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You are going to be rocked to your core by some killer music.
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maybe it’s the combination of that odd name with the wacky artwork that initially helped them draw i...maybe it’s the combination of that odd name with the wacky artwork that initially helped them draw in an audience ~ something they’ve certainly been doing in spades. But it’s the fact that these four guys blaze forth with a sense of rock that hearkens back to the days when combining genres was fresh and exciting that means when you pop in that CD, you are going to be rocked to your core by some killer music.
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The Cringe Plaything
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Right away from the front cover of this CD you see a band of creepy-looking monkey dolls that will j...Right away from the front cover of this CD you see a band of creepy-looking monkey dolls that will just freak you out. I already sense from the art work that this group is going to play against the grain and who knows may even make you cringe in the process. One thing is for certain and that is that The Cringe perform to the tune of no-nonsense monkey business and Play Thing is no laughing matter.
The Cringe is based in NYC and their power-packed sound definitely lives up to stature of the Big Apple. With plenty of musical background, all four members bring an overload of experience to this project. The lineup consists of: John Cusimano as lead singer/songwriter & producer, James Rotondi (ex-Air, Mr. Bungle) on lead guitar, Jonny Matias (ex-Crash Moderns) on bass and Shawn Pelton (SNL, Bruce Springsteen) bangin’ on the drums. Dating back to 2004, The Cringe have recorded two previous albums called Scratch The Surface and Tipping Point. Play Thing is the third installment for this NYC bunch and it may possibly be their best work to date. This record will more than live up to the hype of being a high quality, well-produced/performed/written album.
The Cringe come with a power rock sound that includes elements of punk, pop and hard rock. There are revved up moments of angst and aggression that are aimed at our society and its beliefs & principles. I’m hearing definite pokes toward universal conformity as The Cringe take jabs left and right at our hierarchy. They bring you socially conscious music to really listen close to and hear the truth.
As soon as you push play, you hear raw energy that is locked & loaded and ready to go on “Ride”. This adrenaline-rushed track is some ride! What I truly enjoyed about this record were the rocked out performances and the incredible lyrics. There were also some wonderful harmonies and catchy melodies that grab your attention right away. John Cusimano’s songwriting ability shines through loud and clear on Play Thing. Cusimano really blew me away just by his words he sang out. A great message is included on track three, “In The End (We Are All The Same)”, where John expresses in so many words that no matter what happens down here on Earth, we are all the same in the end. He even dares people to think about this concept when he sings the line: “Food for thought; it’s all in your brain”. Song five, “No Control”, really makes you stop and think due to the heavy emphasis on the words “No Control”. He vocalizes about the “pills you take” and “the words you bend” that there is no self control these days. In a sense, Cusimano is calling us out as a PEOPLE, which I think is so direct & powerful. One other song that offers phenomenal lyrics was “Start Again” that gets very personal. John sings that “I hope that it’s not too late” and that “it’s fear that brings you down”. He’s saying it’s never too late to start again, but you can’t be afraid to try. In the end, you always have to hang on to hope no matter what. The Cringe turn it up a notch on “Friends & Family” with a heavy, in-your-face jam and end all matters on a rock solid note with “Give and Take”.
I am now a fan of this band as they have a lot to say and sound great doing it. Don’t hesitate to hear this group for yourself because they offer an amazing set. If nothing else, these musicians are helping bring awareness to public issues and problems that face US each and every day. For more on this talented crew from New York and their meaningful new release, Play Thing, SKOPE out www.thecringe.com.
