thePULSEPoised to Take Over the Nation’s Playlist
By Michael Shivick
“Keep your friends close, and your drummers closer.” Those words fall heavy upon the inner-ears of bona-fide rockers across this great nation. This quote from from Sterling’s own Tom Stuart, who, along with fellow Sterling native Jesse Reno, and straight-out-the-box drummer Robbie Van Sanders, create the ego-gratifying sound that is Radio America.
There are but a few precious recreations to partake of, including hunting and playing the guitar, in the backwoods of Central Massachusetts. Fortunately, at a tender adolescent age hunting is a less viable option than music, otherwise this very article might be about exceptional hunters. I, personally, am glad this article’s NOT about hunting, since, after popping in the CD, I was treated to the headie-goodness of RA tracks like “Mahabharata.” Such haunting, back-and-forth vocals from Tom and Jesse evoke meanderings of two commentators sharing their observations on the New Year’s Day parade of life.
The most intriguing aspect of their recent release “Raise High,” from Indie-label Mother West, is that these muthas know how to mix it up, so to speak. Hints of acoustic guitar, catchy runs, crunchy distortion, and progressive song structure make this album a must have for the alternative rock fan yearning to fill the void left in the wake of a new millennium filled with cookie-cutter sounds.
Beautiful prose neatly stitches the album together, with meticulous wording: “It’s pretty to think, sometimes/that there is hope for us/as I confront a life of ignorance/I see in all degrees without regret/My architect is time/My architect’s the best.”
It is a tragedy in and of itself that the killer RA track “It’s Time You Paid For Your Crimes Against Humanity” is but two-odd minutes long. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself playing that one a few times in a row to attain a state of satiation. This song is chock-full o’ the heart and emotion that is often absent from a majority of efforts by various musicians who will remain unnamed ~ but I’m certain you can think of a few.
These thoughtful, well-written songs are paramount to the band’s commitment to “Ösupporting other musicians whenever [they] can.î Respectfully stating that their current level of success is attributable to the people they have surrounded themselves with, including Worcester’s own engineering/recording guru Tintern, RA also notes that Vincent, Mike, Steve, and the rest of the people at Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner were “early champions” of the group that definitely gave them a “big boost.”
With the deep, deep, burning desire to become a veritable “people’s band,” akin to a group like Rancid, where the audience feels as if they are as much a part of the music as any instrument used, Radio America is eyeing a possible British Tour. With plenty of material for another album, and a regional tour that is scheduled to include a January show back home in Worcester at Ralph’s, RA is poised to continue their effervescent jaunt up the mountain of success.
“Help us to make Radio America about more than just a couple of smartass guys in filthy jeans.”
Visit the Radio America website @ www.radioamericarocks.com, myspace page at myspace/radioamericarocks, or post your own RA Myspace blog at DontTreadOnManuals@radioamericarocks.com.
For a full one-on-one interview with the band about radios, Americans, pocket knives, stolen cable, the band’s relationship with Tom’s Telecaster, and memories of Worcester, head to thepulsemag.com and click on RADIO AMERICA ~ THE INTERVIEW.
(Photo credit: Dylan Chandler)
