Silver Synthetic
Rosalie
***and1/2 out of *****
For their sophomore release, Rosalie, the New Orleans based Silver Synthetic spiritually traveled west and exhaled under some California sunshine, cruising effortlessly from Bakersfield down to Laurel Canyon. Weeping guitars and added pedal steel twang around restrained songwriting, relaxing the band as the riffs and breathy vocals ease out.
The core outfit of Chris Lyons: Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Ben Jones: Bass, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Lucas Bogner: Drums, Percussion, Kunal Prakash: Guitar, Synthesizer, Rain Stick worked with Drew Carroll, recording up in Nashville. While the location may have influenced the band, the addition of Luke Schneider on pedal steel guitar during a few numbers really highlights their move to a more countrified, soft rock vein.
That starts with opener “Age of Infamy”, the best song on the album, which finds Schneider’s bending lines fitting perfectly into the band’s retro rocking, mellow sound. Backing vocals, cascading riffs and questioning lyrics would have been perfectly at home in Southern California in the early 70’s, beginning the record on a high note.
“Yr Gonna Be Happy” keeps the vibe flowing, kicking up the tempo, but keeping the twang and Schneider’s pedal steel in Byrds like fashion, while “Choose A Life” has a punk spirit, but is still wrapped in warm Americana. The easy strumming and bubbling bass work during “Red Light” uses more fun lines from Schneider while the story song "Right Time" closes the album on the most rocking note, but even that is restrained.
"Cool Blue Night" brings in saxophone and flute by Rex Gregory to the easy going party while the title track is slower and weepy with ominous lyrics and singing from Lyons, but neither never really break through in any direction. While their debut twisted various aspects of classic rock in interesting ways, Rosalie is more cohesive and pleasant, yet less exciting overall.
A late highlight is The Band sounding, "Only Time" with gorgeously warbling lead lines, a great groove and exasperated singing from Lyons. Perhaps the biggest change for the band was leaving Third Man Records for the Los Angeles based Curation Records which specializes in that 'cosmic canyon' sound that Silver Synthetic deliver throughout Rosalie. A change of pace album that drifts along as the band ground themselves with their feet in the dirt and their hair in the breeze.
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