Wednesday, March 19, 2014

REVIEW: Somos -- Temple of Plenty


The debut album from Boston indie-punk band Somos will be released next week on Tiny Engines. Temple of Plenty is nearly equal parts loud and melodic -- happily tilting a bit toward the former -- and is one of the best records I've heard this year. The engineering and production (by Jesse Cannon and Mike Oettinger, who worked on the fantastic new (and to-be-reviewed) Morning Glory album) favors a guitar sound that Donald Trump would label "Yoooge!", supporting the stately, powerful vocals of bassist Michael Fiorentino. Have a listen to "Domestic":

 

The guitar work (Phil Haggerty and Justin Hahn) shifts naturally between cascading power chords and linear, melodic leads, reminding me of some of my favorite songs by Restorations (whose first album was released by Tiny Engines). And Evan Deges's drums flat out speak for themselves.



Oh, and, you know, it's Lent. My Lenten sacrifice this year is to try to be more patient with the parade of freaking morons who I encounter on a minute by minute basis in my everyday life. So, in an effort to comport myself in a manner consistent with this sacrifice, I'll reject the impulse to disparage the plebeian, whitebread tastes of those of you who haven't picked up this album by the end of business next Tuesday -- heck, you can even pre-order here. I'll also mention that I'm looking forward to next Thursday night, when Somos will be playing at the excellent downtown Raleigh venue Deep South -- The Bar. They're hitting the road next week, so make sure you go see them when they come to your godforsaken backwater hellhole.

MAR 21 - Providence, RI @ AS220
MAR 22 - Queens, NY @ Hollis Woods Community Church
MAR 23 - Oaklyn, NJ @ Studio Luloo
MAR 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
MAR 25 - Alexandria, VA @ The Lab
MAR 27 - Raleigh, NC @ Deep South - The Bar
MAR 28 - Greensboro, NC @ Carolina Theatre
MAR 29 - Atlanta, GA @ Wonderroot
MAR 30 - Augusta, GA @ Dirty Kids Den
MAR 31 - Tallahassee, FL @ Cuddlepunx Riot House
APR 01 - Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem
APR 02 - Pembroke Pines, FL @ Talent Farm
APR 03 - Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub
APR 04 - Gainesville, FL @ Looseys
APR 05 - Wilmington, NC @ Orton's Underground
APR 08 - Stroudsburg, PA @ The Living Room
APR 10 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East (Record Release) w/ The Hotelier, Choke Up and Grandview
APR 11 - Amherst, MA @ The Pub
APR 12 - Albany, NY @ The Icehouse w/ Save Ends
APR 13 - Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar w/ Save Ends
APR 14 - Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class w/ Save Ends
APR 15 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean w/ Save Ends
APR 16 - Flint, MI @ TBA w/ Save Ends
APR 17 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roboto Project w/ Save Ends
APR 18 - Doylestown, PA @ Siren Records w/ Save Ends
APR 19 - Copiague, NY @ The Wood Shop w/ Save Ends

Here, check out another great song from the album:



Facebook
Twitter
Bandcamp
Tumblr

No comments: