Secret Machines "Now Here Is Nowhere"
This band rocks. Secret Machines consists of Josh Garza, Brandon Curtis, Benjamin Curtis. A power trio. Drums, bass, and guitar/keyboard/sequencers/effects. Drums like Zeppelin's Bonham or Pink Floyd's Nick Mason. A fuzzy "on-the one" bass player reminiscent of both Pink Floyd's Roger Waters or Radiohead's Colin Greenwood. Guitars like Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and AC/DC's Angus Young. Vocals like every English shoegazer 90's band. Don't get me wrong, I like the vocals because I like that genre too. The Machines also use the wall of sound guitar and synth effects that My Bloody Valentine used to do. This 9 song debut album was one of THE best albums of 2004. Really hard driving songs but a laid back rock attitude like Tom Petty meets The Strokes meets Pink Floyd in 1972. A few really beautiful slow songs. Keyboard sequences much like a 1970's Who on "Sad & Lonely". This band seems like a who's-who of English rock history. But they are from Dallas Texas. They rock though. They've done their homework. I guess being Texans they probably have more ZZ in them than Bowie. Bowie actually said they are one of his current favorite bands real recently. As a debut album, this new album is great. If they suck from here on out, this album is their best already. 5 out of 5 thumbs