The Deal: Charlotte rock quartet riding high on recent signing to Deep South Records releases.
The Good: If there’s one thing every music scene seems to be lacking these days, it’s a good dose of solid rock and roll. Psycle might just be that shot in the arm — their songs have enough hooks for radio without sounding cliche or like someone else. The songs have an odd, pop familiarity to them — it’s consistent throughout the album’s 11 tracks (think Godsmack, Daughtry, 3 Doors Down). Nice vocal layering can be found on “Fireflies” and the band offers up a cover of Duran Duran’s “Undone.” Paul Fenner’s vocals show the energy and rough edge you need for rock.
The Bad: I’m an admitted hater of falsetto in 99 percent of the cases, and this is another unfortunate case. The first song has a good groove to its solid rock base, but moments of falsetto border on cheesy. The mix sounds a little rough, giving the album more of a live feel. The bad is wondering if that was intentional or not. There’s slightly weak harmonies on “Tired and Grey.”
The Verdict: While the music has that familiar quality, I also missed something that made them stand out and above the rest. It’s good, but it lacked that memorable quality that makes you say, “Check these guys out because …”
This article appears in Sep 12-18, 2007.
It seems that you said 9 good things about this record, (1 shot in the arm/ 2 their songs have enough hooks for radio without sounding cliche/ 3 or like someone else/ 4 odd, pop familiarity to them/ 5 it’s consistent throughout the album’s 11 tracks/ 6 (think Godsmack, Daughtry, 3 Doors Down)/ 7 Nice vocal layering can be found on “Fireflies”/ 8 Paul Fenner’s vocals show the energy and rough edge you need for rock/ 9 The mix sounds a little rough, giving the album more of a live feel. You only offer 2 flaccid negative critiques. 1 (falsetto in one track that %99 of bands can’t please you with anyway) and 2 you trashed a vocal harmony that sounds “weak” in a song called “Tired and Grey”. Are you proofreading youself? Would you personally sing a really strong harmony on a song with that title? Did you listen to the lyrics? Also, do you think it is fair to discount how intentional a rough, live sounding mix is in this age of protools and impossible perfection on albums today? Why would you not applaud the boldness required to step out of the norm away from the same old same, everything is made perfect mixing that is everywhere today and especially in modern rock? Are not all of the things that you said were good and even some of your “bad” critiques reasons enough to check out this album? How about that this is a local band who was able to get regional label interest with a local recording? If these guys were “riding high” on the first gleam of hope at getting some recognition to and for the Charlotte music scene, you have successfully cut the legs out from under their horse with a poorly thought out and unbalanced review…. which is sadly quite typical. “Shelter from the mainstream” is not a fitting headline for a rag that would print this type of review… in my “critical” opinion.
I don’t know much about music. But I am in love with the girl on the cover. I plan on buying the CD and framing the cover just for her alone. I hope her name is in the credits because you can bet I will be getting it tattooed on my arm.
I personally think this band is GREAT!!! I love their sound!!
After Jeff Hahne contacted me on myspace about submitting a cd for review, I supposed he’d already taken a listen to the songs posted from the album and at least mostly liked what he heard. Not that I expect a great review from everyone, but when someone asks you to submit your stuff you might expect at least a somewhat positive “verdict”. The worst thing you can write about a band is “ehhh, it’s ok I guess, nothing special”. I think most people who are in to this type of music will recognize that there is much more to it than that. More like the beginning of the article. BTW – Cheers John Ramey!
Would I see the band live? Sure!
Would I listen again? Sure!
Do I understand why John and Jay sound so pissed off? No…
I did say a lot of good things about the album. A few negative comments, and people get upset…
If you don’t want an album reviewed with an honest opinion, don’t record your music. It’s just constructive criticism… I said the rough mix gave it a live feel – GOOD The fact that I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not – BAD. You guys meant to do it, so it’s a good thing…
Jeff — for an “admitted hater of falsetto”, you sure do get pretty shrill yourself when faced with some pretty tame criticism of your criticism. I think this album is a hell of lot better than the majority of its genre, and there will be better, more thoughtful reviews down the road for this band.