By Jimmy Rae
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The Cringe - Tipping Point - Review by allMusic
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Throughout the first half of 2007, this explosive N.Y. based band's lead singer, guitarist and domin...Throughout the first half of 2007, this explosive N.Y. based band's lead singer, guitarist and dominant songwriter John Cusimano became a tabloid staple for all the wrong reasons: as the husband of Food Network icon Rachael Ray, involved in a swirl of rumors about their marriage. In a perfect world, he and his three Cringe cohorts -- lead guitarist Robb Levin, bassist Matt Powers and drummer Shawn Pelton -- deserved mainstream exposure for being the current decade's answer to the Foo Fighters, not for the travails of their personal lives. Cusimano's infectious and insightful songwriting is the foundation for the band's dynamic mix of artful, harmonic power pop and raw aggressive punk garage band energy. While Tipping Point, their second disc, has the perfect mix of blistering energy and thoughtful contemplation for these troubled times -- a dichotomy perfectly captured on key tracks like the brooding anti-war anthem "Freedom Ban" and the wild, spirited punk party jam "Undone" -- the Cringe was also committed to the old-school truth of analog recording here. Having played with the likes of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, Pelton felt right at home, as he put it, "going back to '78." The idea wasn't simply to go retro for retro's sake, however -- it was to convey the raw fire of the band's live shows, which they do perfectly on crisp, blistering rockers like "Coming Home" and "Fade Out." The Cringe is equally compelling on moodier tunes like the painfully emotional "Patient Man" (which finds Cusimano in a wistful, Eddie Vedder-inspired mode) and the heartbreaking "Chosen One." They're also cool with tongue in cheek social commentary on another instant classic, the scorching and punkish "California," which includes some of Cusimano's vocals filtered through a megaphone as it tackles the dual reality of "farms and vineyards/with your whores and sinners." But even these New Yorkers realize that they "just can't escape you." Like all great rock bands, the Cringe were chroniclers of their times, mixing darkness in with the light, and inspiring us to feel energized during the wild trip through the jungle of emotions.
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CD Review at www.evolvingartist.com for The Cringe -- Scratch the Surface
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Review Links:
http://www.evolvingartist.com/View_CDReview.aspx?ID=223
http://blogcritics.org/a...Review Links:
http://www.evolvingartist.com/View_CDReview.aspx?ID=223
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/14/202131.php
Artist: The Cringe
Title: Scratch The Surface
Genre: Rock-Alternative
Label: Listen Records
Website: http://www.thecringeband.com/
The Cringe sounds like The Smithereens meets Metallica, which would be an authoritative and heady combination in my estimation. They take the nod from classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin (who doesn’t?) but they have a biting alternative rock sound that is their very own. This band really cooks right along on their new album Scratch The Surface.
The opening track “Another Day” is pure dynamite; it explodes and demands your attention, which is a good setup for the rest of the CD. Tracks like “Burn” and “Blood” are spelled out very matter-of-factly and the lyrics don’t beat around the bush either.
John Cusimano has a great rock voice and Rob Levin plays one mean six-string, the only problem is Cusimano’s great pipes do not receive their due; they seem understated, almost toned down by the awesome force of the music. If the mix brought out his voice more to the front of their sound, which is fantastic mind you, this would be a five star recording. That is my observation, other than that this is a good album that should find plenty of eager listeners, I certainly found myself reaching for this CD quite a few times.
Rockin’ tunes from a band that is reaching for the stars, you can’t ask for much more than that. They play their asses off on this album and I really appreciated every track. Keep rockin’ dudes you really have something there, you are just scratching the surface of something big.
Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
Vision Music USA, LLC
PO Box 650
Canton/MA/USA/02021
P: 877-269-4189
E: keith@visionmusicusa.net
W: http://www.visionmusicusa.com/
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CD reviews: The Cringe; Rabbit in the Moon
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The Cringe, "Tipping Point" (Listen Records)
This 3-year-old New York City quartet is led by John...The Cringe, "Tipping Point" (Listen Records)
This 3-year-old New York City quartet is led by John Cusimano, aka Mr. Rachael Ray. And like his cooking guru dynamo, he was involved in all aspects of this project: He wrote all the songs and produced his band's sophomore effort. A lawyer by trade, Cusimano is the group's singer and guitarist.
