Gregory Robson
02/23/09, 04:29 PM
Chester French - She Loves Everybody EP
Record Label: Star Trak / Interscope
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Who?
A two-piece from Boston that mixes hip-hop with laid-back rock. Yes, it's been done before, but not with this much sex appeal.
How is it?
One would think that a band named after a sculptor and whose two members are Harvard graduates might put together a disc of introspective, cerebral music. For the duo in the Boston, MA band Chester French that is far from the case. Instead you get laid-back, frat-pack hip-hop with a heavy dose of smoky soul and sprite pop. A sampling of the lyrics on this include the horrific, "She craves perfection so I use protection." Sophomoric lyrics aside, there's watery keyboards and a heavy dose of minor key melodies on the track "The Jimmy Choos." Both that song and the title track are a bit gimmicky and rely heavy on beats, bass, and percussion, but they're also undeniably catchy and smooth as velvet. No, singer D.A. Wallach doesn't have the best voice, but when you can turn hooks like this, who really cares?
Signed to Pharrell Williams' Star Trak record label, Chester French is certain to make waves in a matter of months. Already a hit in the Northeast and Virginia's Tidewater, it won't be soon before this band fits its way to radio. To quote Pharrell, "This band is going to rewrite music history, I can feel it in my gut." In just three short years, the band has amassed an incredible amount of press from a variety of media outlets (TV, Web, radio, tours, etc.), and has earned backing from the likes of Kanye West, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Iovine, and Talib Kweli to name a few. Their major label debut Love the Future drops later this spring.
The Neptunes; Beck; Kenna
myspace.com/chesterfrench (http://www.myspace.com/chesterfrench)
Record Label: Star Trak / Interscope
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Who?
A two-piece from Boston that mixes hip-hop with laid-back rock. Yes, it's been done before, but not with this much sex appeal.
How is it?
One would think that a band named after a sculptor and whose two members are Harvard graduates might put together a disc of introspective, cerebral music. For the duo in the Boston, MA band Chester French that is far from the case. Instead you get laid-back, frat-pack hip-hop with a heavy dose of smoky soul and sprite pop. A sampling of the lyrics on this include the horrific, "She craves perfection so I use protection." Sophomoric lyrics aside, there's watery keyboards and a heavy dose of minor key melodies on the track "The Jimmy Choos." Both that song and the title track are a bit gimmicky and rely heavy on beats, bass, and percussion, but they're also undeniably catchy and smooth as velvet. No, singer D.A. Wallach doesn't have the best voice, but when you can turn hooks like this, who really cares?
Signed to Pharrell Williams' Star Trak record label, Chester French is certain to make waves in a matter of months. Already a hit in the Northeast and Virginia's Tidewater, it won't be soon before this band fits its way to radio. To quote Pharrell, "This band is going to rewrite music history, I can feel it in my gut." In just three short years, the band has amassed an incredible amount of press from a variety of media outlets (TV, Web, radio, tours, etc.), and has earned backing from the likes of Kanye West, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Iovine, and Talib Kweli to name a few. Their major label debut Love the Future drops later this spring.
The Neptunes; Beck; Kenna
myspace.com/chesterfrench (http://www.myspace.com/chesterfrench)