The Silent League
The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused

(File 13)

First Appeared at The Music Box, June 2004, Volume 11, #6

Written by T.J. Simon

The Silent League is the musical outlet for Justin Russo, Mercury Rev’s touring keyboardist, and on his band’s debut The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused, the Brooklyn-based piano man sings over lushly symphonic chamber pop, sounding much like The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne. While Russo is clearly a talented vocalist and instrumentalist, his songwriting generally lacks the pizzazz necessary to keep the listener’s mind from wandering. Notable exceptions include the songs Glass Walls, which features a likable acoustic guitar accompaniment, and Conversation, which emanates a mellow, Lou Reed vibe. Unfortunately, the rest of the slow-tempo album adds up to little more than some very pleasant background music. ½

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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box