When Garbage took the indie scene by storm in 1995, a musical baton had seemingly been passed. The organic, distorted shock of grunge would now melt into a more melodic hue; a place where minimalist sensibility was jettisoned as yesterday's vogue to make way for a more colorful cast of faithful friends.
The three piece act became five or six again. And a previous decade's worth of electronic refinement would augment punk's latest chapter. At the iconic forefront, Shirley Manson, Garbage's Scottish front woman, oozed self-assured sexiness.
A face, a sound, and now a popular identity: indie electonic-rock was set. Or so we thought. Soon Gwen Steffani captured some of the furore, setting the genre into a tailspin of pop-based mediocrity. Garbage, despite a string of acclaimed releases, never recaptured its center-stage appeal.
However, a band from Atlanta may be writing a few decade-old wrongs. Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun capture some crucial essentials of indie electronic, but without the cheesy suffocation. An example: "Lightning Exhibit's" first song, "Autonomic," smacks of Garbage's swagger but without plageurized undertones.
What neatly refines it is a balance between beat-like use of guitar and keyboards. Singer Lauren commands tremendous presence to the mix. Her bubbly off-stage persona and admitted 'glass half-full' attitude, however, are at odds with the realism of unfulfilled expectations, which much of the EP's lyrics dwell upon. Another noteworthy sound element is its neat layering – presumably the work of painstaking, incisive and professional production.
While the EP was released in November, the public may become better acquainted with its six punchy tracks over the coming weeks. Winter shows are currently scheduled, with Atlanta set for December and January dates.
Should the band's reception match the potential of its EP, 2009, hopefully in spite of lingering economic gloom, could be a big year for one of Atlanta's rising acts.
Note: Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun play the Earl on Dec. 19 .
What other people are saying...
turbo111 from inman park - December 16, 2008 at 11:30 AM
great story. i whole-heartedly agree.....these guys are a national act waiting to be signed:)
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