The Rocket Summer, incredulously, is just one person: Bryce Avary, a 26 year old multi-instrumentalist and musical prodigy from Dallas, Texas. The name of his band was inspired by the Ray Bradbury story, "The Martian Chronicles." Bryce's sound is a mix of power pop, emo, piano pop, and alt rock.
While The Rocket Summer's sound has increasingly zeroed in on the tragically fashionable "emo" sound, Bryce's musical origins are definitely piano-heavy power pop. He credits Superchunk and a lot of indie rock as inspiration while growing up. His first album, "Calendar Days," was snapped up by The Militia Group, with whom he released one additional record before jumping to the majors.
On his album from 2007, "Do You Feel," Avary sings, plays bass, guitar, harmonica, drums, and a smattering of keys including organ, moog, wurlitzer, and piano. With all of those credits going to Bryce, there was "only" room enough on the disc to include the horn section from Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life", and a surprise credit of Patrick Warren on Chamberlin (keyboard,) a highly established session musician originally known for his work with Michael Penn.
Favorite tracks: 2. So Much Love, 1. Break It Out, 5. All I Have, 3. Do You Feel
Label: Island Def Jam
RIYL: Copeland, Ben Folds, Weezer
Three and a half stars.
myspace, official site, wikipedia, AMG
Amazon: album
Rhapsody
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