Search - Standard, The Standard :: August

Challenging, epic, goodness...

M. W. Hemingway | Washington, DC United States | 01/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think anybody has this right... The band frequently "accused" as it were of having prog sympathies because of the mere existence of keyboard parts. This seems to polarize reviewers in a way that prevents them from objectively evaluating the band. The Standard's first record was far more conventional, even poppy, yet as they expand artistically into uncharted song structures on their sophmore album they have only gotten better. Dynamics build, melodies drift in and out--it's challenging listening, yet everytime you think they have gone to far, they jete back to the realm of accessibility. I don't think anyone has any idea how scary talented and ahead of the curve this band is. Give it a listen."

Please let this grow on you....

Pedro A. Urias | Phoenix, Az United States | 03/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening track "A Year of Seconds" to the finale "The Quiet Bar", you can hear melodic, dense, dark, keyboard driven music that at times sound like 80'a prog rock crossed with a hint of Joy Division and at others like a glacial New Order crossed with a bit of the Promise Ring and featuring at times strangulated, nervous twitch vocals and at other times quiet and understated hushes. Emotionally driven and dark, this one will not fail you on those rain soaked nights when this will certainly take you and lead you through."