Oregon's Wake Robin (http://www.wakerobinmusic.com) occupy the gap between '90s alternative rock and today's indie scene, carrying the moody, guitar-drenched fingerprints of the former with the folksy, country quirks of the latter. The result is a hybrid record, a mix of various elements that would've sounded forced if the group didn't know how to jam so well with each other.
Singer/guitarist Brody Lowe aims for the vocal drama of Eddie Vedder without falling into histrionics; he is nicely disciplined, providing strong emotions without going overboard. At times he recalls Ed Kowalczyk of Live, especially on "Black and White" and "Bastard" (namely after it picks up steam). However, Wake Robin's songs aren't as anthemic as Live's. That's not to say that they're inferior; on the contrary, Wake Robin's ability to reign in the angst is a quality that Live never had. The tribal rhythms of "Black and White" and the brooding atmospherics of "Bastard" make Wake Robin the more challenging outfit.
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Wake Robin strikes me as a band that is driven more by feel than a need to be technically complex. The mellow swaying beat and pulsating bass lines of "Staring at the Stars" is all about vibe; you find yourself locked in its spellbinding groove. "Light Headed" is elevated by dreamy riffs while "Caught You in a Lie" gives the group the opportunity to explode, generating fireworks with this thrillingly venomous rocker. However, don't make the mistake of lumping Wake Robin in with all of the post-grunge acts polluting the airwaves these days. The band may have some stylistic roots in the '90s but they're following a path all their own, whether its adding trumpets to the mix on "Some People" or squeezing in bluesy soloing on "West Coast Postman."
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