|
Too
bad that what is in my opinion one of the best underground rock
bands in the US starts off its new full-length with what is their most
accessible song yet (“Sound the Horn”). Why does that suck?
Well, because the song, despite its many strong points –the
guitars as usual shred-, totally departs from the brilliant hard sludgey sound these Californians have been forging since 2003’s
Monoli. Let’s just say I was really excited to hear
Totimoshi’s latest. I was such an enthusiast after falling in
love with Mysterioso and Ladron I could not
contain my elation when I heard the news of Milagrosa’s
impending release. Needless to say, the opening guitars of
“Sound the Horn” gave me doubt. I had to pop the disc out of the
player just to make sure I was listening to the band I had come
to love so much. And it’s not that “Sound the Horn” is bad, it
is just such a radio-ready departure, such a light affair, such
a quick on its feet guitar riff…it’s a letdown to say the least.
The bad news
do not stop there. “Seeing Eye” pretty much opens up with the
same riff of “Sound the Horn”; same playing, same sing along
radio ready melody, but different tuning, different electricity.
The track later vindicates itself. Kind of. And is slowly
followed to a somewhat inspired acoustic song titled “Milagroso”.
Halfway through the record Totimoshi has offered us three
songs, one of which is a sure clanker and two that die by split
decision.
The good
news is the rest of the songs rip. Absolutely rip major ass.
These are beautifully crafted songs that are, I must say, way
easier on the ear than their previous songs, but that
regardless, rock in all their guitar oriented glory. Totimoshi’s
sound has evolved, the melodies are harder this time around but
sweeter too and, believe it or not, the playing has gotten much
more loose. With Antonio Aguilar time and time again showing why
he is a master of subduing himself at the axe we don’t have to
wait a long time to get rocked; second song “Fall and Bound” is
quiet and hesitant. It displays Aguilar’s soul through sparse
playing and the totally inspired solo that comes two minutes in
and gives way to a colorful explosion of heaviness. This is
Totimoshi at its best. Not as sludgey as in the past. Not as
grunge oriented as in their earliest releases, but with a
blooming sound that in a sense, reintroduces the band to the
broader audience Volcom Records might be able to offer.
Musicwise, Totimoshi is taking it to the next level, with the
introduction of drummer Chris Fugitt the band is now capable of
channeling a better sense of free will. With that (and the great
production of Helmet’s Page Hamilton), the songs sound bigger.
They now move like massive waves; they carry cities within them,
and inside, stories.
Milagrosa
is great. Musically, stellar. But a tad indecisive as to what it
wants to be. Totimoshi definitely trips in those three
occasions, but at the same time they seem to be wanting to find
their footing in a more focused and rock oriented direction.
We’ll have to wait for the next one to see how it pans out.
Official Site
MySpace |
