The Morning Benders Loose Change
(2006; Portia Records)
From the moment I hit play on Loose Change, the Morning Benders’ sound was hard to resist. Like a love-letter to 1960s West coast rock n’ roll, they blend sweet impersonations of Beach Boys melodies with a rhythm section that chugs along like Neil Young's Crazy Horse. Over their five-song EP, the band does slump into a bit of sentimentality, but the weight of Chris Chu's lyrical realism and storytelling pushes against their pop melodies, and the Morning Benders hold their edge.
As a band, they make some pretty nimble but heavy moves, with an impudent swagger and some jaunty grooves that feel just like the Strokes. Although upon first listen I was a bit lulled by the record's low budget production, Chris Chu's sustained intensity keeps things interesting. The mood darkens slightly during the title track, as Chu repeatedly shouts, "Why can't you just say what you mean?" Then the EP fades out on a bittersweet acoustic love song, appropriately titled "Morning Fog.”
Listening through Loose Change left me feeling slightly uneasy and wanting more.
From the moment I hit play on Loose Change, the Morning Benders’ sound was hard to resist. Like a love-letter to 1960s West coast rock n’ roll, they blend sweet impersonations of Beach Boys melodies with a rhythm section that chugs along like Neil Young's Crazy Horse. Over their five-song EP, the band does slump into a bit of sentimentality, but the weight of Chris Chu's lyrical realism and storytelling pushes against their pop melodies, and the Morning Benders hold their edge.