Gwenmars - Driving a Million - SeeThru Broadcasting

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

I can't quite decide how I feel about Gwenmars. I don't hate them or find them aversive, but they are not really catchy enough to keep my attention either. They are one of those just kind of there bands, and believe me I have listened to this record numerous times trying to better firm up my position. Maybe it is that their sound is a tad dated which works for and against them.

I haven't heard guitar distortion quite like this since Medicine's Buried Life record. "Radio Gun" could have fit right in on college radio in the early 90's. Hey, I liked college radio music in the 90's, this isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, rather than sounding retro-revival Gwenmars ends up sounding like they missed the boat a few years back. Maybe enough time has not elapsed.

At times their synth-pop comes across with a more updated feel, which I tend to like better. Take for example "Venus" and "Neon Tom". This trio of boys are big fans of their distortion pedals and like their grooves thick and fuzzed out. More comparisons: The Flaming Lips and even label mates The Starlight Mints. However, I like Gwenmars better than both.

Things also work to Gwenmars advantage when they slow things down a notch or two. "She Hung the Moon" is a nice little electro-indie ballad. "The Race" ends the album, again highlighting the bands new wavey influences. For a kid from Alabama, that lead singer sure does sound like a lad from London. Or maybe it is just the music begging for an English accent.

Driving a Million, will not be getting sold back to the record store. I am not promising it will be given heavy rotation at my house, but it is a keeper either way. These guys have come a long way from their previous releases and at the rate they are going their next record should be awesome and I want to keep this one to document their journey.

Read where Gwenmars got their name from here.