CONUNDRUM is a very textured and diverse work, four of the songs draw their inspiration from the novel The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.  This is pretty heady stuff, a concept album that spans a variety of musical genres, chock-full of thoughtful lyrics and soaring melodies.  What's most striking at first listen is you can't easily put your finger on their genre. The disc’s roots stretch from funk to jazz to rock and psychedelia, all combined to create a sound reminiscent but never derivative. It’s a collection of songs that always seem to be pulled from the back of your memory, haunting and complex yet inviting and joyful.    
     The lyrics and song craft are both mature and the band’s musical fundamentals are rock-solid.  It’s hard to believe these guys have only been working together for a year.  The sound production on the album is full and rich, playing to the band’s strengths and providing an excellent representation of their live performances.  This is a rarity as it’s common practice for jam bands to offer up weaker studio albums unable to match the energy and vitality of their live show, however this is a great studio album and is fully reflective of The Mclovins live performance.    
      I don’t think you can really under-estimate the importance of the album, this is a fully realized piece, no mere grouping of songs, rather this lays the foundation for what will undoubtedly be a remarkable and by all accounts prolific career.   A few years from now, people will be arguing over who “discovered” this band but for the time being enjoy this cd, it’s just a taste of the sumptuous feast that we have to look forward to from THE MCLOVINS.
                            Read more...
                        

                            
CONUNDRUM is a very textured and diverse work, four of the songs draw their inspiration from the novel The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.  This is pretty heady stuff, a concept album that spans a variety of musical genres, chock-full of thoughtful lyrics and soaring melodies.  What's most striking at first listen is you can't easily put your finger on their genre. The disc’s roots stretch from funk to jazz to rock and psychedelia, all combined to create a sound reminiscent but never derivative. It’s a collection of songs that always seem to be pulled from the back of your memory, haunting and complex yet inviting and joyful.    
     The lyrics and song craft are both mature and the band’s musical fundamentals are rock-solid.  It’s hard to believe these guys have only been working together for a year.  The sound production on the album is full and rich, playing to the band’s strengths and providing an excellent representation of their live performances.  This is a rarity as it’s common practice for jam bands to offer up weaker studio albums unable to match the energy and vitality of their live show, however this is a great studio album and is fully reflective of The Mclovins live performance.    
      I don’t think you can really under-estimate the importance of the album, this is a fully realized piece, no mere grouping of songs, rather this lays the foundation for what will undoubtedly be a remarkable and by all accounts prolific career.   A few years from now, people will be arguing over who “discovered” this band but for the time being enjoy this cd, it’s just a taste of the sumptuous feast that we have to look forward to from THE MCLOVINS.
                            Read more...