Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Burgundy Ties
On the Other Side
On Milwaukee quartet Burgundy Ties’ first
full-length CD, On the Other Side,
the group comes across like an adult-contemporary radio dream band. Echoes of
laconic ’70s country rock and singer-songwriter confessional sensitivity get
filtered through current-day Americana.
Those influences mingle with the kind of grown-up pop that keeps bands such as
Train and Third Eye Blind in business. Burgundy Ties makes it all sufficiently
catchy, and the musicianship is accomplished in a way that flirts with jam band
parameters. Much as their sound would fit into most any Lite FM song rotation,
it's easy to understand how the Ties might make an even greater impression in a
live setting. Here's looking forward to their capturing that kind of energy in
the studio.
I love these guys. They always put on a great show, and play with their whole spirit. They are a great asset to the live music scene and I think they will continue to be for many years to come!
I love the passion these guys pour into everything they do. You can feel it when you listen to the album. My only complaint about the album is that there isn't atleast one live track. Leeway in particular is absolutely amazing live, and they just jam it out in a way that isn't even hinted at on the CD. Having seen them live many times in many different venues, I can say you definitely need to see them live to appreciate them fully. One of the best local bands.
I really liked Burgundy Ties when I first heard them playing at O'Connor's Perfect Pint. I eagerly awaited the album and bought it. My biggest issue is how bad the mixing is. The vocals are muted and over-powered by the instruments. Please remix by a better producer.
This became even more evident when I was listening to a few albums I bought on a driving trip recently. I first listened to "On the Other Side" and really struggled to like it. I wanted to hear the vocals "pop" like they are meant to be. When it ended, my next album started, also by a Milwaukee Prodigy, Danny Gokey. The mixing was so much better and you hear the instrument that is his voice. You can hear the lyrics and really go deeper into the songs. I know it's there in "On the Other Side", it just needs to be brought out.
Burgundy Ties is a great band with accomplished musicians! Their shows are always full of energy, terrific music and fun.