The Deafening Colors - Carousel Season

Carousel Season marks the second full length for New Jersey's The Deafening Colors. Music that reflects the duos upbringing in Ocean and Atlantic City with a sound that mixes ambient, shoe gaze and dream pop that grew on me as
I listened. While immediate comparisons to a sleepier, experimental side of
the Beach Boys are unavoidable. One could also reference New Jersey storytellers The Front Bottoms and the long running New Brunswick quintet Sink Tapes.

While The Deafening Colors aren't what we're used to reviewing here at United By Rocket Science. It's definitely something I'd like to see/hear more of in the future. For Carousel Season was definitely something I found myself drawn to more and more with each song. From favorites such as Driving Horse's Ghost,
Waiting For The Axe and the expansive Part Time clocking in at a lengthy 5:30. I felt myself caught up in a moment. Caught up in the beauty of a song. James Damion

Bandcamp <<< Get it Here

Outlook - Our Time is Now

After witnessing Olympia Washington's Outlook pour every ounce of energy and sweat into two amazing sets last week. There was no way 

I was going to head home without 'Our Time is Now' snuggly fit under my arm. 

It's not often that I catch a touring band on one night and drop any prior plans to see them a few days later. I guess that's just the power of music. It has and always been the great communicator.

Outlook's 'Our Time is Now', the bands first full length features all the great elements of the bands live performance. 

Driving guitars, pummeling bass and frantic drumming meet fast and unrelenting vocals. Being that I'm such a lyric whore I found Outlooks to be particularly inspiring. 

"Loud Fast Rules" Hardcore Punk that really grabs your attention.

The record is self released and features ten songs. The breakdowns on 'Gilded Cage' are amazing. While I couldn't get enough of the weird angles that 'Our Choice' offer. 

Overall this is a great record that really captures the energy and spirit of Punk and Hardcore. It also goes a long way towards capturing what they deliver live. The band also has a 

self titled 7 inch out there. I highly recommend you pick it up along with LP. 

James Damion

Buy it Here

Outlook Band Page

The 65's - Strike Hard

On the night prior to the release of the bands debut record "Strike Hard" I sat with 3/4's of the 65's over coffee and other unknown liquid refreshments to talk about the release. Having been treated to an advanced copy of the record I had listened to each and every track numerous times. So much so that it had quickly become the soundtrack to my work day. Though the interview didn't go quite as planned I felt I was able to convey my excitement about finally being able to officially share my feelings about one of my favorite releases of the year.

Featuring former members of
The Dark Brothers, Shirk Circus,
Electric Frankenstein and Balloon Squad to name just a few.
The band combines an impressive pedigree. The 65's score exceptionally high points on their debut. Mixing intelligent, highly evolved songwriting with catchy, stick to your ribs hooks, riffs and melodies. There's a real sense of maturity and ease about the songwriting that blends almost seamlessly with the rather dirty vibe of the music. Al's vocal quality has a sort of gravely cigarettes and whiskey quality to them that really add a nice dimension to the songs. Opening with the sweeping "Greatest Pretense" followed by the somewhat uplifting "Walk on Selfishly".  I found myself almost immediately hooked. While songs like
"I Will Never Serve You", "Are You Tired of Me Yet" and "Wherever You Are" put the hook in me. It was Cindi's turn on the vocals "Worse Comes To" that made me put me on an emotional respirator.  Thus placing "Strike Hard" at the top of my list for favorite releases of 20011. Top it off with a cover of The Psychedelic Furs 80's hit "Pretty in Pink" and you've got a record that will win over even the most jaded music fan. One can only hope that the future can promise more from this band. James Damion

The 65's  Band Page
Dromedary Records  Buy it Here