and melodic and gradually takes on more power and dynamism with keyboards, harmonica and mandolin, alongside the guitars, fiddle, percussion and bass, creating a mini epic in atmosphere. Whilst having a rolling, easy going mid tempo country rock atmosphere, Old time revival is another song that is an exercise in this bands ability to take a good song and imbue it with an epic quality. The tempo changes are partly responsible but the lead and harmony vocals are responsible for so many emotional variations with excellent fiddle and the usual melodic guitars and vocal, supported by harmonica, bass and twangy guitar driving the song on. Right from the start Align has an epic quality, thanks to the regimental percussion, the dynamism of the arrangement and the vocals. There are several varied tempos during the song and the texture and colour changes signal a varied emotional content on this excellent tale that varies from mid tempo down to a slow moodiness, all combining to enhance the emotional content.
I've read and heard that many think this band will be the next 'big thing. Since their first release there has been a consistency of quality; that was up until the release of this tremendous new recording that ups the ante by at least a notch ensuring that the next 'big thing' claim has plenty of substance! An excellent album by a tremendous band.
http://themascottheory.com/