The M's
The M's

(Brilliante)

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

Written by T.J. Simon

The classic sound of British Invasion rock (à la The Kinks and The Zombies) is alive and well in Chicago courtesy of The M’s. Loose and rough-hewn with a DIY aesthetic, the ensemble features a trio of mostly falsetto singers on its eponymous debut, which frequently recalls White Album-era Beatles. From the psychedelic mushroom trip of Banishment of Love to the Bowie glam of 2x2, the quartet squarely hits the target on each of the dozen original tracks — all of which were recycled from The M’s various EPs, though at times, the band’s vocalists (Josh Chicoine, Robert Hicks, and Joey King) remind the listener of contemporary indie rockers The Shins or The White Stripes.

The better tracks are Riverside, which features terrific harmonies, and The End Is the A, which cycles along a superb drum loop, but even the Queen-inspired Break Our Bones has a commendable vocal performance in a restrained 2 ½-minute package. The album’s only low point is Maggie, a Velvet Underground homage that just doesn’t fly as a studio track, although one can imagine it sounding exceptional in a live setting, especially when performed by musicians as talented as The M’s have proven to be.

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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