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5ive Style is an indie funk-rock band from Chicago. The songs on their self-titled debut are structured like mainstream rock songs in that they switch from verse to chorus repeatedly with few solos. It would seem that this would become horribly repetitive; it does not. The repetition allows the listener to sink even further into the cavernous grooves presented on each track. Moreover, the songs are of suitably short durations, so that each riff or rhythm stays fresh. The textures used are delicious: fat synthesizers, clean electric guitar, and basslines that emphasize the band’s deep-funk style.
The most important difference between 5ive Style and other “post-rock” groups is true musicianship. Guitarist Billy Dolan wields formidable technical power as leader of the band, interweaving melodic lines and triple-stops into extremely catchy riffs. Also, 5ive Style has a group dynamic in their music. The songs sound as if each musician is working toward a final product with the same conceptual goal. From the ambient (at least relatively) experimentation of “Sure Is Hot” and “I Told Ya” to the upbeat (again, relatively) rhythms which drive “Hard Afro Rubalon” and “Once Around the Park,” 5ive Style offers excellent funk-rock to any interested, with a grin on its little album face.
tl;dr: 5ive Style is a funk-rock album with a winning personality and some excellent music.
Best Songs: “Apple Pie", “Once Around the Park", “Hard Afro Rubalon" and “Deep Marsh”
Best Songs: “Apple Pie", “Once Around the Park", “Hard Afro Rubalon" and “Deep Marsh”
~Nilla
Thank you for the 5ive style! Do you have access to their 7 inch Waiting on the Eclipse / Summer Salt? I have been trying to find that one with no luck. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteSorry, but we're not in it for the piracy, just for the reviewing. I'm sure you'll find it, though!
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