reviews
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What the press is saying about the rumors ... |
http://powerofpop.tripod.com/reviewed_feb_1.htm#rumors Kevin
Matthews, February 2002 THE RUMORS Mind
the Gap (EarX-tacy) www.earx-tacy.com
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Moderate
Rock that rocks... moderately Mind the Gap It seems a little unfair to call them a pop band when you consider the
associations, but Mind the Gap is a catchy album. That and the word
"gap" in the title make it pop. The strong melodies and tasteful
musicianship make it worth buying. As a matter of fact, if this album had been
released in the mid-'90s we could have heard this on the radio every hour. We
could have heard good pop like this and been spared hearing the Rembrandts over
and over again. |
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The
Rumors By
Don Krider The
Rumors, formed in Indiana but adopted by the Louisville, Ky., market. have
released their second full-length CD entitled "Mind The Gap." The
band appears at the Chicago version of International Pop Overthrow in March,
2002, and this album is testimony to the band's talent and growing popularity. The
current band lineup is lead/rhythm guitarist/lead singer Rob Marlin, lead
guitarist Jon Beyl, bassist Sam Powers and new drummer Jerry McBroom (who
replaces John Shireman). Rob
wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 12 songs here. He's a confirmed Beatles fan, but the
band's sound is closer to Toad The Wet Sprocket, REM and Travis, with a little
country tinge thrown in. Rob's
vocals are easy to listen to, gentle and clean. The band's harmonies are power
pop sweet. The musicianship --- well, these guys offer concise lead guitar solos
(no extended jams here, thank God), some prime drumming (always on time and
never excessive) and most of all they play with a fire in their collective belly
(they truly believe in the magic of rock 'n' roll). The
best tracks: "London Town," "Put Your Hand In Mine" (which
sounds like a lovely, forgotten gem from The Beatles' "White
Album"), "The Hardest Days" (with some great banjo by Steve
Cooley and organ by Todd Hildreth; written by Sam Powers), "Far Away"
(nice Gin Blossoms' sound), "Ms. Furman's Song" (Rob on piano with
Todd Hildreth adding organ and accordion, a very sweet, slow ballad ala the
Eric Carmen/Elton John school) and, surprisingly, the country crooner "Wake
You Up" [sic] (there's a bit of Hank Williams, Sr., in Rob Marlin, whose
vocal is accented by Steve Cooley's dobro and a "Hee Haw"-style
chorus). No
sophmore slump on this release. The Rumors are a band to watch in 2002. |
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Jan. 31, 2002 Louisville's Rumors have a love for the same Beatles-cum-Byrds jangly pop-rock that was fundamental to early R.E.M. But where Stipe & Co. put some bite into that sound, singer/multi-instrumentalist/primary songwriter Rob Marlin brings the teeth down gently: he prefers spaciousness, even in three-minute, radio-ready tracks. Like one of those purity laws that some jurisdictions apply to beer and wine, many of the twelve songs here are given a wide berth to breathe. The results could've easily backfired straight into boredom. Fortunately, Marlin's voice has warmth to fill out the cautiousness in songs of love's sadness and other uncertain surroundings. Surrounded by an ensemble of family and obviously close friends, he aces the short gems that earn a listener's patience - witness "No One Answers" and "Ms. Furman's Song," driven by flute and light keyboards, respectively. But it's only on the later tracks that some tension shows up in the playing. "23" speaks of yearning - and the electric guitar twists around to set up a grand mix of accordion and mandolin - but this track's relative success shows what there isn't enough of in many of The Rumors' recordings. At least, not yet. The musicians are relaxed, and when needed the drums jump into soundswells that could bring a lot of life to lesser songs. But there's no lightning bolt here: the inspiration gets too easily contained into exercises in studio control. Hopefully, the band is just warming up and this collection is their way of paying apprentice's dues. "I'm 23, and I still haven't lived at all/I wanted so much more than fun," Marlin sings - and he makes the listener feel the same way. When he's lived a little more, he'll lead a helluva show. -T.E. Lyons |
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September 12, 2001 |
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2001 Top 5 albums SARA HAVENS |
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THE RUMORS - Mind The Gap *** |
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Mind The Gap The Rumors
It's a fact. Amidst all the construction in the area, you might not have noticed that four guys from southern Indiana, known as The Rumors, have taken a musical path down the middle of the road into Louisville. Mind The Gap, their second full-length disc, is very pleasant and can probably be found holding hands with radios everywhere. It rocks at times but seems to have the spirit of the old America song, "Ventura Highway," residing in it - that's a compliment. Interestingly, the first sound is that of an announcer at a London train station, opening into the first song, "London Town." Lead singer Rob Marlin, with The Beatles and Toad the Wet Sprocket in his blood, has a very pleasant voice that complements this music well. He's a good singer who also strums a mean rhythm guitar. The harmonizing between Marlin and bassist Sam Powers is lovely and effective, especially on "San Diego," a song of love, separation and longing - maybe I'm imagining it, but I also hear a touch of BOC's "Don't Fear The Reaper" here, also. On dobro, mandolin and banjo, guest Steve Cooley proves with the "The Hardest Days" and "23" that the presence of a banjo doesn't necessarily make a song country music. On the other hand, if you like country music, you're bound to dig the last song, "When You Wake." Even I like it, and I usually avoid that genre like a disease. This song is actually fun and has a "live" atmosphere (just don't chew on your arm). A good driving song, "The Hardest Days" is melancholy, with appropriately sad lines like "Dry your eyes/the day is through/night has gone far from you/try to remember the things you left behind." Jon Beyl proves himself a good guitarist all over the place and on this song uses tremolo to make very effective audio ripples. Last but not least, Jerry McBroom, a drum teacher, bangs the kit solidly (and gently - or not at all, when silence is best) while keeping time for the band throughout the disc.
