Show Equal Vision scores with two new releases Joseph W. W Bateman Music Reporter Equal Vision Records based in Albany New York is one of the most impressive labels in independent music starting Jump-starting the careers of influential bands such as and Cambria Bane and Saves The D Day y the label has a knack for finding the proverbial diamonds in the rough Adding songwriter singer-songwriter Dustin Kensrue and poppy rock act the label continues their uncanny streak To be fair Dustin Kensrue has his fair share of street cred as vocalist and guitarist of the powerful ever-powerful Thrice Kensrue has been acoustically covering songs by Counting Crows Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash a and d has taken his one- one man acoustic show to sold- sold out shows in New York Los Angles Philadelphia San Diego and his hometown of Orange County Okay so its it's more like Kensrue found Equal Vision than the label found him Regardless his solo debut Please Come Home is modeled on his influences and started taking shape when he created songs that weren't exactly right for Thrice With Thrice its it's always an attempt to combine a lot lotof lotof of different feels and explore a lot of new territory wrote Kensrue in an online biography Not that its it's not about writing good songs but Please Come Home at its core is finding the heart of the song and playing it Its It's definitely more down- down to-earth to and less complex in certain ways Instead of the complexity of combining metal hardcore and emo found in Thrice a stripped-down stripped feel is present on oh the eight tracks found on Please Come Home Kensrue conjures up Johnny Cash Ryan Adams and Bruce in creating songs that range from the dark and solemn Blanket of Ghosts to the introspective Blood Wine and the uplifting I Knew You Before Although the acoustic guitar is the most prominent instrument Kensrue perfectly blends in drums an organ a piano and even the harmonica to capture the mood of the song I wanted these songs at their core to work in that street corner sense just justa a guy with his guitar a voice and a story to tell In the end even with the am a. a a scan and tt r T rotes Y sV other instruments it is still an guitar based record Kensrue wrote The songs on Please Come Home will find their way into the hearts of fans of recent songwriters singer-songwriters Rocky Jason Molina and Damien Jurado as well as older fans of Bruce and Johnny Cash Up next are the relative unknowns of The Buffalo piece four-piece raise the venerable At the Drive- Drive in from the dead on their debut MUSIC borrows heavily from At AtThe AtThe AtThe The In Drive-In but exhibits a less explosive version The complex sound found in the guitars of Minus the Bear also appears on MUSIC While the music is straightforward progressive rock the guitars I 4 r 3 q 1 j F r r T y Photo courtesy of equate Dustin Kensrue seen above strumming his guitar broke away from Thrice to cover songs from legendary artists can be found swirling around sometimes out in left field It isn't a bad thing as it adds another layer to the music Technically MUSIC is a release re-release the album was originally released on the now defunct Tamerlane records but fierce yourself it style caught the eyes of Equal Vision Despite the usual band member problems the band managed to book themselves on shows across the United States in 2006 While on tour won over numerous fans and sold out their original pressing of MUSIC As buzz began to form fOnTI about their must must- see live show and infectious music Equal Vision caught wind and signed the band last summer Creating debut albums is isa a difficult task Most bands are figuring out their sound experiencing member challenges or simply learning their instruments Very rarely does a band come along and make a debut album that retains as much on the first listen as asit asit asit it does on the twentieth let alone capture the attention of a label exciting progressive rock is a diamond found in the rough Lets Let's hope their sophomore release is as impressive as their debut Together Dustin Kensrue and prove Equal Vision is one of the most impressive labels in independent music If Equal Visions Vision's nearly flawless track record doesn't prove it then these two releases will convince any skeptic |