underGROUND
Artist Showcase
a.k.a
Movers and Shakers
UnAmerican
- Universal Records
Are
we headed for another British Invasion? That is the question many people
have on their mind concerning the album from the new British band, Unamerican.
We got our hands on an advanced copy of the disc courtesy of Universal
Records and now we understand what all the hype was about.
Many
believe the album and the first single "She's the Bomb" have chart topping
potential. Will the four lads from London follow in the footsteps of the
four lads from Liverpool? We will discover that this month after
the album release. Universal Records will take the unusual step of
releasing the album first in the US before unleashing it on the band's
home audience. Many feel that this band will lead a new British Invasion
- Battling for chart position against U.S. heavy weights like Blink-182
and the Goo Goo Dolls.
The
album was ironically recorded in America. The sound mixes the best elements
of Modern rock with Classic Rock and pop. Are the members anti-American?
We think not. "We love the music of America and recording the album there
has always been our ambition" - lead vocalist and guitarist, Steve McEwan.
The
name is a play on the fact that they sound like an American band and they're
from the U.K. Sort of like a music site called antiMUSIC? No wonder we
like these guys so much.
The
band:
Steve
McEwan - Guitars, Vocals
Pete
Clarke - Bass
Tim
Bye - Drums
Matthew
Crozer - Guitar
The
album: Release Date April 11, 2000 - Universal Records.
UnAmerican
debut is ambitious in the fact that they refuse to follow the current trends
in music. Instead they focus on the roots of rock and deliver a record
that sits squarely in the middle of the road rock territory of artist like
Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, The Gin Blossoms and the mellower side of Tonic.
The
music is appealing on many levels. It has a patented American rock flavor,
but with rich British Harmonies. It's heavy enough to attract a younger
audience, but mellow enough to capture baby boomers as well.
They
are poised to fill the music void left by the demise of Hootie and the
Blowfish. A task that should be easy to accomplish considering they offer
a higher quality of music than the Hottie's of the world.
With
songs like the instant classic "She's the Bomb", the mesmerizing - "Wicked"
- to the melancholy "Mary's Son" and "The End" the UnAmerican debut is
top notch first effort. We will have to wait and see if it lives up to
the hype and sparks a new British Invasion. Until then, we will be content
to simply enjoy one the best albums of the year thus far.
You
can hear a preview of what the next British Invasion will sound like on
the UnAmerican
web site.
