Album Review :: And the Wiremen – 'S/T'

Somewhere between a dusty 1920’s speakeasy house band and mid-90s alternative act lie Brooklyn’s, And the Wiremen. 

The band’s self-titled debut sounds like the drunken bastard child of Radiohead and Murder by Death with its Southern-fried noir pulses and smoky, jazz club undertones.  The band is rounded out by frontman and guitarist Lynn Wright; guitarist Jon Petrow, bassists Eric Eble and Tony Maimone; drummers Jason Pharr and Pippin Barnett; brass man Paul Watson and backing vocals by Tim Ward and Andrew Megginson.

Typically, any band that takes as many sonic liberties as And the Wiremen do have a tendency to create music that lends themselves to bad drug trips.  Gratefully, this is not the case with this band.  Sure, each track can swing from one genre to the next—such as “The Names” with its wacky jazz section and Latin inspired guitar lines—but the songs never feel forced and are devoid of a jarring sonic left turn.  Instead, the transitions are smooth and edited together well; much like psychological thriller of a film.

For fans of musical adventure or bands like the Flaming Lips, Morphine or the Talking Heads, wrap your ears around And the Wiremen.  With every passing listen, you’ll find another hidden layer that sweetens the experience each time.

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