Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Album Review: Ceramic Animal - Sweet Unknown

Ceramic Animal 
Sweet Unknown 
*** out of *****


The Doylestown, Pennsylvania outfit Ceramic Animal have been going at it for a few years now but hope to breakout to larger audiences with Sweet Unknown. The record was produced by Dan Auerbach (who plays and sings throughout the album) and released on his Easy Eye Sound label as the group deliver a sampler of pop rock styles, hoping some will stick. 

The band, Chris Regan (vocals, guitar), Erik Regan (drums), and Elliott Regan (vocals, keys), Anthony Marchione (guitar) and Dallas Hosey (vocals, bass) look to classic rock legends for inspirations but play it fairly smooth throughout Sweet Unknown. Opening with the sweet swinging light rock of "Tangled" the acoustic strums pair winningly with the best bass on the album, sounding reminiscent of Silver Synthetic's pop rock style.   

The band delivers the grumbling rumbling of "I Can't Wait" which recalls The Strokes before they shift gears entirely for the soft disco influenced sounds of "Long Day". It is at this point it really feels like all different styles are being experimented with on Sweet Unknown to see if a hit emerges. While nothing is must hear, all efforts are pleasant in their genre experiments.  

"Forever Song" begins sparse with dramatic singing leading to a large full band finale which could keep going but the band decides to drift into the dreamy pop swirling of the title track. More breezy pop rolls out during "Up In Smoke" while the band drops down and uses a heavy fuzz around the push and pull of "Private Dancer". 

The finale of the album is a highlight as the most rocking effort "Valerie" takes a cue from The Rolling Stones and dips into pure rock and roll to wrap up a smorgasbord of sounds on Sweet Unknown.        
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