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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| Ink 19 09/01/2002 |
| URL: View Actual Article |
| Title: (Cries From Space) EP |
| Author: Ian Koss |
Volumen may be musically schizophrenic, but that doesn't mean they're discordant. Blending a wide variety of pop influences, Volumen come off as a band that loves the whole melodic spectrum, combining unique vocal melodies with spot-on playing. Their penchant for switching moods and styles in the midst of songs makes them a sort of prog-pop outfit. The opening "Daddy's Other Finger" is nearly seven minutes of pop hooks, heavy riffing and a triumphant return to the chorus. Lyrics? How about "Fantasy Island comes on at five, and I can't wait to see who arrives"? You can't go wrong with a '70s TV reference.
Elsewhere in the album, we have "Type O Girl," another sparkling gem of quicksilver musical shifts and a fat analog synth lead that sounds like The Rentals with all the knobs turned all the way up. "Metallia" is a send-up of METAL. As in "where the fuck's the heavy metal?". "Nymph... Blood... Wine" seems to do the same for The Misfits (except for the instrumental piece in the middle, which is more than a bit Police-sounding) and "Snakes" is a dark-carnival piece worthy of Oingo Boingo or The World/Inferno Friendship Society. There's also bonus material (extra track, tour footage video) if you cram this into your computer.
Need more detail? Volumen seem to tour in a converted ambulance. Volumen seem to hail from Montana (actually, cabin fever would explain a lot). Volumen feature a Ramones-like nomenclature for their lineup -- Volumen 1, Volumen 2, Volumen Beta, Volumen Bkawck! and Volumen Square. How can they fail? I hope Volumen keep them coming and never take their medication.
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