Daemon Familiar

Guitarist/singer Pablo Mena formed this Chicago power-pop trio in 2006 (they're named after a concept in fantasy writer Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy), desiring a step into the spotlight after his stint as bassist in the similarly-styled Unibrow. They've been compared to Cheap Trick, Sloan, and Husker Du, and you can detects hints of each (along with Nuggets-inspired garage), thanks to Mena's knack for writing catchy songs, his rough-edged, crunchy guitar, and sincere, down-to-earth voice. A minor critique is that Wendi Freeman's drums are a bit under-recorded, while their bio's promised vocal harmonies are barely noticeable. But the band keep melodious, hook-filled gems such as "All's Forgotten", "Kiss Me", and "Walkin' Away" coming non-stop, balancing the LP with occasional ballads like the pretty, plaintive closer "So Sad". - The Big Takeover

Guitarist/singer Pablo Mena formed this Chicago power-pop trio in 2006 (they're named after a concept in fantasy writer Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy), desiring a step into the spotlight after his stint as bassist in the similarly-styled Unibrow. They've been compared to Cheap Trick, Sloan, and Husker Du, and you can detects hints of each (along with Nuggets-inspired garage), thanks to Mena's knack for writing catchy songs, his rough-edged, crunchy guitar, and sincere, down-to-earth voice. A minor critique is that Wendi Freeman's drums are a bit under-recorded, while their bio's promised vocal harmonies are barely noticeable. But the band keep melodious, hook-filled gems such as "All's Forgotten", "Kiss Me", and "Walkin' Away" coming non-stop, balancing the LP with occasional ballads like the pretty, plaintive closer "So Sad". - The Big Takeover

Daemon Familiar play an intense mix of power pop garage rock with fuzzed out guitars. Daemon Familiar show a lot of potential and would benefit with working with an experienced producer on their next release. - Swimmer's Ear Magazine #24, May 22, 2009

Any CD that starts off with a track titled "Oprah" is ok by me even if this time they give a little shit back to Chicago's most famous woman. The garage pop of Chicago's Daemon Familiar stays energetic and fresh on the new CD "Dawn Of The Albatross".

The CD seems to bridge the gap of the last couple of decades of Chicago rock music, even taking bits as far back as the 70's while never slowing down. I would have liked to have heard a little more experimentalism from the drumming department (it's beats change little between songs), but the simple sounds fit with the lyrics and together give us something to stay excited about. - Theft Liable To Prosecution

While the popularity of power pop has waned, there’s no denying the crunchy sweetness of Daemon Familiar’s Dawn Of The Albatross. Infectiously catchy, with snappy pop hooks and a sugary vocal melody, "Buddha’s Little Helper" will burrow into your memory. Likewise, you’ll find yourself nodding along with "I Hate To See You Go, But," and the sweet ballad "So Sad" will leave you swooning and smiling.
– Patrick Conlan - Illinois Entertainer

While the popularity of power pop has waned, there’s no denying the crunchy sweetness of Daemon Familiar’s Dawn Of The Albatross. Infectiously catchy, with snappy pop hooks and a sugary vocal melody, "Buddha’s Little Helper" will burrow into your memory. Likewise, you’ll find yourself nodding along with "I Hate To See You Go, But," and the sweet ballad "So Sad" will leave you swooning and smiling.
– Patrick Conlan - Illinois Entertainer

THREE STARS

"\'d?-m ?n f?- 'mil-y?r\ noun 1. An animal-shaped spirit in servitude to a witch. 2. An external animal manifestation of a person's soul. 3. A garage-pop trio from Chicago aiming to deliver songs so unforgettable they'll be tattooed on your cerebral cortex." If you're thinking I'm a sixth grader for using the dictionary for an opening line of a piece of writing, you would be correct in that dictionary beginnings suck (although they would prove that Daemon Familiar spelled tattooed wrong). But since I don't like anything enough to want it tattooed on my cerebral cortex (I'd prefer the neosuperimportantcortex, thank you) and hate the dictionary, you would be more correct in guessing that the above clarifications about the meaning of "Daemon" would be the interpretation of the band itself, found on their own Web site.

A little cheesy, like their self-descriptions and my intros, local up-and-coming Chicago-based Daemon Familiar still manages to be catchy on their debut album, Dawn of the Albatross. Mixing hard rock, powerpop and garage rock, Daemon Familiar gives listeners songs about heartache and heartbreak. When they're not sad about bad relationships though, they set aside time for Oprah.

