Published on Oct 3, 1997
Alternative music is a unique animal in that it takes all the
rules of conventional music and throws them out the window. Style
and genre often blend several times in the course of an album. If a
band knows how to do this blend well, the result is pleasant. If
they stumble even a little bit, the resulting sound can be
tragic.
Fortunately for Varnaline, their self-titled second effort falls
into the first category. Jumping from balls-out rock to
introspective acoustic work, Anders Parker and crew create a solid
mixture of styles and a great album.
(Editor’s note: As of this re-posting in April 2002, this disc
is out of print.)
That this album is so solid is especially amazing because, prior
to this album, Varnaline was a one-man show run by Anders Parker.
On this album, he enlists the assistance of brother John on bass
and drummer Jud Ehrbar; fortunately, they fit into the mix as if
they were always part of it.
The sonic fury of this band is evident on the opening cut
“Lights,” a song which allows all three instruments to be featured.
John Parker’s bass work is complicated yet smooth, while Ehrbar’s
drumming works itself into a controlled frenzy. Topping all this is
Andres Parker’s chainsaw guitar riffs and slightly haltering vocals
(though this actually adds to the power of the track).
When Varnaline kicks into a regular groove, however, they do
falter a bit; “Meet Me On The Ledge” lacks the power that I think
it was meant to have. The band does show that they are able to
perform songs in this vein later on the album with “Empire Blues,”
“Understanding H.” and “God In Your Eyes.”
But the true power of
Varnaline is not always in their intensity; rather it is in
their quiet moments. “Sky’d Out” displays how to convey a message
with the hushed tones of the acoustic guitar, while the piano lines
in “Really Can’t Say” carry more “oomph” than an over-distorted
guitar could.
An aspect of Varnaline’s music centers on a touch of
spirituality, though the music hardly is bible-thumping revivalist
music. “God In Your Eyes” is a pretty song that segues – after 20
minutes of silence (
why the hell do bands do this?) – into an uncredited track
that sounds a lot like an angelic chorus. Despite the 20 minute
delay in getting to this track, it is worth the time searching out
and hearing.
The raw production qualities of
Varnaline is a two-edged sword for the band. When a track
requires a more gritty sound, the production job of Adam Lasus,
Jason Cox and the band works to the track’s advantage. However, at
the times a more somber mood is suggested, occasionally the
production takes away from the overall feel. Still, this is not a
major stumbling block for the disc.
Varnaline is proof that this three-piece will go places if
given the right breaks (and are granted airplay in major markets).
Judging from the potential this disc shows, Varnaline is just
beginning to hit its creative stride. It will be interesting to
hear this band develop and what paths they’ll lead us down. Check
this disc out and believe for yourself.