Trouble With Machines
District 97
•
November 1, 2012
DISTRICT 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous Rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. The band was formed in the fall of 2006 by the drummer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn (replaced in 2008 by current guitarist Jim Tashjian). The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT-inspired Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound; enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female finalistLeslie Hunt.
DISTRICT 97 is an American Rock (action and adventure) band so when you read their album's title: "Trouble With Machines" and you notice the genre you may be attracted to buy and listen to find out what is, because you will always have those mystery and adventure points in your mind about this band and their release. But what happens while listening to the tracks? Is it an adventure enough or something else? Actually American Rock N' Roll bands throughout Metal and Rock histories were good, most of them lyrically attend to social / psychosocial / dreams / modern human concepts and of course some romantic themes. But according to DISTRICT 97 it is a little bit different. I believe they generally wanted to explain in this album that modern human is some kind of a machine, a complicated one like a robot and fate / other humans / family-society are the controllers of this machine so they would attempt to teach it how to get rid of its controllers and be free to become in charge of its own mind. The last track "The Thief" is a man who tries to steal a woman's mind from the controllers I mentioned above, the rhythm is so suiting and their music has the soul of a story the define on the lyrics, so when Hunt chants:
Don't care where they came from
They'll never take my child
I'm rather think they'll fail
Why won't you look at me
I'm here to such a freak
You walking out the well
There's voices in the hall
There is a really mixed music with mystifying drums at the background delivering an escaping feeling and kind of exciting. Then at the end of the track there is a comforting and measured, Hunt she chants:
Eyes whisper lies,
They scream I won't stop
Fate had other plans
Now I make a demand
Together in ...
Hell reaching there
Face start moving slow
...they start to grow
My life spoke from my chest
...so dark, so much pain,
I let go, and I'm bent
In this world
So this could be a releasing and relaxing moment for you and the music will also become tranquil. I explained this much about the track "The Thief" because I believe this song is the prototype of this album. If you feel and understand it, you would comprehend "Trouble With Machines" and after that enjoy the music. This album feels really challenging with a number of authentic guitar riffs, especially when collaborating with the keyboards. From the shorter tracks, "Open Your Eyes" lets the vocals really stretch out in a more accessible way. Therefore, "Trouble With Machines" is a dreamy-paradoxical and challenging journey that DISTRICT 97 made it happen for you to join and they'll have a lot of people interested in their expedition for sure.
7 / 10
Good
"Trouble With Machines" Track-listing:
1. Back And Forth
2. Open Your Eyes
3. The Actual Color
4. The Perfect Young Man
5. Who Cares?
6. Road Your Mind
7. The Thief
District 97 Lineup:
Leslie Hunt- Lead and Backing Vocals
Rob Clearfield - Keyboards, Guitar
Jim Tashjian - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Patrick Mulcahy - Bass
Jonathan Schang - Drums, Percussion
Guest Collaborator:
Katinka Kleijn - Cello
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