We have a hot three piece band out of Gainesville
Florida for you this week.This is a very original band with some great music to bring us.The thing thats holding them back is CASH,as with a lot of indie artist.If you want to help them out pick up a copy of the CD.We can tell you about a CD,but there is nothing like hearing it.If we can help you decide that this CD is your style of music, then we've done our part.So we'll tell you about the Crustacean CD,and if you want to know more and maybe listen to a tune by Crustaceans click here.
D.C.-This is a rockin' number with a super bass line.
Samantha has lead vocals in this tune that has some extremely tight breaks.I felt the vocals could have been a bit crisper and louder.A great party tune and a good opening high energy tune.(!!!!)
C.S.-Very good tune to use to open up an album.This track has a driving groove(especially the bass part)
that keeps you wanting more.The breaks throughout are very tight.(!!!!)
TRACK 2
Horse Farm
D.C.-The tempo on this one is slowed down but the groove is still there.I liked the swapping of the lead vocals from female lead to male lead.I also like the rhythm guitar part in the bridge,solid strumming.
The drummer is tight and builds a solid foundation for the tune with the bass.(!!!!)
C.S.-"Horse Farm" is a lot lighter and softer than track 1.It has a very original sound to it.The break about 3/4 through the song is what puts this song above average.(!!!!)
TRACK 3
Indie Rock Girl
D.C.-This tune has an excellent vocal track loud and clear,with some cool lyrics.The Crustaceans have a solid rhythm section,so far what I find lacking in their tunes are a lead instrument(guitar,keys,sax,
etc.).They carry the melody line with solid rhythm guitar.It is almost punk styling but more complex. Give it a listen see what you think.(!!!)
C.S.-This tune is very fast and high energy.So far the tracks on the album have been completely different,almost like three different bands.This track is sadly lacking in the original department.It isn't a bad tune,it's just been done many times before.(!!)
TRACK 4
Tour Song
D.C.-This song starts out weak with some unique,but simplistic guitar.It improved about 3/4 through which was too late.The high point is it was a short tune. (!!)
C.S.-Decent tune with some good chord work.It is kind of bland and non-changing though.Not quite the quality that I know this band can produce.(!!)
TRACK 5
Just A Horse
D.C.-This tune had a Phish-esque flavor to it.I really enjoyed this tune and I can certainly see this tune getting some serious air-play.It had a good solid sound with a strong drive to it.Well worth picking up the album for.(!!!!!)
C.S.-I like the idea of a long complex sounding intro."Just a Horse" is almost more of an instrumental with small displays of vocals.It is definitely a rare sound.(!!!)
TRACK 6
3AM Courage
D.C.-This one brings a new touch with acoustic and electric rhythm guitar.The vocals were exceptional as were the lyrics.Masters of rhythm guitar based tunes.
(!!!)
C.S.-I really like the idea of using just guitars and voice.This is very collected and real.It shows that the band can make even basic songwriting sound good. (!!!!)
TRACK 7
New Waltz
D.C.-We seem to be forming a pattern here,another outstanding tune.This one has some serious studio dubbing in it,the vocals are layered and sound fantastic.The guitar is also layered and it adds a great deal of depth and color.The bass and drum tracks are excellent.(!!!!!)
C.S.-Track 7 highlights the vocalist.The vocal harmonies sound very good.I think the other instruments do an excellent job of backing the voice. The biggest thing this number lacks in is length.It is too short and ruins the whole vibe of the song.
(!!)
TRACK 8
Snake Cage
D.C.-This is another solid tune with much more dynamics and awesome drumming.The guitar is actually forming the melody line in this tune.If they keep improving on this album they are going to blow us away.(!!!!!)
C.S.-The first true use of distorted guitar and driving riffs are the showcase for "Snake Cage". Excellent use of syncopated rhythms to add some spice.Unfortunately lack of length is an issue.
(!!!!)
TRACK 9
Letter to an American Citizen
D.C.-This tune has a bluesy feel to it,which shows some diversity and versatility in the musicians.It has a slow groove that ends abruptly and goes into the next track.(!!!)
C.S.-Cool accentuating jazz chords really punctuate the strong vocal performance heard here.I really hate to say this again but it is way too short! (!!!)
TRACK 10
Art Show
D.C.-This is another gem that has some intriguing sounds.It falls into the alternative pop catergory.
The high point is the interesting guitar which carries the tune.(!!!!)
C.S.-The guitar and bass parts are what really caught my attention on track 10.After the chorus a lot of the bass notes are not the chordal root notes.It gives an extremely original feel to the song.Also,the guitar player uses some defining effects on his playing.This number also uses male and female vocals to further extend the cool factor.My favorite pick of the album.(!!!!!)
TRACK 11
Lucky Day
D.C.-This tune also has the rhythm guitar work that has become a signature for the band.The focus seems to be on that and the rest is just for color.It is a good foundation to build from.(!!!)
C.S.-The guitar work is very clean and distinct on this track.The vocal style goes together best with this style of guitar playing.(!!)
