Modern-Dance
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East Bronx Epiphany has that 80's Sound
I did read a review that said that East Bronx Epiphany had that 80's sound about it, but a sound that was refreshingly clear of all the usual and regular stuff. Well, it has! Mankind kicks off the album and it's initially a bit shaky, but within a minute or two it grips you, and to be honest, the strength and quality of the music grows with each song. There's an early Cleveland feel, and even a bit of Talking Heads in and amongst. John Q Public, Music Took My Soul, Firing Line (some great guitar licks on this one especially) and the odd yet brilliant Owned (the opening few moments especially reminds me here of the early Cleveland sound). Mystery Girl ain't a bad song either. The overall sound seems to fluctuate from sparse instrumentation to pretty well full on and I wouldn't have minded a couple more tracks to give the album a healthier playing time, but you know what they say-too much of a good thing! Aye, not a bad set of songs, with some pretty fine playing. Oh, and I must comment on the presentation of the cd as well, there's some great artwork within, and the cover's oddly unsettling yet compelling.
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Madmonk
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Similar to Todd Rundgren
The Workers are a NY based band that has been in existence since 1991. Though they have experienced a number of personnel changes since their birth, original band member Dan Greenwald has managed to keep the project alive...This 10-song effort begins with the melodic "Mankind" which has an 80's power pop flavor similar to Todd Rundgren. "Wanderings" the 2nd track is another snappy tune featuring some nice female vocal harmonies and an uptempo groove. "Mystery Girl" has a nice verse melody and good guitar rhythm work that adds a jazzy flavor to the track. As a band, The Workers play their instruments well and the arrangements are solid. I also like the fact that no song is over 3 and a half minutes long. Dan Greenwald has a unique but sometimes nasal sounding lead vocal that works well on some songs but may not appeal to everyone's taste. The sound quality of this effort is professional and the cover art is exceptional.
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James Grimes
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East Bronx Epiphany has that Pot Inspired Jam Feel
The Workers have created an album of eclectic musical shorts. Short dissonant songs containing hypnotizing medieval and playful choruses, with traces of Sabbath-well at least I heard some in "Music Took My Soul"-and Zappa inspired cuts like "John Q Public", which I thought was the strongest track on the album. It's 80's inspired discord with players going off in all direction and occasionally reaching a consensus, as in "Metropolis Damned"...East Bronx Epiphany has that pot inspired jam feel to it without the 12 minute meandering musical interludes. Though I think the songs could benefit from longer periods of that obviously ever-present musical ability-"Owned" is an example. The music has so many influences I was surprised that The Workers didn't just embrace their talent and throw caution to the wind, hit record and play until they ran out of tape...I would like to see these guys live and would encourage all to do the same...a definite college crowd pleaser...I look forward to hearing more from The Workers and would enjoy giving my two cents in the future.
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Dan Coleman, FlagAss Radio
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The Workers Cross Many Boundaries
Holds a light clean rock sound, with well refined bass and guitar grooves, backing up a very tight group…reminds you of Tears for Fears, The Talking Heads…The Workers cross many boundaries and bring together a soulful collection of tracks.
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Mark Lush, MidwestBands.com
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They are Song-Focused
I like The Workers…I think this album is a really good representation of their abilities…the songs that you find on the album are well-written…I would definitely recommend you pick up a copy…In the vein of bands like REM and The Clash, they are song-focused…Listeners may find they don’t care for particular aspects of the band’s sound…Don’t let minor problems chase you away…Be sure to take the project in as a whole, and see if it doesn’t affect you!
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Corinne, Plug In Music
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Best Described as Quirky
As with all outcasts and outsiders, The Workers have something to offer…The Workers album is best described as quirky…the memorable tracks and instrumentation that stick with you after a few listens are certainly enjoyable.
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Ane Erlandsen
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They are Quite Retro
Ok, I said earlier in this issue that a band with a "The" at the beginning had to be a retro 70's rock band, but I guess that rule doesn't really apply to The Workers even though they're quite retro in their sound. It just isn't the 70's they're going after, even though there are hints of that in places. Instead they head for an 80's kind of sound that borders on new wave and punk. The sound could've been a little better, but that's a minor detail.
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Bill Ribas
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That is Part of the Charm and Appeal
This disc reminds me a bit of the '80's, when bands recorded with a carefree attitude and included a variety of songs on the album. Since radio play at that time was so horrid, anything new, aside from big-hair metal and gnarly pop, was fresh as a daisy. And on this disc, you'll find songs that range from light and easy, to up-tempo punk-infused numbers. The opener, Mankind, has a lazy feel to it, with vocals that sound nerdy, and when the chorus comes along, the clash between the vocals and the processed guitar is a lovely bit for the ears. John Q. Public is more of a classic punk number, blowing past in just over two minutes, and vaguely reminiscent of the Buzzcocks. Firing Line has a bluesy bar-band feel to it, and the drums keep things from geting too dreary as they pound away quickly during the verses. Intitally, I was going to remark that there is an amateurish sound overall, but the more I listen to the disc, the more I think that's part of the charm and appeal.
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