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The Rumors Pacific - (Cellar Records) Coming on like a cool breeze, The Rumors' Pacific is a CD loaded with pleasant melodies, evocative vocals, and solid playing. Adopting a more roots-based approach, The Rumors add elements of country and folk into their pop mix and it makes for some fine listening. Yesterday Again sets the tone here - a rhythm heavy track that finds the guitars melding beautifully with a solemn vocal. The guitar solo here stands out as well, courtesy of guitarist Jon Beyl. Beyl's guitar instincts reappear throughout Pacific, as on the wonderful accents on the pretty The Nashville Song and his opening lead on On My Way actually saves the songs from being just a little too ordinary. Guitarist/vocalist Rob Marlin shows some pretty solid writing skills throughout Pacific and also has the vocal ability perfectly suited for his songs. The vocal on Standing Still is a highlight, meshing well with the choppy rhythm, and he delivers on the cool pop of All I Want as well. The playing is quite delicate throughout Pacific, reminding me slightly of Blue Cartoon in parts, but they do turn it up a notch in parts. The tough staccato hook of Don't Matter suggests a direction the band may explore more. Still, the band seems more at ease with less aggressive arrangements, which translates well to Marlin's songs. The country sound of One More Chance and the folk-injected Seven Years are cases in point. It's only Start Believing that tends to not take off the way it should. The Rumors are a good example of a band founded upon not only a love for what they do, but a self-awareness that bodes well for the future. Indeed, Pacific is a wonderful sign of things to come. Claudio Sossi |
THE RUMORS - Pacific - Sure to be long time favorite with a majority of Not Lame folks, The Rumors work some gorgeous REM, Toad the Wet Sprocket (at their most memorable) melodies and mix in the evocative jangle of The Gin Blossoms and Tom Petty 12 stringed winged best (and for Not Lamers in the know, they sound a bit like Blue Cartoon, as well). "Pacific is truly Pure Pop perfection that gives me the goosebumps ... If this disc had come into my possession during 1998 (when it was released), it would have been in Top Ten list for that year"-Eric Sorenson/Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio. Mixing their love of all the bands mentioned above, the playing here is jubilant and there's plenty of energy, this gem is the sort that just gets better and better with each subsequent listen. Dig deep and let its pleasant, breezy and warm soul win you over. Just simply pop beauty incarnate. |
(Please excuse us for this; somehow the text got lost. We're looking for the original copy.)
The
Rumors Pacific Cellar
Records (1998) |
PACIFIC
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By David Conner Artist: The
Rumors With the demise of Toad The
Wet Sprocket, [Indiana's] The Rumors stand first in line to take their place
among songs commemorating countless couples' three-week anniversaries. Lead Rumor Rob Marlin leads
the four-piece pop-folk band through a debut set of upbeat ballads and
soft rockers, both forgettable in content and doctor's-office tempo.
Marlin pulls nearly the entire album from his bag of hackneyed suspended
guitar chords and "life was shit until I laid eyes on you"
choruses, hung by the tawdry supports of a couple pseudo-heartfelt,
self-salvation tunes. "Start Believing"
wraps itself in a bland shawl of acoustic rhythms and spins around one
lengthy verse with increasing fervidity, until the whole song topples from
the dizziness of incessantly repeating its title. Word is, though, that these
guys don't mark too low beyond the originality scale. Marlin, who shares
vocal duties with two other bandmates, carries thick melodies over his
guitar work, and songs like "One More Chance" and "All I
Want" could aid the heartbroken soul who blasts them at full volume
to stifle the sound of tears. In short, keep an eye out for The Rumors on
an upcoming episode of "Dawson's Creek." |