Weston - The Massed Albert Sounds

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The band Weston has been together for the better part of a decade, but chances are you've never heard of them, however that should change with the Bethlehem, PA quartets sixth album, and major label debut The Massed Albert Sounds. The album is their strongest and most experimental record to date. On the bands web site they talk about the art of live production, and how they never allowed anything more than a second take for a track while recording this album, leaving in mistakes and all. The band has also branched out musically by using something other than the usual guitar, drums, and bass. "This is the first recording which we've used anything besides that, i.e. piano, bells, triangles..." stated lead vocalist/guitarist James Snyder, on the bands web site "We wanted to colorize the record a bit more so that even after 500 listens there would still be something that you hadn't heard before. I dig records like that"

The album takes its title from an often-used phrase by John Lennon during the making of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. After recording the basic tracks, Lennon would often ask producer George Martin, "And after this we'll have the Massed Alberts, won't we George?" The 'Massed Alberts' were a popular English comedy duo, of which one played the trumpet badly. Lennon meant it was time to add the 'clever stuff', the brass. Weston is able to live up to the album title not only with the additional instruments the band used, but just because it's a solid album all together.

Side one of the album kicks off with the power pop song "I Just Quit Rock and Roll" were Snyder sings about how rock and roll has failed him. Sarcastically the song seems to cram several rock standards in their with a few na na na's and some distorted vocals. The next track "To Some I'm a Genius" starts off with a beautiful string section for the first 30 seconds before ripping into a loud and fast guitar riff and pummeling bass line. "Kiss Like an Angel" is a mid-tempo ballad with a bass line that reminds me a lot of the Pixies. Not really surprising here, because the Pixies just happen to be one of the bands biggest influences. The track is the one that stands out most to me and is my favorite on the album. Another stand out track is "Radio", the track laments the fall of radio and how it's populated by lame songs with three chords, and how everyone's just going to whatever the next "big thing" is.

Side Two kicks off with the new wavish "Liz Phair" a valentine to the alt-rocker of the same name, probably the catchiest and most radio ready song on the album. Another track that grabbed my attention is "El Differente" a really great song that has a Pixies-esque sound and vocals reminiscent of David Bowie. "Volume Hater" starts with the band singing a capella before moving into Snyder singing about how sensitive a guy he is, and how he's not in the mood for rock and roll. The album finishes up with a reprise of "I Just Quite Rock and Roll" with the lines "I hate most what I love best, and this whole thing is such a mess, I will not sell my soul, to corporate rock and roll" over what seems to be a xylophone tapping out the melody.

I think Weston did a pretty good job of not "selling their soul", but also didn't stand pat and put out the same tired old record, which is good. Overall a really good album filled with a nice melodies and a skewering since of humor, that I enjoyed listening to very much. There is not one bad song on here among the twelve tracks, which is impressive in these days of bands just trying to get one hit. If you can find this album anywhere around here buy it, and if you can't find it check out their web site at www.weston101.com and get it there, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.


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