Shoot your radio!
by BRANDON MAHAFFEY
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: A&E
Very rarely this decade does a musician create something that's unique and completely different from the past. 31knots seems to have missed the memo.
Affectionately termed "prog pop" and the last thing you would expect to come out of Portland, the group is infamous for its bold variety of sound.
The trio varies so much, in fact, that to sum up its entire discography in 350 words would be impossible, so I'll just tell you about the group's most interesting release: A Word is Also a Picture of a Word.
From the very beginning, you get the idea you're in for something a little "off".
E is for Alpha throws out oblique chords over even denser lyrics, while the circular drumming and active bass lines dance around.
The centerpiece, Flight of the Moron, is a beautiful acoustic instrumental that leaves you begging for more.
Thankfully, it's followed by possibly the best track, Frozen Found Fire.
Again, the drums and bass take the lead while a deceptively simple guitar keeps time for personified alliteration from singer Joe Haege.
The song gives way to two or three musical motifs, all different and the last one an incredible re-imagining of the verse.
It's a brilliantly composed piece that at the same time rocks and could make a music major jealous.
I can't guarantee that 31knots is for you, but you can be sure that no one sounds remotely close to this amazing music.
Affectionately termed "prog pop" and the last thing you would expect to come out of Portland, the group is infamous for its bold variety of sound.
The trio varies so much, in fact, that to sum up its entire discography in 350 words would be impossible, so I'll just tell you about the group's most interesting release: A Word is Also a Picture of a Word.
From the very beginning, you get the idea you're in for something a little "off".
E is for Alpha throws out oblique chords over even denser lyrics, while the circular drumming and active bass lines dance around.
The centerpiece, Flight of the Moron, is a beautiful acoustic instrumental that leaves you begging for more.
Thankfully, it's followed by possibly the best track, Frozen Found Fire.
Again, the drums and bass take the lead while a deceptively simple guitar keeps time for personified alliteration from singer Joe Haege.
The song gives way to two or three musical motifs, all different and the last one an incredible re-imagining of the verse.
It's a brilliantly composed piece that at the same time rocks and could make a music major jealous.
I can't guarantee that 31knots is for you, but you can be sure that no one sounds remotely close to this amazing music.
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paper writers
posted 12/04/09 @ 9:43 PM EST
I think that 31 knots is amazing band.
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