Customer Reviews

Rocketship Letters

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been listening to Bugs in Amber for a few years since their first album, Trafalmadorian (sp?) Philosophy and I can honestly say that this is a great band. I even hung out with the members of the band one great summer a couple summers back. They have refreshing musical talent and Sonny's lyrics are nothing short of genius. Friend or Foe has been a favorite song in my arsenal since their self released EP Friend or Foe, but I was pleased to hear that the other songs have taken on even more depth and beauty. The dynamic of the whole band together and the individual sounds of seven different musical instruments is magical. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who enjoys Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, and my favorite, Smashing Pumpkins. Try it out...you won't be disappointed! You can see more about them on bugsinamber.com if you're interested.

Bugs in Amber have been penned as an orchestra pop band...but they are so much more than that. After reading great reviews of them I decided to check them out live and without a moment's hesitation bought their cd. From "factory paradise" (an anthem for anyone who has been stuck under their supervisor's thumb) to "noon" (I have never even imagined something could sound like this!) to "rockin' chair in the country" (makes you want to jump in a lincoln and drive just 400 miles down the road)...this 7 piece band is unlike anything else out there. I couldn't even choose a favorite song for this review because they are all great! The cd rocks like no other and will become an underground classic without a doubt.

I cannot think of a single band that is more underrated than these guys. By pure luck, I stumbled across their music a few months ago and have since fallen in love with it. While vivacious and lively, their songs somehow manage to also emit a mellow, soothing sentiment to its listeners.

Like the user reviews before me have said, you will not regret checking Bugs in Amber out.

Bristling with energy and excitement and more than a little ambition Bugs in Amber are the precursor to bands like Arcade Fire. On this release, lead by singer and guitarist Sonny Votolato, they were a 7-piece orchestra-pop band, vivacious, raucous and lively; instruments clashing as much as complementing each other to create a heady wall of noise that works as much from sheer perspiration as anything else.

Bugs in Amber write lush, multidimensional music with unconventional melodies and instrumentation. They embrace the same ethos as the Flaming Lips: to take the listener to the outer corners of Western music and then, bring them back with a catchy, memorable hook. And it's a safe bet they skipped the "Verse Chorus Verse" class and moved directly on to "Songwriting for People Who Really Know How to Play Their Instruments."

Ethereal keyboards compliment Sonny Votolato's shrill but highly deliberate and controlled vocals. Occasional flute and violin interludes add a beautiful dynamic to their songs that puts them in the un-crowded phylum of bands that actually have something unique to offer. It's not an altogether easy listen but repeated plays reveal a depth that's tuneful and dynamic, if a bit rough round the edges.

Think middle-American indie college rock like early REM combined with latter period Beatles and the virtuosity and ear for a tune of Arcade Fire's seemingly shambolic folk. Mix it all up and Bugs in Amber would be the result.

Stunning isn't an understatement and if any of the above floats your canoe this is definitely worth checking out.

>>>The above with help from mmguide.musicmatch.com, the below nicked from lyricsangel.com:<<<

Bugs in Amber began as a five piece acoustic project in 1997 containing guitars, piano, violin and drums. By fall of '98, electric guitars, bass and flute were in the mix to complete a truly orchestral-rock wall of sound. The acoustic theme faded fast as volume became the essence. They currently have four releases:

Tralfamadorian Philosophy '97 (self released)
Friend or Foe EP '98 (self released)
Rocketship Letters '00 (Sign Language Records)
Lessons of Honorable Mention '03 (self released)

Summer of 2000 bugs once again reiterated the pop rock sound with just four members. Vocals/guitar (Sonny Votolato), bass (Jared Sutton), organ/keys/musical saw (Dave E. Martin), and drums (Rudy Gajadhar, also from Waxwing). They played with that line-up for about a year and carried the complex structures of quality songs with a bit more air to breathe. More recently Jared decided to leave the band and Bugs picked up bassist, Paul Pugliese (of Seattle punks, Go!Fight!Win!). Bugs in Amber finished their fourth release titled Lessons of Honorable Mention in 2003...

This is a great Cd. I love the fact that there is a violin and a flute in this band....very Celtic. I wish I could find more of their cd's, their website is no longer working.

Love it!!! Maybe we'll see more of them in the future...who knows, anything is possible!

ive never heard a band i was this excited about except for this one. totally radical band