"Oprah," the first song on the album, sums up the band's views on the Midwest's Martha: They hate the "post-modern capitalist czar." Poking fun at the hypocrisy of Oprah's lifestyle and how she still manages to fancy herself a do-gooder on her talk show, along with other celebrities, Daemon Familiar proves they're willing to mess with the mother of all talk show hosts, unafraid. But methinks Daemon Familiar is a bit harsh on the daytime host. Oprah's not so bad. All I'm saying is Daemon Familiar is not getting a free car.

A lot of songs on Dawn of the Albatross feature instrumentals that have an old hard rock sound that comes naturally, and yet they manage to sound like they're still from this decade. But with so many songs about heartache, with not much variation (just your "I've been dumped" songs) Daemon Familiar loses some of the scenery that you want on a road trip. This is not to say the songs aren't good, or don't each have their own sound, it's just that some lady is going to feel really bad about breaking Daemon Familiar's little lyricist's heart.

Sad lyrics don't in any way make the songs less catchy, and Daemon Familiar manages to take some breaks from heartache. Songs such as "Ulysses," "Kiss Me" and "All is Forgotten" let Daemon Familiar heal a bit. The song "I Hate to See You Go," (although about heartache) breaks a bit out of their typical scheme by resembling Sublime while still having a lead singer that sounds like Nerf Herder's Parry Gripp (only less nerdy). That (the lack of nerdiness) of course can't be completely right, because, I mean, the album name is Dawn of the Albatross.

As a band that idolizes Cheap Trick, these Chicago natives can't go too wrong. When I think about Daemon Familiar, I think about a band that you could listen to with your dad. When you're not listening to it, you don't really care, but when it's on, you realize that they're pretty good. And if ever Daemon Familiar decides they don't want to make it in the music business, they can always fall back on personally editing dictionaries, preferably with free Sharpies (from Oprah). - The Loyola Phoenix - Diversions, March 18, 2009, Rebecca Diaz

The Illinois band Daemon Familiar has plenty of raw talent here, one listen to the guitars on “Buddha’s Little Helper” and "Oprah" you can't help think about Cheap Trick or Husker Du. Lead vocalist Pablo Mena has a clean light vocal that really contrasts with the much heavier guitar sound. Some songs are excellent examples of power pop and it works fine on the memorable "Kiss Me"and the catchy baseline on "Barnyard" are just fun to listen to. The song "All's Forgotten" is wonderfully written and played, but could really use double tracking and stronger group harmonies (you barely here the other band members). Mena's vocal is much better suited to the mid tempo ballads here like "Gcc"and "So Sad." I suggest he chew broken glass and add a little more Tom Waits influence before trying to pull off a song like "Tales of Sad Ulysses." The album also suffers a bit from lack of polish overall, but despite this you will be rewarded by the guitar gems sprinkled here ("Was") and there ("Walkin' Away"). - Powerpopaholic

In servitude to the gods of rock. This balls out, explosive song is a rage against corporacracy (see “The Economic Hitman” - you might learn something) - in other words, don’t step on people on the way up, and then give them a ton of shit so they forget about all your sins. Riff driven rock in the vein of Velvet Revolver and AC/DC, and topped off with a Collective Soul-y hook hungry chorus - screaming leads and angry vocals tell a story, but bring your ears to the brink of exhaustion. From the website, sounds like a great band live - good, solid basslines, pounding drums and guitars that yell at you while they deliver the riffs. Take a listen rock heads - you’ll get something you deserve. - Chicago's Independent Music Review, January 26, 2009

In servitude to the gods of rock. This balls out, explosive song is a rage against corporacracy (see “The Economic Hitman” - you might learn something) - in other words, don’t step on people on the way up, and then give them a ton of shit so they forget about all your sins. Riff driven rock in the vein of Velvet Revolver and AC/DC, and topped off with a Collective Soul-y hook hungry chorus - screaming leads and angry vocals tell a story, but bring your ears to the brink of exhaustion. From the website, sounds like a great band live - good, solid basslines, pounding drums and guitars that yell at you while they deliver the riffs. Take a listen rock heads - you’ll get something you deserve. - Chicago's Independent Music Review, January 26, 2009