Having our own history working in big box record stores, we know that Tuesday’s tend to be big release days in the entertainment world. In light of it being a Tuesday,(and honestly, what else do Tuesday’s really offer?) we bring you this installment of our ‘List of 5′ series:
5 New Albums Out This Week
(Click any of the album covers to check out more information.)
Chicago based band, I Can Feel Myself Levitate offers a sound that is in line with post-hardcore bands like Thrice and Thursday, but also delivers elements of the hard to pinpoint ambience we can only classify as indie. Though their new EP What is Left has yet to be physically released, the band does have the album streaming online.
The five song EP starts off softly with “Arrows On the Compass”, which asks, People are like instruments, so why do we use the wrong ones to hit the right notes?” as it slowly builds into the post-hardcore style the bands sticks with for the duration of the record, lacing a harmonized chorus of croons with tight guitar riffs to support our front mans belt. Though well pitched for most of the EP, its in moments when he strains for more volume, like moments in this first track, that he begins to lose a little control, falling flat.
Tinkling guitars fall in line with cymbal heavy percussion and a slight feeling of darkness in “Body Heat”, which has a sort of digital feel to it, but not in the auto-tuned, over produced sense- just a feeling of something cold and mechanic. The chugging guitar and layered vocals give this song plenty of life, but the over all ambiance is echoey and distant.
“Eskimo Kiss” fell a little flat for us, mainly because we prefer the deep, throatier belt in other tracks over this one’s near-falsetto. However we did enjoy this songs tremulous guitars and the sound of a twinkling xylophone blanketed beneath the track’s megaphone shouts. “
“The Coldest Abyss in Your Heart” cuts through its opening sound clip of barroom conversation with no ceremony, jumping right into its tight, bouncing melody and chorus of shouts saying, “Count your loses and turn your back, no refunds, no regrets”. A few wiggly riffs later and we get the apology of, “Sorry sweetheart, I hate to burst your bubble, but when you can’t tell your friends from enemies its time to get out of the game while you can” before everything goes soft and our lead vocals change to crooning the song’s message of moving on before entering a steady, cadenced build back to its original tempo.
Dark, plugging guitar and an electric whine build the melancholy melody of the slower paced final track, “The Artifacts”. The rasp and trill of this tracks vocals and spacey wah-ing reminds us of As Cities Burn, particularly as the track finished in a set of screams.
A good find for fans of other Midwestern locals like The Felix Culpa or Hail Archer, I Can Hear Myself Levitate’s What is Left, is a nice introduction to a post-hardcore band that has its act together. With a little more practice at keeping the slight whine of their vocals from going flat, and maybe smidge more variation in their song’s instrumentals, I Can Hear Myself Levitate has the potential to become a big name in the Chicago music scene.
The quartet that makes up I Can Feel Myself Levitate took some time out of their musical lives to talk shop with us this past week about instruments they wish they played, their favorite fellow locals, and inspiration behind What is Left.
Reviewsic: Individually, how did you get your starts in music?
Chris: “I’ve always been passionate about creative writing and poetry. My writing turned into lyrics for the first time a long time ago when my friends and I started a garage band. Singing just stuck and evolved into something much more than I had planned.”
Brad: “I played all sorts of instruments as a kid and the common theme that stood out from all the screeching strings and reeds was a knack for rhythm. I got a drum set when I was 12 and that was it.”
Al: “My dad started teaching me guitar when I was seven and after a couple weeks I was learning songs by ear. Guitar has always been something I’m able to focus my energy into.”
Garrett: “My dad played bass, my brother plays bass, I play bass.”
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
Chris: “My Chemical Romance, Finch, AFI, and Boys Night Out.”
Brad: “The Get Up Kids, Thursday, The Used.”
Al: “Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads of Quiet Riot and Ozzy, and Yngwie Malmsteen.”
Garrett: “Life, Incubus, Rage Against The Machine, whatever is new.”
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Chris: “Banjo.”
Brad: “Piano.”
Al: “Drums.”
Garrett: “Nope, bass player for life.”
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Chris: “Circa Survive’s ‘Juturna,’ The Felix Culpa’s ‘Sever Your Roots’ and As Cities Burn’s ‘Come Sleep Now.’”
Brad: “Rise Against, As Tall As Lions, and The Dangerous Summer.”
Al: “Circa Survive, Coldplay, and Death Cab for Cutie.”
Garrett: “Temper Trap, Jay-Z’s ‘The Blueprint,’ Them Crooked Vultures.”
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Chris: “David Bowie, because he was always trying new music.”
Brad: “I’d like to record with John Feldmann as engineer because he always captures great drum sounds.”
Al: “It’d be fun to jam with Dream Theater.”
Garrett: “No idea, so many great musicians out on the scene right now.”
Reviewsic: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Chris: “Finger Eleven at the house of blues. I’ll never forget that show.”
Brad: “311 at the Tweeter Center (now First Midwest Amphitheater).”
Al: “I grew up going to local shows as a teenager, but my first major show was Thursday and Circa Survive.”
