Marah
Float Away with the Friday Night Gods
(Artemis)
First Appeared at The Music Box, August 2002, Volume 9, #8
Written by John Metzger
After the release of its sophomore effort Kids in Philly, Marah was hailed by critics as the next big thing. The album fused the band’s hometown Philly soul with Americana spirit, earning the group comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. Marah’s third outing, then, will be quite a shock to anyone expecting more of the same. From start to finish, Float Away with the Friday Night Gods is pure Brit-pop, and it’s nowhere near as bad as some would have you believe. Granted, it is a departure, but one has to admire Marah for taking such a gutsy diversion while sitting on the brink of widespread recognition.
Assisting with the change in direction is keyboard player and producer Owen
Morris, who helped shape Oasis’ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and The Verve’s A
Northern Soul. Indeed, the songs on Float Away with the Friday Night Gods are filled with
the same chaotic energy and densely layered instrumentation that graced each of these albums. If
Marah’s last album was deeply rooted in the streets of Philadelphia, this one is entrenched in the
dance halls and raves of Britain. Consequently, percussion drives the music, guitars churn wildly,
and vocalist Dave Bielanko simultaneously channels Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and T-Rex’s Marc Bolan as
well as a bit of Tom Petty on Crying on an Airplane. Granted, it’s not exactly
groundbreaking. In fact, it’s several years past its prime. But that doesn’t make Float Away with
the Friday Night Gods any less infectious. 
Of Further Interest...
Float Away with the Friday Night Gods is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2002 The Music Box