Lee’s Listening Stack: Ravishers – ‘self-titled
Ravishers
S/T
(self-released)
The Ravishers are a hyper bunch, a band bursting with energy and rhythms that hit with an immediate wallop. Shimmering keyboards and a Costello-like croon affirm their pop priorities, all of which are enveloped in the Portland duo’s eponymous debut. While the competition is fierce these days, the Ravishers set themselves apart from the pack mostly based on enthusiasm alone. If the start-stop shuffle of album opener “I’m Him” and the stealth-like groove of “Underachievers” seem to underplay their usual upbeat attitude, the sparkling arrangements ensure their resilience. Likewise, there’s some obvious insurgence seeping into “Lessons in Leaving,” especially when they whisper, “Need a little bit of danger in your smile, and a brain that ushers thoughts through a turnstile.” Hmmm. That line may be open to interpretation, but given further contemplation, it’s somewhat telling too.
Still, there’s more resolve than reserve in most of these songs, and the spiraling vocals imbued in “How I Feel About You,” the triumphant “Nobody Falls in Love Anymore” and the almost-quirky “Keep You Around” don’t diminish that impression. The Ravisher rampage continues unabated and it’s all the more ebullient for the effort. – Lee Zimmerman
Lee Zimmerman is a contributor to a variety of publications, including Blurt, M Music & Musicians, New Times, Goldmine and Amplifier
This review appears courtesy of Amplifier, 50,000 Watts of Non-Stop Indie Rock http://amplifiermagazine.blogspot.com/