At first blush, Hyperdrive struck me as a little Third Day-ish, with more southern-fried rock from Georgia. The truth is there is more to this band than meets the ear. For instance, track 3 "There's a Man" has a sound my Dad would call "changa-langa", and there is enough variety to keep the listener interested through the whole disc. Building the Buzz features hot production, helmed by veteran David Huff (Amy Grant, dc Talk), who adds some David & the Giants flavor to an already musically professional, lyrically polished, well-produced indie band.
This band is all about good music. Track 5 "Little Green Man" sounds like Skillet meets Steven Curtis Chapman on his tune "The Dance," and sports edgy guitars and pounding drum loops. Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer appears on "Whisper to Me" with her trademark--light, airy vocals that drip with meaning and sincerity like a flower after a rain shower. It is a radio-friendly track that tones the edge down in favor of a string section and acoustic instruments and is one of the highlights of the album.
On "Land of Hum" a didgeridoo makes its appearance during the intro, conjuring up sonic images of Survivor II or Tribal Trance, but then makes way for a beat as big as a house and crunchy guitars on a driving rock tune. If you've never heard a heavy rock song with didgeridoo accents in the background, you've got to hear it to believe it.
The CD moves from one highlight to another and Hyperdrive lives up to its name. Joey Garvey's lead vocals fit the style nicely whether on acoustic ballads like "Bring Me Home" or on harder fare such as the opener "Superhero." Backing Garvey, who doubles on guitar, are Chuck Bell (keys), Chris "Stick" Andrews (bass), Jesse Hardin (guitar), and Gary Teal, Jr (drums). Everyone but the drummer provides background vocals, which range from standard "oohs" and "ahhs" to tight four-part harmonies with Garvey.
"Sorry" goes a different direction musically, taking a path down Peter Gunn's road to the sixties while keeping a foot in the electric present. Vickie Hampton on background vocals sounds like Tata Vega on early Russ Taff albums, soaring through the ceiling on the creative rock tune.
Overall, Building the Buzz is quite an extraordinary debut for an independent band. With backing from executive producer Dino Elefante, Hyperdrive creates a high-quality recording with a well-rounded sound and a high level of excitement throughout.
4 tocks
