Audio Cassette review:
Verbow - Chronicles

Verbow - Chronicles

Band: Verbow Title: Chronicles Rating: Release Date: 24 June, 1997 Media: Audio Cassette Tracks: 1: Fan Club 2: Chronicles of Agent Kidd 3: Man in Mile High 4: Execution of a Jester 5: River Wish 6: Holiday 7: Lethargy's Crown 8: Distance Between Us 9: Sugarcone 10: Slumbering Blue 11: Down the Gun

Customer Reviews Quite good - stands out from the pack Jason Narducy is a very crafty songwriter, as evidenced by the nuanced "Lethargy's Crown", "The Chronicles Of Agent Kidd", a story song set to a relatively brisk pace, and "Fan Club" which should have become a smash on alternative radio, with its lyrics coming from the perspective of an obsessed rock fan. Verbow is a band that is based out of the Chicago area with a sound that is highly reminiscent of bands like Husker Du and the Replacements, along with cello accompaniment which gives the slower songs a very melancholy, austere feel which definitely gives them a distinct sound when compared to their peers and influences. Bob Mould was credited with recording this album, and fortunately the songs are not overproduced - the overall sound is not as glossy as most radio rock and the mixing doesn't drown out any of the instrumentation. In summary: An auspicious debut from a band that should have found success. Sure, their record label was supportive enough to release a follow-up (which I still have to check out) but Verbow should definitely have attained a higher degree of popularity. Check this out if you can find a copy - it's '80s alternative rock combined with a '90s indie mentality. Exceptional Rock And check out the EP, "New History," for the forthcoming album for 2000, "White Out. One of the Top 10 rock albums of the 1990s, it features unique tracks like the indelible "Holiday," which should be used as the themesong of a great post-modern film romance. " Play "New History" twice and you'll never get it out of your head-it's potent. Bob Mould has a great ear I was very pleased with their full band thang when I bought Chronicles and Bob did them up right with his production style. I saw Jason & Alison (founding members of Verbow) open for Bob Mould in 1995 and they were a ferocious duo. "Fan Club" rocks and is funny, too. "Down the Gun" is a firey cd closer. And I like "lethargy's Crown". . You can see a complete list of all Verbow discography, or go back to the Verbow tabs