Every so often a disc comes along that makes such a profound impression that I feel compelled to push the others aside to give you a timely alert. "Openings" by Eyeshow is just such a disc. Since they will be headlining (correction - opening) The Bullfrog's New Year's Eve Party, I thought you should hear about it now (if you haven't already) so you can a copy and get fully charged before the show. Let me be very clear before I get on with the gushing: BUY THIS DISC.
Band: Eyeshow
CD: Openings
Year: 2003
Recorded by: Tim Sylvester
Recorded at: The "Hole"
Band Members: Scott Daubner, Alex DeJack, Jon Houghton, Thomas Marsh, Tim Sylvester
Home: Garden City, MI
The Obvious Comparisons: Tool meets Pink Floyd
Compliments
"Openings" offers seven solid tracks (plus bonus material) of complex, gothic-tinged hard rock that progressive fans can really sink their ears into. The layered arrangements, compelling samples (ala Floyd) and special guitar effects used on this production are sonic delicacies that rival current major label offerings. The lyrics are introspective, intuitive and sometimes cryptic enough to avoid lapsing into cliche' or self-indulgent melodrama .
"Openings" is undeniably derivative of Tool (right down to the color scheme of the packaging e.g. Undertow), but neither the band or this release suffer for the comparison - they evolve and expand on it. They mix elements of gothic-prog and hard-rock and deliver it with that compressed, metallic crunch we've all come to associate with Maynard's gutteral thunking. Likewise, Eyeshow deliver wide ranging dynamics that can take you from a pregnant whisper to an exploding guitar in just a bar or two. And though this music too is dark and heady (a place where some of us feel quite comfortable, thank you very much), it's not unapproachable. In fact, the vocals here may be a bit more approachable due to their modern nu-metallic feel as opposed to Maynard's now over-exposed painful pleadings, giving fans of Tool a new taste in the same bleeding vein.
Complaints
Though it's a brilliant production (Oh, and where are the production credits?), there's still nothing here that hasn't been done before, just maybe not using this particular recipe of new and old. Some of the effects are exquisite and unique but some are just plain tired (If I never have to listen to another whisper track again...). As I was complaining to Garfunkel the other night, every genre of rock seems stuck in a perpetual retro-regugitation machine. I wish someone (particularly young, bold and inventive bands like this) would take a few more chances and give rock some forward momentum again. I'll give Eyeshow the benefit of the doubt here for creating a such a unique and disturbing bonus track.
Conclusion
"Openings" is a retail-worthy release that shouldn't be missed - especially by fans of the emerging nu-prog. Local offerings at this level are rare and the bonus material is nothing short of brilliant (I don't want to ruin it for you, so we'll just say that it's not likely to be performed live). This is a grand slam for Eyeshow's first time at bat (what, another sports analogy Mitch?)
You can get your copy of "Openings" ($7 bargain) at an Eyeshow show (well, that was awkward) or you can e-mail Eyeshow@Comcast.net and arrange for a disc to be shipped to you.
- Mitch Phillips
* Special mention should be made of Tonal Design's excellent web graphics on the Eyeshow website (inspired by Roger Dean perhaps?). The overall effect wouldn't be nearly so compelling without their excellent visuals.
Track Listing: (warning - large, slow downloads)
1. The Life I've Been Living
2. Stuck In The Idea
3. Choice
4. Analogy
5. The First Between
6. One Word
7. Better Things
Unique Bonus Material