Strange Faces
Stonerism
Reviewed by: Carlos Esqueda
The quartet Chicago rock band Strange Faces, with David Miller as the frontman, Taylor Walters on guitar, Phillip Valdez on bass, and Ben Leach on drums, has released their 11-track album debut, Stonerism. The Twin Peaks produced band has created a lo-fi punk rock sound with a blend of ’60s pop hooks that is sure to attract any classic rock fans out there. The album is a fuse of old and new, as these four young men aim to take us back in time with melodies and sounds from the days of Third Eye Blind and The Beach Boys. The first track of the album, “I Saw Your Face”, does well in setting the mood for the tracks that are to follow, with electric sounds and catchy lyrics set by the meager sounds of vocalist David Miller, and funky string harmonies of Walters and Valdez.
Songs like “Don’t Feel Bad” will start making you feel good the moment you listen to it with its catchy tune, and “Still Lit”, a cleverly titled ballad to the adolescent shenanigans, will have you singing after the first verse. The guys have done a great job at combining our urge at the commercial tunes while keeping it in line with the melodies of the old classic rock we all grew up with. “Skippin’ Town” has got to be one of my favorites because of the way Strange Faces has been able to enact this emotional recognition to the base and guitar riffs, almost guaranteeing to themselves a pool of fans. When you listen, it’s as if you’ve heard the song many times before and are eager to catch the lyrics attached to musical euphony.
Keeping it in line with the classic bands that once made it big back in the ’60s, Strange Faces gives us the rebellion of the young and the love odes of our youth while including interludes like “Brand New Way” as if the intro to the back side of a vinyl was starting to play. It’s surprising how well these four guys are able to include the experiences of their age and life while through every song making us feel as if they had been part of the classics. Reminiscent in all 11 tracks are the influences from which the album was compiled, and if you’re a fan of any classical rock then you are sure to find some liking in some of their songs.
What is most impressive as mentioned before is how strategic these guys were in combining the old and new, and the taste of long car drives down 66 with the windows down is something apparent in every song on the album. For their debut they have done well at attracting a fan base and hopefully in the years to come they can define it even more. Strange Faces must forge ahead in finding their own sound away from the heavy influences we see in Stonerism. The band must create tunes that will help define their presence amongst rock music rather than helping us recall the memories of other classic rock bands.
Review: Bad-ass
