After
hearing Unamerican’s self titled CD, I thought to myself,
how brilliant that it took a pack of Brits to come to America and teach
us about our American roots in music! How cheeky and bold and absolutely
brilliant! With American music constantly changing and growing into
new sounds and fusions and taking off into different directions, its nice
to stop and remember what turned us all on to this in the first place.
Explains singer/song writer Steve McEwan, "See, we’re British, but the
music sounds kind of American. Being in England, it makes sense.
Being called Unamerican in England,
we may sound like kind of a classical American rock band, but we’re not,
because we’re from Britain. Hence Unamerican."
Everyone clear on that now?
Unamerican is an English band, living
the American dream with a story that is the stuff kids dream about when
they are playing air guitar in their bedrooms and driving their parents
crazy in the garage with mistuned guitars and loud, unfocused drum beats
for hours on end. Their music is a mixture of airy melodies, blusey
harmonies and catchy guitar pop that’s loaded with hooks. Guitarist
Matthew Crozer describes the music in this way: "We’re a very, very
powerful live band, you know? Very, sort of, loud and in your face.
Not in a heavy rock or metal sort of way, right? But in a kind of
. . . a kind of . . . its just good fun playing it is what it is!"
And its good fun listening to it too! If you haven’t already heard
their first single, "She’s a Bomb," you probably don’t have the
little ditty rolling around in your head constantly, like I do. But
one listen and it sticks like glue. Some have likened it to the stylings
of the Wallflowers, while others R.E.M., or even Nirvana. I personally
hear many of their influences in the music and in McEwan’s vocal style,
but I also hear a freshness, a mark of their own in this music that makes
it less of a rehash and more of a reminder and a thank you for their years
spent listening and learning from such greats as Dylan, Neil Young, Tom
Petty, Chuck Berry,
and yes, even a few of their own - Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Genesis.
I see things that I haven’t seen in a while, like Matthew Crozer’s inventive,
percussive style of strumming the guitar with a drum stick to add a little
spice to the music and inventive rhythms from Pete and Tim and Steve’s
"Nashville" tuning in several of the songs on the CD.
If you haven’t bought the CD yet, you’ve
only heard a tiny part of the stuff that people are talking about with
the single. Other notable
songs on the CD include "Mary’s Son," "Wicked," "Make Up Your Mind," and
the haunting and beautiful "If This Is The End." This song is one
of my personal favorites, as it has quite the story behind it. Its
sweeping guitar choruses and beautiful string arrangement (done by none
other than Beck’s father David Campbell) mask the dark, true story of a
school chum who was so despondent after a break up with his girlfriend
that he shot her and later hung himself in prison
on Chirstmas Day - at the age of 16. Does it get any more tragic
than that folks? Yet the beauty of this song is like a feather down
quilt on a snowy day. It wraps you in its moment and soaks into your
skin. It is worth the price of the CD in itself.
You might be asking yourself, how did these
lads come to America in such a whirlwind and (currently) end up touring
with The Who? You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. No, really,
you wouldn’t. This is the most unusual story I’ve heard in a while.
I am so used to interviewing bands who suddenly
make it to the public’s attention through one lucky break or another.
But these breaks usually come after an average of ten years of hard work,
blood, sweat and tears. Not so with Unamerican.
They’ve been together a little less than three years. Several days
prior to their first gig as "Unamerican," McEwan was faced
with the departure of his drummer. It was a set back that almost
caused the guys to pack it in. Fortunately for them, there was another
musician out there who was contemplating "packing it in" and returning
to a career as a sales associate at The Gap. That musician was current
drummer, Tim Bye. McEwan asked him to help out and he figured he
had nothing to lose, so he accepted the gig, 48 hours prior to their debut
in a London club. That may not seem so unusual, but it gets
better. After finally getting together, McEwan boasted that they
would have a record dea l
by the time they played ten gigs! Can you imagine the nerve of someone
saying that? Guess what? They were offered a record deal by
a Universal affiliate within seven gigs! How’s that for being the
latest studs on the ranch? Too cool. So they are wisked off
to America where they work with a who’s who of talented people and laid
down the tracks for this CD in a Nashville studio.
So after this fairy tale ride to the American
public’s attention, we are here in the present day, on tour with The Who.
I asked to spend a few minutes with the guys after their set recently so
I could give you all the straight scoop on their vibe. What
I found were four guys, totally into their thing, making great music and
having a ball tripping around with The Who. When asked if The Who
was treating them well, I was told they were, but even if they stripped
them naked and beat them, they would still be grateful.
They made light of things like the over heated little dressing room they
were in, prompting drummer Tim Bye to say "Sorry about the smell, it’s
not us." They give general propers to the musicians who came before
them and couldn’t be happier to be "Unamericans" in America.
If you are lucky enough to see them in the near future, get ready for a
night that is filled with musical memories of yesterday and their fresh
sounds of today.
Meet the Players:

Visit
official web site for news/tour dates
Listen
to All the Songs and purchase the CD - It's even on Sale!
Comments Questions for
Debbie Seagle? You can email her at
dseagle@rocknworld.com
Fan
Speak!
Fan
Speak:
HAILEYDUU@COMCAST.NET
RUPERT OR ANYONE ELSE THAT KNOWS HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH STEVE OR ANYOTHER MEMBERS PLEASE EMAIL ME
HAILEYDUU@COMCAST.NET
very sad that this groups name and the times we live in crashed what could have been a band that deserved to be huge.. I consider their first cd as one of the most important in my collection. I would give anything to hear the second one..
