Rating:   8 Ratings     12345  

The Go Station The Quiet Zone Edge Delay

      Contradicting in all the right ways, their first EP, The Quiet Zone (Edge Delay, 2005) is anything but. From start to finish, the EP screams, demands that attention be paid to them.

      ‘C’mon’ begins with a melodic riff that leads into a gentle buildup. Lead vocalist Doug Levy is clear and constant, forthcoming in honesty to the point where the song seems almost to be sung directly to you, a one-song soundtrack to this very moment. It’s endearingly positive; the come-together, the wrap-up, the all-is-well. Towards the end of the track, there is an uplifting harmony reminiscent of The Beatles, and there’s no better way to end a first impression than that.

      There’s a more upbeat and crisp sound to ‘Wandering Away’, which features a clean-cut Weezer-style hook. The music is down-to-earth and settles well; they look like the next Strokes, but they seem to contain more of a serene Brit Rock sound; an Oasis/Snow Patrol/Stone Roses collaboration.

      ‘Hold On’ starts with drums, and everything else falls into place shortly afterwards. The synthesizer effect on Levy’s voice is precisely the way synths should be used. Just enough distortion to add more of a mystical effect, to team with the unbelievable surprise solo, mirroring Oasis’ notable influence on their closest of musical followers.

      Speed picks up on ‘Another Day’, epitomizing just what rock and roll has become these days. The Go Station has a way of putting all the right beats in all the right places. They tease with a few tempting riffs, and then pull it off with an excellent solo. The drumming poses as a musical elevator, sounding off for intensity, or otherwise efficiently driving the track right on target. And somehow, just a pinch of a raw, almost punk strain is reflected in some of the vocals, which makes for a great edge of less-is-more severity.

      And honestly, ‘The Way Of The World’ makes me want to sing. It’s catchy right from the beginning, and I can’t help but smile when I notice that Levy has just a hint of the Gallagher swagger in his throat sometimes.

      The Go Station is already going places, and this is a stop that can’t be missed. These indie New Yorkers -- Levy, Matt Friedlander (guitars, vocals), Nick Picozzi (bass) and Joel Frost (drums, percussion) – are on the rise and gaining speed. This is everyday music in the sense that not only could it be listened to everyday, but that it encompasses everyday things. The only part that isn’t everyday is the actual music. It’s once in a lifetime, and you’re next in line to hear it.

-Arie Musil 11/08/05