By Beau W. Peterlin ’10
THE ROUNDUP
In a world where technology is advancing faster than the latest techno beat, new artists emerge from being a no body to popularity in seconds, just by numerous clicks on YouTube or Pandora.
One of the latest fads in the music scene these days is a single man band who uses synthesizer vocals and drum kits to make their music.
Along the lines PlayRadioplay! and Owl City, a slightly less known band by the name of A Rocket to The Moon recently emerged on to the music scene.
In their latest album “On Your Side,” released in October, front man Nick Santino stretched away from his past amateur “hellogoodbye-ish” ways and progressed as he tries to find his signature style.
His more in depth use of vocabulary along with more guitar playing, as opposed to his computerized beats, makes this album a step above the last.
“On Your Side” draws parallels to the band’s early work. The best example being the single, titled “On Your Side” and also “Where Did You Go.”
Topic choice for a majority of the songs on the album are pretty much always about some sort of relationship with a girl from the past, present or future.
This personal subject matter, though highly repetitive, is very expressive and enjoyable, especially when put over the simplistic beats.
If you enjoy the works of Owl City, Academy Is and that genre in general, this album is a definite buy. The only drawback to “On Your Side” is that it is unlike their prior efforts, which contain less tracks and more conformity.“On Your Side” has just a few too many tracks.
The two extraneous tracks that might be better left off the album are “She’s Killing Me” and “Sometimes.” These are farthest off the path in comparison to the other tracks.
The order choice of the 12 tracks makes the album flow in a progressive matter and brings the music together as a whole. The earlier songs are a little raw sounding whereas the last six progressively bring the album to a softer close.
Just like the title of the sixth track, this album is definitely “The Life of the Party” for any fan of this genre.
If you are looking for a good road trip album or song to play while writing an English essay, pick up the album for about $10 online.
Check out A Rocket to The Moon online on www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon.
