the english system

banded blue

‘Indie rock has a 50/50 shot amid the masses.

The most forthcoming sub-genre to prevail consists of short and winding intricate guitar licks, dominant and sometimes off-tempo drumming, and a cross midway between catchy and unique.

Depending upon which era’s perspective is taken, the influences can range from Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate, to Guns ‘N’ Roses, to Christopher Cross’s “Sailing.” Admittedly, that sounds odd, but the guitar progressions usually fall into one of two categories: broken-up licks directly removed from solos or arpeggiated open chords broken into choppy bits to give them more of a complex edge.

MTV will catch up with it in five years like it is now catching onto the poppy punksters Saves the Day and A Newfound Glory. MTV2 might catch up in three.

This might not be an insult to the sub-genre. It requires a bit of brains and fast, loose fingers in order to be able to write and play such music.

What more could be asked for out of such a band? How about a female vocalist who has the ability to turn both phrases and heads?

Enter The English System. The band is fronted by Jessica Larrabee. Her range is dynamic, deep and alluring. Imagine Billie Holliday with the ability to get sounds out of a Fender that not even Leo Fender himself could have anticipated.

Of course, Jessica’s voice is not the only good thing about the band, but it is arguably the main attraction.

For a band that’s been together for only a short period of time, they have managed to reach a level of tightness rarely reached by bands who have not been touring for the better part of a decade and up.

“Banded Blue,” the band’s first full-length recording, is an impressive achievement that shows not a sign of sophomore-slump potential. The compositions are of very high quality – the lyrics are intelligible, accessible, and well-sung. Best of all, the songs are full-band efforts in which each instrument shines in its own right.

If this is merely the beginning, it is safe to say that the end will go out with the kind of bang that only quality rock musicians can produce.