oliver's army
Reviewed by Christian Oliver*
Published: 18 February 2010
ep: self titled
"I would stare at the sky and think of you, remember the way I died, Left the earth and forgot who I was, I may have missed my chance, and we sit by and wonder why..."
And thus begins Oliver’s Army’s release, moody and foreboding without coming across as being desperate or self indulgent. It was a real treat to sit down and listen to this EP, as twin brothers Ryan and Todd Oliver have written and recorded a very accomplished, fresh work that insists on repeat listens.
Who do they sound like? The comparisons are easily there to be made, each with their own unique twist though, Coldplay with muscles or Jack White with a broken heart? Regardless of whom Oliver’s Army influences may be, they have definitely got a sound, and a bloody good one at that.
Oliver’s Army haven’t been on the scene that long, but since mid 2009 have been steadily building an adoring fan base helped by playing alongside other local acts, The Shiny Brights, The Battery Kids, Jay Walker and the Pedestrians and The Temps.
The two brothers who hail from the Barossa self deprecatingly describe their music as: "Oliver's Army don’t boast that our music will change the world, we just hope that someday it will be that source of inspiration for someone, somewhere. Whether it gets you through a breakup, or helps you study for an exam, or brightens your day walking through a park with headphones on. Even as simple as a song being stuck in your head whilst you annoy all those around you with your tone-deaf humming (or angelic chorusing depending on the individual). That’s what we aim to achieve at the moment, until further notice."
After reviewing this EP, I think it’s safe to say that the Oliver Boys should adjust their ambitions somewhat as its clear from the first listen that the potential for this talented duo is unmistakable.
The EP kicks off with “WHY”, a nostalgic rock/pop ballad with undercurrents of longing and misunderstanding; it’s a great opening track that seems to totally encapsulate the sound of Oliver’s Army. Driving beats, catchy hooks, pining vocals and atmospheric guitar solos. Indeed it’s this atmosphere that appears to be the Oliver brothers' strength, with each song on the EP giving you more to digest than just the 3:00 minute sameness that a lot of bands offer up these days.
“Fade Away” is the next track to follow and offers up much of the same as “WHY”, a temperamental opening complete with rain and thunder effects leading into an edgy tune punctuated by a rocking guitar solo.
At this stage, you begin to wonder if Oliver’s Army has any other tricks up its sleeve and thankfully when the next track “Sophie” starts to play, the Oliver’s lay their Ace on the table. This song screams Jack White, from the distortion vocals to the minimalist instrumentation and screeching guitars, it’s catchy and it’s cool and a welcome variant to the rest of the album. The EP is rounded off by the very charming “There you are” a tasteful and sweet melody that concludes the album perfectly.
Unfortunately you can’t catch Oliver’s Army any time soon as they are working on a new recording. In the meantime, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this EP, you will definitely not be disappointed.
*No relation
