Music
Press
I’ve gotta say, this one charmed the hell out of me, far more than I’d expected it to. Glass the Sky‘s “Koi Pawned” is a damn fine song to begin with, stately but jaunty and warm at the same time, but beyond that, the dancing-shoes thing is clever as hell, using an insanely minimal setup to illustrate the actual sound.
Plus, the handclaps and silhouetted faces make me think fondly of videos from the ’80s, back when people were just starting to play with what they could and couldn’t do in a music video. High-five, y’all; I’m won over. - spacecityrock.com
It’s funny, but Glass the Sky’s self-titled debut EP manages to pull of a neat trick, against all odds. Over the course of six tracks, the band does an impressive balancing act, teetering on the line between serious and playful, and they make it work in both worlds.
And best of all, they’re smart as hell either way. Singer/guitarist Eric Lungstrum’s lyrics are poetic without getting overly pretentious, intense without any emo weepiness, and they mesh damn near perfectly with the often low-key, subtle instrumentation. Music-wise, Glass the Sky makes me think of Canadians Ketch Harbour Wolves (especially on watery/wavery-sounding opener “Indian Leaf”), or Houston’s own Holy Fiction — all three bands are melancholy yet gorgeous, crafting these earnest, almost serene melodies and arrangements that are delicate and subtle but never dull.
Then there’s “Koi Pawned,” which veers over into the “playful” side of things with a bumping, thoughtful, sly-smiling melody and irresistible beat; I freaking love how the beat just bounces along, Peter Bjorn & John-style, with drummer Matthew Kelly’s simple-yet-perfect rhythms driving things forward. There’s a hint of dreampop shimmer in the guitars, too, a nod backwards to The Jesus & Mary Chain and their contemporaries. It’s sweet and evocative and warm, despite the literal coldness of the song’s subject, and I just can’t stop listening.
Things get back to the serious side for “Earthquake,” where the male/female vocal interplay between Lungstrum and keyboardist/clarinetist/singer Erin Rodgers makes me think again of Holy Fiction, albeit welded onto a song structure that owes quite a bit to Sting’s more somber efforts. Then there’s “Stereoface,” which starts off quiet and deliberate and rides a downcast undercurrent throughout, with Lungstrum seemingly warning that while you can see both sides for now, that state of things won’t last.
“Holiday” sees Glass the Sky in a more straight-up rocking light, exploding into a surprisingly fiery, impassioned anthem that’s simultaneously oblique and intent. The song reminds me of Ambassadors’ “Falls,” primarily because both songs have that same defiant roar; when Lungstrum howls out, “‘I miss you the most’ / Said the flame to the matchbook,” it’s all I can do to keep from pumping my fist at the ceiling. Whichever side of their musical personality Glass the Sky opts to go for, yeah, I’m good with it. - Spacecityrock.com
"If that tribal, spooky, effervescent chunk of indie glory didn't make you want to give them money, then you should consider calling the Guinness Book of World Records to tell them that man has finally found a way to live without having a heart." - Houston Press Rocks Off
"...Basing their band not off a single musical concept, but off the organic tendencies of improvisation, Glass the Sky's modern approach to composition make for a night of stadium-ready performance. Having formed in 2011, Glass the Sky has already pegged a signature sound high in quality and heavy with direction influenced by the likes of Minus the Bear and Radiohead." - Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Glass The Sky is a band with a large pallet. The band’s sound delves in atmospheric soundscapes formed by sonically adventurous dual guitars and lush key work, yet is grounded with a more progressive rhythm section. It’d be easy to categorize the sound as “post-rock” if not for the band’s clever use of clarinet, vocal harmonies, as well as frontman Eric Lungstrum’s notably catchy-yet-heartfelt vocal delivery. And that’s also not to say that Glass The Sky jump through fancy modulation hoops to deliver a good song.
Take for instance the band’s new single “Koi Pawned”. The video, which begins with a shot of the band doing a two-step of sorts from the ankle-down, works with very basic colors, patterns, and movements, speaking visually on the band’s minimal means to evoke sincere human emotions. Each camera shot deconstructs the song into its simple parts, unfolding the full symphony until chorus breaks into a kaleidoscopic celebration with Eric Lungstrum and Erin Rodgers’ endearing harmonized cry.
To say any song is melodic is redundant, but with countless melodies and counter-melodies going on, it’s something worth noting with Glass The Sky. If “Koi Pawned” is any indication of what’s in store for their new album, you’ll want NEED a copy. - Coog Radio
Discography
Glass the Sky EP - Nov 9, 2012
Photos
Bio
It isn’t often that a band can just sort of form into its just right structure without even really trying. After a few years of people coming and going, Glass the Sky emerged in the summer of 2011 as a unit ready to make the sort of ethereal sounds that shroud its listeners in contented complexity. The Houston-based quintet isn’t concerned with making music within a specific structure or under the restraints of labels. Their music unfolds as naturally as the band formed – with the bringing together of collective talent itching to invent melodies that haunt you long after the music has stopped playing.
It is Glass the Sky’s intrinsic need to create something memorable. Together, the band constructs the type of music that pierces the skin and seeps inside, passed the superficial layers, and into the heart, the ears, the soul of all those who choose to listen. It’s a combination of all the best parts of a song that makes Glass the Sky’s music so unforgettable. Perfectly woven vocal harmony combined with heartfelt lyrics and atmospheric melodies are what will keep you coming back for more.
With the recently released EP, Glass the Sky has managed to convey their unique style and vision. Guitarist Nicklaus Kirkham offers a little insight into the band’s writing process, “There is no real sense of direction when it comes to the beginning of the songwriting process. Anyone can start playing anything and that riff will somehow form into a majestic piece of work. This is where brilliant hypotheses are presented and where we conduct our initial litmus tests.” One listen to the final song, “Portal” tells you everything you need to hear. Inside the walls of “Portal”, you hear lead singer Eric Lungstrum’s majestic voice marry with Erin Rodgers lingering croon. And everything crescendos around their singing – the emotional rattle of the guitars, the sonic boom of Matt Kelly’s drums, and the plunk of the keyboard keys wrap around the vocals to create a rising tunnel of emotive intensity. All the sounds join together at just the right place, trapping you inside its beauty.
Each song on their just released Ep draws you in and keep you satisfied. And while the band’s recorded tunes will leave you wanting more, it will most definitely be the organic way the songs unravel during their live sets that will have you falling heart first for Glass the Sky. Bassist Michael Mazzella says it all when he talks about playing with his fellow band mates, “I wish people knew how beautiful our improv pieces are. I think that the talent in the room is so good that it sounds planned, but in reality it is purely improvisational.”
All you really need to know is that Glass the Sky is a band comprised of five hard-working, ridiculously-talented musicians hellbent on making gorgeous music that makes you feel something – anything. It’s up to the listener to take away what they need from Glass the Sky’s songs, but they just wanted you to know the music is there to be consumed whenever you are ready.
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