Customer Reviews

Underslept

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4 star:		(2)
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To loyal readers of my reviews it should be no surprise that I am a bit partial towards instrumental music. I tend to steer clear of male driven vocals, pop rock accompaniment, and a template structure of the song. So why is it that I keep returning to the album by Systems Officer? Could I possibly be hypnotized by the melody or the lyrics? It is only when I find myself playing the album full blast in the car, singing along with every word, wondering in which memory bank of my mind the lyrics are stored, that I accept that the answer to that earlier question is 'yes'. Every track has been worked out to turn the pop concept inside out, and present the listener with a song with incredibly high replay value. Five years in the making, Underslept is the solo creation of Armistead Burwell Smith IV (aka Zach),who is a multi-instrumentalist, a song writer, and a founding member of Pinback and Three Mile Pilot. I don't claim to be knowledgeable when it comes to progressive or indie-rock, but I do know a good track when I hear it. I hope that you'll agree. Thanks to Temporary Residence Limited once again, for pushing my comfort listening boundaries.

Zach aka ABSIV (aka bass player extraordinaire from indie rock royalty Pinback and the criminally underlooked Three Mile Pilot) delivers a slab of blissed out bass and piano-laden 21st century rock/pop with hooks galore. The thing that sets this guy apart from many of his indie rock peers is A) he is a virtuoso musican and B) he clearly puts all of his focus where it belongs: on the *craft* of creating really good music. It's refreshing to hear an artist focus so thoroughly on the music itself, rather than hair primpin' and clothes shoppin' and such.

Systems Officer is a side project that has Zach playing/recording most everything with only a little bit of help from his friends, and it totally delivers on the unique sound that he has been developing for years. The quality and re-playability remain as high as ever: truly top shelf. If you already familiar, you will not be let down, otherwise maybe take a chance and pick this up.... but be forewarned, this music is addicting (in a good way).

This might be bias, but I love most of the songs. Oui would be my least favorite, but that's about it for anything negative to say on it. If you like Pinback you will probably enjoy this. I bought it without a thought and was not let down.