One Like Son and Vinyl Floor

One Like Son “Start The Show”
The unique method of One Like Son, is that they recorded their 3rd album, Start The Show entirely on an iphone 3GS. Band members Stephen Poff (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Organ) and Bill Rester (Vocals, Bass) dealt with the tedious details and restrictions of recording apps, but it sounds  just like they cut it in the studio. So much for the novelty — what about the music?

One Like Son has a classic fast paced rock sound, the heavy guitar riffs of the title track and “For a Good Time Call” remind one of The Gin Blossoms, Rooney and the Strokes. “Buried” has some nice harmonies in tandem with the guitars and “L.A.” was another highlight that tells a compelling story. While the guitars carry each melody here, by the time we get to “Father” it starts to sound a bit generic, with few hooks to keep me interested. But the energy level is high and sounds great in your car with the windows down.

Vinyl Floor “Peninsula”
Vinyl Floor is a 4-piece rockband which hails from Copenhagen, Denmark. The band combines both symphonic and indie influences to create epic compositions.  Comparable to Coldplay, Travis, Fun., and Oasis, the sound shifts around, but generally stays dramatic and melodic. The album’s concept is split between Utopia and Dystopia, and there after the long symphonic rock overture (“”Frames & Orchids”) I was impressed.

The piano pop of “Ghosts Of England” is ambitious in its scope, and develops into a grand anthem. “What Lies Ahead” has the guitar riffs leading the way here, and its the best song on the LP. The sweet acoustic ballad “Written in the Cards” with organ chords and strings supports the layered vocals. After this the album labors a bit with “Car In The Sky” as the vocal gets a bit lost here. Progressive elements in the next few compositions take over and “Diverging Paths” sounds like Chris Martin doing Procol Harum. “In The Air” has a solid hook in the melody here, but the remaining tracks struggled to hold my attention. That said, Peninsula is pretty good album, and an interesting musical find.