Volumen Beta
Bob Marshall
Watch Bob, and watch him close. See if you can catch him slippin’. You never will, because this plunging draft horse of the VOLUMEN skins never does. Every beat, fill, ride...every damn flam-flam or paradiddle he plays fits as tight and snug as in those walls at Macchu Picchu where you can’t even slip a piece of paper between these stones as big as a Volkswagen Beetle. It’s a craft he’s honed in nearly half a dozen other Missoula bands, including Prosciutto, Saved for This Dark Dawn and the much-missed Spanker. The tireless BobJob is still foaming to rock long after his bandmates have packed it in for the evening, and, like Doug, he’s also an excellent cook. Keep him away from the chilies, though—last time Bob came to my house, he whipped up some 2:30 AM quesadillas that cleared the place out like a canister of CS gas.
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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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