Cheer Accident: No Ifs, ands or Dogs

Cheer Accident are a Chicago angular art rock band made up of Carmen Armillas on lead vocals; Thymme Jones on drums, piano, vocals, moog, trumpet, keyboards, organ and piano; D. Bayne on organ, trombone, piano and keyboards; Jeff Libersher, on guitar trumpet, bass, vocals, and keys, Alex Perkolup, on bass, guitar and vocals; Andrea Faught, on keyboards and vocals; Lise Gilly on alto and tenor sax; Todd Rittmann on guitar; Tony Young on bass; Noah Tabakin on baritone sax; and Teri Gartelos and Laura Boton on vocals.

"The band has recently been profiled in the feature-length film, "Romantic Warriors" (a documentary about modern progressive music, presently getting quite a bit of play on public television throughout the country this spring/summer 2011", (http://www.cheer-accident.com/bio/, 2011).

Definitely original and different. Takes some time to get used to, but carries some heavy influence from King Crimson mixed with well with Frank Zappa. The walls of sound they build can be interesting and entertaining.

"Drag You Down" opens with a cool bass and lead guitar riff supported well with drums. The added trumpet and organ give the sound a dynamic feel. This is a good mix of pop and rock.

"Trial of Error" opens with some cool drums and percussion and what sounds like a beat box. The piano, heavy keys, slide guitar, moog, and other effects help build a huge wall of sound with vocals weaving their way in between. Reminds me of some of the TV or movie soundtracks from science fiction movies of the 1980s. The sound builds to this chaotic climax of noise.

The cacophony of sound from the last tune carries over to the opening of "This is the New That". This song sounds even more like a science fiction movie track or even a few of the late Dirty Harry soundtracks. Heavy bass and keys.

"Pre – Somnia" is thankfully a short and sweet interlude of guitar, bass, drums, and keys, with vocals that bring back those B52s 50/60s sci – fi rock music sounds.

"Sleep" sounds very much like a Yes rhythm and melody from the Relayer or Topo Oceans era. The vocals match the sound to make this one of the best tracks on the album. The trumpets, bass, and organ really help build a great wall of sound.

"Barely Breathing" is an interesting upbeat rhythm and melody similar to maybe the happy beats you might associate with the Beach Boys or America, without the excellent lyrics, instrumentation and vocals, but instead set to drums, organ, trumpet and off tone vocals.

"Life in Pollyanna" has a Beatles melody mixed with some Zappa currents.

"Death By Pollyanna" is the dark side of the last song set to drums and constant guitar and keyboard beats.

"Drug You Down" is full of that Beach Boys – like harmonization of vocals, again, without the strong instrumentation and lyrical content of the famous 50s classics.

"Salad Lies" is a pounding guitar and drum anthem with some keys thrown in for variety. A march of the angry guitars and keys maybe.

"Post Somnia" is a short guitar, bass, drum, trumpet, and moog experiment.

"Cynical Girl" is full of good piano and lyrics. The trumpets take you back to the late 60s or 70s easy listening or again to those TV sitcom themes.

"Go Gaunt Green" is over in only 27 seconds. It's a trumpet, guitar, bass and piano short interlude.

"Empty Province" opens like more of that early 70s TV horror movie theme music. Later it progresses with good keys and reoccurring backing vocals.

"Provincial Din" is the longest track of the bunch. It is full of more of the regular keys, group vocals and sounds of soundtracks again. Later it gets darker with moody keys and eerie sound effects. The dreary sounds eventually fade out to become inaudible, closing the album.

Track Listing
1. Drag You Down (04:33)
2. Trial Of Error (04:34)
3. This Is The New That (04:59)
4. Pre-Somnia (01:27)
5. Sleep (03:48)
6. Barely Breathing (03:18)
7. Life In Pollyana (03:20)
8. Death By Pollyanna (03:22)
9. Drug You Down (00:44)
10. Salad Dies (04:09)
11. Post-Somnia (01:11)
12. Cynical Girl (02:13)
13. Go Gaunt Green (00:30)
14. Empty Province (04:42)
15. Provincial Din (05:13)

Added: May 20th 2011
Reviewer: Mark Johnson
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2140
Language: english

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