Geology-The Stock Market Crash

The Stock Market Crash is becoming a pretty big deal 'round these parts of Oklahoma. They've really started to show what they can accomplish musically with their sound, and how experimental they can really get. They're just not your average, local band. Also, despite how old this record is, it still stands out as a phenominal record...especially for an up-and-coming Okie band.

I realize that most of my readers have never even heard of The Stock Market Crash, so thus, you have no idea what the Hell I'm about to talk about...even though you should definately go check these guys out. Their record Geology is definately a great starting record, because although it's a great record, you can tell where they can improve for their sophomore record, to cut what could be a legendary rock record.

I think I like this record so much because it's so easy to review, because as soon as you read this, and listen to the record you know exactly what I'm talking about. Also, I feel somewhat connected with the record because I did a sample review of Geology when I was with NONzine for a short time (which is a small, quazi-tabloid, bi-weekly Arts & Music magazine in circulation in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.)

For starters, Matt Bacon (lead vocals) has one of the most innovative and inventive voices that I've ever heard. A little Bob Dylan-esque in many ways, but at the same time, it's his own way of singing. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before. He also backs it up with great lyrics though, i.e. the song In the Mouth of the Whale when he sings the line "It's a full time job/To be a part-time lover." It's so simple, yet quite deep when you think about the truth behind that (as I've said before in my Top Ten Songs in Modern Music post.)

The music that backs him up is different as well. There's no real explaination for that either. Pedals for the guitars, maybe. It's just all around different...I guess that's why I like this band. A lot of it, I guess, would be the fact that it's simple guitar (no solos really, or anything gaudy that makes their music seem so phony) put with interesting effects. All-in-all, that's the only way to really explain the sound.

The record did have it's downsides though. Despite how good it was, it still seemed like they had no idea where to put the songs on their record. Song placement is a very big factor in putting together a great record. If it doesn't tell a story (which many records do now) then you still can't bore your audience. If you have a slow song, don't toss it in the middle of the record, put it close to the end, so that by the time your audience gets to the middle of the record, they're still very into what they're hearing...and then throw the slower song on them...see how they like it.

Also, the pace of the record may have changed, but the songs seem to start running together at some points. It's like the songs start to sound the same. I'm not saying that ALL their songs run together, but a fair few of them (on this record) do. Not that that's even a bad thing, but it does get a little too much to handle, especially when you can't remember which song's which, when trying to tell a friend to listen to them, like Don't Walk and In the Mouth of the Whale. I always used to get those two songs mixed up, because they sound so damn similar.

All-in-all, it is a great, and very artistic record, where you can tell that there's a lot of British influence, and a little blues influence in it, because of the tone in the lyrics. I'd give it four stars. Which is great considering it's a debut record. I look forward to seeing The Stock Market Crash unveil newer stuff very soon, and I think they have the potential to get up there, and make it. So, do yourself a favor, and buy it on iTunes. You'll like it.