31 May 2011

Unearthed Review: Looking Glass. Two Stars

| johnboy
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looking glass

Unearthed Review is banging head old school.

Moving on through the “drummed” artists we come to Looking Glass.

They have this to say:

Looking Glass have earned a steady following, entertaining fans with their high energy live shows. Thundering drums and loud guitars make up a great deal of the Looking Glass sound, with both guitar and bass solos being a primary ingredient in the live show. To think of similarities with other groups brings one down the vein of early 70’s sounding English rock bands. The influence from bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and St. Vitus can be heard at times, with Looking Glass’s own ‘uber loud’ sound having been compared with ‘stoner rock’ bands such as Kyuss or Cathedral.

The track ‘Levitate’ is from 2006, with a second album released in 2008, and a new one being released in 2011.

“Fans of Wolfmother looking for something harder get ready – this is power trio gold. One of the best things I’ve heard all year by a long shot.” – BMA Album of the Month Dec 2006

Why?

Why do young bands want to sound like the ancient and discredited?

It’s common throughout music, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra has dozens of musicians who desperately want to sound just like the Vienna Philharmonic of 1842.

And Looking Glass want to sound like Black Sabbath of 1972.

They do a pretty good job of that, although with just the one song available it’s a little hard to tell.

Wolfmother did a similar thing with Led Zepplin and I wasn’t a huge fan of that either.

It’s not as if I can’t download Led Zep or Black Zabbath on iTunes if I want to cop a nostalgia hit.

And there are plenty of straight tribute bands if that floats my boat.

I mean I know it’s fun and all in a jam session to try to sound like well known bands, but why base a whole performance persona on it?

Looking Glass do what they’re doing well, so I look forward to their future offerings.

But for now it’s just…

Two stars.

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Jim Jones said :

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot said :

Young?

These guys have been a part of the Canberra music scene for a long long time.

Yep. But because it isn’t bearded folk music or self-conciously quirky indy-pop, it tends to fly under some people’s radars.

Sigh.

You’d do better to take a leaf out of Lez Lozenger’s book (see above) and offer a balanced counter-point.

Genre specific slags are a bit cliche and reek of laziness – especially in a small town of hard-working, multi-genre musicians.

Looking Glass have been doing their thing for a while and certainly hold my respect.

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot said :

Young?

These guys have been a part of the Canberra music scene for a long long time.

Yep. But because it isn’t bearded folk music or self-conciously quirky indy-pop, it tends to fly under some people’s radars.

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot11:25 pm 31 May 11

Young?

These guys have been a part of the Canberra music scene for a long long time.

Can’t comment on the recording, but live these guys are far superior to anything I’ve heard from the Unearthed reviews so far.

Les Lozenger3:06 pm 31 May 11

I guess it depends on what the band themselves are into. I don’t think they are trying to be anyone. They are just doing what they do best because that’s the kind of music that inspires them. In my opinion, they happen to be very good at what they do. I’ve seen them many times and they’ve never done anything other than play an energy packed show full of great hard Rocking songs.

You are right though Johnboy – it’s hard to judge a band on one song. I’d recommend listening to an EP. Particularly Looking Glass #1. If you’re into hard Rock at all, you’ll love it!

Les Lozenger’s review: 5 Stars. Both as a recorded and a live act.

I think you’ll find the band members aren’t “young”…

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