Too Rare! by Charles Warren Orchestra: EP Review
Charles Warren Orchestra is a rock band with an energetic spirit. Their fast-paced guitar riffs and dominant vocals fire you up, and it’s a cathartic experience for folks who just wanna stick it to the man. This melodic force is driven by members Matt Shovlin, Matt Onorato, Matt Pastorius, Zach Smith, and Charlie Sosnick. Ultimately, they form the brilliance of the EP “Too Rare!” in all its rock glory.
The record opens up with the groovy pop-rock sound of “A Brief History of Agony,” which enters with funky guitar sections leading to a tasty solo. Afterward, the flow is transported into a completely different atmosphere in the next number. “13th Floor” is the maxima of rock and roll, with raspy vocals and powerful guitar riffs. Aside from that, the drummer is simply a force of nature and tags along with head-bopping basslines to keep us entranced. The piece “No Price on a Dream” has a sensational aura about it. First of all, the guitar passages are pure fire and emit a sense of surf rock due to their tone and transition chords. Aside from that, speedy solos keep your feet tapping and in anticipation for more.
Something interesting occurred to me while hearing the entire EP, the band goes from pop to hard rock and then returns to pop. This is evident through Dr. Damiano’s heavy rock essence (especially those epic screams) and the calming pop-rock conclusion of “Everything’s Alright.”
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Review by: Damien Reid