Sometimes it's hard for bands whose debut album was well-received to break the sophomore jinx, in that the second project fails to top the first. Well, Silage doesn't have to worry about that. Though different stylistically, their latest album, Vegas Car Chasers, is impressive and shows that this little band has grown leaps and bounds since first breaking into the scene. I was immediately wowed by the funky rhythms, chunky guitars, and stunning vocal work with the laid-back attitude; it's so good that I don't miss the "ska-influenced power-pop" of their first project, Watusi, one bit. Silage is poised and ready to take over a whole new set of fans, and they've got the punch, power, and talent to do it.
Silage debuted with Watusi at the crest of ska popularity, but they seemed to only be borrowing the sound at the time. They went into the studio with Todd Collins of the Gotee Brothers, and came out smacking of hip-hop and rock all over Vegas Car Chasers, which can at times be reminiscent of Reality Check, but at other times pretty original. The guitars are strong and play all over with a cool, funky vibe that ranges from the aggressive ("Original") to the mellow ("Vegas Car Chasers"). Beneath the guitars, vocals, and drums is a thin layer of programming, courtesy of Collins, and turntables from DJ Form, which serve to make the rhythm thicker and more noticeable, as well as pushing the rock over into hip-hop. Accordingly, most of the songs are written in a rhyming pattern that's not quite rap, but close enough, proving that the hip-hop influence is no accident.
One of the most impressive things about Vegas Car Chasers is the vocals: Lance and Shane Black and Damian Horne get together on very nicely layered harmonies and vocal blends. Outstanding examples are "Original" and "Yo Tengo," though you can find cool vocal work on just about every track. They carry off the rhymes expertly, never sounding forced or fake. The songs switch between rock and hip-hop without missing a beat, creating something truly different and very good. Also worth noting is the appearance of Knowdaverbs (G.R.I.T.S.) on "Verb" for some real rapping. Where else can you get rap, retro, and rock on one album and believe it really comes from the same band?
Of course, in playing with hip-hop rhythms, the songs are written so that the lyrics fit into a particular rapped pattern, and Silage does it well. All the songs were co-written with industry veteran Chuck Cummings, who spent some time with Uthanda and Dakoda Motor Co. (Cummings, by the way, also does all the drums on the album). You've got to wonder, then, how he got the hip-hop into his soul? Masterful rhymes and wordplay fit into the music, with repetition and easy framing, as in "Billboards:"
If one of us should stumble, We'll hide in undercover. 'Cause we can't have trouble, When we're living in the bubble.
At a quick glance you might not be sure what the band is trying to say, especially with titles like "Great Alaskan Ninja" and "Beatnik." The general theme running through Vegas Car Chasers is that there's a lot of useless things in the world trying to distract us, but strip it all away and somewhere, down there, is God. Silage simply writes about life from a Christian point of view without trying to force in a lot of Christian cliché and message. They talk about their own music, saying, "I want to give it to you 'cause it's the Truth" ("Beatnik"), and commit the band, relationships, and self to God's service in "Walks & Strolls." And of course, you have to have a happy love song, so you've got "Yo Tengo." Don't try to dig too deep for meaning, because it's often sitting right there on top if you have ears to hear it.
Overall, I consider Vegas Car Chasers not only a huge step up from Watusi; it's also one of the best rock projects to come out this year. If you liked Silage because you thought they were ska, you might be disappointed, but anyone who's ready for something fresh and cool ought to love this album. It's extremely well done and creative, and could propel Silage well into the forefront of the rock scene.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #74Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovern"This hasn't been done before!" So states the first track, "Original," a poke at the whole originality debate that, depending on your viewpoint, plagues the Christian market. While the band's early work were all about ska-influenced rock, this record has less ska, more rap, and it's all rock & roll to me. A lot of the rap comes across similarly to bands like 311, and all amid bass lines that are…ReAL Magazine 1998Reviewed by Doug E.I was a bit skeptical when I discovered I was to review Silage, as I was not impressed to supersonic joy with their debut album, Watusi. It was comical at first, but many of their songs were out-right repetitive at times. Even starting with a bad bias, Silage's sophomore release, Vegas Car Chasers, blew my mind. You need to run, not walk, to your nearest music store, and buy multiple copies to…Similar sounding releases
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