[rating=2.50]
An Aside is the first release from the Carolina based Indie-Rock band Black Swan Runners. Keeping things direct, the 4-piece uses a variety of the genre’s staples (some more successful than others) as they plow through the album’s 10 tracks.
The interestingly spelled “Ff Ff Fire” starts things off with a rhythm-heavy bassline that brings in hand claps before a rather engaging vocal. As the obvious choice for a single, the song is powerful and alive as it slaps along the outer edges of the mainstream. Though the record quickly loses energy when they present the more “rock” tinged tracks. “Big Mistake” contains some heavy drumming and swaying big riffs, but eventually goes nowhere, while “Bones” never packs the punk promise it hints at.
Where the band succeeds is when they ditch the straight up rock for the more ambient/dream pop tracks. “West of Ten” clicks and evolves out of a sea of pseudo-disco sounds as it pulses along winningly, and “Human Nature” continues that line of spacey, laid back goodness.
As the band evolves it will be interesting to see if they take a more standard “rock” road or move into the ether. Either way An Aside is a firm first step.
