Customer Reviews

Wire Post to Wire

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Standard are something to behold--dense arrangements and really awe-inspiring musicianship. Wire Post to Wire rewards repeated listens like no album I've heard in ages. They don't have any easy points of reference, "prog" is unfair and Radiohead seems like a meaningless comparison, except to say that both bands understand the power of dynamics have amazingly ambitious visions compared to their peers. But I will say if give the album a few spins you'll "get" what they are doing.

I saw them in Baltimore earlier this year where they played to about 12 people on a brutally cold Monday night. Not remarkable. What was truly remarkable was that when I saw them a week later in DC (where the crowd was much better) I saw about six people who had made the 50 mile drive to see them again just a week later. They are that good live.

So please ignore any ad hominem critiques of the singer (*sigh* I guess that's his cross to bear for having a unique and expressive voice) and obviously casual dissmissals.

Just saw these guys live a couple of weeks ago, in a bar with about 20 people watching. It was a killer show, but it's definately a shame that more people haven't heard of these guys.
Remember how exciting it was when you first heard Radiohead or Nirvana? This is like that. It's basically indie/college rock with a lot more emotion than pretentiousness, though the music is actually really intricate.

The Amazon info is a little bit off.. the real CD is named "Wire Post to Wire" and the 9 tracks have titles: 1. Metropolitan, 2. Even Numbers, 3. Ghosts for Hire, 4. Runaway Week, 5. Folk Song, 6. Unicorns and Chemicals, 7. Monks in New Jersey, 8. A Black Machine, 9. Jumprope in Hell. Really, there's not a bad song on here.

If you want more info, search for "The Standard- August." That one actually has some reviews on this site. It's their album before this (that one's almost as amazing as this one).

One of my favorite albums of last year, Dolorean's - Not Exotic, led me to this recording. I discovered through their website that not only did they love this band, but their keyboard player layed down the piano tracks on their new record. That seemed to be a good enough reason to seek it out at my local independent store. When I went to go buy it they didn't have a copy left, which was also completely shocking. The store owner told me he had played a promo of the new record and sold all 5 copies that he had that same day. Thinking that no one else would have it, I went home and just downloaded it. I was completely blown away from beginning to end. Songs like "Metropolitan," "Unicorns and Chemicals," and "Runway Week" are sure to make many people's mix tapes in the coming months, and the rest of the album is nothing to scoff at. A dark and melancholy masterpiece that is a must buy and one of top albums of the year. (Oh and I did buy this record later on).

I have tried hard to introduce everyone I can to this album, with mostly good results. There are two main criticisms I've heard from those that I shared Wire post to wire with; 1. Putnam's vocals sound as if he's just had his throat ripped out and put back in upside down before recording this record, and 2) it's a shame there aren't 25 songs on this album because they would all be as great as the nine that made the cut. This is a bold record that makes me remember why it is that I bought a stereo so long ago. This music is so perfect, so emotional and so INTERESTING, that they have ruined other bands for me. I find myself comparing other bands to them and shaking my head in dissapointment.
The band has fused together many genres in seamless ways that make it reminiscent of way that Pink Floyd was able to bend sounds on The Wall. They are able to evoke an atmosphere here that will spray a wonderfull mist on your day.
Even Numbers is the best track, but the other 8 are my second track. Give it a listen, you'll be glad you did.

Great Album: Great Music - I share all the same sentiments as the other reviewers. However, it is the album cover that really impresses me about this album. I'm serious... I can't get enough of it. I want to frame this bad boy and hang it in my house. Good job on the music and great job on the cover! My sincere thank you to the artist for creating something in this world so bold and beautiful. I would definitely recommend this album (cover) to anyone looking for enlightenment - both musically and visually.

The Standard is such a great band! When are they going to put out more music? While I wait I've been checking out some of the band member's other projects:

You Can't Win

Not Exotic

Violence in the Snowy Fields

Red White Black & Blue Motion Picture Soundtrack

there is something about this band.... they don't have to have a gimmick to sound great. just ...wow.

August grew on me slowly until I was listening to it nearly every other day and I have a strong suspicion that I'll wear out Wire Post to Wire in a matter of weeks. Where as the vocals were previously restricted to either panicky or exhausted tones, Tim Putnam sings a little more confidently this time around. It is not a groundbreaking effort, but any emotional range is huge for a dude that always sounded defeated or like he was running from something.

Half of the bands out there could take a lesson from The Standard's cohesiveness as a collective. The comparisons to the prog-rock elite here come from their ability to play as a band (yes, with a keyboard included) and demonstrate their talent without separating into some kind of self-gratifying solo.

Listening to Wire Post to Wire is like swimming through a jello mold... It's filled with beautiful moments, but they are hard to get to. I do love jello, especially with bits of strawberries and bananas. Mmmmmmm... Anyways, The Standard do an incredible job of mixing prog sensibility (a la Yes) with gorgeous and visual lyrics(in the vein of The Microphones or Neutral Milk Hotel). I think a few people might not dig the dense keyboards though... I like it.

This is the best album I have purchased in YEARS. Hard to define, but I like it more than Radiohead's OK Computer and at times I hear Live in there, but I think that's just the emotion coming through the music. Thanks to the Electric Fetus, those music store guys and gals know there music. (I didn't buy it here, no.)