What do 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner Doug Flutie, Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler, Star Trek's Spock and the band Aberdeen City have in common? They all went to Boston College. In fact, that is where the members of Aberdeen City met. The quartet just released their first full-length album The Freezing Atlantic.
Not knowing what to expect, I picked out definite similarities to Bloc Party and The Editors, to which Aberdeen City has been compared. The album was produced by Nic Hard, who also has produced albums for The Bravery. This might be part of the reason why The Freezing Atlantic feels like The Killers-meets-Hot Hot Heat but with more melancholy vocals. The band claims the lead vocals of Brad Parker are equal parts Scott Walker, Thom Yorke and David Bowie. I could definitely hear some resemblances to Yorke pre-OK Computer, but not David Bowie.
Driven by excellent beats and a lead singer who manages to steer clear of most pop clichés, Aberdeen City has put forth a promising first album. Usually, there is at least one song on every CD that makes my musical A.D.D. rear its head and sets my skip finger itching.
The Freezing Atlantic delivers with songs that -- while some stand out as far better than others -- are lyrically and musically strong. I especially like "God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me," with lyrics such as "God is going to get sick of me/And the accident/That takes the beat from my heart/Will look like my fault."
Even the less appealing, "Pretty Pet," which rubs me the wrong way, singing "Sometimes regret makes a great pet/You hit the target my pet regret/My pet my pet/My pretty pretty pet," is still easy to listen to because of the emotive instrumentals and Parker's soothing voice.
"The Arrival" is a different tempo from most of the songs on the album -- it's slower, with an acoustic feel. The lyrics are also more personal, "I gave until my anger/Gave you away/Can't do much like I used to/Can't do what I used to do/But I accept it."
Another one of Aberdeen City's more low-key songs is "In Combat," with lyrics such as, "I lost them all in combat/I sold them out/No one visiting/Is my punishment for/Backing out/Making sounds means making friends these days," which show a more lonely, introspective side compared to the generally upbeat album.
I still have trouble deciding what I think about the band's identity. Their Web site bios claim they were child geniuses. With members claiming they were prophesized to be the next great physicist, the creator of the "Ket-Chip" (think ketchup), an acting prodigy and a young spiritual guru.
I hope it's a joke. Even if it is, there is a fine line between being funny and sounding like jackasses. Overall, though, Aberdeen City has made a great first effort with The Freezing Atlantic. On their Web site, the boys say "the band's songwriting was informed by their propensity for experimenting as well as their love of pop music. [We] found that swirling guitars, driving beats and moody vocals could be quite memorable if used in just the right combination." These guys from Boston College seem to have found the combination for a great first album.
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