This is straight-forward rock that deals with politics ("Someday"; "In God We Trust") and emotions (the bad relationship gone badder of "Blame"). It has a '70s rock vibe to it — cowbell(!) on the rocker "Coming Home" — possibly because the album was recorded live to and mixed on analog tape without use of computers or digital effects.
Standout tracks include the pop-punkish rat-race tale "Undone"; "California," a love/hate letter to the Sunshine State with the chorus sung through a megaphone; and the anti-war diatribe "Freedom Ban," an MOR rocker that gets epic/anthemic heft with the addition of keyboards.
Cusimano has a pleasant enough voice and vocal style that sounds like Maroon 5's Adam Levine ("Patient Man") or Train's Pat Monahan ("And Then I'm Gone"), especially on the ballads and slow jams.
Rabbit in the Moon, "Decade" (South Beat Records)
Rabbit in the Moon is a Miami dance music collective, led by main instigators Bunny on vocals and performance art, and knob-twiddler David Christophere on samplers and beats.
As the name of the disc implies, this is a 10-year CD/DVD retrospective featuring previously unreleased and remastered songs, as well as music and live performance videos. They deal in techno, electronic dance music that's ambient, rave-ish and repetitive with endless beats. When there are vocals, they are disembodied, or snippets or outtakes from some B-movie.
And true to rave/DJ prowess, the CD seems like one long song as it segues from one to the next. It begins with the ambient techno of "Timebomb" (sex through electronics) and ends with the trancelike "Out Of Body Experience."
The industrial "Alphatron" sounds even more futuristic, if that's possible, thanks to an otherworldly, operatic female voice singing an aria. It flows into the funky electronic beat of "Omegatron." A slap beat accentuates the electro rhythms of "Metropolis," while "Star Shine (Come Alive)" is fueled by a skittish rhythm and disco beats.
If you're not a raver or techno aficionado, you might recognize David Bowie's "Let's Dance." However, it's a deconstructed and dementedly funky electro version, where the lyrics become menacing threats.
An RITM show features live instruments and a cast of rotating performers, as well as costuming (Bunny in his LED suit-of-lights), fire dancers, pyrotechnics and interactive video. Bunny is also known to put on his iron mask and shoot sparks off it with a hand grinder.
Rabbit in the Moon performs on Aug. 10 and The Cringe performs on Aug. 11 at the Santa Fe Muzik Fest at the Downs of Santa Fe, 27475 W. Frontage Road, just off I-25 in the City Different.
Other featured performers during the three-day festival include RDB, Blue October, George Clinton & P-Funk, Shiny Toy Guns, Wu Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Dark Star Orchestra, Blues Traveler and Everclear.
Tickets are $59 for one day, $105 for two days or $135 for all three, plus service charges, at In Ticketing and Ticketmaster outlets. Call 883-7800 or go to Ticketmaster. For more info, daily lineups and set times, go to Santa Fe Muzik Fest.
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On That Note
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I didn’t think I would like it. I stared at “Tipping Point,” the second album by The Cringe. I c...
I didn’t think I would like it. I stared at “Tipping Point,” the second album by The Cringe. I couldn’t help but think the only reason the disc was being pushed by a high-powered PR firm was due to band leader John Cusimano’s better half, ubiquitous foodie Rachael Ray.
Could Cusimano have anything to offer? There’s a long list of would-be rockers who found 15 minutes of fame thanks to connections to a noteworthy performer. Whatever happened to vocalist Jodi Bongiovi, Philadelphia Soul CEO Jon Bon Jovi’s cousin? Or singer-songwriter Simon Townshend, son of the legendary Pete Townshend?
But when I finally listened to “Tipping Point,” I had to admit, it’s good. I’m impressed.
The Cringe is a pretty apt name for Cusimano’s band. The lawyer/rocker can’t help but cringe when asked about being overshadowed by his perky wife and the rumors their union is shaky.
