The Over Unders – Rhonda
Genre: Alternative Rock
When The Beatles made it to the U.S. there were supposed to tell nobody that John Lennon was married. When Karen Carpenter was dealing with depression and bulimia she was supposed to put on a front. When Gaahl is cheerful, he is supposed to tell nobody about such inclinations.
None of those things are very good for business. Most of the entertainment world is built on a fantasy. People that take part in the fantasy cannot disrupt it for fear of losing the reputation that they have built up so patiently.
Fortunately, alternative rock is one of the few places in the music world that exists beyond these kinds of expectations. Alt-rock still offers a safe space for people dealing with life’s real issues.
The Over Unders’s Rhonda is an ode to a barely perceptible goddess of depression and woe. It’s a Beach Boys song with all the sun taken out of it. And, it’s a tune that allows The Over Unders to stare fate right in the eyes. This kind of music remains an alternative to the mainstream pop world. First of all, it admits that the world is dread and woe. And, just singing it out loud makes it somewhat better.
Gold Stars For Everyone – Fame & Infamy
Genre: Americana, Pop Rock, Alternative Rock
Some folks go to Hollywood thinking that they’re handsome and hoping that they can act. These are certainly the two traits that Hollywood usually looks for, with original talent coming in on a distant third position. Such traits should certainly get you through the door.
But, being too handsome is hazardous. It’s hard for anyone to take such people seriously. Everyone believes, of course, that people blessed with the most refined kind of facial features can’t possibly search deep inside themselves to produce art that is meaningful.
It is sometimes the same for the very best singers. This happens to the people whose voice possesses that quality that makes random strangers want to prick their ears. They’ve received something that others slave to try and replicate. And, everyone knows it.
Gold Stars For Everyone’s Fame & Infamy is Brooklyn based, bluesy alt-rock made by people that have to know that they’re good. Take a listen to the gentle growl of the vocals for proof! Gold Stars For Everyone could well be the beautiful cheerleader who never gets asked out because everyone is too afraid to approach them. But, fortunately, their hearts are trampled and hurt. The New Yorkers take the gift of misery, wrap it in a bluesy garland of vocals and approach the casting calls confidently.
