Jared Mancuso is an up and coming rock
artist with a new album, his third overall, called Hype! He has a range of sound that he says is influenced by everyone from Weezer to the Pixies to Queens Of The Stone Age and beyond.
The album begins with a roar with the
song "Splendor", which features almost a new wave feel with it's
straight droning almost motorik beat alternating with hooks and
lyrics.
"So Strong", is next, and is a greasy
ironic exhalation against a (lover, ex lover?). Not as catchy as the
first song, but still bouncy and fun.
Next song funks it up a bit, it's
called "Extraordinary", the groove and catchiness of this song cannot
be understated. The riff almost has a seventies feel delivered through
a post punk/alternative lens, and is a worthy third album track.
"So In Love" features a fuzz box groove
with some cool stop start riffs and gorgeous hooks
"Alright" continues the pop meat hooks
but has some heavy fuzz riffs alternating between this, almost if ELO
and Blue Cheer did a session together – cool heavy riffs ensue in
the second half of the song
The title track carries on that 70's
Stevie Wonder mixed with Devo groove that permeates the album, we're
back to funk territory in other words. Not my favored track on the
record, but still if the groove doesn't get you dancing, you're not a
human being!
It also features a cool, sort of psych styled
breakdown and solo as well.
"The Jungle" features a cool odd timing,
then the party continues with a more straight timing
and features the best guitar solo on
the whole album, almost with shadows of Jimmy Page in there!
"Play False Blues" has the quirkiness of
some of the other songs, but heavies it up for the second act.
"Optional" has a similar feel to some of the earlier songs as well, still catchy though.
"Make It Right" begins with a punky riff
that would make the sadly departed Jay Reatard swoon in the direction
of, and then carries forward with more of the fuzz funk and closes
the album on a high note.
One thing I really dug about the album
was the production, dynamics were aplenty and the instruments balanced
but also raw enough to keep the sound warm.
Not exactly "retro" production by any means, but a good balance between the warmer productions of yesteryear, (even the 90's, when analog was still king) but with the added clarity of modern times.
Jared has a natural born knack for
songcraft, melody, and just the right amount of novelty to make a
good album that definitely also has focus as well.
His music is a merging of influences into something unique, fun, and danceable with the right amount of quirkiness added in. It also has a classic rock touch that keeps the music from being tied to just one time period or another, that's the magic of having such a diverse musical pallet to choose from.
It's with this merging of influences into something concrete that makes the music so appealing, rather than what some bands/artists do and just have x song sound like "that band", etc. That is where the strength of Jared's songwriting really shines, in having those influences melded together into something new.
It's with this merging of influences into something concrete that makes the music so appealing, rather than what some bands/artists do and just have x song sound like "that band", etc. That is where the strength of Jared's songwriting really shines, in having those influences melded together into something new.
I would definitely recommend this album to those who are into the bands previously mentioned, or those who want to check out a rising artist before everyone else does!
You can check out Jared Mancuso at the following links:
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