–Jake Wheat, Streetblast.com
Release Date: 07 May 2006
Genre: Rock/Progressive/Indie Rock
Publisher: (C) 2006 The Outer Vibe
Label: Modal Music Group
Time: 50m 20s
Review Date:12-July-2008
Format: CD
JivePK™: http://jivepk.jivewired.com/theoutervibe
Click image to purchase from Amazon
Track Listing:
01. Anybody Home 2:33
02. Cut The Small Talk 2:26
03. The Look She's Giving You 2:45
04. How Did It Come To This? 4:21
05. Fame Train 4:36
06. A Thousand And One Times 5:08
07. Love Struck Tragedy 3:15
08. Balloon 4:20
09. Spanish 4:31
10. Games We Play 3:07
11. Mr. Nobody 2:19
12. Don't Let The Days Go By 2:47
13. I Do 3:21
Review:
Often, obscure bands like Love or obscure artists like Nick Drake get pulled out of near-complete oblivion and blown up to enormous proportions, with due cause, because they happen to be very good. But sometimes, critics, in an overcooked attempt to "dare-to-be-different" shove these artists down our throats simply because of mainstream artist media-saturation, which tends to leave quite a bit of "snobby" muck stuck to their heels. Thus, a great review for an obscure artist can often be the kiss of death.
Not so with The Outer Vibe. This band is a true rock-n-roll revival, an avant-garde tribute to classic power rock and free thinking soul that is both complicated and extravagant without coming across as, well, complicated and extravagant. Indeed, Games We Play is a frenzied and energetic joy to listen to, building on musical themes of the 60's & 70's (I swear the percussion on the song Trejo Show would fit perfectly on any early Chicago CD) to create an innovative sound that is both timeless and refreshing. The CD isn't just very good, it is burn-the-house-down smoldering good.
The band hails from Grand Rapid,MI and after establishing themselves as a top local act, they have begun to build a presence both regionally and nationally. I say, "World watch out!" The Outer Vibe is the real deal - mixing powerful guitar with great rhythm, vocals, percussion, keyboards and a kick-assed horn section. The slide work on the opening song, Anybody Home is positively scorching, the horns are phenomenal and in fact, it may be one of the finest singles overall I have heard all year. Sean Zuidgeest's vocals, no matter how frenzied the song, always seem effortless and though certainly unrestrained, Sean is never overbearing. That's a great thing because the rest of the band is equally great. Listening to Games We Play, which covers everything from progressive to psychedelia to trip hop to classic-alternative and everything in between, the following adjectives come to mind: rootsy, cutting edge, esoteric, fresh and unprecedented.
The best tracks, in my opinion, are Anybody Home, How Did It Come To This, Balloon, Mr. Nobody and Trejo Show, as well as the title track.
Often we use the star system to rate a CD, with five stars usually representing a standout release. But why govern something that is infinitely better with a system that is tied to limits? What if a CD is several times better than others that have been given the so-called standard of excellence. I cannot rate this CD because five stars is far too limiting and plainly put, way off base. Perhaps that will give you an idea of how good Games We Play is.
-- Michael Canter, www.jivewired.com
About The Outer Vibe:
The Outer Vibe is a 5 piece alternative rock/pop band from Grand Rapids, MI that features a female trumpet and keytar player. The energetic group throws a party onstage with wall-of-sound guitar, dance inducing drums and bass, and powerful lead vocals. The band’s live antics and fun atmosphere are in high demand among festivals, colleges, rock clubs, parties, and events throughout the Midwest region.
The Outer Vibe has independently released 3 original CDs (“Pretty Good” 2003, “Games We Play” 2006, and “Monster EP” 2009.) They have sold roughly 1,500 albums since January 2009 and roughly 6,000 albums overall since December 2003. They are currently in the recording studio, working on their fourth full length album.
The Outer Vibe performs 60-80 shows a year, and weekly audience numbers average from 400-4000 people. Their street team has over 1,500 active members who help promote the band in 8 states and 4 countries.
Their latest release, “Monster EP,” has received airplay from radio stations including 97.9 WGRD (Grand Rapids, MI), 97.5 WJIM (Lansing, MI), 101.3 WFOX (Grand Rapids, MI), 95.5 WJZJ (Traverse City, MI), and many other college and independent radio stations. The Outer Vibe was chosen to be a part of 97.9 WGRD’s 2008 and 2009 Bootleg compilation albums. Past artists chosen include: Shinedown, The Fray, Fuel, Everclear, Our Lady Peace, Dashboard Confessional, and more.
The Outer Vibe has partnered with Michigan State University and the MSU Community Music School to start and instruct a highly successful School of Rock, giving kids an opportunity to learn what it takes to start a band, manage it, and perform live shows.
The Outer Vibe is sponsored by: GHS strings, DEFYE Clothing, Analysis-Plus Cables, Kiaeneto Clothing, Mechanix Gloves.
National bands The Outer Vibe has played with:
REO Speedwagon, The Tubes, Starship (formerly Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship), Days of the New, Electric Six, Local H, We the Kings, Kevin Max of D.C. Talk, Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe, Caroline’s Spine, Sponge, Lucky Boys Confusion, Mustard Plug, Primer 55, Bliss 66, The Hard Lessons, The Dirty Americans.
Other accomplishments of The Outer Vibe:
- Headlined the 18th annual National Baby Food Festival with Lonestar (Fremont, MI)
- Headlined the 16th annual Harborfest with Barrington "Bo" Henderson of The Temptations (South Haven, MI)
- Winners of the 2008 97.5 WJIM Hometown Rock Crown Contest (Lansing, MI)
- Winners of the 2005 101.3 WFOX Aris Hampers Hometown Rock Search (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Winners of the 2005 91.5 WHMW Central Michigan University Battle-of-the-bands (Mt. Pleasant, MI)
- Winners of the 2004 97.9 WGRD Big Break Cont
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