When I first bought ‘Ribbons and Sugar’ I didn’t like it all that much. The off-kilter rhythms and lack of melodies threw me at first, as I expected a lot more from it. But after persevering with it for quite some time, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m glad I did. It’s a short record, taking in less than 30 minutes for 11 songs, but it’s punchy and to the point even if it isn’t particularly orthodox in its delivery.
To me, Gatsbys American Dream sound a little like a pop-punk version of Silverchair – there are similarities in the vocals, but it’s the experimentation and the rhythms that remind me of them the most. On ‘Diorama’ the Aussie trio decided to rip up the genre rulebook and go for their own sound, and while Gatsbys have little in common musically, their approach to songwriting is bold and interesting. It’s why tracks like ‘Epilogue’ and ‘A Manifesto Of Tangible Wealth’ work so well, even if they are not the most instantly accessible songs. ‘Snicker At The Swine’ even has a Coheed and Cambria feel to it, without the insanely high vocals and verbose guitar parts.
‘Ribbons and Sugar’ is a real grower of a record and if you don’t ‘get’ it first time round, don’t be too concerned. With songs like the catchy ‘Apparition’ pouring from your speakers, you’ll be willing to give this record as long as it needs to make a full impact. Gatsbys have just signed to Fearless Records and it’s not too hard to see why – they could easily be a band to keep an eye on in the future.
www.gatsbysamericandream.com
RocketStar Records
Paul