Providence’s own Roz and the Rice Cakes excel at the kind of grounded, homemade, heart-on-fire rock music that has long been the cornerstone of college-town DIY scenes. Now, however, the band is looking to the stars with its new album, Devotion, on which they embrace a more (in their words) “sci-fi” palette.
As the one and only Roz puts it, “I have been a huge fan of sci-fi since I saw The Thing at age 5. The aesthetic of the supernatural and unknowns of science fiction and horror definitely have been absorbed in to this album.” With the band’s new stockpile of synths and drum machines, we can glean a bit of this very Carpenter-inspired spectral, spooky un-worldliness — guided, of course, by their natural inclination for the real-deal direct and personal. Are we on the frontier of a brave new genre? Should we call these…”science feelings?” Well, maybe; let’s just sit with that for a minute…
And while you’re sitting there pondering, check out the premiere the gorgeously filmed, barista-seeks-revenge fantasy video for “Do You,” the Rice Cakes’ first single from the new record. Watch it below in all of its emotional glory, and catch Devotion when it drops UFO-like from the sky on October 13 (Friday the 13th!!), care of Team Love. Pre-order it thusly, but try to keep your tear-filled eyes on the skies while you do. Like I’m pretty sure the saying goes on X Files: the truth is up there.
Devotion tracklisting:
01. Slow Motion
02. Revolving
03. Open Eyes
04. Do You
05. Jungle Gym
06. Prototype
07. Somebody
08. NOVA
09. Houdan the Mystic
10. East Coast
Roz and the Rice Cakes on tour:
10.12.17 - Providence, RI - AS220
10.13.17 - New London, CT - Oasis Pub
10.14.17 - Cambridge, MA - Lilypad
10.19.17 - Kingston, NY - BSP
10.20.17 - Rochester, NY - The Bug Jar
10.21.17 - Syracuse, NY - Space Camp
11.02.17 - Washington, DC - Paperhaus
11.03.17 - Richmond, VA - Gallery 5
11.04.17 - Greensboro, NC - Sabine
11.05.17 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room
11.06.17 - Athens, GA - Michaels House
11.07.17 - Nashville, TN - Drk Mttr
11.08.17 - Blacksburg, VA - House Show
11.09.17 - Harrisonburg, VA - Crayola House