Volumen 2
Doug Smith
If Shane is the high school Physics Club treasurer of VOLUMEN, Doug is the affable, popular guy who toes the fine line between band dork and senior class president. Cheerleaders leak the info that they want him to ask them out, but he�s always genuinely nice to the less popular girls and boys, too. In addition to writing most of what doesn�t get written by his longtime friend and musical partner, Shane (in the platonic sense, that is�at least we THINK so), Doug�s signature wikkid lyxx and fine tenor are the yin to Shane�s yang, the butter to Shane�s muffin, the hot dog in Shane�s....well, anyway, the other half of the songwriting equation. Additionally, Doug is a beacon of calm and tranquility in his other bandmates� roiling sea of adolescent squirreliness, and a fine cook to boot. The last male bonding I did with Doug was undertaken when we spent two days in the Montana wilderness picking morel mushrooms. Oh, the magic he worked with those little morsels...
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Here's some articles and other random press for your viewing pleasure.
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| Montana Arts Council 07/26/2006 |
| URL: View Actual Article |
| Title: Science Faction Review |
| Author: Mariss Mctucker |
Volumen: Science Faction
Recorded by Volumen at the Playboy Mansion/Volumen Compound, Missoula, MT; mastered by John Golden; and released in March 2006.
Missoula indie rockers Volumen (Shane Hickey, guitar and vocals; Doug Smith, guitar and vocals; Bryan Hickey, bass; Chris Bacon, keyboards and percussion; and Bob Marshall, drums) have made a superb, thematic album for the 21st century, replete with riveting songwriting and sharp rock 'n roll stylings.
Childhood buddies and bandmates Shane Hickey and Doug Smith grew up near Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, close to buried ICBMs, so it's no wonder apocalyptic notions grace their songs.
Volumen, together 10 years, has new-wave rock figured out. The singing has matured; a tinge of David Byrne vocals and Bowie sensibility melds with thick and smudgy guitar chords over killer drum work. The mix is excellent. The vocals wail just a bit louder than the frenzy of instrumental prowess, so that you have to read along with the lyrics at least once. That's rock 'n roll.
Extended guitar riffing ends one song and bleeds into the next; there are instrumental send-ups, corrupted church bells, lots of that memorable Telstar-sound from the 60s, and the high woo-wee-woo background sounds of any old sci-fi program. Buzzing, clanging, speedy and energizing rock, interrupted by prettiness. And, get this: a garaged-out version of Sibelius's "Finlandia."
Volumen is a Missoula favorite; if this album, three-plus years in the making, doesn't bring the group greater success, then record execs have tin ears.
Visit www.volumen.com or www.wantageusa.com.
� Mariss McTucker
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