Gregory Robson
09/25/09, 05:26 AM
Etna Green - The Deeper the Roots, the Higher the Reach
Record Label: Self-released
Release Date: Dec. 22, 2008
Who?
Etna Green is a five-piece piano-rock band from Walkerton, a small town in Northern Indiana. The band draws their name from a small village not far from Walkerton. The group blends driving rock guitars, inspiring piano melodies with contemplative lyrics. The group formed in 2006 under the name This Time Tomorrow, but recruited a new bass player and re-established themselves in 2007 as Etna Green. The Deeper the Roots, the Higher the Reach is their debut record.
How is it?
Slightly above average, with lots of room for improvement. On paper, there is little reason to dismiss this Midwestern piano-pop collective. The quintet's version of rock n' roll introduces twinkling piano melodies, airy synths and driving guitar rock into an air-tight package that seems destined for success. Or is it?
Album opener "Tired" starts the disc with a sonic confidence and graceful charm that's welcoming and effective. Michael Morgan's vocals are sincere, passionate and empathetic. But then the band stumbles on second song "You Better Fall On Love Before You Fall in a Ditch," and Morgan's vocals are drowned out by the music and the poor execution comes across as sloppy and disjointed. Perhaps, maybe this is still a band in progress. The Hoosiers rebound mildly on "To Love as Winston Smith," but the entire structure feels like a carbon copy of "To Fall in a Ditch." While "Winston Smith," is certainly executed better, it's still doesn't do much to bolster the band's auspicious start. And then, things begin to fall in place. A series of three ballads, beginning with fourth song "Only Two Songs Left," establishes this band as passionate, emotive crooners that have an ability to write intricate, thought-provoking songs that are certain to inspire high school kids around the country. The most obvious example of this is seventh song "Titles and Deadlines, " a warm, touching ode to romance that's simple, commanding and achingly sweet.
The major problem with The Deeper the Roots, the Higher the Reach is that the uptempo songs fall apart within seconds. With the exception of the seven-minute "Fortunate We Crossed Your Path," the rock songs never come across with the polished confidence necessary to vault this band to any sort of substantial title. While the right formula is present, the execution comes across as novice and without seasoning. Though this can certainly be chalked up to freshmen mistakes, there are plenty of bands with the same backstory making far more crisper debuts. That being said, the quintet can be proud of their slower songs as they certainly appear to be first-rate balladeers. Morgan is an effective vocalist that has an innate ability to capture the aching sentiments of a heartbroken loner pining for his flame. Wearing his Augustana influences on their sleeve, there are quite a few times he inserts some Layusian projection in his intonations and while most bands would get called out for this tactic, for some reason it seems to work rather well on this effort. Additionally, Murray also seems to observe the word with an acute eye for detail and that is certainly something that will propel this band forward in the years to come. For now though, there are a good many kinks still needing to be worked out. In the end, Etna Green is still a few rungs short on the proverbial ladder of libations.
1. Tired (4:14)
2. You Better Fall in Love Before (4:35)
3. To Love as Winston Smith (5:20)
4. Only Two Songs Left (4:55)
5. She Don't (4:09)
6. I'll Leave the Lights On (3:54)
7. Titles and Deadlines (4:03)
8. Parachute (4:25)
9. The Ebb and the Flow (3:52)
10. Fortunate We Crossed Your Path (7:06)
11. Parachute (acoustic) (4:58)
Michael Morgan: piano, vocals, synth, acoustic guitar
Ethan Marosz: guitar, synth, vocals
Dave Morgan: guitar, vocals
Matt Kuzmicz: bass, glockenspiel
Matt Frazier: drums, kettle
Jack's Mannequin, Augustana, The Rocket Summer, Copeland
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/etnagreen)
Website (http://www.etnagreenmusic.com)
Record Label: Self-released
Release Date: Dec. 22, 2008
Who?
Etna Green is a five-piece piano-rock band from Walkerton, a small town in Northern Indiana. The band draws their name from a small village not far from Walkerton. The group blends driving rock guitars, inspiring piano melodies with contemplative lyrics. The group formed in 2006 under the name This Time Tomorrow, but recruited a new bass player and re-established themselves in 2007 as Etna Green. The Deeper the Roots, the Higher the Reach is their debut record.
How is it?
Slightly above average, with lots of room for improvement. On paper, there is little reason to dismiss this Midwestern piano-pop collective. The quintet's version of rock n' roll introduces twinkling piano melodies, airy synths and driving guitar rock into an air-tight package that seems destined for success. Or is it?
Album opener "Tired" starts the disc with a sonic confidence and graceful charm that's welcoming and effective. Michael Morgan's vocals are sincere, passionate and empathetic. But then the band stumbles on second song "You Better Fall On Love Before You Fall in a Ditch," and Morgan's vocals are drowned out by the music and the poor execution comes across as sloppy and disjointed. Perhaps, maybe this is still a band in progress. The Hoosiers rebound mildly on "To Love as Winston Smith," but the entire structure feels like a carbon copy of "To Fall in a Ditch." While "Winston Smith," is certainly executed better, it's still doesn't do much to bolster the band's auspicious start. And then, things begin to fall in place. A series of three ballads, beginning with fourth song "Only Two Songs Left," establishes this band as passionate, emotive crooners that have an ability to write intricate, thought-provoking songs that are certain to inspire high school kids around the country. The most obvious example of this is seventh song "Titles and Deadlines, " a warm, touching ode to romance that's simple, commanding and achingly sweet.
The major problem with The Deeper the Roots, the Higher the Reach is that the uptempo songs fall apart within seconds. With the exception of the seven-minute "Fortunate We Crossed Your Path," the rock songs never come across with the polished confidence necessary to vault this band to any sort of substantial title. While the right formula is present, the execution comes across as novice and without seasoning. Though this can certainly be chalked up to freshmen mistakes, there are plenty of bands with the same backstory making far more crisper debuts. That being said, the quintet can be proud of their slower songs as they certainly appear to be first-rate balladeers. Morgan is an effective vocalist that has an innate ability to capture the aching sentiments of a heartbroken loner pining for his flame. Wearing his Augustana influences on their sleeve, there are quite a few times he inserts some Layusian projection in his intonations and while most bands would get called out for this tactic, for some reason it seems to work rather well on this effort. Additionally, Murray also seems to observe the word with an acute eye for detail and that is certainly something that will propel this band forward in the years to come. For now though, there are a good many kinks still needing to be worked out. In the end, Etna Green is still a few rungs short on the proverbial ladder of libations.
1. Tired (4:14)
2. You Better Fall in Love Before (4:35)
3. To Love as Winston Smith (5:20)
4. Only Two Songs Left (4:55)
5. She Don't (4:09)
6. I'll Leave the Lights On (3:54)
7. Titles and Deadlines (4:03)
8. Parachute (4:25)
9. The Ebb and the Flow (3:52)
10. Fortunate We Crossed Your Path (7:06)
11. Parachute (acoustic) (4:58)
Michael Morgan: piano, vocals, synth, acoustic guitar
Ethan Marosz: guitar, synth, vocals
Dave Morgan: guitar, vocals
Matt Kuzmicz: bass, glockenspiel
Matt Frazier: drums, kettle
Jack's Mannequin, Augustana, The Rocket Summer, Copeland
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/etnagreen)
Website (http://www.etnagreenmusic.com)