A not so typical Alternative Rock band

By:Elizabeth Higgins

For some reason, I thought I wouldn’t like the second album, “A Suckers Dream,” by Bridgeport, Conn., band The Alternate Routes. I don’t know if it was the band name or the art on the album that led me to believe this was just going to be another generic contemporary alternative band, but I found that several songs had impressive, unique sounds that I could actually find myself rocking out to.

The first song on the album, “On and On We Whisper,” was one of my favorites. I was expecting to hear the usual overused riffs and whiny vocals, but instead I was blown away by a heavy, rock refrain. As with many the album’s songs, the guitar riff turns into a distorted, psychedelic rock melody combined with Tim Warren’s deep, non-conformist lyrics - in the style of band Kula Shaker.

The Alternative Routes also seem to have a large Beatles influence, especially on another one of my favorite songs on the album, “Just a Dream,” whose dreamy and majestic electronic melodies blend with soft acoustic guitar and a touch of electric for depth. You can also see the Beatles’ influence in the melodic love song “All That I See” in the music and lyrics convey “kaleidoscope ways.”

A lot of the songs on the album had a country-rock feel like “Already November,” “Better Way” and “Desdemona,” which features country singer/songwriter Patty Griffin.

Not all the songs had exactly the same sound. “Toe the Line” had a bluesier, rocking, distorted sound with impressive solos and leads by guitarist Eric Donnelly.

Even though the album’s first single “The Future’s Nothing New” sounded a little like a rock cover of a Pink song, originality prevailed. I especially liked the unique part in “On and On We Whisper,” when Warren’s voice was filtered over a simple, steady drum beat.

Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs like “Ain’t No Secret” and a few others did sound a bit generic, but there were definitely some songs on this album that are worth listening to.

The Alternate Routes will be playing in Birmingham on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Zydeco at 9 p.m. For more information on the band or how to buy tickets and albums, visit the band’s official Web site or their myspace page

Birmingham’s Bottletree was serenaded by the Scottish on Saturday night, Sept. 26.

Headliners Frightened Rabbit were supported by We Were Promised Jetpacks, a four-piece post-punkish outfit, and the Twilight Sad, a five-piece dreamy noise-rock band.

According to Frightened Rabbit front man Scott Hutchison, their current tour is the first full tour they have headlined.

Frightened Rabbit played Bottletree in June 2008, so they were no strangers to the establishment. However, at that previous show, they were supporting French Kicks. This time, they had the spotlight.

Frightened Rabbit initially started as a solo project of Scott’s. In fact, the first album, “Sing The Greys,” was recorded while Scott was still solo.

“We’ve added a new member each year,” Scott said. “We’re a four-piece now, but we’re almost a five-piece.”

Scott came up with the band name from a nickname his mother used to give him.

“I was socially maladjusted as a child,” Scott said. “When I would go to other kids’ houses, I would sit in the corner and keep to myself. My mum told me I was like a frightened rabbit.”

And so the name stuck.

Although Scott is the lead singer of the band, his pipes weren’t always the focus of his musical endeavors.

“I didn’t start singing until I was about 19,” Scott said. “I took guitar lessons in high school. My elder brother kind of taught me the basics, and I played a lot of Oasis and Nirvana.”

Their album-in-the-works, titled “Winter Of Mixed Drinks,” is due for release in March 2010.

“It’s pretty much done,” Scott said. “It could have come out this year, but it would have been so late in the year that it would be ‘last year’s record’ before long. So we decided to release it early March.”

As for the content, we can expect less of a disintegrating relationship theme, as was the basis of “Midnight Organ Fight.”

“[Midnight Organ Fight] was mostly about the break-up of a long-term relationship,” Scott said. “The new record is about losing your mind, descending into madness.”

“Until you make a mess of your life,” he added, “there’s nothing to write about.”

If the two new songs they played in their set Saturday night are any indication of what the rest of the record will be like, it will most likely be flat-out amazing.

One of the new tracks, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” graced the ears of the audience Saturday night. As per usual Frightened Rabbit songs, this one was chock-full of catchiness and Scott’s irresistible brogue.

The new album will be released on Fat Cat records, which is the same label they have been on from the get-go.

“We’re creatively free [on Fat Cat],” Scott said, “but we’re on the commercial end of the spectrum.”

Their set consisted of mostly “Midnight Organ Fight” tracks, with two brand new teasers from the new album in the works, as well as an old favorite from their first album.

Frightened Rabbit is almost finished with their current tour, playing only three more shows, ending up in Florida.

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On the single Rivers, one would think Missy Thomas-Schmit would be a pop artist. After listening to the single more than once, this reviewer has concluded that Ms. Thomas-Schmit is neither pop nor an artist but more of a storyteller with instrumental music in the background. It is not bad per se, if this song were to play at karaoke bars, home concerts, churches, or schools. This CD Single “Rivers” given to Blazeradio as a promotional package is better as background music for an actual promo for a DJ’s show and not actually playing it during a show.

The whole song has the same repetitive signature keys (not sure exactly which key) and there are no tempo changes. This overall recording then becomes monotonous with very monotone vocals and said key signature. Let one hope that Ms. Thomas-Schmit can provide better accompaniment and arrangement when this reviewer hears another song of hers.