 Everything is Energy Review
by Erika Szabo
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In 1995, Chris Shinn (vocalist/guitarist of Everything is Energy) started out playing music in the band Celia Green with fellow guitarist Noah Lebenzon. After recording their first record, their house in Beachwood, LA burned down along with all of their instruments and the masters of the record. Afterwards, Shinn moved to Seattle in 1998 where he formed Unified Theory, his most recognized band to date. Working with former band members of Blind Melon (bassist Brad Smith and guitarist Christopher Thorn) and Pearl Jam (drummer Dave Krusen), the band rose to become a rock Super-Group till they broke up in 2000. Shinn's involvement in the band helped bring a more modern perspective to their songs, unlike Blind Melon's hippie retro tag. Shinn was listening to Peter Gabriel and the Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack, whereas Brad Smith was playing every Allman Brothers songs and all of the Zeppelin catalog seamlessly. After the breakup, Shinn moved back to LA, where he continued working with Dave Krusen in a project called Move as a Verb. Here, they recorded the song "Want and Need" which would later appear on Everything is Energy's debut self titled. Having formed in 2003, Everything is Energy didn't reach CD stratum until nearly four years later after having lost band members Kirke Jan (Ours) and Thomas Froggatt (She Wants Revenge). In 2006, Noah Lebenzon (Shinn's longtime friend and Celia Green guitarist), drummer David Brotherton, and bassist Joey Clement would join Everything is Energy to become what they are today. Starting things off is the tender "Hut". Full of Shinn's breathy vocals and angsty guitar riffs it remains comparable to "Snake too," possibly its alter ego. This song rambles and soars but isn't as good as their tremendous opener. Guitar fuzz unwinds into the airy core of "Shiner" and culminates during "Someday I…" a surprisingly good single worthy track that swells and pulsates as it thrives within its solid sound. Things begin to calm and cool by "Want and Need" an ambiguous and modern track full of temperamental guitars accenting Shinn's raw, trembling vocals. "Taste of the South" disguises itself as every past song so far, but lacks the vigor and attitude. Unlike almost every other song on this album is "The Rest of my Life" an earthy acoustic and string hybrid that is both mysterious and serene. As though they'd grown impatient of their experimental side, Everything is Energy incorporates riffs similar to past songs into "Real Easy" and "Curve of the Earth". Soaring vocals and alt rock overtones become a common occurrence, but somehow do not drag on. Truly haunting and beautiful is the final song on this album entitled "Dave's House". By incorporating a more experimental feel to this instrumental, Everything is Energy prove themselves to be talented musicians whom are not afraid to grow with their sound. If they can learn to relish their more experimental side, then they will have no problem providing more of their vivid and intense imagery.
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