Chained to the Chariot [CD]

Rotary Downs (Author) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: CD
• Label: Rookery Records
• ASIN: B000O8U8ZK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,757 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

14 tracks: False Protection, Sing Like the Sun, Big Parade, g-7 Hit!, Holiday Home, b/w, Feast in Squalor, Djinni Stomp, Pedigree, Ma Lion Races Ruin, Black Town, Old Museum, Lantern, Body of an Outlaw.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart Indie Space Rock, June 23, 2007

By 

Woodsprite "thewoodsprite" (MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chained to the Chariot (Audio CD)

I first discovered Rotary Downs a few years ago and was amazed that I had never heard of them before. Even a couple of albums later (and another new one in the works) I'm still surprised at how few people know about these very talented artists. In a way, it makes me almost selfishly wish that others won't; however, I love this band too much not to pile on a whole heap of praise for their work. They deserve to be heard and appreciated.

It's hard to describe the sound of Rotary Downs because it keeps evolving, and "Chained to the Chariot" is my favorite of their albums so far. With each release, they seem to add new layers of complexity to an already well-developed, finely crafted blend of lyrics and instrumentation. In Chained, the addition of horns and keyboards really fills out the overall sound, creating a fuller, richer musical experience. Despite an often laid back delivery and groovy, sometimes bouncy melodies, most of Marler's lyrics bear a greater depth and weight than one might first expect. The band is from New Orleans, and the aftermath of hurricane Katrina is an obvious influence in at least a couple of songs. There is real genius here, some great messages with a particular verve for word play. The music is genuinely interesting. Featuring unpredictable beats and discordant guitar riffs, plus the unexpected appeal of James Marler's quirky, croaking voice, you will find it all expertly delivered on a dreamy, space-rock foundation with the sort of seeming ease that only really accomplished artists can do. They make this stuff sound so easy, and so enjoyable.

There are simply no bad songs on this album, and each track travels easily into the next, with shifting tempos ranging from languid to frenetic, taking the listener on a strange journey into music space while keeping its underlying themes firmly planted on the ground. This is a great album to just throw in the player and let it go, and yourself with it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Pavement 2.0?, April 6, 2009

By 

Dominique Minor (New Orleans) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chained to the Chariot (Audio CD)

From the start of this album start the influence from 90s alt-rockers Pavement is plainly evident. From lead singer James Marler's deadpan vocals to the off-kilter, swirling textures of guitarist Chris Columbo, to the eccentric, but catchy choruses. However, there is more to this New Orleans band than Pavement comparisions.

Their lo-fi sound combines funky grooves, alt-country, and quirky rhythms a la Odelay-era Beck. The lyrics flow freely between being the quizzical and cebebral. With that, the band has created a unique sound by using the musical textures to blur and bend the lyrics to create a flow of sounds with syllables. For example, "Drink up, drink up the kingpin tin cup/ For a pistol of tricks sir a crystal exlir/ blissful breath from a rock bottom riser" does not make sense literally. However, when its put in context with the music all the words fall together like a row of dominoes, and despite Marler's laid back vocals and sing-a-long choruses, many of his lyrics bear a greater depth than one might first expect. Hurricane Katrina is an obvious influence in songs like "The Big Parade" and "A Feast in Squalor." The addition of horns and keyboards really fill out the sonic landscape on this album, creating a rich and full sound. Although, at times, the horns do make it hard not to conjure Cake caparisons.