Published on Jul 13, 2001
The Asher Kahn Band seems to make a habit out of breaking
preconceived notions of who you think they are, even after you
think you’ve got them pegged down.
Their latest disc,
Content, at first sounds like the group – guitarist Asher
Kahn, bassist Mike Smith and drummer Aaron Boczkowski – paid
attention to their Dave Matthews Band records, creating a folk-like
groove in their music while trying to carve out their own unique
musical niche. But in truth, the band owes a bigger debt to groups
like The Jayhawks, as a country-rock influence is strongly felt by
the time you reach the end of this disc.
Admittedly, the sound is shaped by the wide variety of musicians
who helped to create
Content, including guitarist Nathan Lyons, organist James
Harton and drummer/percussionist Ben Lindemann. But Kahn bears the
brunt of the praise and criticism as the front man – though there
is more of the former than the latter.
To be sure,
Content features a group still trying to discover what the
best route to deliver their music is. On songs like “Fading Away”
and “Stuck Up In The City,” there is the strong Dave Matthews
influence – and these would not be bad efforts with a little more
focus on cosmetic touches, such as harmony vocals or more
development in the choruses.
The magic really kicks in on “Something To Hold,” a track which
picks up the groove and slams it into your spine. I’m positive I
hear xylophone in the mix, adding a real jazz flavor to this song.
This track is just a lot of fun to listen to, and is quite possibly
the highight of the whole album.
This isn’t to say that the remainder of
Content is weak. Indeed, many tracks show that Asher Kahn
Band will be well worth watching in the months and years to come.
Songs like “Blame Me” (complete with toy piano) and “Josephine” all
revel in the absolute joy this music creates. These tracks also
seem to focus more on a slightly countrified sound, though the rock
roots are never betrayed. The closing instrumental “139 Grant
Avenue,” a tribute to the recording studio the band worked at, all
but seals the connection between this band and the Jayhawks.
If there’s one downfall to
Content, it’s that the listener might find themselves
disinterested until they’re a quarter of the way through the disc.
Especially when a band is unsigned and virtually unknown outside of
their hometown, you need a disc which hooks the listener almost
immediately, and
Content is in need of that hook. Remember, the average
listener’s attention span is, uh, um… I’m sorry, I forgot where I
was.
Still, Asher Kahn Band proves to be one worth watching, and
Content suggests that there will be great things to come
from the core of this band. There’s enough on this disc to suggest
that the glory days might be closer than they think.
For more information or to order this CD, please
visit the band’s
Web site.