Open (EP) (CD) ~ Channels (Artist) Cover Art

Open (EP) (CD)

By: Channels (Artist)

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Product Description

Track Listing

DISC 1 for Open (EP) (CD) Album By Channels (Artist)
1   Disconnection Day  
2   Story Time (In the Street of Spies)  
3   Chivaree  
4   Fear Is a Man's Best Friend  
5   To Mt. Wilson From the Magpie Cage  
6   Win Instantly  
 

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Review

CMJ (p.6) - "[S]traight-ahead inside, with a dash of space rock..."

Title Note

Personnel: Channels (vocals); J. Robbins (vocals, guitar, recorder); Janet Morgan (vocals); Darren Zentek (drums, percussion).

For the better part of the '90s J. Robbins and Bill Barbot served as the dueling lead singer/guitarists for hyper-intellectual post-punk outfit Jawbox. That influential D.C. outfit rode the ups and downs of the industry, causing a stir in the underground when they left the revered ranks of Dischord for the corporate clutches of Atlantic. Folding after two exceptionally solid, if underexposed, major-label efforts, Robbins and Barbot resumed their tag-team approach in the less fierce but still mildly math rock-tinged Burning Airlines. Releasing only two albums, Burning Airlines retired their wings, leaving Barbot to concentrate on running DeSoto Records with his wife, former Jawbox bassist Kim Coletta. Robbins built a strong name for himself as a producer, working with outfits like the Promise Ring, and continued to make music, this time with a band called Channels. Channels issued their debut EP, Open, for DeSoto in 2004. The album shows flashes of the intricately interwoven musical lines and sharp lyrics that made singer/guitarist J. Robbins' past work with Jawbox -- and sometimes Burning Airlines -- so exciting. Unfortunately, Open often sounds as though the typically high-octane Robbins is half-hearted in his playing and delivery. Perhaps this apparent lack of verve is due to the absence of his musical sparring partner Barbot. Robbins' counterpoint this time around is bassist/co-vocalist/wife Janet Morgan, who adds pretty, droning Stereolab-esque vocals to tracks such as "Win Instantly." Like Robbins, she sounds almost robotic at this point, with Channels' first effort offering little in the way of emotion or intensity. It's not a bad effort, but unfortunately for Robbins, it just isn't Jawbox and, like it or not, that's probably what fans are hoping for each time they pick up one of his records. After another album or two by Channels and perhaps Robbins will be able to really take charge of his new direction and move fans past the feeling that the songs are just lesser Jawbox knockoffs. ~ Karen E. Graves

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