Rebels In Stereo – Smear Campaign
Rebels In Stereo – Smear Campaign – Album Review
This band KNOWS what I noticed right away as I pushed play…and I am freakin’ STOKED to hear it!
Pardon the ol’ French here folks, but Rebels In Stereo came out ready to EAT YOUR FUCKIN’ LUNCH with the way they fired up the amplifiers with a potent combination of flair & fury on their opening track called “LFG.” Complete with a really clever sprinkle of “I’m Every Woman” on the inside of this first offering – it’s like they made it their mission to stuff everything they could fit into this tight 3:15, and SUCCEEDED y’all. I’m massively impressed with the way that Smear Campaign opens up – and I love the fact that Rebels In Stereo plays this song with the seriousness that the content deserves. If you’re listening closely to the words, you’ll find this Chicago-based Punk band sticking it to the man, literally, as they battle the patriarchy and point out the powerful stupidity sitting on the Supreme Court’s bench. So you betcha – hearing singer Cassidy Paige take us into the hooks of “I’m Every Woman” is no accident here whatsoever – it’s straight-up brilliant is what it is, and an incredible way of making the point. As they summon the spirit of women from the past to the present to rise up and challenge the constraints of this brutalized status quo – I’d put “LFG” right up there with the most IMPORTANT songs I’ve heard this year, and/or like, ever. As a person that has always viewed music as the most crucial component of my own education, words cannot express just how much love I’ve got for the fact that they created “LFG,” and that they played it with the fierce intensity this song & subject was calling out for. From the wild screams that echo the justified angst so many of us feel in regards to the ass-backwards views of the court, to the fearlessness they display in creating this song to take on the establishment, armed with the knowledge that they stand on the right side of history – Rebels In Stereo are savagely entertaining without a doubt yes, but they’re also rocking the fuck out with purpose that’s larger than their music. I’m all about “LFG” – this is a song, energy, and vibe that the world NEEDS right now. I can’t say enough about how much I love the way Paige sings…and as for YOU Kristyne…you KNOW I love that snare lady!
Yes indeed – I think we can all agree that Operzedek’s drum sound now matches the intensity and punch that she plays with, right? I felt like Rebels In Stereo were on solid ground for the most part when I had reviewed their Covault EP last year…but this…listening to THIS record is like hearing that sweet hit of a band living up to their full potential. From what I learned recently, they might even have ANOTHER gear that we have yet to hear, beyond what we find on this record…they’ve just grown from a four-piece band to a five with the addition of Ben Zohar as a second guitarist. He doesn’t appear on this particular record, so brace yourselves…if Rebels In Stereo are sounding THIS killer on Smear Campaign, who knows what they’ll go on to do from here. “Amber Eyes” was the lead single from this album that has been circulating on the internet since late January…and heck yeah, I can get behind that – it’s a solid single. Rebels In Stereo deserve a ton of credit for how much they put into their tunes…the performances you’ll find in the first two songs of Smear Campaign alone are well worth the price of your admission – they’ve clearly come out on a mission to hold nothing back, and the confidence they display as a band is nothing short of remarkable. They’re freakin’ INCENDIARY y’all…so don’t say I didn’t warn you when they blaze up to peak intensity and your speakers melt! Awesome hooks and energy are beaming out of every corner of “Amber Eyes” from the music to the microphone…there ain’t nothing to complain about here.
The facts speak for themselves – they’ve got substantial material, and they’re playing it like their lives depend on it! Which is the right way to go, because that’s genuinely the case when it comes to a music career – “this ain’t a talent show, it ain’t no battle of the bands,” as they say themselves. This is what they were meant to do, and they’re executing like the professionals they truly are. Any of these first three tracks could easily be singles released to pull in the people out there – and I feel like they display an energy that’s sincerely universal. Like, I’d totally cop to not being the world’s biggest Punk fan – I’m on the fringe of the genre at best I’d say…yet…when Rebels In Stereo are playing, I’m ALL EARS. From the wildly colorful hooks radiating from the guitars of Jimmy Natividad as “Cease & Desist” starts up, to the gang vocals that echo the unity between the band in the backing vocals, and the relentlessly amped-up lead from Cassidy…I’m tellin’ ya…this band has all the right pieces required to stand out and succeed. The second Wayne Pombert is also a crucial part of this lineup too…steady and reliable bass-lines, he’s a solid part of the rhythm section with Kristyne on the drums – LISTEN to the way they morph and shift the timing of “Cease & Desist” around to give this punked-up song an extra layer or two of something unique for ya! You’ll find nothing but love from me when it comes to material as well-executed as this is – Rebels In Stereo brought everything UP to the next level from what I’d heard in the past to what we experience here, and considering that it’s actually been a relatively short amount of time, that’s actually quite noteworthy. Where they were likely supposed to show us a couple steps in their evolution, they instead surged forward straight into their prime, and have shown every one of us what they’re made of.
