Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Name: Staggered Crossing
Album: Burgundy & Blue
Released: 2004
Members:
Julian Taylor - vocals & guitar
Dan Black - bass
Dave Marshall - guitar
Jeremy Elliott - drums

Website: www.staggeredcrossing.com
Favourite Song: grow (Track 2)

Okay, so I met JT (Julian) in the summer of 2006 because I was unemployed at the time, and he was being hired to do some promo stuff for a band I was trying to help rep. The business end of the deal turned out sour only because you should never trust a wannabe rock star with a stackload of cash. But the good part was I did get to be introduced to really cool band, and Staggered Crossing would be it. Sadly I never did get to see them play live, two of my friends were able to make it to one of their shows, and I just read on their page that the band is on an indefinite hiatus.

Rock, Alternative, Blues. I never understood what would be considered Blues. It was my impression that blues music was depressing songs about breaking up with your girlfriend or other similar topics that would make grown men cry. This album doesn’t remind me of grown men crying, the songs lyrics are kind of down, but the music is pretty up-beat… But I’m not very hip with all sorts of terms for music. I’ll take the Rock and Alternative though. Honestly? Staggered Crossing is good music. No matter what you try to label it as.

Like I said earlier, the songs on this album… now let’s see how much of my Grade 12 English I have retained, are a bit of a dichotomy if you compare the lyrics to the music. The lyrics, if you read them in the liner notes, are pretty sad. There are songs that talk about saying goodbye, and how tough things are, how down you are etc. But the music, almost doesn’t match the lyrics. The music to me sounds quite upbeat and happy. I don’t realize half the time the songs are meant to be sad songs until I sit and read the lyrics away from listening to the album.

Honestly I feel a little embarrassed posting this review so late. I meant to write this almost a year ago when I first started this site, and just never had a chance to. And I’ve had Burgundy & Blue in my car CD rotation more than once for months at a time. But I wouldn’t have a problem playing songs like these anywhere. Maybe my next work-related lunch party I’ll play them this album, just so I can say “I know the guy who’s singing!”

Name: Wensday Album: Torch Rock Released: 2006 Members: Wensday, Dick Wagner, Bobby Flores, Randy Reinhard, Fred Mandel, Jim Kalson, Alex Cyrell, Raul Yanez, Dan Tomlinson, Susan Michelson, Diana Lee, Jessica Cyrell… and others. (Sorry to everyone whom I’ve missed!) Website: www.wensdaymusic.com Record Label: Desert Dreams Records Favourite Song: Bulldog Blues (track

When I opened my package in the mail from Wensday… or her publicist (to be honest I can’t remember by now) the first thing I noticed was the art work. I’m pretty “into” the tattooing scene & piercing scene, and it struck me as being pretty obvious the logo for Wensday on the main cover was a tattooist’s drawing. There’s just a style there. It therefore no longer surprised me as much, that Wensday has also worked as a professional body piercer in big cities in the States.

iTunes listed Wensday as Blues, while Myspace listed Wensday as Indie, Alternative & Rock. I wouldn’t know what to classify Wensday’s music either to be honest. It’s kind of bluesy, kind of jazzy, depends on the song to be honest. Showing great range and dynamics is rare, considering how many radio pop hits are all cookie cutter songs with a simple change in lyrics. Ed the Sock (Canadian celebrity of sorts) said it best once when he claimed a band just bought a thesaurus to write their latest hit.

Songs on Torch Rock are diverse as the jobs Wensday has carried in the past. Every song kind of sucks you into the story the lyrics unfold, and I love story-telling songs. The more slow ballad songs sit and make you think. The up-tempo songs are all uplifting and make you happy. The inspirational songs tell stories about overcoming all sorts of things.

I don’t know where I could listen to Torch Rock in full, other than on the computer or in the car. Select songs I would play during parties of a drinking & dancing & having a good time theme, and other songs I would play during parties of a sit-down dinner and conversation setting. It’s very debatable about a full album experience.

P.S. to all the North Americans, turn your clock back one hour Saturday Night! Whoo! Go-go sleeping in!

Name: The Crawling Kingsnakes Album: Shed your Skin Released: 2005 Members: Chris Belanger - bass Jesse Parker - vocals Christian Bonner - guitar Michael Bonner - guitar Bobby Parker - drums Website: www.crawlingkingsnakes.com Favourite Song: Teenage Queen (track 2)

Rock. Blues. Country. I’ll definitely agree with the rock and country. I just don’t know enough about Blues to be able to say yay or nay. But what I hear about The Crawling Kingsnakes? It’s got that country feel. Not the hokey cheesy country that everyone always thinks about when they go “eww, country!” but the cool country that you can dance to without being in square formations.

I never want to say that music sounds like country, because it almost seems like it’s an insult considering how many people are so uneducated about the fact that country music can still sound good. The songs on Shed your Skin are pretty relaxing. Nothing too heavy or loud, and just sort of flow together. I hear things that I’ve heard before so they probably sampled something at some point, but they did it well so it’s nice. In my opinion nothing really sticks out, but I’m giving this album a few more listens because I often like music that can blend into the background. It’s somewhat unfortunate that nothing sticks out to me when I give a listen though.

Alright, I would still listen to The Crawling Kingsnakes at a country bar, or somewhere where there are unfinished wood floors, cowboy boots and peanut shells. But that doesn’t make me a horrible person. It’s fitting. It would work. I just can’t get my feet into cowboy boots.