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Undercurrent Magazine Pasadena review
| Pasadena | ||
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| Studio album by Ozma | ||
| Released | May 11, 2007 | |
| Recorded | 2005 - 2007 | |
| Genre | Indie pop Geek rock Power pop |
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| Length | 36:51 | |
| Label | About A Girl Records | |
| Pasadena Reviewer: Unknown (Undercurrent Magazine) Publishing date: February 29, 2008 |
Rating: Positive |
Ozma is often compared to Weezer because of their similiar power-pop indie-rock musical styles. Ozma's current release, Pasadena, gets support from Nada Surf's frontman Matthew Caws and Rachel Haden of That Dog and The Rentals who both dropped in for cameo performances, yet carves out the band's own path across L.A.'s musical landscape.
Album opener "No One Needs to Know" is very pop-rock. The band surprises listeners with a mid-section that gets a little bit more adventurous musically by mixing sashaying lounge drums, with a moseying guitar two note side-step and a Hitchcockesque element of surprise and intrigue via flute. "Lunchbreak (Cobras Theme)" is an up-beat, fun arrangement with echo affected vocals in the beginning that speed-warp the mind back to the days of talent shows in high school auditoriums. Heavy keyboards give a very progressive, electro-rock feel to the track. "Motorology 3:39" starts out heavy on beats and record-scratching that gives way to strong guitars under cascading vocals make the song a solid, power pop-rock ballad the band is known for creating.
"Heartache vs Heartbreak" is the stand-out track on Pasadena. Co-vocals from keyboardist Star Wick bring a sweetness and innocence to the track which hooks the listener immediately. Bringing in drums and a slightly, electro-rock feel to the song melds the song into a dynamic ballad. Once again capitalizing on the mid-section of a track, Ozma uses sound-bytes of an Atari-style video game. The use of the sound-bytes seems fitting as the chorus "And we almost believed it was love/ Yeah, we nearly perceived it as love/ You know I would have sworn it was love" tells us that in hindsight the relationship feels to have been nothing more than a game.
Despite the comparisons endured throughout their musical career it's easy to see how Ozma uses their musical influences of Power Pop, Indie Rock, Electronica among others to create a sound that hints at those who've come before them but pave the way of their own new breed of sound. (About A Girl Records / Reincarnate Music)
See also
