Strange Occurrence is a new band out of Seattle whose debut, Another Day To Start Again, contains some excellent straight-up rock. The band makes use of a strong sense of melody, without sacrificing the gritty vocals and guitars that will endear them to the rock crowd.
On first listen, Strange Occurrence grabs your attention with a couple of radio-ready rockers, "Reach" and "Runaway." The latter features some deft guitar work and a chorus that slams a hook down your throat--but in a good way. Upon future spins, the songs take on personalities of their own, from the driving rock of "Mask Me" and "Dark Matter" to the still-electric but slowed-down grooves on "Fear" and "Inside," which opens softly and builds to a driving climax. In keeping with the album's tone, even the few ballads have bursts of guitar grit once in a while. The album is only marred by the pale end of "Prisoner," which goes on and on with no payoff, and the last song is an acoustic version of "Sunshine" that serves only as filler and clashes with the rest of the album.
Their press materials compare Strange Occurrence to both Pearl Jam and The Calling, among others, and that's pretty accurate. They don't fall into the rap-rock cliché and aren't afraid to temper their sound for the youth-group crowd. Another Day To Start Again is simply well-played, refreshingly soulful rock that will be in my CD player for quite a while.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Mike RimmerThey were voted one of the top 25 unsigned bands in 7ball magazine in 2001. But not anymore since the band have signed with the small indie label Steelroots Records. From Charlotte, North Carolina, Strange Occurrence have released their debut label album with a view to securing mainstream and Christian market interest in the band's music. And so far so good! The opening salvo of "Sunrise" and the…
