VHM’S ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Tommy Alto’s ATLAS\\PATTERSON
(reviewed by Kraig-with-a-K)
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the bong water, Tommy Alto has returned with some smokin’ crystal math-rock, that will have you counting time signatures, angular melodies, and trying to remember where the fuck you left your car keys (*they’re over by the empty Pogo-Dog box on the floor by the way).
With Atlas\\Patterson, these boys have found their sound, moving a step left from the eclectic folk, pop, and radio vibe of their self-titled debut album to a more sophisticated, stylized, and focused follow-up.
And that is not to say that this album’s not radio-ready presenting running times rarely over the 4 minute mark and catchy anthemic sing-along chori (yeah you fuckers, “chori” is the plural of “chorus’”). But Atlas\\Patterson marks a maturity and even a slight loss of innocence with the boys having gone through hell and back in a tour bus crash, that would’ve dismantled lesser bands.
Yet the energy, wit, and ball-sweat of Alto’s live performance remains in each linear and non-linear beat of Atlas.
As the opening track and first single, Mountain Top acts as a nice intro to Alto madness with a sort of, “Hey, welcome to the party, let me introduce you to-- oh fuck it, let’s do some shots and get right into it.”
Doria, My Heart is Bigger than Yours, and Birds keep up the rollercoaster of moods and the listener wondering what’s around the next corner... a climb, a drop, a turn, a moment of breath, or just that hands up moment of, “Holy shit! So that just happened.”
Beneath the Rain on a Strange Rooftop moves from math-pop to prog, to a moment of bliss at the 2:15 mark, only to have the boys kick you back in the nuts just as you were starting to get comfortable.
Sonically, the closing track Driftwood acts as a calm, cool, and collected good-bye from the manic world of Tommy Alto, as they ease you back into reality. Driftwood’s that morning after the party, “Thanks for coming, take your empties with you, and don’t tell my parents you were here this weekend.”
If you get off and bands like This Town Needs Guns and Youth Movies, you’re gonna jizz all your indie-core skinny jeans with Tommy Alto. So get out and see them live on tour now, buy the album, and stalk them over @
https://www.facebook.com/TommyAlto
http://www.tommyalto.com/
www.twitter.com/tommyalto
http://tommyalto.bandcamp.com/
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