The Firebird Band - The Drive - Cargo

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

The Drive, the latest EP from The Firebird Band, picks up right where The Setting Sun and Its Satellites left off. The songs are dark and dancy and they remind me of records from my past like Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine and bands of yesterday like The Cure. The Firebird Band is making modern day new wave music with an Indie/Emo twist. I still stand by my theory that front man Chris Broach must have been the lone ex-new waver in Braid.

Let's skip right to the good part: "The Drive", no wonder they named the CD after this song. This little gem lies nestled between two of the CDs sleepier more lack luster tracks. "The Drive" is upbeat, catchy and in my case addictive. "San Francisco California" is chanted over and over and gets stuck in your head. Jangly chime like guitars, drum machines, and an incessant tambourine - I have to hear this one once a day or I start to go through withdrawals.

Oh why can't the other 4 songs be like this one? They are not bad songs, just next to "The Drive" they pale in comparison. "The Runway" takes the title of first runner up. More drum machines and random ambient sounds start things off, but half way through some really nice Sea and Cake like guitar work kicks in with some understated vocals on top. The song almost has a jazzy feel.

That leaves three songs on the EP and "Summertime Boyfriend" is the one worth mentioning. The song mostly consists of monotone spoken words over drum machines. The best part about it is that is bleeds right into "The Drive" without even a pause, almost to the point of where you think the first track is just an extended intro to the next song.

I think of The Firebird Band like the character Mike Newhouse in the movie Dazed and Confused. The one who from the backseat of his friend's car exclaimed "I just wanna dance". The Firebird Bird Band's talent lies in making perky Indie rock dance music. They should drop the down trodden numbers and come to terms with their inner rump shakers. If The Firebird Band could make a CD full of songs like "The Drive", world domination could be theirs.

Read an interview with The Firebird Band here.

Read a Review of The Firebird Band's The Setting Sun and Its Satellites here.