REVIEWS
 The RX Bandits | ...And The Battle Begun
Released 10.06
MDB Records
Reviewed by Thomas Nobles |
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Even after being available for some time now, this album still manages to get better with every listen. I rarely have to skip tracks, and frequently find myself blasting these songs through my stereo at stoplights. After spending way too many years at the bottom of the Drive-Thru Records musical food chain, never really receiving much attention, I was very glad to hear that these guys had decided to release their fifth album independently. Every track stands out, and even songs I didn’t care for at first have managed to grow on me over time. The horn players, although still spending some time in the background, sound just as tight as on previous albums. As always Matt Embree’s lyrics are thoughtful, powerful and unique.
These Bandits refuse to let themselves be tied too closely to any one genre. Some tracks on …And the Battle Begun are clearly ska and reggae influenced, while others are pure progressive rock. The Bandits even tend to jump back and forth between genres numerous times during any single track. This album is also constantly changing through different rhythms, tempos and keys. Every track evolves and builds upon itself so that very few songs finish sounding the same as they started. This album as a whole is a little mellower and more soulful than the band’s older material, and some of my friends have found this to be a turnoff. Personally I am quite glad that this album has a feeling that is fresh and new. The same signature sounds are there, but the delivery has changed dramatically. Great bands evolve, and mature, and explore new musical territory. Great bands ensnare audiences by inspiring thought and testing the limits of the imagination. The Rx Bandits definitely fit that profile.
The RX Bandits website
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