Rise

Presence

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Curb Records
• ASIN: B00008XS1D
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #183,461 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Tallahassee, Florida's PRESENCE’s infectious hip-hop-influenced hard rock is not only as volatile as any heard in recent memory, but also a lot more viable. "We’ve been together for a long time," says bassist D.J. Stange, "and it’s exciting to see the type of music we make be embraced by a big audience." The group, still in their early 20’s, have already released two well-received independent albums (1999’s Divine and When The Smoke Clears in 2001) and are now looking to bring their music to the world.

You can't question the authenticity of PRESENCE's Curb Records debut Rise, or the players it came from. Unlike most bands who start with a singer-guitarist songwriting core, PRESENCE hail the rhythm section as the starting point for their infectious groove, bombastic beats and lyrical flow. "Our music is very groove-oriented, we're not just about bashing out riffs," says drummer Nick Wells. As anyone with an ear for music can tell, those words are more than just lip service. Opening track "Soundcheck"--the first song the band wrote together, more than four years ago--is an immediate indication of things to come, drums and bass creating a half-pipe that the guitars and music bounce through with the effortless ease of skateboarders at the top of their game. "The band starts from rhythm section up," offers Fulmer as an explanation, "it all starts with crazy funk beats."

Maybe that's what make PRESENCE the most convincing band of their ilk in years, packing the aggressive punch of Rage Against The Machine, the melodic swirl of P.O.D., and a lyrical range that drops from resolute, to utterly tongue-in-cheek. "Go, get dressed, get out of my bed, now find your way home…" frontman Jay Slim snaps in "Tonz Of Fun," a morning-after ode to the night before's beer-goggling. But it's not all fun and games for the quartet, as "Van Down By The River"--which was written back in '96 and, according to Stange, "changed about six times"--was penned in memory of the late "Saturday Night Live" comedian Chris Farley. After releasing When The Smoke Clears regionally, PRESENCE joined forces with Curb Records, which was expanding into rock music. Fulmer adds, "Now we’ve got a new home at Curb Records, with a whole team of people who understand us." If the band’s new CD Rise culminates at any one point, it just may be the jarring "One Final Breath," an emotional and physical expression of losing love ones, and memories that never fade. "That's a song for any and everybody," says Stange. "In one short time, our manager lost his mother, I lost my father, and Jay lost his grandfather." "I think our lyrics are going to separate us from the rest of our genre, because people will be able to relate to us a lot more than just being pissed off all the time," says Wells. "There are bands out there that are doing it right, like P.O.D. and System Of A Down, and I think that just proves that this is a music of its own, and it's not going anywhere. It's not going to die, because too many kids who are playing music now grew up listening to rap music. It's part of what we are."

Product Description

Debut on Curb Records from four musicians from four Florida towns, includes the radio track 'Tonz Of Fun'. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply a must!, May 30, 2003

By	A. Glassman "manofglass" (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wasn't too aware of this group before my roommate told me I needed to buy this CD. Boy was he right. He had seen them live in Gainsville, Fla. and loved everything he heard. I can't disagree.

Normally it takes me a couple times to listen to a new CD before I can judge it, but not this one. First time I heard it, I was just amazed at the variations in the songs themselves. Some are real heavy, kick[in'], up beat rockers. Others are more mellow, thoughtful ones with lots of melody. A perfect mix.

Take a chance and buy this one even if you've never heard them before. You won't regret it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just incredible, May 24, 2003

By	"larkknot" (Central Florida US) - See all my reviews

I saw them live at real rock 101.1's earthday birthday X. I was so impressed. I heard that they were doing an in-store show for their CD release. I went, and although I missed the show, I definitely picked up their CD and had them sign it. I put the CD in my car player and absolutely fell in love with it. It actually managed to replace Godsmack's Faceless as my CD of choice. Track 11, Lose Yourself, is the most incredibly sensual song. Tonz of Fun is hilarious. Rock doesn't get much better than this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Presence, May 24, 2003

By	J. Hunt (Tallahassee, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is very difficult to describe the genre of music that Presence would fit into. Rise is a cd of mostly songs remixed from older albums to fit into a rock/rap category, not to mention new songs which sound incredible. They have their own style of music with a touch of rage against the machine. Soundcheck, Hold Up, Tonz of Fun, Van Down By The River(one of my favorites), Rock is Dead, One Final Breath, The New One, and Bound to Ascend are all songs from previous Presence CD's( Divine, and When the Smoke Clears ) that have been reperformed and mixed to the point that it sounds like you are listening to it for the first time. The 4 news songs: Again and Again, Remember, Lose Yourself, and Rise are all great songs and fit the rock/rap style that it seems like Presence was trying to aim for in this album, and succeeded. If you have listened to any of the other Presence CD's, trust me you will not feel like you are listening to 8 songs you know all over again. I feel like Presence did a great job in releasing their first national debut album, and if they are able to market well enough and if their names spread fast enough via word of mouth, then we might all be hearing some of their titles on national airwaves in the near future. If you do decide to purchase the cd and enjoy it as much as I did then you will definatly need to purchase Divine and When the Smoke Clears to complete your Presence CD Collection.