Rupert
Sadly they are breaking up soon because of their second album not being able to be released. I am very lucky to have a copy of the second album that was never released and it is amasing it is as good if not better than the first album.
DAve
sadly due to the broken link i was unable to hear unamerica, but having said that phil colins dosn't tickle my fluff. Hopefully they arn't some kind of imalgimation of new metal and phil colins, in which case i would hope for no more than their untimely death a fax sent to me by name notifying me that it was painful. and that a photo of phil colins(Signed) was shuved up each of there funnel choobs...
Stephen Carr
Steve is a nice lad, but his band
would be better with Morven McLelland in it!!
Morven McLelland
Steve is a nice lad, but his band was definately sexier when Stephen Carr was in it!
Stephen Carr
Steve is a nice lad, but his band was sexier when I was in it!
Angie
Very professional- after seeing these guys live i am convinced that they are gonna make it big
Julie from Kent
I saw Unamerican when they played at the Borderline club in London, Feb 2001.I first heard their album in the November from a demo cd and just had to order it from the states. Live they are even better,they enjoy themselves and have an amazing sound.Such a shame that the best track on the album, If This Is The End, cannot be played live...maybe one day...and yes I thought that Steve McEwan sounds like Phil Collins but then that can only be a compliment to both artists. Lets hope that they release If This Is The End in the UK and we will see them rocket up to where they belong. If the band get a chance to read this{a link to here is on their site} then please can we have some more?
Tiny
I saw unamerican in Glasgow also with Neil Young they were really cool.I cant wait till the cd comes out!!
DianaM
Saw Unamerican at the Neil Young & Crazy Horse gig in Glasgow. Outstanding performance and energy. Brilliant guitarist, vocals. Lost the drummer a bit at times. Well worth checking out!
Normalgal
I love this record! "She's a Bomb" had been stuck in my head for months since I last heard it on a station in SC when I came across the CD at Tower. I was so happy to hear that the whole album was just as good. The music is fun, but the songs are so full of emotion. I can't seem to take the CD out of my stereo.
Alice
NOT BAD !!!!
Jockey
It may well be one of the best records ive heard this year. UnAmerican kick like like a horse!!
Jonny Wellbeck
I love this band they rule!! The closer you get man far out!!
Jonny Wellbeck
I love this band they rule!! The closer you get man far out!!
Crazy Horse
these boys are the Dogs Bollocks
Mr Ed
A horse is a horse a corpse a corpse unless of course the horse wants to give me head.
x-riot
whaaaa huhhhhhhh ????
Rich
I bought this cd after seeing unamerican with the who. It's pretty good but no has said it and it has to be said the singer sounds like Phil Collins and he is hardly an American musician.
metallica7
awww jesus quit whinning. yeah i listened to it with a open mind and sorry not my type of music (and no im not just a metalhead) and if i feel i want ot say that it blows on this site thankfully i have the freedom to do so. its called a fan speak site. and your comment about the "WHO" doesnt just take anyone on tour with them...hmmmm think it might be because this group happens to also be british? thats odd. dont get me wrong, i love the WHO but you know...it finally gets to the point someday when you have to have it up. you really know you need to hang it up when you need to make money and sell out to toyota or nissan (whichever) so they can use one of your classic songs in their comercial just to make some cash
Mike
Yup looks like the jerks have found this review. Hey jokers if you don't like it the don't listen to it. You don't have to insult it. I don't go around slamming metallica for selling out. I never heard this band but they do sound interesting and the Who doesn't take on just any band to tour with.
metallica7
bbbbttttttt ha ha!!! cool thanks for the review BUTCH! you probably saved me the agony of having my ears bleed listening to this
BUTCH
This album make my puke on my pants!! Unamerican should be protested in the same fashion as the Boston Tea Party. We should dress up like raging Indians and throw the damn british's lousy imported tea, I MEAN MUSIC, into the damn river!!!
Antonio
I no find in store in Italy so I buy here but have not got cd send yet. All music in my country is what is call hevy metal and disco I want share with friends good music I hear on web sight. Please send CD soon I want hear all of songs.
Nigel
The cd just came in the mail today and all I have to say is what is wrong with radio? She's the bomb is a major hit! Thanks for this story I might have missed out on this band.
Sourchux
Wait just a goddamn cotton pickin' minute there! If Becks' last name is Hanson, wouldn't his Dad be named David Hanson? instead of David Chapman?
Mr. HAppy
I think this is one of the best records I have ever heard!!!! I give it 11 Stars out of 10!! It's a must buy record!!
ponygrl
I saw these guys with The Who and became a fan. They may have only been together for three years, but they have an excellent vibe and real chemistry when they play together. Its not heavy music, T-bone is right. But I don't like my music heavy all the time. This stuff is great for when I want something light and fun. Hope they do great things.
T-bone
Me again I have to clarily the second song I listened to was wicked.
T-bone
I just went and listened to a couple of the song samples. You know I like my music a little heavier but I can understand why they were so successful so quickly, she's the bomb is catchy as hell. The second song didn't do anything for me but mary's son was great too. Ok I'm going to listen to the rest of the songs now I just wanted to speak my mind on this band. This is fan speak after all.
T-bone
This band must sound really good to land a record deal by their 7th gig. I might have to check them out. So Debbie are you coming over to antimusic now?
Karen
I saw Unamerica with the who they rocked. I got the cd the next day and it hasn't left my cd player yet. Steve McEwan is the bomb. bye
Trevor
unamerica is the bomb! the cd is simply amazing. mary's son is by far the best song on a cd with spectacular songs.
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