PRO REVIEWS: (fan reviews are at the bottom of this page)
from Silverfish Magazine, January 2007
When the staff here first put this album on, there was silence, then a mumbling... what? How odd, how peculiar! For the first time in a long while we were amazed to discover something truly unique in the melodic complexities of songwriter and lead singer, Dan Wallace. The vocal shifting and harmonic layering provided by bandmates John Collins on bass, and George Lawler on drums make this album one of the most unusual we've come across in a long time. It is rather unclassifiable - falling somewhere between indie rock (Elliot Smith, Leonard Cohen), pop (The Beatles), and just plain peculiar (Beck, The Flaming Lips).
Our favorite tracks included 'Easy come, easy go' a romantic ballad with a strong streak of pessimism, and 'What I Know', an ode to all those dreamers who pretty much know they're never going to get exactly what they want.
The Pindrops are a trio from Chicago, Illinois. Their complex musical arrangements include classical guitar, upright bass, electric guitar, plenty of foot pedals, and excellent lyrics. Singer and composer Dan Wallace produced a new album in 2006, Neon and Gold.
from HYBRIDMAGAZINE.com, Aug 2005, by 4 reviewers:
1. APOLLO - The wacky lo-fi Beatles. Brilliant lyrics imbedded between cool quacking guitars and cooler harmonies.
2. ADAMA - Good old, off-beat, talented & folksy rock. What happens when the pedals cost more than the guitar.
3. STARBUCK - The most indie of all great indie bands. Moody dark and quirky, Violent Femmes Style.
4. BOOMER - Your basic rock band. You almost want to sing along. Surprisingly decent too.
from ROCKNWORLD.com, March 2005, By Jen Procop:
The first time you hear the Pindrops self-titled CD is much like eating a starburst fruit chew. There is a whole much of different sensations happening at the same time- It's hard to articulate what is happening because of its utter originality. There is, or should be a genre that this album fits into but how do you categorize it? Its not alternative pop, rock, emo, or mechanical pop so for right now, let's just bask in the eccentricity.
The Chicago based trio has released one of the most original albums that I have heard in a long time. The lyrics are complex and thoughtful which compliments the strong musical talent and unity of the band. You can feel some musical influence from the likes of Elliott Smith, The Flaming Lips, Beck and The increasingly popular Shins, but this is not a rip-off artist in the making- the entire album has individuality beyond compare.
The band shines on many of the tracks, but be sure to check out "Razorblade Twin", "What I Know", "27" and "Messiah". From start to finish, this album delivers. In fact, you'll be so engrossed, well...you can hear a pindrop.
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BIO
From March 2003 - to April 2005 The Pindrops (orginally known as Izis and then The Poppies) was the primary vehicle for singer-songwriter Dan Wallace's highly original musical expression. Dan Wallace release his first solo CD, "Neon and Gold" (Torito Bravo Records) in February of 2006, and followed it up with Culture of Self in July 2007. For more info please visit www.danwallacemusic.com.
CREDITS:
Dan Wallace - songwriter, lead/backing vocal, electric, steel-string and nylon guitars, bass, keyboards
John Collins - upright electric and upright acoustic bass, backing vocal
George Lawler - drums and percussion, backing vocal
Mastered by Mark Berlin at Pragma Studios
CD Art by Vesna Jovanovic
Pressing and Packaging by Disc Makers
This album was recorded at Dan & George's
apartments over the course of a year. It was mixed at Dan's.
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