Courtesy
The Seattle-based band Boss Martians offers aggressive yet simple melodies on 2003’s album "The Set-Up.
Boss Martians, Monolith
broaden 'pop' definition
The two bands, which vary
from early punk sounds
to sunshine pop, will visit
Eugene venues soon
By Andrew Shipley
What does the term "pop " mean to
you? Unless you've taken a history of
music class, probably not a whole lot.
The word is slung around so indis
criminately that whatever meaning it
once had in the taxonomy of music
genres has now all but evaporated.
sic is that of the Seattle-based band
Boss Martians and the Bay Area trio
The Monolith. Both have recently re
leased new albums and will come to
Eugene in the next two weeks. Both
cultivate distinct styles that thrive at
the polar ends of the pop spectrum.
The Boss Martians' album 'The Set
Up," released in 2003, draws heavily
from influences of 1970s and 1980s
punk bands and blends those influ
ences with alternative rock riffs. The re
sult is a pounding but accessible pow
er-pop sound.
The quartet of journeyman West
Coast rockers made their name as a
surf-rock band beginning in the mid
1990s. The Martians' sound, howev
er, has not rested in these Beach Boys
inspired roots. Frontman Evan
Foster's trip to the thematic drawing
board this time yields a catchy blend
of power-pop and garage punk tracks
that older fans of the Martians may
find difficult to connect with the
band's earlier work.
Thirty seconds into the first track,
"I Wanna Be Your Addiction," the
Freelance Reporter
REVIEW hazy, inex
A com
parison that
strikingly il
lustrates the
inex
act diversity
of pop mu
energetic boiling of familiar punk wa
ters is unmistakable. Like many songs
on the album, "Your Addiction" opens
with a driving guitar riff that carries
through a simple chord progression
before Foster's nasal sneer finally en
ters to complete the effect. His voice
takes on a powerful, Elvis Costello-like
tone, particularly on the most con
sciously punk-inspired tracks. Howev
er, it would be an insult to refer to his
crooning as an imitation.
There are still tones of the Mart
ian's earlier hard rock offerings in
some of the album's middle tracks.
Lyrical content can drag at some
points as well, with redundant offer
ings such as "Executed with precise
precision" from the album's title
track. And, from "Opportunistic
Girl": "She's an opportunistic girl /
takes opportunities." These words
provide little in the way of thought
provoking complexity.
In the end, the 13 tracks of "The Set
Up" are not about complexity. The al
bum is about aggressive, high-pow
ered tracks that are both instantly
appealing and sustainably enjoyable.
In this regard, the Boss Martians'
newest evolution is a pleasurable suc
cess. The band plays next Wednesday
at the all-ages WOW Hall, located at
291W. Eighth Ave. Tickets are $7, and
doors open at 8 p.m.
Sitting on the opposite side of the
pop classroom are The Monolith.
Rather than feeling out the limits of
pop's roughest edges, the band —
comprised of Bill Rousseau, Dahlia
Ramirez and Rogge — chose to proud
ly embrace a sound that is unabashed
ly sunshine pop. But don't let that
muddy the waters for you. These sim
ple melodies and synthesized hooks
never quite overwhelm the musical
depth that keeps "Here Comes the
Monolith," their second recording,
from floating away.
The band dtes The Beatles as one of
the group's primary influences. If this
sounds as ubiquitously vague as the
definition of pop music, just think
spacey, heavily Lennon-esque
melodies, and you'll have a pretty
good impression of what The Mono
lith has to offer.
The recording's nine tracks are
catchy and could appeal to anyone.
This, in large part, is thanks to the trio's
two major musical strengths, the
male-female harmonies of Rousseau
and Ramirez, which are beautiful
without feeling manipulative, and a
simple guitar backbone that anchors
songs that would otherwise be made
light by synthesizer riffs and relentless
ly upbeat melodies.
All these references to pop are not
intended to evoke Hanson imagery.
The Monolith alternate between the
happy and the strangely melancholic
to create a mood that is far from sac
charine. "Here Comes the Monolith"
floats from track to track with a
smooth confidence, and the dream
like effect of this flow should not fool
the careful listener into thinking this
band is simple.
To escape the trap of synthesizer re
liance, The Monolith has employed
the help of nine outside musicians
who contribute influence as diverse
as the violin and the flugelhom. The
first track, "43," digs into your head
but you don't feel violated. The final
track, the aptly titled "Trilogy," has a
distinctive sound that employs trom
bones, trumpets and the vocal help of
Alex Brose.
The result is an album that is diverse
and pleasantly enveloping, while
falling a little short of epic. There are
musical layers in "Here Comes the
Monolith" to interest even the most
skeptical audiences. The band plays
Saturday at the 21-and-over venue Di
ablo's Downtown Lounge, located at
959 Pearl St.
Andrew Shipley is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
PULSE BRIEF
Bijou late-night movies
offer dose of nostalgia
University students can soak up a
dose of nostalgia, score front-row
seats to a Black Sabbath conceit and
get scared in 3-D at the Bijou Art Cin
ema's "Midnight Movie Madness" se
ries. The movie theater is offering
late-night showings of old films
ranging from "The Princess Bride" to
"Japanese Erotic Anime" to "Crea
ture from the Black Lagoon in 3-D."
The Bijou shows two late-night films
each weekend at around midnight.
"We really do want to appeal to
college students," Bijou Manager
Louise Thomas said. "And (we) want
to create excitement about late night
at the Bijou."
Tickets are $5 for Friday and Satur
day showings and $4 on Sunday
nights. The theater will feature "A
Clockwork Orange" and "Miles
Davis Live in Munich" this weekend.
For a complete schedule and more
information, visit http://www.Bijou
Cinemas.com.
— Jeff Frawley
Arcade
Novelties
Genes
New Releases weekly
VHS&DVD
5-day Rentals
Over 3,000 DVDs
HE & SHE I
290 River Rd., Eugene
688-5411
ADA accessible
HE & SHE II
720 Garfield, Eugene
345-2873
ALBANY
1-5 EXIT 233, 3404 Spicer Dr.
541-812-2522
MCDONALD THEATRE
Tickets at all TicketsWest Outlets or call y All concerts will feature an opening band unless
(800) 992-TIXX Service charges may apply * otherwise noted Times subject to change
Interactive show Information available at www.mcdonaldtheatre.com
You Should
Consider a
Career in
Teaching if...
Apply today for June 2004
Fifth Year Master of Arts in
Teaching Program!
• Earn your Master of Arts in i
Teaching and Initial Oregon 1
Teaching License in 12
months. I
Enjoy small classes and personal |
attention from our |
accomplished faculty.
Take advantage of our
respected relationships with
local school districts.
You Measure Sure
by the Contributions
You Make.
eed more informatio
one, e-mail or visit our.
bsite. e-mail: teach4jftldftcu.edu
& web: ed.paciftefedu
SWatkins 877-722-8648 #2958
» t & & H
forest Grave Campus
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
(UJEEll FILM FESTIVAL
available
346-0007 or
-A Cultural
Festival Pass
Students - $5
General - $7
ticket office
at the door