I don’t know who plays the piano in the band, but I absolutely love what I hear in “8:46” too. A genuine mix of melody that ranges from beautiful to melancholy, while staying engaging and sincere throughout its short length, “8:46” is an intro of sorts…or an interlude…you get it. It’s a moment for you to reflect on what you’ve experienced so far and catch your freakin’ breath before these Chicago punks serve you up another hot dose of something awesome y’all – so enjoy the momentary reprieve! Quite honestly, “8:46” is a short & stunning tune…I’d listen to Rebels In Stereo if they wanted to go in this instrumental direction too – they’re a band that seems to ‘get it’ in all circumstances, and this track is proof of that.
As I tried to explain to ya though, expect to have your face kicked in when “Silence Is Violence” starts up – Rebels In Stereo bring out the heat and fired-up spirit of Punk in full force on this track. I’m probably more onboard here in that spot around the 1:15-ish mark where they slow the fuck down for a second or two and let this tune breathe a little bit. You see? I’m honest. That moment clarifies the difference between me and the average fan of Punk Rock listening. For the majority of listeners that LOVE their Punk as fast and furious as it gets, it’s the bulk of “Silence Is Violence” that’ll appeal to them most – and then there’s people like myself, who sit proudly on the fence waiting for hybrid bands like Rebels In Stereo to switch gears just enough to throw us a bone. You get that around the 1:15 mark as they take a second or two to clarify what the rebellion is all about, so that we’re not all just raging into battle and taking over society one office chair at a time without knowing what the purpose behind our collective crusade is. As I’ve said many times on these pages of ours…yes I’m a critic, but I’m not the story. I’m always going to have an opinion of some kind, because that’s the nature of the game…but the reality is that when you play like Rebels In Stereo do, and give every ticking second everything you’ve got, any opinion is arbitrary…they’ve put themselves in the right position to succeed and that’s all that anyone can ever do. I’m absolutely STOKED to hear this band sounding as good as they do on Smear Campaign – and even as a fellow dude outside of Punk’s usual scope, I can’t help but be excited by the way that they rage their way through every moment of a song like “Silence Is Violence” – they’re all crushing it!
They’re smart people though y’all…in fact, I’d be willing to bet that nothing I’ve said has shocked them too much so far…they probably knew how I’d feel. But they’re all gathered around the screen RIGHT NOW wondering what the heck I’m gonna say about “March,” aren’t they? Of course they are – and rightly so! “March” is probably the biggest departure we’ve heard from Rebels In Stereo to-date with regards to their style of sound…to the point where the vibe you’ll find here is arguably as Progressive as the band’s values are. So you end up with this like…collage of ideas really…and a cut that’s likely going to end up taking a spin or two to resonate as strongly as it should with even their most dedicated fans. It felt like they had moments where you’d compare them to like…something psych from back in the day like Jefferson Airplane…or slightly updating that vibe in the way that early Heart did it…and then shifting to a more Folk-Rock attack like you’d hear in the songs of The Cranberries that didn’t make it to radio – there’s a lot here, and a lot of craft on display. I’m realistic about the reception that “March” will get – but I’m also confident that they’ve got something remarkable starting here too. Does it get entirely realized on “March?” Maybe, maybe not…to be truthful, I feel like this track has the kind of artistic weight to it that’ll take months to fully absorb for all its merits – but make no mistake, this is a complex cut in the catalog of Rebels In Stereo and a superb example of how they continue to build on their sound and their songwriting. So heck yeah…even though I think it’s somewhat a given that a more artistic vibe tends to trade a little accessibility in terms of what the masses usually listen to…in my opinion, creativity like this should always be something we strive for. Let’s be real here…Rebels In Stereo have proven all the way through this record that Punk is something they’ve got on-lock…so to hear them flexing their style & sound in different directions actually becomes quite refreshing. “March” is among their most innovative and ambitious tunes to-date, and I feel like they should be extremely proud of the results in addition to what a song like this represents. They’re capable of tons of incredible things when it comes to the art of making music, and “March” is one of the best examples of how they prove that’s the truth. Bonus points here to Pombert II’s bass-lines…to Cassidy’s chameleon-esque vocals…to the colorful solo you’ll find from Natividad…I really dig how this song borrows a lot from what we now know as the Classic Rock/Psych era, yet has all the melodic appeal you’d want to find in music that’s relevant today. Plus – you gotta admire what Paige sings about on this song as well…Rebels In Stereo are good people.
If you wanna learn about the right way to quit your 9-5 and never look back, listen to “Emancipation Of A Company Man” and you’ll be writing your resignation in no time at all. Rebels In Stereo have proven time and again throughout the lineup of songs on this album that they really write well inside of defined concepts, and there might be no greater proof than the ride you’ll take in “Emancipation Of A Company Man.” I think the vast majority of us will be able to connect to this song in a variety of ways. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve traded too much of your time for money, or you feel like your value has been diminished by an employer or two throughout your career, or you just feel flat-out fed up with a system designed to hold our creativity and spirit hostage in exchange for our oxygen & time we have to make a difference on this planet – THIS BUD IS FOR YOU. “Emancipation Of A Company Man” is definitely a track that resonates with me…it’s a bold reminder of all the reasons I threw in the towel with corporate life & decided to take the road less traveled in search of something much more rewarding than money. I’m still not driving a Lamborghini, and my wrists still aren’t bearing a Rolex…but I’m fucking happy as it gets I’d reckon. Every time I feel like I’ve done nothing but create another job for myself at the end of the day, I’m gonna put on “Emancipation Of A Company Man” LOUD & PROUD as my personal anthem and remind myself that I’m as fortunate as I could have ever hoped for to be able to work with the spirit of the independent scene & the authentic artists/dedicated musicians like you’ll find in Rebels In Stereo. It’s one of my favorite performances from Cassidy on the album as well…she lights up this song by the way she sings it, highlighting the meaning of her words by adding more venom or melody when it’s called for. You feel the freedom to be found on this planet if you’re among those that are daring enough to pursue it – they absolutely nailed “Emancipation Of A Company Man” and remind us there’s much more to life than what any of us will ever get out of the daily grind in a J-O-B. Vive le proletariat!
