3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Second album from the space/drone rockers, September 2, 2006
This review is from: Wicked Branches (Audio CD)
Lab Partners is a Dayton-based self-described "space/drone" rock band, led by the husband and wife team of singer-guitarist Mike Smith and keyboardist Amy Smith. After an early self-released EP came a nice debut album in 2002 called "DayStar". In 2005 the band released its second album.
"Wicked Branches" (12 tracks, 59 min.) brings 10 'real' tracks (as listed above in the Amazon listing), plus 2 short (untitled) instrumentals, hence the 12 total tracks. While the band may describe itself as space/drone, you shouldn't think that they sound anything like, say, Hawkwind (the original space rock band). Think more along the lines of Film School, or The Cooper Temple Clause. But really, Lab Partners have their own sound. Outstanding tracks on this album are "Love Don't Care", with a great guitar riff at the chorus, "Tidal Wave", the pensive "Snow Covered Leaves" and "This Life". At an hour, the album is a bit overlong, and with a bit more careful editing of the pace, the album might even have soared higher. But in the end, this is a very nice album, and I continue to play it quite regularly.
Lab Partners play regularly in the Cincinnati-Dayton area, and live they are even more impressive than on album. Bringing a veritable wall-of-sound, I am very impressed with their stage act, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why these guys haven't broken out more prominently yet. A new album is in the works for 2007. Can't wait for that.
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