cricket

With an old-school rock and roll style and a few new ideas, Cricket are a three piece from Kentucky, USA that mix a general Beatles sound with Chuck Berry style solo's and some contemporary pop-rock elements.
'Motel Magazine' also lends its name to the opening track which uses a smoky riff to introduce the John Lennon vs Marc Bolan vocal. The highlight of the track is the solo, which blazes through a few bars of classic inspiration.
Second track, 'Woe Baby', has a little seventies glam weaved in to the song and boasts an even better solo than it's predecessor. At a brief 2 minutes, with a substantial time slot allocated to the solo, the chorus proves it's mettle by still hanging around as the next track starts.
However, 'Tell Me' doesn't give in to being a follow up to a great track, the style is more mysterious than before and provides a bit of an interesting break from both previous tracks with notable drumming in the verse that really makes the song what it is. The pace of the track allows the song to bounce along rather happily and the difficult to pin down style could well make this the best song on the album.
A Meat Loaf style huge intro breaks off in to a dirty-grinding riff in 'Dell Road', which doesn't quite have the verse or chorus to match, although another flippin good solo and a reappearance of the intro make it all worthwhile. 'Leave it all Behind' is comparable to 'Tell Me', taking a slightly different musical path with a more distinctive combination of indie, rock and sixties British pop. The vocal pops up a Buffseeds reference, especially with the high harmony towards the end of the song.
The final triplet winds its way through the Day Tripper-esque 'Need a Fix' before creating something that sounds very much like the current London retro-scene in the form of 'Thief's Vipers', which creates a stand off between the vocal and the riff with bass and guitar locking tightly together.
Finally, 'Whats Gone Wrong' darkens things with a lament questioning all the things that are going wrong in the world.
This record isn't bad at all, the drum sound could have done with a bit more brightness and the vocal could have been a little less tinny, but recording techniques aside, Motel Magazine is a pleasant collection of short rock and roll songs with some accomplished solos. The tracks could be divided between the more purist rock and roll numbers and the slightly more intriguing style that doesn't feature quite as much but nether-the-less has more of a stamp of individuality. A few more 'Tell Me's would certainly be welcomed. - http://www.the-mag.me.uk/?ArticleId=668

This is classic rock, old school style. Name a group, and these guys probably have some element in their sound which would remind you of them. Cricket is a power trio hailing from Louisville, KY, and they've certainly done their rock-n-roll homework. Think Thin Lizzy-meets-Motley Crue-meets-The White Stripes. They've got it all.

The music is lean and mean, with just enough roughness around the edges to keep it interesting. Lead singer/guitarist Benjamin Fields has the perfect high-pitched voice which stands out tall above the musical fray, bringing together everything you'd ever want in a rock vocalist. Good stuff. - http://mashmusic.tripod.com/may05.html

80s movies fans might recognize the 16 Candles reference in Cricket’s latest album title, Sofa City Sweetheart. Based out of Louisville, the progressive rock trio comprised of Ben Fields on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Winkie on vocals and bass and Matt Texter on drums and keyboards signify the distinctive sound that has drawn attention to the area, especially with the popularity of My Morning Jacket, VHS or Beta, and Will Oldham. (From this outsider’s view, Louisville, Asheville (NC) and Chicago, appear to be producing a trend of some of the more interesting rock performers.) That distinctiveness, too, is a necessary quality for aspiring bands trying to rise through such a saturated Kentucky rock scene. Says bassist Jeremy Winkie: “it’s a good place to play and get your chops, but you can’t make a living playing music here. Everyone and their mother plays drums or guitar or can sing. There are really a load of good musicians here. Too many to get recognized, so the bands with the biggest crowds tend to be the ones with the most friends socially.” The band is also competing for ears in a scene that is, according to Winkie, divided into frat-styled hard rock with some emo thrown in on the one hand and indie rock on the other, “which is difficult for us, because we have hard rock, indie and progressive influences, which I think confuses people.”
Cricket has a somewhat lengthy history in trying to find their present sound. Initially founded by vocalist/guitarist Ben Fields’ oldest brother Rob and neighborhood friends, it existed as a mostly non-gigging band in the mid to late 90s. Around 2000, Ben Fields and youngest brother Justin began writing music together and taking the band in a more serious direction. With David King on bass, the new lineup recorded an eight track EP, “Motel Magazine.” When King left for college, his vacancy was filled by long-time friend of the Fields brothers, Jeremy Winkie and the band kept busy with gigs, performing nearly every weekend in 2005 and sometimes playing three shows in a day. When drummer Justin Fields left the band in 2006, the band was put on a rather abrupt hold until Fields found Matt Texter, an old friend trained in music theory and of course, drums.
The 12-track Sofa City Sweetheart marks the band’s debut full-length album. Though the band’s foremost identifier is probably Field’s high pitched vocals, perhaps its best quality is the amount of instrumental variation the three piece wields, which becomes immediately apparent in the transition from the first track “de Nova,” a short unimposing and dreamy setup of wah-wah guitar, to the second track “Paper Trees, Violet Hearts,” which kicks off with a quick drum stick countdown followed by speedy guitar repetition as though barely nudging the listener to immediately prepare for the shift.
Much of the album wavers between tasty heavy-gain licks (”Here We Are,” “The Coast Off LA” and “Movie Trailer”) and an almost early 90s alt-rock mix of whirling and sometimes sporadic bounciness that is particularly highlighted by Field’s lead guitar and Winkie’s smooth driving bass. As the intro to “Losing It,” the combination almost seems reminiscent of the bluesy-rock mix of early Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But it works best on the track, “Strokin’ It,” which also has a sort of Ninja Gaiden sensibility about it at the end (it’s not-so-secretly the author’s favorite track).
“Steams Flow” begins almost like the Pixies “Where is My Mind,” the slowed beat, whirling clean guitar, and feint background additions that sound like flowing wave give the sense of watching the oddly beautiful mass demolition in Fight Club, though Field’s high pitch style and the layered vocals give the impression of almost playfully indie, standing apart from a generally more ferocious presence. It’s a loose, elegant closer, and if listening to the entire album on repeat, serves as less of a nudge for the brief, dreamy introduction of “de Nova.” Yet, despite the intensity and playfulness of the albums, the lyrics of some of the tracks feel less adventurous, at least on tracks where rhyming patterns seemed curiously obligatory.
Nonetheless, carrying the torch of the Cricket name for better than ten years, Fields, Winkie and Texter have found a sound that works incredibly well and produced an album that is sure to grow on its faithful listeners. - http://montagthezine.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/album-review-cricket-sofa-city-sweetheart/

