Something For Kate
Echolalia
Sony
Massive in Australia but nobodies everywhere else, Something For Kate are about to be unleashed on the world – this is their third album overall, but their first one to be released internationally. God knows why – if this had come out two years ago, when it was released domestically, it would have set the Billboard charts on fire. In 2003, however, who knows?
Not that they don’t deserve to, mind. While they sound like an acoustic Creed at their worst, they more than make up for their sins on the majority of the tracks. They are a far more subtle and exciting proposition than most stadium-sized US rock bands these days. Main man Paul Dempsey fronts the band and writes the songs, but all three of them seem to be equally important with regards to the final outcome – bassist Stephanie Ashworth plays with intricate, subtle attitude, while Clint Hyndman pounds away like the hardcore guy he used to be.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to latter-day Pearl Jam, an imagined classy Counting Crows or even a much more exciting Dave Matthews. But really, Something For Kate offer something unique in the midst off all this. Dempsey’s songs are often great – easy to like, and layered enough to reveal something new even after repeated listening. The band’s inventive approach add to their longevity and their charm, and you’ll find this far less annoying than you’d reasonably expect from lessons taught by modern rock radio.
The band’s performances, in fact, are their strongest card, and the one that’ll ensure they rise above most competitors. Even if today’s musical climate isn’t too recipient to his style of music – and thankfully so – the sheer talent of Something For Kate demand that they should be noticed and that their already sizable fan base will continue to grow, even on an international level.
Something For Kate: http://www.somethingforkate.com