Alrighty…so! I’m gonna have to be as brutally objective as I can be and level with these homies here. First of all, I’ll be clear as I can be – Wayne Pombert II can sing…there’s nothing wrong with what he brings to the microphone in terms of quality on “Lemons” – it’s a decent tune. Ultimately, there’s even a part of me that certainly respects the democratic nature of the band, and how they’ve given their bass player the opportunity to take a crack at being the lead singer for a tune on this album as well. When life gives you “Lemons,” you let the bass player shoot his shot…but with that being said, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an equally true adage. Here’s where I’m at…while Wayne is good and holds his own, the effect of having him up front on the mic ends up making “Lemons” appear a lot more like something we’ve heard. The best way I can probably put it, is to say that having Cassidy at the helm like they do regularly, is a lot of what propels the entire sound of Rebels In Stereo from ordinary to extraordinary, you feel me? That’s not to say they don’t each bring something important to outright crucial to this lineup in their respective roles – they absolutely do – but I think we also have to be honest about the fact that Paige has the indefinable X-factor you simply cannot duplicate by any other means. So don’t get me wrong – I ain’t looking to offend anyone, and I am not trying to say that “Lemons” or what Wayne brings to it is bad, because that’s not the case – but I am in that same breath encouraging this crew to be aware of what gives their whole sound the best opportunity to be heard. If there is a quarterback of this team right here, it’s Paige – and that’s even considering the fact that Rebels In Stereo exists because of Kristyne and Jimmy getting this band jamming from the get-go. There are times where we have to recognize how things get to the next level…and in the case of this band here, I’ll be the guy to say that they’re gonna get there collectively by leaning on the undeniable strengths of Paige. To do anything else is honestly a bit of a gamble, whereas giving her the opportunity to make the tough calls and go with her instincts could very well lead them to victory and a secure career in the long run. That don’t mean they can’t have some fun along the way and/or mix things up like they have here with Wayne taking lead vocal duties on “Lemons” – of course they can, and of course they have every right to. You WANT to explore all the potential possibilities of what a band can do and where the music can go…I get it, and I’m a supporter of that idea…but…if Rebels In Stereo want to stand out from the rest of what’s out there, they’ve got the ability to do that, and their best bet is to go with Cassidy on the m-i-c. That being said, I love that the band remains as strong as they have been, and support Wayne’s turn as the lead with the same high quality execution as they have on every track – it says a lot about the folks in Rebels In Stereo that they were willing to take this departure & remain every bit as unified together.
Diving into tinfoil hat terrain to end the album with “Conspiracy Gold” – you gotta love how many different conspiracies they’ve threaded into the lyricism of this last track. I’ve never wanted to run and hide underneath my bed so quickly before – and just keep in mind, my mattress & box spring are right on the floor y’all. I’d happily squish myself as flat as the earth to avoid a planet that believes in half of the bullshit that Rebels In Stereo points out…but alas, I’m still in 3D and have to battle misinformation as much as anyone else daily now. This is freakin’ FUN though! Even the simplified version of the hook where Cassidy sings “I love conspiracies” has more weight and pull to it than you’ll likely realize at first, but with a couple of listens, you’ll probably be every bit as hooked on this last cut as I was. “So play all your records in reverse” is another killer hook to have added into this finale, and a great line to have included in a song like this. They even drag Elvis Presley & Kurt Cobain into this montage of misshapen thinking…but it’s all created from a perspective that’s much more clear than the muddy ideas you’ll find in any conspiracy floating around out there right now. It ends Smear Campaign on great terrain and quite honestly, says a lot of things that need to be said by cleverly saying the opposite…that’s a Punk AF way to approach a subject like this, and it’ll probably fly right over the heads of the tinfoil hat crowd too.
They should be massively proud of what they’ve accomplished on this album – they exceeded every expectation I could have possibly had, and leveled themselves up to the highest professional standards. While still keeping their street cred intact too y’all…don’t you worry about that. Punk as Punk can be – Smear Campaign gets its official release in mere hours from now, dropping online everywhere February 14th. Make sure to find out everything you wanna know about Rebels In Stereo from the links below!
Main Site: http://www.rebelsinstereo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelsinstereo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelsinstereo
Bandcamp: https://rebelsinstereo.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VWUnseZsEehHoAPHZdhTG
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