High school: a time for learning and experiencing different things, where a student takes many different classes in one semester. The Alrights’ debut album, titled “High School,” finds itself in a strangely similar spot, with many different song styles on one album, none of which seem to complement the others.
Yes, I would say that the diversity in its music does give the band an appeal to a wider audience than if it had one, collective sound, but it sure makes for a confusing album to listen to.
The intro to the first track, “Call Her Name,” has a similar sound to a mixture of Soundgarden and the Beastie Boys, that is, until lead singer Toby Churchill chimes in. His vocals give the song the flavor that it needs for The Alrights to leave more of its own mark in the music world.
The band notes that it is influenced by such artists as John Lennon, The White Stripes, Weezer, Erykah Badu and even Monty Python. While listening to the album, I found it was clearly influenced by The Killers, Modest Mouse and Scissor Sisters as well.
In fact, I could only find the soulfulness of an Erykah Badu sound in some of the songs. But I didn’t understand where the other stated influences impacted the music.
Even the artwork for “High School” had a similar look to that of the music video to Modest Mouse’s “Float On.”
The bands’ front man and lead singer, Churchill, is the main source of the songs, having written nearly every one on the album.
According to the band’s official MySpace page, the diversity of the band’s sound is not a gimmick, but merely just what Churchill'”feels like doing.”
Churchill also plays guitar, piano and keyboard. Danny Cosgrove assists in vocals and plays bass while Chavo Ambom covers the beat on drums.
My favorite song is definitely “Heaven Sends Her Regards.” The music and vocals to this track are right up my ally and I found the lyrics to be thoughtful and humorous.
I originally picked this album out of the stack of numerous other artists in the Daily Forty Niner office because I found track 12 to be untitled. Though not at all what I expected, listening to track 12 did prove to be enjoyable, though certainly in more of an amusing way than musically.
The band formed in the summer of 2003, but the members of The Alrights had been playing together for years before. After numerous gigs the band signed a record deal with NYC City Canyons Records in the fall of 2005. The Alrights are touring the country, starting off of course, in their home town of Duluth, Minn.
My recommendation to the band would be to pick one style for each of the albums to give a more connected feel while listening through the entire album. Using as many different styles on one album as they have on “High School” creates a detached feeling I find to be bothersome.
I say, if you like most or all of the songs on the album, buy it. Otherwise, you’re better off individually purchasing the songs you like online.
“High School” is a good time to work on finding yourself, which I recommend The Alrights do before recording another album.