“The craziest thing is hearing these stories that aren’t true,” Cusimano said of tales he is cheating on Ray. “It’s really annoying. That stuff has really thrown us for a loop. What can you say about it? It’s just not accurate. But I guess that’s the hazards of this industry. As for Racheal being so successful, I have no problem that she’s such a big star. She’s earned it. It doesn’t get in the way of what I do.”
Actually, it helps. There’s little doubt folks who haven’t heard a note of The Cringe’s earnest, straightforward rock will check out the band when it performs July 19 at Grape Street in Manayunk since Cusimano is a celebrity by association.
“I’m just like anybody else,” Cusimano said while calling from his Greenwich Village apartment. “I want as many people as possible to hear my band. Getting people to a show is one thing. Having them stay interested after they hear it is a completely different deal. It reminds me of when I met Rachael. I told her I was in a band and she came down to check us out. She later told me what went through her mind, which was, ‘great, I have to pretend to like this guy’s band.’ But there she was hooting and hollering at our show and she came up and said, ‘hey, you guys are really good.’”
The Cringe’s newest drop is a balanced, consistent mix of catchy power pop and visceral hard rock. Cusimano proves a capable singer who also is a fine storyteller. Ray is on the money. The Cringe, which includes guitarist Rob Levin, bassist Matt Powers and drummer Shawn Pelton, is a solid, dynamic act.
“Tipping Point” is a warm, retro-sounding album that has a 1970s feel since it was recorded in analog and the band chose to use vintage gear.
“We wanted to do it just like it was done back in the day,” Cusimano said. “We didn’t use any computers. We didn’t even think about using ProTools. We didn’t want it to sound perfect. We wanted it to sound like it is when we play live.”
Cusimano and company have yet to perform in Philadelphia, with the Manayunk date a first. “How can we make sure they love us there?” Cusimano asked.
How about making one of Ray’s ‘delish’ dishes that can be made in less than 30 minutes for the crowd? “I can cook,” Cusimano said. “I serve as sous chef at home when Rachael cooks. We just got back from Peru and my parents were over last night and we made them Peruvian chicken. There are two ways to get to people, through music and food, and I can do both.”
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The Cringe – Tipping Point / 2007 Self / 12 Tracks
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While I am always leery of those bands that eschew new, better ways of recording, I still try to giv...While I am always leery of those bands that eschew new, better ways of recording, I still try to give the bands the benefit of the doubt. The Cringe use all analogue recording for “Tipping Point”, and “California” is the first track that most individuals will be familiar with when they first hear The Cringe. The track is a noisy type of rock that has hints of Blur, Goo Goo Dolls, Queens of the Stone Age, and even hints of the MC5.
The one thing that comes forth first on this disc is that the band buries their levels at points, making it a little difficult to hear the rest of the instruments at those points. The confidence exerted by the band on tracks like “California” is without criticism; The Cringe know what they are doing and do not need to be accepted to go forward with it. In fact, the use of all analogue recording does not provide any fundamental difference that I can hear to acts that decide to go digital. Regardless, The Cringe play a style of music that while played by a few different bands, is distinct to the band. “And Then I’m Gone” is a track that adds a little Elton John and Adam Duritz to the mix, with the arrangements being simple until the band gets into the lead-up to the chorus. The band is able to make a single-worthy track with “And Then I’m Gone”. The fact that the band changes up their output during the chorus (in opposition to the stanzas) shows their ability as musicians and their maturity as a band.
The Cringe provide two very different conceptions to their sound with these two tracks, which should be one of the best reasons for individuals to pick up this album; people just do not know what they are going to get besides knowing that what they are going to get is good. “In God We Trust” brings the band into a harder rock style, with the arrangement of the guitars almost approaching the intensity of bands like Bad Religion. The style is still catchy, and while tremendously influenced by the popular rock of the early nineties, is something that is in the here and now for anyone that may be listening in. The Cringe is an act that comes out of nowhere to impress and wow; when the album gets more in the way of play in the following months, chances are good that they will rocket up the CMJ charts.
Top Tracks: Chosen One, Freedom Ban
Rating: 7.0/10
supersonic
