This 2007 release from Nashville band Awake! Awake! stretches the gap between stadium rock anthem and basement new wave, and makes it look easy. The synthesis between styles is not completely smooth, which leaves an abruptness to the whole production. It’s almost as if Michael Jackson’s shrill energy teamed up with Dan Bejar’s (Destroyer, The New Pornographers) rough edges to sing songs written by Death Cab for Cutie. But even then, you’d need the person who produced Coldplay’s Rush of Blood to the Head to get the balance right. And consider all that a compliment, please. There’s a lot going on, to be sure, and while it sometimes struggles to coalesce, it’s great fun the whole way though. The unifying theme of moving light is reflected in songs like The Dawn, Daylight and The Coming Night and fits nicely with the changing tempo and mood on the record. Download the album for free at http://tinyurl.com/Uniter-Awake.

Published in Volume 65, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 18, 2010)