Geffen has a solid find in Ringside and
if they play their cards right, in the long run this band has the makings
for superstardom . This album has radio airplay written all over it, not
because the songs are insipid pop garbage, but because they employ a variety
of elements of past hits and also their hook heavy development; more importantly
the songs don't sound crafted for radio airplay but still grab the listener.
In other words, they have the making of honest hits, not manufactured ones.
To nail down a solid comparison to other
bands is hard since there are many artists you can turn to when drawing
comparisons that range from U2 to Cake and even The Rolling Stones, Beck
and Rod Stewart at some points. But the strongest comparison I drew
upon hearing the full length was to Local H, although the impression changes
drastically as the album progresses. It wasn't a truly sonic comparison,
it was more of an intangible overall feel. However if you take the harder
edge off Local H and mix it with early U2 then you have a peak into what
makes Ringside work. The obvious comparison comes from the fact that both
bands are duos and you can't ignore their knack for melody making.
Where Local H goes for a rawer rock sound, Ringside take their rock and
mix it into a more alt-pop direction but also bring in various influences
and the end result is a finely tuned pop rock gem. But it's more in using
the unconventional and still ended up with a commercially appealing sound.
Two elements really stuck out while listening
to this album for the first time. One is the soulful vocals that deliver
on every track and the second was the range of instrumental influences
that included your basic classic alternative and pop rock but also flamenco,
funk and some blues undercoating. Every track draws on something different
but somehow fit together.
The big drawback on this album is that
the drum tracks sound a bit too artificial. However, despite that, the
songs do work on every other level. I could try and pick some standout
tracks but each song has its own merits and will appeal to different people
for different reasons. The Beck like CD opener "Struggle" sets the tones
for the album with it's unique take on alt-rock but also the hook happy
but understated chorus.
"Cold On Me" is a grab bag of classic rock
influences ranging from the Rod Stewart meets Mick Jagger like vocals to
the Van Morrison like horns but delivered in a modern alt-rock context.
"Tired Of Being Sorry" brings in flamenco
guitar flavor and unforgettable and powerful chorus. The vocals really
shine on this one.
"Strangerman" goes into a classic alternative
direction with the vocals showing shades of Bono meets Jon Crosby (Vast)
with a tinge of Morrissey.
"Trixie" takes things in a little funkier
direction and the plaintive quality of the vocals really carry the verses
but the lack of hooks drag the song down a bit.
"Miss You" is a masterful ballad relying
on minimalism in the instrumentation that really let the vocals shine,
but the artificial drums spoil things a bit as the song picks up, sounding
more distracting than helping the song.
"Dreamboat 730" is a fun mid-tempo alt-pop
track with playful vocals and a cool chorus. The real experimental
magic occurs with "Sleep Well Jeff," it's a bit strange at points but is
ultimately a really cool song.
"Talk To Me" harkens back to classic 80s
alternative pop with a slight Bowie flavor. Not one of the strongest tracks
on the album but it fits nicely into this part of the album.
"Raining Next Door" is slightly off-tilter
alt-pop with sing-song like vocals. The piano ballad "Criminal" really
take things to another level. Another song where the instrumentation is
understated and you can really focus on the vocals. It's easy to see this
song becoming a favorite for fans. While it won't go down as one of the
best ballads in rock history it is one of the better efforts in that arena
over the past decade.
The final track "Jackie" has its charms
with the experimental alternative shadings but doesn't close the album
out on the strongest note possible, however the song does grow on you with
subsequent listens and the genius of the track become more and more apparent
the more you hear it.
All in all, Ringside has accomplished quite
a bit with this debut album. They've crafted an interesting and commercially
appealing collection of songs that do stand apart from the mind numbing
copy-cat songs you hear on radio at the moment. While the band isn't revolutionary
in any respect, they do offer a breath of fresh air in the year 2005 and
provide us with a cool album full of memorable songs. And let's be honest,
that doesn't happen too often in this day and age.
Overall, the band does have the makings
of superstars. This album gives us the first glimpse at that and if they
continue to build upon this foundation and again if the record company
plays their cards right that just may just come to pass. Even if it doesn't
breakout into the mainstream, if you are a fan of the more melodic focused
alternative rock, then you should definitely give Ringside a listen.
Ringside
- Ringside
Label: Geffen
Rating:
Tracks: Struggle
Cold On Me
Tired Of Being Sorry
Strangerman
Trixie
Miss You
Dreamboat 30
Sleep Well, Jeff
Talk To Me
Raining Next Door
Criminal
Jackie
