"Guest Review' From Matt's Rock Invasion- Jared Mancuso- Hype!
(Note: This is a review from my other blog, featuring bands/artists of a more rockier variety "Matt's Rock Invasion: http://mattsrockinvasion.blogspot.com/2018/07/review-hype-by-jared-mancuso.html. I figured it was time to cleanse the palate with something a bit less metal but with high quality nevertheless)
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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