Atomsmasher

Rock doesn't necessarily have to abandon catchy lyrics and other qualities while maintaining its rock posture. "Up & Atom" is hard enough to make you appreciate it but not too hard that you can't understand whether the band wants you to pay attention to the music or to the lyrics.
Atomsmasher recalls a time not so long ago before when rock was the thing and it didn't make a difference what was special or what kind of "look" you had. This isn't angry anthem music either. Its full lyrical quips along with moderate rock spurs your imagination and drives you along effortlessly. Great!
Grade A- - Music Scene

Atomsmasher serves up raucous rock-and-roll fun with a kind of Elvis Costello-meets-Buffalo Springfield sound that gets under your skin. Only eight tracks long, the CD will make you wish there was more of this infectious rock to enjoy. Three Stars. - Music Paper - RGP

Immensely creative songwriting and unique blend of instrumentation intermingle with frontman Edward Marshall's captivating vocals. I get the feeling I'm listening to something groundbreaking... this underground NY band is going places the likes of which no god has ever seen. - Impact Press

A brilliantly written & performed album from a New York band whose name rings bells for me, so perhaps their reputation precedes them as well it should with music like this. The band's style rings of many different influences, from Julian Cope, which the band themselves mention alongside some others but one other that came to mind for me was Elvis Costello, whose more aggressive moments could easily fit into Atomsmasher's own style.
One of the things you'll notice about this album as you go from start to finish, is the many different styles the band go through, from the outright traditional style rock of opener "Sick", through to a heavily keyboard driven closing track called "5 Day Weekend".
A couple of very different tracks also stuck for me as big favourites, with probably about 5 plays each, trying to pick which is the better song. In the end, I bad to leave it that they were as good as each other, one being the softer & slightly eclectic "Foreign Dime" & the other an absolutely scorching guitar number called "Jealousy", which I was surprised to read in the liner notes is one of the band's songs from back in 1995. The band's bio quite rightly states that they're set to break it internationally they just could be right. - Heard Magazine International Releases

Atomsmasher have mastered the subtle task of integrating rock into the pop beast. Although their ditties are more infectious than Ebola, what grabs you by the cajones, is the emotion and energy that drives these songs. These are songs which never skip a beat getting to the point, and never miss a step in getting to the meaning. "The Foreign Dime", a masterstroke of melancholy, says to a band like REM "Start the bus," to which REM replies, "Start the bus?" To which Atomsmasher finishes, "Yeah, start the bus because we are taking you to school!" This quartet from Harrison NY better remember the small people.
4 Stars. - Juice Magazine - Sockboy

This is somewhere between an EP and a full-length. The eight songs on here are pure modern rock, and would fit in right along with any of the hits currently playing on MTV. The only question is why this isn't? From the catchy chorus of 'Sick' to my personal favorite, 'Maybe', Atomsmasher deliver the goods. The sort of slower and more melodic song, 'The Foreign Dime', is pretty good too. The only problem with a couple of the most radio friendly tunes is that they're kinda on the long side, almost five minutes, which is longer than most teenyboppers attention spans. But Atomsmasher could change all that. You may as well get this while you can still say you heard of them first.
***1/2 - Indie Music Reviews

New York-based rock-pop band led by Edward Marshall. Up and Atom, the band's third release, has only eight songs, but they're mostly keepers. Marshall has a strong grasp of both singalong pop ("Sick," "Rainbow," "Always High") and rougher crunch ("Jealousy," "Maybe"), though the highlight is the moody, Wurlitzer-driven closer "5 Day Weekend." Marshall's slightly raspy voice fits any approach he explores, and his band is obviously willing to follow him anywhere. Very likable.
- Pop Culture Press - Michael Toland

Driving guitars, friendly vocals, awesome hooks, and super power–pop trends make this latest release from Atomsmasher a hit. There's a little bit of everything from rock history in this music, and they blend it together nicely.
Maintaining a modern and fresh sound, Atomsmasher have no problem showing their roots in ‘60s/'70s psychedelic rock, early ‘80s garage punk, and mid–‘90s power–pop. I hear hints of early (not the new and commercial, but early!) Goo Goo Dolls, and even subtle hints of the Doors' more commercial exploits. I haven't heard this sound in a couple years, and I forgot how much I missed it.
"I don't listen to only one type of music, and I don't write only one type," says guitarist and vocalist Edward Marshall. "I never know how to write a song, or even if what I'm doing is any good, or fits into any particular category. I just work and let time sort it all out."
But beyond Marshall's fuzzy guitars and accessible vocals, the foundation of this music might just be Edward's bombastic song-writing and brother "Buffalo" Brett's excellent piano and brass sounding keyboards.
Some of the songs have a punk tinge, but mostly, this album is pretty mellow and highly accessible for modern–rock radio. And judging by the amount of air–time this band has already seen on several radio stations throughout the Eastern and Southern U.S., this critic can't be too off base.
Don't let the album cover deceive you. This isn't some budget death–metal release. It's a somewhat–budget power–pop release, but one that is definitely worth fitting into your own budget and CD collection. - Open Up and Say - Wes Royer, Editor

Atomsmasher is a true 60's influenced pop rock band. "Up and Atom" features post psychedelic guitars which twist and spin the listener around, drug tainted lyrics, and crisp vocals that are almost dreamlike. The best song on the album is Sick which is an upbeat pop song about a hopeless addiction to a chick. Check out Atomsmasher if you like Dramarama. - Mutant Renegade Zine - Gail

This is different. I like "different". Summing up what this CD entails is not an easy chore. Atomsmasher covers a lot of ground based in the Rock genre. You can consider it rock power pop with an alternative slant. I found it to be very entertaining and interesting. I heard fuzz/space guitar, straight ahead rock and a soft touch as well. The name Gary Numan popped into my head a few times. Remember when Pop/Techno was hot? I could hear distinct influences of that type of music throughout. Artists like Numan and Gary Wright (dream weaver) were very popular. I imagine this group listened to a lot of that kind of music at one time or another. If you are looking for your typical rock album you won't find what your looking for here. A unique brand of rock music with many different facets are strewn about randomly on this disc. The cover is a bit strange making you think that this may be some hardcore alternative head banger group, not so. A good job of atom smashing is done by all. Don't you smash atoms with sound? - MuzikMan’s Sound Script – MuzikMan