by harvey wallbanger
WHO: Paulson with Daphne Loves Derby and Waking Ashland
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7th
WHERE: Jack Rabbits
There’s not a whole lot that can surprise me. In the ten plus years I have battled with my preposterous addiction to music, I’ve seen drag queen ska bands at the Milk Bar, robots trash-talking audiences while actually playing their instruments at Jack Rabbits, Jessica Simpson actually selling records, even the fact that emo bands are still, to this day, sprouting from the evil pits of despair and nothingness. Not a whole lot fazes these weary ears. However, the one thing that I cannot figure out is why a frontman would write a melody out of his vocal range. Come on boys, let’s try to take it down a notch, and by a notch I mean a couple of keys. Not all is not lost. This New Jersey band has a lot to offer us if you can get through the whole “oh woe is me” lyricism. (We get it. Your girlfriend dumped you.)
Paulson was born in Midland Park, New Jersey in 2001. They released their first album, Variations, through Initial Records in 2004, only to then release their second album, All at Once, in 2005 on One Day Savior, only to reissue their updated second album, All at Once (super awesome edition X132), with Doghouse in 2006. And I thought I had commitment issues.
One of the things I truly love about this band is the amount of genres one would have to spit out in order to accurately describe them. Dance pop, yet sort of indie rock-based, but progressive in its own form. Kind of like a non-alcoholic beer, you’re not sure what to do with it, which might shed light on the slightly awkward package tours they’ve been thrown on. The crowd for Houston Calls had to have been a nightmare.
The apparent contrast in musical tastes from each of the band members appears to be the ingredient for the controlled chaos of sounds we hear shoved together in this neat little package. There is a rich method to their songwriting – scratch that – composing where every instrument is gently woven in without being too intrusive to its partners. It’s delicate, sweet, soft and atmospheric with an underlying aggression that seems to erupt through both hooks and exquisite drumming techniques. Not too hot, not too cold, just right. There’s a little something for everyone.
For all of you Myspacers, their page (www.myspace.com/Paulson) is packed full of shenanigans and tomfoolery in the form of creative blogging and a fantastic new drink called “Egg in a Red Bull” and yes, there’s a video of it. Clever. The real treat on this page is the sneak preview of one of the new tracks on All at Once (Doggystyle) called ‘Calling on You’. It highlights their ability to rope you in and captivate, while forcing you to forget where you are and what you were listening to in the first place. You find yourself lost in its levels of aural pleasure, but it makes for a nice vacation.
The new-yet-old album All at Once will be released on Doghouse Records on March 6th of this year and comes equipped with three brand spanking new songs, and if it’s anything like the delicious ‘Calling on You,’ we are in for a treat.
They are currently on tour with Daphne Loves Derby and Waking Ashland and will be taking the stage on February 7th at Jack Rabbits. I hear they are handing out free two song demos at the show, so get out there. Even if they’re not your cup of tea, I guarantee at least Waking Ashland will be.
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