| CD Review: |
Olivia
the Band Go With the Flow As any avid punk rock listener would know, the scene has become saturated with bands that only repeat what they have heard before. Instead of trying to forge new trails, they casually walk along those already traveled. The self titled debut from Olivia the Band is yet another example of punk playing it safe. While listening through this album I felt as if I have heard it all ten times before. The song “Butterflies,” automatically made me think of New Found Glory. Other songs such as “Shut It Out,” and “Look to the Stars,” sounded similar to Blink 182. Olivia the Band hails from the North Shore of Oahu. Their biography says they love to surf, yet there is nothing on their debut album to distinguish them from the skate punks of SoCal. After seeing bands such as Pennywise, Unwritten Law and Blink 182 in concert, the four friends decided to start their own band. They wanted their music to touch people just as the music of these bands had touched them. They didn’t own and couldn’t play instruments. They bought the best ones they could afford and learned to play. |
I should mention that they are a Christian punk band. All of their lyrics are upbeat and positive. “I try to say something of worth, and my hope is that if some kid is super bummed out, he’ll listen to us and it will help bring him through,” lead singer Reed Cromwell said in their biography. Olivia the Band is fairly new and does have room for improvement. The guitar playing of Justin Abilla and Gabe Watts does go beyond the standard three-chord repertoire of most punk bands and they add piano on a few tracks. In the end
it just sounds too familiar to other punk rock that is already out
there. If Olivia the Band steps off the beaten path and forges its
own trail for its next release maybe it won’t become lost
in punk rock insignificance. GRADE: C+ For more information: www.oliviatheband.com
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