Artist: Queens Club
Genre: Rock/Dance
Label: Tooth and Nail Records
Release Date: March 23rd, 2010
If any genre has been beat like a dead horse over the past couple of years, its been dance rock. Most of the time the beating is done by someone wearing neon colored clothing and swinging a Mac Book Pro loaded with the best recording programs known to man while screaming at the rotting carcass with a voice drenched in autotune or distortion. Sometimes both.
The biggest problem I have with the genre is the lack of musicianship and, rather, the dependence on sound effects and electronic beats produced by said Mac Book. I don’t mind those things serving as enhancers to the music, but not as a foundation. It seems the rock part of the equation has been overshadowed by “beeps” and “boops.”
Last time I checked that was called eletronica. And even though it does take some talent to produce said music, it’s not rock and roll.
What happen to pure dance rock? The kind that would be played at a house party on a humid summer night? Or performed in a club while couples dance the night away?
Apparently it was hanging out with the most unlikely bunch of guys: The Chariot.
That’s right, dance rock was kicking back with members of a metal band. And when everything was said and done, it coerced guitarist Dan Eaton and drummer Jake Ryan to help in leading it’s own personal revival. The two decided to form Queens Club and help the genre reunite dance with rock and roll.
Queen’s Club attempt at the perfect reunion, titled Young Giant, may not have been a complete success, but the band took steps in the right direction to restore the genre to its rightful sound.
From the opening track, “Are We? Will We?,” the band does show this isn’t just a group leaning on recording software. The song has a great drum beat and dirty guitar riffs that firmly entrenches the group as a rock band first. The song does incorporate electronic effects, but not enough to overwhelm the rock foundation the band has built itself on.
The band continues to seamlessly blend rock and dance with success on most of Young Giant. “Issinair” and “Dust” brings back memories of Jonzetta’s Popularity as both songs are heavily draped in the pop/dance mold and could easily been the 12th and 13th additions to one of the best albums of the past decade.
“Family Ties” sounds like it should be on a Bravery album, while “Lydia” and “I’m American” brings a dirtiness and energy reminiscent of The Strokes and The Vines. Both influences are hard to ignore, but the band adds just enough of their personality to each track to keep it strictly influence and not a hijacking.
But the band does show some originality on Young Giant. “Cutt Me Off,” “An Apparition,” “Upstart” and “Less Talk” are all upbeat songs with good, catchy choruses. Each track really shows the band’s creativity as they blend indie rock with a dance/pop sensibility that’s enjoyable and a sound I hope the band does more of in the future.
The only song that truly puts dance over rock is the closing song, “Danger Kids.” With heavy use of synth, echo and other computer inspired effects, the track is a barrage of sound. But I found myself not minding it as much, as the band doesn’t switch to all out dance mode on the entire album (minus the beginning of “Dust”). I found myself actually liking the song due to the energy and pulsing beat it brings by blending so many effects in such a neat, nice package.
Even though the album is solid debut, lyrically it isn’t the greatest example of song writing. If you’re looking for something thought provoking while you dance, you’re listening to the wrong album. But I don’t think the band was trying to write the most lyrically genius album ever and instead opted to make a fun and simple record with no metaphors or deeper meetings firmly planted in each song. It’s not terrible song writing by any means (see Family' Force 5’s Dance or Die for an example of that), but I do hope on future releases they concentrate a bit more on the lyrical aspect of their music.
The musicianship on the album is above average and the overall flow of the album good. Eaton’s vocals (who also plays guitar on the album) are a true highlight, as he sings with a certain cool, dirty vocal style that exudes an attitude that dance rock should: laid back and fun. Ryan’s drumming isn’t anything ground breaking, but its solid. The same can be said for guitarist Andy Nichols and bassist Tyler Bottles’ performance. But the band sounds like they are enjoying themselves, which is worth more than a blistering, forced guitar solo any day.
If your looking for something that gives equal billing to both rock and dance, then Queens Club has crafted a 12-song debut I believe you would enjoy. The band still has room to grow and improve, but this is a great start that already sits them apart from the other mundane acts polluting the genre.
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Download This: “Cutt Me Off”; “An Apparition”; “Less Talk”; “Family Ties”; “I’m American”