TRACK 12
Song For Socks
D.C.-This tune would have been a super surf tune if they would have cranked some reverb to it.I guess I'm trying to add something that the band doesn't want or need.It's only my opinion,you can form your own.
(!!)
C.S.-Upbeat feel on this.The outro is very different and manages to grab some interest on this average track.More dynamics would have helped.(!!!)
TRACK 13
Waltz
D.C.-Now,we have another excellent rockin' tune.The guitar work has a much greater depth and breadth. There is also a bit more dynamics.It has a strange title since I don't consider the tune a "waltz".
(!!!!)
C.S.-The most original waltz I've ever heard.The syncopation makes you want to think it is in 4/4 time,but it is in a very distinct 3/4.It is a nice audio illusion.One of the stronger tracks on the album.(!!!!!)
TRACK 14
Ecstacy
D.C.-I loved the bass guitar work in this tune,it carried the song nicely.The rhythm guitar,in this one, was laid back and accentuated the tune much better.I can see this tune getting air play too.
(!!!!)
C.S.-The vocal effect is a nice touch.This number has a good intro and rhythmic definition throughout.
(!!!)
TRACK 15
Summer
D.C.-Wow!That's the only word to describe the transformation that takes place in this tune.The guitar opens with some country-tinged finger pickin'.
Then Samantha comes in with some powerful bluesy vocals.Crustaceans have a few tricks left in their bag.Tops in originality.(!!!!)
C.S.-There is a hint of country on the main guitar lick.The vocals use the alternating male and female approach.Even though the main guitar lick is country sounding the female vocals have a hint of jazz in them.I don't like the way the ending was put together,it just cuts out.It doesn't fit this track at all.Overall,a good tune.(!!!!)
TRACK 16
Strawberry
D.C.-This tune doesn't have the originality of the prior track in the intro.Then 3/4 of the way through the tune the rhythm guitar goes into a heavy metal chord thrashing that jolts the listeners attention back.(!!!)
C.S.-Very cool alternative/fusion blend.This song keeps a driving groove.The vocals are again male and female alternating which really is a strong original appeal for the band.This song changes drastically into a kick ass guitar riff-fest at the end that puts this song over the top.It also showcases the guitar players ability.Another one of my favorites on the album.(!!!!!)
TRACK 17
Why for Now
D.C.-This tune sounds a bit confusing,its like they didn't know if they were going after alternative or country sound.Then they throw some overdrive guitar power chords in for spice.I've got to give them credit for being ballsy.(!!!)
C.S.-This track starts out very bland and unoriginal but in the tradition of "Strawberry" it adds some flair with some heavily distorted guitar riffs that grab the listeners attention.This track would be worse without that addition.(!!!)
TRACK 18
Clairmel
D.C.-In this tune the listener has to be patient, because the intro is lengthy and a bit repetitious. The song never seems get going,it just drags on in the same two chord progression.(!!)
C.S.-Excellent guitar work on this tune.It is very smooth yet complex.The drummer really adds some flair with some excellent off beat percussive work.The vocals are also original because of their longer drawn out notes.It is very contrasting to the rest of the band and really defines this song as a top notch cut.(!!!!!)
TRACK 19
Lola
D.C.-I thought this might be a cover of Eric Clapton's tune,wrong.It is a rockin' tune with some powerful signature rhythm guitar.The lyrics are a bit off the wall and fit the tune well.(!!!)
C.S.-Good song to end the album with.This song uses the heavy guitar for dynamic appeal and flair.I really think that the lyrics are a little poor.They could use some work.(!!!)
Chris' overall impression:
Bands like this are why so many people use the broad term "alternative" so loosely.The Crustaceans are,for the most part,very original and refreshing.They use the unorthodox chord structures for rock.They couple this with a talented rhythm section and strong vocals (especially the female vocals).The biggest thing this band is lacking is song structure as a whole.A lot of songs were cut short or just really hard to follow. I'm not sure if the song shortening was intentional because it sounds like things were cut to possibly avoid the cost of producing a larger length album. Where the songs are cut short the band tried to make them sound like seamless transitions to the next track with no break in between,but the listener is not easily fooled.To be honest,the no break transition between some of the songs just plain sucked.It is really too bad.If the band had possibly cut out their weaker tracks and inserted longer tracks with more depth and definition this would have been a top notch album.It all comes down to QUALITY over QUANTITY.Please,don't let the Crustaceans negative aspects out weigh their positive ones.I assure you this album does have solid tracks that are really worth listening to because of their original appeal.They are a strong band that simply produced an album with too much substance in between their quality songs,which at times makes it hard to sort through.(!!!!)
Donna's overall impression:
There were some good tunes on this album that will interest and stimulate everybody.I can foresee this band,Crustaceans,as being a cult band.They probably have an elite group of people following their every move.They have an interesting concept of musical arrangement that may not appeal to everyone,though they will surprise many.I will keep a watchful eye on the progression of this band,because I think with time and seasoning they will attain national recognition.I was a bit disappointed because if you visit their website they picture Samantha playing the sax,but I failed to pick it out on this album.Check out the Crustaceans website and pick up the CD,and please give them the feedback that helps all great musicians achieve the greatness they do.(!!!)
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