Tree City

Robbers on High Street | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Watertower Music
• ASIN: B0007IO7EA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,185 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This New York City-based band sounds a lot like Austin, TX-based Spoon. A lot. And seeing as this is their first full-length, and it’s rock music (so of course musical theft is involved to some degree), not to mention that Spoon is a pretty excellent band to start one’s career sounding like, the act will not be judged too harshly for sounding so much like Spoon. Even though they totally do, from singer Ben Trokan‘s wide-mouthed enunciation to the piano-driven, vaguely Beatles-y melodies, and rhythm-guitar heavy crunch. The production seems a bit slick, as if the group was going for some Interpol-type success, while the songs would perhaps be better served at a studio like Easley in Memphis. The lyrics are bright and not too serious ("Some things you can do in the city: walk around in circles/ meet Japanese girls"), while the band really plays these pretty waltz-pop songs well. Just, someone, anyone, please buy them some other records before they record again. The results are eagerly anticipated. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Tree City, the eagerly-awaited full-length debut by the New York quartet known as Robbers on High Street, has already been tipped by many as the first great rock 'n' roll album of 2005. The new disc—produced by the band and Peter Katis, whose credits include work with the likes of Interpol, Mercury Rev and the Get Up Kids—delivers on the abundant promise of the band's acclaimed debut EP Fine Lines, offering 13 bracing slices of brash, aggressive songcraft that blend youthful swagger and boundless energy with an insightful, introspective undercurrent that helps to set Robbers on High Street apart from the competition. Although they possess rock 'n' roll chops to burn, Robbers on High Street — singer/guitarist/keyboardist Ben Trokan, guitarist/vocalist Steve Mercado, bassist Jeremy Phillips and drummer Tomer Danan—also demonstrate considerable depth and imagination. Those qualities manifest themselves in the foursome's nuanced instrumental interplay and thoughtful, melodically inventive songwriting, which ranges from big, guitar-driven rock to subtly powerful balladry. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection. Don't beleive the hype; Robbers on High Street RULE!!, November 19, 2008

By 

Marcelle Diane (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tree City (Audio CD)

I am honestly astounded by all the harsh criticism I find here for a band that is now in my top 5, all time. Though I started with (and raved over) Grand Animals, Tree City contains some of my very favorite Robbers On High Street tunes. This band (and this album) for me was love at first listen, and a lasting love. A month later I'm still listening to little else. Spanish Teeth, Beneath the Trees, and Dig the Lightning are probably my favorite 3 of their songs, on any album. Naysayers who call this music less than earth shattering or imitation music are straight up crazy, if you ask me. The soaring melodies, intriguing lyrics, and unique sound of these songs are drop dead fabulous. I can't stop listening. If I were to compare them to another band, I'd call the Robbers a cross between The Strokes and The Natural History. I get the Spoon references made, but they're way better than Spoon. A must own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this CD - it's excellent!, March 17, 2005

By 

Someone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tree City (Audio CD)

I'm already addicted to this CD and listen to it constantly in the car. The songs are bouncy, each one is great, not a single clunker on the whole CD (which is more than I can say about many other indie groups ROHS have been compared to!)

Favorites: Amanda Green, Big Winter, Spanish Teeth, but they're all great! Sometimes they remind me of Elvis Costello, Maroon 5, even John Lennon! Whatever they remind me of, they sound fresh and I could listen to them all day!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars they're not spoon, February 28, 2005

By 

Chelsea Anne Nesvig (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tree City (Audio CD)

i have a feeling that "Tree City" is going to be one of the most underrated albums of 2005, but i do hope i'm wrong, because Robbers on High Street deserves as much success as other "indie rock" bands of late have received for their debut albums. this album just SOUNDS SO GOOD TO ME and quite a few of the songs have a certain sexiness to them. for someone who focuses on lyrics often, it took me at least 10 listens to "tree city" before i even thought about them - the melodies and piano lines are that intoxicating. my favorite song on the album is the oh so delicious "dig the lightning" but other standouts are "spanish teeth," "amanda green," and "the price and style." if you've ever enjoyed catchy/moody rock music that features pianos, buy this CD!