THE DEAL: Charlotte quartet releases its third studio effort, produced by O.A.R. saxophonist Jerry DePizzo.
THE GOOD: From the opening riff of “Shall We Begin,” Simplified lets you know this album has a different sound than previous albums. Though they’ve had a few residencies in Key West, the laid-back beach vibe of earlier efforts has given way to something a bit more pop. Singer Clee Laster’s vocals are stronger than ever — exhibiting more range, a bit more rasp and more emotion than the stoner vibe he gave off in the past. The piano-drive rock of the title track leads toward the reggae-infusion of “Sitting on a Mountain” and “My Life,” glimpses at the sound of previous albums. The band finds its way back into acoustic-driven tunes from time to time, lending itself to the diversity of the band’s overall sound.
THE BAD: Took a bit of time, but the 12 tracks presented here in just over 45 minutes were worth the wait. The chorus of “Angel” leans on the border of being cheesy and a bit TV theme song, but avoids it for the most part.
THE VERDICT: The tunes from Elephant Sky have grown to be so familiar that it takes some time to adjust to change. The songs here are well-crafted, easy-going rock tunes that will quickly get established in the Simplified catalog.
This article appears in Apr 12-18, 2011.
Best Simplified CD to date! Great Pop Rock! I look forward to see them play all the new material at The Visulite Friday night! Gonna’ be a great night! Shall we begin?
With growth comes change, well thought out album, sure to be adapted by Simplified fans as a favorite. Look fwd to seeing them play live @ The VISULITE this Friday for their CD release party. If the release of Elephant Sky 3 years earlier is any indication, there will be alot of people listening from outside the venue due to another sellout. I am definately getting there early! I understand the opening band is not be missed…
CHEESEIFIED. Saw them out at Live After 5. Over it, they were playing the same songs and tunes they have for the past 2 years I have seen them play. NEXT
That last comment seems like it came from a jealous musician. I was at Alive (not Live) After Five and I heard a great mix of old and new stuff. And the addition of Donnie Marple on drums makes this band soar. I liked the keyboards too. This is one of the hardest working bands I’ve seen in this area. Keep up the great work guys!