Sans Seraph - After the Rain
Rating
RIYL
The Mayan FactorDredg
A Perfect Circle
Quitter
Codeseven
Jeff Buckley
Tracklist
1. Running out of room2. Overboard
3. Nocturne
4. In the distance
5. It matters to me
6. Eyes
7. December
8. Short ride
9. Atropos
10. With the greatest of ease
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For a band who goes to great lengths to ignore the past, Sans Seraph's future looks immensely fruitful. Lead singer and centerpiece, Billy White, who was formerly the singer for the criminally-underrated and seldom-heard band Shun, prefers to focus on the task at hand. His message to all would be: "Leave Shun out of the conversation." My initial response to that sentiment was: make an album of superior quality to that of your previous body of work and I'll consider it. A pretty hefty requirement, considering my personal passion for Shun. With all that out of the way, I'll just say this: Shun will not be mentioned again here. Sans Seraph have really answered the call, put all demons to bed, and created a truly passionate jewel of an album. After The Rain is utterly stunning.
The Tennessee four-piece zealously applies a 'less-is-more' philosophy, as opposed to the bloated, over-produced, pretension-filled manipulations of some of their would-be peers. Whilst everything Sans Seraph does seems to soar, it's definitely more of a minimalist approach, which is quite refreshing. Sure there are hints of a string section and subtle electronic passages, but at its core, this band creates gorgeous, spacey, melodic rock. The band is also naively unaware of just how good and potential-filled they are, choosing to self-release their debut album instead of shopping it around to latent suitors. While I'm as thrilled to have this masterpiece in my hands now, one can only hope labels will be lining up to get their grubby paws on such a ready-for-the-world band. With bands like Radiohead, Dredg, and Sigur Ros really attracting mass amounts of attention, Sans Seraph's music screams to be next in line, even if the band is too humble to say it.
Once again I shall complain that epic albums need to be long -- although many will argue a more compact album holds your attention -- because I believe greatness needs to be long and sprawling. After The Rain concludes its presentation after forty-three minutes, but when every penny comes from your own starving pocket it's understandable. They did, however, manage to pack an Ali size punch in those forty-three precious minutes, with some of the most amazing songwriting and melody you will ever find, label or no label. Billy White's voice sounds amazingly akin to Gavin Hayes of Dredg fame -- just listen to "Short Ride" if you don't believe me. Tracks like "Nocturne" also bring a strong resemblance to Scott Saul of the late Quitter; that alone should wet many a whistle. The vocals on "Overboard" are also uncannily reminiscent of Ray Ray from The Mayan Factor (R.I.P.) -- it's really quite chilling. So to all of the low-key music fanatics who have feasted on the likes of Codeseven, Quitter, Dredg, The Mayan Factor, or Cave In, this album should immediately leap to the top of your wish list. It is absolutely a must-have, and a fantastic way to start 2006. To sum it up, I'll use a line from the best track on this flawless album, "December", where B. White croons in such a glamorous Jeff Buckley fashion, "In the wake of December eyes, we leave this year behind." You'll also be forever leaving behind the name of that other band he was once in... whatever it was.
--Adam Roncag
Comments
The Great North Woods
Darla Farmer
RIYL:
the Beatles
Tom Waits
Murder By Death
A Whisper in the Noise
the Blood Brothers
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Green Brook, NJ
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Dallas, Texas
BTW, Adam.... I decided. I'm going to eat your kid if this CD isn't as good a the pole polishing your preaching.
Dallas, Texas
blockbuster
Sacramento, CA
I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.
Currently Drooling Over:
Smashing Pumpkins
Portugal
Bayside,NY
www.myspace.com/killforyourfirstname
www.myspace.com/sansseraph