Bio
In a world where style almost always outweighs substance, where the day to day meanderings of the Kardashian family and countless other vapid 'reality' stars capture the global conscience, or perhaps more fittingly, unconsciousness, it would be very easy to give up on finding something worth believing in.
That being as it may, they say that if you scratch a cynic you'll find a failed optimist.
This could go a long way in explaining the driving force behind Chris Koster and co's newest rock 'n' roll project 'Beginners Guide to Endings' who have just released their debut album 'Meaningful.'
Recorded at The Tragically Hip's Bathouse Studio and produced by The Hip's very own Gord Sinclair, 'Meaningful' is no ordinary sounding rock record. In fact the album casts a vibe that reminds one more of a live concert in some dingy futuristic bunker where the drinks are flowing and everyone is being treated to a vulgar display of, well...honesty. Guitars ripple out of the speakers and go straight for the jugular while being cemented into a rock solid primal rhythm section held down by Keith Cahill on bass guitar and Curtis Weekes on drums.
Beginners Guide to Endings are a 3 piece and the album's sparse, lean and mean sound showcases this well over the 11 tracks presented. Taking nods from the great 3 piece bands of yesteryear 'Meaningful' shows obvious inspiration from legendary records like 'Led Zeppelin I-IV' and Nirvana's 'Nevermind', all while remaining extremely fresh and melodic.
The Kingston Ontario trio's songs stick with you after one or two listens and have that eerie familiarity to them that all good songs have, giving the listener the feeling they've heard this before, but the uncertainty to place a finger on where or when.
Koster's guitar and vocals blend seamlessly into each other and appear to egg each other on, displaying the raw and seemingly unlimited power of both instruments, his vocal being the victor in this struggle between man and machine.
With lyrics like 'I had this dream where everyone was in disguise, I only knew you by the way you rolled your eyes' from the title track, or ' There's just no poetry left upon this tongue for answering machines, for trains that never come,'- from the first single 'Enemies (I'm Outta Love) '- it's difficult to agree with his analysis of just how much poetry his tongue still holds.
The album closes with what may well be it's most defining moment, 'Everybody's Got Something To Hide.' With it's massive, anthemic, sing along chorus this song alone should catapult the band to huge things in 2013 with it's incredible crossover appeal.
But alas, unless it gets featured on an episode of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' or some other 'reality' train wreck, it may fall under the radar. However,that doesn't make this masterpiece debut any less 'Meaningful'.
guidetoendings.com
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