by Marcie Ortega
Daily Lobo
They are known as a Foo Fighters, Radiohead and U2 hybrid.
Violet Nine, a band formed in Boston and recognized for its powerful live performances, has developed a fan base throughout the Northeast and will release its debut album, Any Wonder, this spring.
The critics are right. With a combination of soulful, energetic vocals and alluring hooks over a modern rock sound, Violet Nine will appeal to the masses when Any Wonder hits the airwaves. After all, the band's music will soon be featured in the National Lampoon film, "Cattle Call."
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The song "On Again Off Again" displays the group's pop quality as it bestows upon its listeners a harmony that reeks of sentimentality.
Do not worry, though - this is about as bad as it gets.
The first single, "Yell It Out," with its chorus and guitarist Neck Lewis's energetic performance, is one of the more enthralling songs on the album and is capable of gaining recognition.
The vocal performances of lead singer Ben Consolli in "Hope" and "Leaving Rain" display the group's funk-rock influence as he soulfully belts out these ballads. However, the tracks contain a rather clichÇ pop element more reflective of Maroon 5 than U2. It is on other tracks like "Imagination" that Consolli's vocals can be compared to Bono's in the range and power of his projection.
"Out Loud," the album's opening track, is another song that represents the band's more engaging qualities and intrigues the listener with its combination of echoing vocals, steady beat and a guitar performance that compares to the Foo Fighters.
"I've Seen You Before" possesses the original quality of this ensemble influenced by a variety of genres. In this rather fast-paced song, the guitar performance sounds like a cross between the Foo Fighters and the Libertines transitioning from a light modern rock melody into heavier riffs.
Overall the album possesses one important quality: variety. It contains different songs influenced by different genres. This quality has not only kept the group from being labeled under a single genre but will also guarantee an appeal to an assortment of people. Although Violet Nine might not move everyone, it definitely has the potential for mainstream success.