Sofa City Sweetheart: Cricket is the band, a Louisville rock 'n' roll band if there ever was one. 'Refreshing' is how I would describe Cricket, especially compared to the endless sea of upcoming and veterans' bands occupying this region.
Sofa City Sweetheart is the new 12- song CD from this strange but wonderful band. Cricket reminds me of The Ramones, Nirvana or some alternative, bluesy hippy rock. Heck, I don't know what to call it. Hippy rock, pseudo metal, funk progressive, indie blues? Whatever, it jams!
Bassist Jeremy Winkie is a rock bass monster, with a serious, funky groove and tone, more so than the average Louisville original rock bassist. Guitarist and vocalist Ben Fields never misses a note, although he's doing the work of two on both guitar and vocals! "Here We Are" is a muddy desert riff, sludge rock monster that reminds me of Kyuss but with punk vocals that match pretty well. Vintage rock sounds out in "Liquid Acid," along with some decent blues guitar solos and melody. "Stroking It" recalls early English invasion a la the Beatles and Oasis. Pretty guitars and vocals make this song a happy tune to jam to. Fields' dreamy vocals and vintage guitar sound make it like being stoned in a field of daffodils while making love to your girlfriend. "Carousel" is another vintage rock endeavor with a Nirvana-influenced part that leads into a trippy, space-guitar effect I cannot identify!!
Ben Fields has a good voice, especially in the studio, on this CD. The money was well-spent on this recording, because it brings out the best in Cricket and Fields. Sometimes he's bluesy, sometime he sings in a high-pitched, feminine tone, other times he gets into that Ramones gravel rock style that I identify him with.
Cricket is a well-oiled, vintage powered, funky rock and roll machine, ready to do what it takes to spread the word of Sofa City Sweetheart. If classic artists like Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Ramones or The Police are your favs, then you need to seek out Cricket. Buy Sofa City Sweetheart. Hear some at Myspace.com/wearecricket

Review by Eddy Metal
- www.louisvillemusicnews.net

I've enjoyed Cricket for over a year now, ever since they released a few singles to the blogosphere. They're still looking for a label, but in the meantime they've brought us a truly great power-pop record, Sofa City Sweetheart. The Louisville, Kentucky, band has been rocking since 1994, although nobody who was in the band back then is still in it now. Apparently, though, it's always had at least one of the Fields brothers in it. Also, they call themselves a power trio but their site lists four members. Whatever. All I know is that whatever the band did to form this version of itself is much appreciated on this corner.
Great stuff with a truly unique, edgy sound. Please download it and spread the word about this band. They need our support, and they're worth it. They are the reason I do this every day: To help lesser-to-un-knowners get out there and find your ears.

Hear here!

P.S. I like this band so much, I'm gonna do this: "Jessica Alba naked" "Christina Aguilera tits" "hot monkey sex with Tyra Banks" "Julia Stiles ass". "Scarlet Johannson's boobs." If that doesn't drive people to this post, nothing will. - http://berkeleyplace.wordpress.com/2007/04/14/cricket-sofa-city-sweetheart/

Anyone who appreciates true musicianship will adore this. Although most of Cricket's influences include newer bands, their style is reminiscent of an older style of rock. This disc includes solid guitar solos and beats that take listeners back to 70s rock and roll. Benjamin Field’s vocals do sound surprisingly young over the style of the music, but they will mature with time.

In both the opening track “Need A Fix” and the second song “Woe Baby,” the guitars nearly take control during Field’s solos. The same happens in many of these songs. The rest of the members of Cricket hold their own as well. Drummer Justin Fields keeps the beat going in many tracks at a perfect foot-tapping pace.

The strong Beatles influence in the title track proves this band was formed in the wrong decade. They’ve used valiant effort to create a slower mood in some of the songs, but I believe that as a band they should stick to the rock that they are so good at producing. In many cases they have, as the songs will pick up at the chorus or break into a terrific solo that reminds you how talented they are.

The whole CD has the perfect style to make it back in the day. I hope that Cricket is not ignored because of that. The members of this band have a better grasp of what truly makes a good musician than a lot of bands that are popular today. - http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3873