Garrett: “Flea ala Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
Reviewisc: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Chris: “Suns, The Able Body, and The Felix Culpa.”
Brad: “Suns, I Am A Nation, and Local H.”
Al: “Smashing Pumpkins, Disturbed, and Rise Against.”
Garrett: “How Local? My friends in Makeshift Prodigy are great. Also, Empires is pretty good, and As Tall As Lions.”
Reviewsic: What’s the backstory on how the band came to be what it is today?
Chris: “Well, Al and I have been friends for over nine years and have played in a number of projects that all lacked one crucial factor: mutual respect and awesome musical chemistry. I knew it would be worth the time and effort to find true musicians and it definitely was a long process. Through the grapevine, I got in touch with Brad who was playing with Kody Nixon (Bassist for Suns) at the time. We hit it off but were all so busy that nothing really materialized. About eight months later, Al and I got the energy to give it another go and started jamming with Brad again. It was great that we were all on the same page as far as how serious we wanted to take our music. Over the next year we worked really hard writing and recording the EP. The whole time I was harassing Garrett to retire his 90’s cover band and he finally caved after hearing the rough EP tracks. Being in a band is stressful; expect to loose a couple years of your life. But I love it.”
Reviewsic: Tell us about What is Left is there a particular concept behind the EP? What was the process of making the album like?
Brad: “Every song on “What is Left” explores a different genre. This happened sort of by accident because we all brought such different influences to the table and weren’t exactly sure what kind of music we wanted to write. There was no intended concept for “What is Left” but I think it has a certain charm because it shows our experimentation and progression as a band. And I just realized that the tracks are in the order of when we wrote them, which is a very cool accident.”
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at the point of this new release as opposed to when you first began playing together?
Chris: “I would say as a songwriter/vocalist, I now know who I am and what I am capable of. When I first started playing no one believed in me which affected my outlook, so I didn’t believe in myself. Now, with years of experience under my belt, I have self-confidence and see tons of future music.”
Brad: “When I first met Al and Chris, I thought we had great musical chemistry. After almost two years, our chemistry and musicianship has tripled and we are much more connected as a group. Now with Garrett being involved in the writing process, I’m really excited about the ideas we’re generating.”
Al: “My confidence level as far as writing music and my alcohol tolerance have both grown a lot.”
Garrett: “We’re getting pretty tight.”
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite Chicago venues to play? Any you haven’t done yet that you’d like to book?
Chicago has so many great venues like Shubas, The Empty Bottle, Double Door, and Bottom Lounge. We would love to book Lincoln Hall, Metro, and House of Blues and are excited to play Reggies on May 29th.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Chris: “Best was playing for labels such as BMG, Atlantic, and Sony. Worst was a gig at The Rave in Milwaukee when the sound tech was EQ-ing everything throughout our entire set; worst gig ever!!!”
Brad: “I love getting texts from people telling me they can’t get our songs out of their head. Worst experience was having multiple parts of my drumset fail mid-song.”
Al: “When I was in 1st grade, I saw a 5th grader play guitar at a talent show and for some reason the last chord he played stuck in my head. When I got home, I was able to find the chord on my dad’s guitar. I remember being really proud of myself for that. My worst experience was when I had a drummer show up five minutes before a show without learning any of the songs.”
Garrett: “Best moment is when the EP showed up on iTunes. I’ve been in many bands but I’m an iTunes virgin.”
Reviewisc: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Chris: “My Chemical Romance, AFI, and Green Day because they are really great influences.”
Brad: “Vanilla Fudge, Sublime, and The Get Up Kids are all bands that were ahead of their time and helped mold new genres and I would love to be a part of something like that.”
Al: “I’m picturing the marquee: I Can Hear Myself Levitate with specials guests Led Zepplin, Cream, and Blink 182!”
Reviewsic: What are three words you’d use to describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?
Chris: “Powerful, Chaotic, Unique.”
Brad: “Intelligent and progressive, but still catchy.”
Al: “Lawless, dynamic and voluptuous.”
Garrett: “Really, fucking, awesome.”
Reviewsic: If you were to put out an album of covers, what would be a few songs we’d find in the track listing?
Chris: “Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding,’ Men At Work’s ‘Who Can it Be Now,’ and ABC’s ‘Look of Love.’”
Brad: “I would definitely cover The Beatles’ ‘Come Together,’ and think it would funny to cover an chaotic August Burns Red song in a light, sort of Pop/Folk style.”
Al: “‘Hanger 18’ by Megadeath, and ‘Runnin (Dying to Live)’ by Tupac Shakur.”
Reviewsic: What are your plans for your music in the next year?
Chris: “Push our EP and work on an album. I’ve written all the lyrics already, just waiting for that sound to find them.”
Brad: “I want as many people as possible to hear our EP and rock out to it in their cars, on their iPod, etc. And I just want to continue making music that is exciting to play.”
Al: “I plan to make some mind-blowing, crazy shit… basically, I just want to push myself and the band to explore new sounds and reach new audiences.”
Garrett: “I’m an addict for the stage. I just want to play some shows.”
