One statement that seems to hold some degree of truth, at least in mainstream music, is that you can immediately pinpoint a band’s influences because they sound like about five other bands. Unfortunately, this often seems to stem from a lack of sound musicianship (you like that?) and rootlessness in experience/training. The result of such a lack of adventurousness is all too frequently a lack of interest in the listener, as well as a sinking feeling that the band with that one really cool song really, um, sucks.
On the other end of the spectrum are bands like Downright””bands with such an array of musical backgrounds that it’s difficult to place them in a definitive genre or even name one consistent influence. Cool magazines like Rolling Stone might wittily call them “funktastic pop rockers,” which I guess is a fair title. Listening to Hidden Agenda, though, one gets the impression that these guys could swing it in just about any musical genre, and comfortably. One consistency is a cheery, playful mood that Downright continues throughout all the tracks, regardless of style. A plus to that is that I don’t think you will hear them covering Joy Division or Bauhaus. At least, I’m hoping not. However you define them stylistically, though, it is undeniable that Downright brings a much-needed freshness to the music world””they seem to be making music their way instead of contributing to the stagnant muck of mediocrity currently clogging up the mainstream.
Hopefully, this is an accurate forecast, though Hidden Agenda is only Downright’s second CD. They are a relatively new band, local to Birmingham, Alabama, but their live performances have already created quite a buzz. Most of the songs on Hidden Agenda, particularly “Say Some Words” and “Girls at the County Fair,” feature lyric-driven pop/rock sensibilities with nice vocal harmonies by multi-instrumentalists Steve Lewis and Matt Devine. Some of the tracks include saxophone solos (Kevin Cowart) that add a bit more texture, and reliable sources have informed us that the band has since added a horn section with a track record, one of whom has performed with the
Temptations and Wynton Marcelis, among others." The title track is funktacular (eat that, David Fricke; it’s MINE); it’s a concert favorite that puts Downright fans in the mood for… funky love. Did I say that?
Since I have to say something negative about the band to retain my status as a snitty music snob, here goes: the lack of a consistent genre, though it features the different styles the band is capable of, takes away from Hidden Agenda as a holistic work. There’s no satisfying feeling at the disc’s conclusion that the songs work together toward some purpose. As if my opinion mattered, I think a finality more like, say the eels’ Electro-Shock Blues, a similarly genre-crossing album, might just thrill my pants off. Or Mr. P’s, at least (he’s the easy one). You could say this is an unfair judgment on my behalf, since this disc is only an EP at a bit over twenty-nine minutes. Still, with three of these guys having degrees in music, two of which are MAs, I’m not apologizing. I’m sure they teach you how to choose genre and theme for your albums in Class Piano.
Overall, I’d say that Hidden Agenda is great because of its fresh, shake-your-booty, Steve-needs-Ritalin (read: “Crunchy Crunchy Popcorn”) tunes that are fun, above all else. And that’s awesome for a band that is even indier than all our indier-than-thou bands””seriously; they don’t even have a fucking label. Somebody needs to sign these guys, and fast, so that the world can catch on to the sensation that is Downright. Think Eminem’s blonde, trimmed-up, scowling cronies were hot a few years ago? Wait till all the high-schoolers start sporting Steve’s white boy ‘fro. Now that’s a vision.
I doubt you’ll be finding Hidden Agenda at your local music store, but you can find them at the irresistibly cute CDBaby.com.
1. Say Some Words
2. Hidden Agenda
3. Drinking the Dregs
4. I Want It
5. Quicksand Baby
6. Girls at the County Fair
7. Crunchy Crunchy Popcorn
More about: Downright
