The Road Leads Where It's Led

" Maybe the rain will stop following me, with millions of colours reflected in daylight, right on the kick drum."

Nowhere Again by Secret Machines

I have always shown a weakness for big sounds. It stems from my youth when I listened to lots of music with loud drums and guitars - you know, the Zeppelins and those other 70s guys who banged and smashed and created a huge hullabaloo. In 2004, i discovered these dudes called Secret Machines from Dallas, TX of all places. They don't sound like my idea of what a Texas band would sound like. They are a cross between Pink Floyd's psychedelia, Led Zep's bombast and the prog rock tendencies of say early Genesis. They started out in 2000 from the ashes of Tripping Daisy (remember 1995 and "I Got A Girl" you 90s fans?) and consisted of brothers Brandon (lead vocals, bass, keyboards) and Ben (guitar, backing vocals) Curtis and Josh Garza (drums). In 2007, Ben Curtis left to form The School Of Seven Bells and was replaced by Phil Karnats on guitar. I had the good fortune to see them live in 2005 when they opened for Interpol in Toronto. They blew Interpol off the stage that night! I mean, Interpol was actually very good, but they never should have asked these guys to open for them. They came on and launched into the huge synth, bass and drum riff of First Wave Intact and I was hooked! It was the kind of sound that makes your insides vibrate. The drummer was set up sideways on the stage and he just had his head down and pounded the whole show. Incredible! Anyway, they are a great band who can really play their instruments and the huge cacaphony they create will make your hair stand on end!

Here are their releases so far:

September 000 E.P. (2002)
Now Here Is Nowhere (2004)
Ten Silver Drops (2006)
Secret Machines (2008)

Watch for a new album to be released sometime this year.

Best Of The Secret Machines

1. First Wave Intact
2. Last Believer, Drop Dead
3. Nowhere Again
4. Atomic Heels
5. Breathe
6. Underneath The Concrete
7. All At Once (It's Not Important)
8. Sad And Lonely
9. Light's On
10. Alone, Jealous And Stoned
11. Pharaoh's Daughter
12. I Hate Pretending
13. The Road Leads Where It's Led
14. Lightning Blue Eyes
15. Marconi's Radio