Oranges Band
All Around
Lookout!
The Oranges Band play what we have all come to know as “garage rock.” I use the term loosely, seeing that the current movement of mooks like The Strokes, White Stripes and the like aren’t really playing “garage” rock, as their simple songs seem crafted for enjoyment in arenas and on radio airwaves, rather than the garage. Luckily for us, Oranges Band seem to have a pretty firm grasp on their roots as indie/punk rockers. Their more jangly version of this tired genre is actually quite a welcome surprise.
All Around is an up-beat look at all that garage rock can be, reminding the listener why garage rock is supposed to be fun. The lead singer has a really passive-aggressive voice; his Matthew Sweet/Jakob Dylan vocal style seems pretty laid back, but it’s actually rather biting and powerful. The guitars are the real stars of the show, though, as they really spice things up and get the blood flowing. I guess it would be easy to compare these guys to a more modern and intricate version of The Kinks.
If you’re looking for indie-cred, this band is headed up by the former bassist of the wonderful and mighty band Spoon. The fact that such an established band is in the past of this group seems to explain why this record has a kind of unspoken maturity to it; it isn’t quite obnoxious, but isn’t old and tired, either. Garage rock is not my cup of tea, but I found myself liking All Around quite a bit.
Lookout! Records: http://www.lookoutrecords.com/
