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LAURIER is a 3-piece power pop outfit hailing from the eastern reaches of Japan. Their name refers to frontman Laurier Tiernan, apparently the mastermind of the whole deal. The End Of The World is their first recorded material, a 4-song demo that offers up some pretty cool pop rock that seems to carry some of the frantic pace of life in Japan.
The band holds it's own throughout the 4 songs, showcasing their songwriting skills and easily communicated passion for their craft. "(I Pray That) You Are Okay is a nice fast-paced opener, with guitar that sounds like mandolin to my ears but is probably just an electric played very darn fast. The music is very melodic, dependent on smooth vocals and the guitar for cues. The rhythm section keeps the foundation secure, and the drumming of Toru Hirasawa in particular are a real treat to listen to. My favorite of these tracks is the closer and title song, in which Laurier invents a psuedo-armaggedon plot with the line "Arnold Schwarzenegger will be president of the United States and he will usher in the end times for the human race". Needless to say, it's fairly light-hearted, but the energy of the music is very infectious.
An admirable and well designed (the package for this demo, according to a little note included, is made entirely from used cartons and recycled paper. I've never seen a slip case quite like it) demo, The End Of The World should make some waves for the band, if not only on their home island than across the Pacific where I believe music of this nature would have just as much appeal. With the right exposure (which they're now getting some of through itunes), I could see LAURIER creating a full-length to remember. For now, this demo should satify any fan of smart and sharp power-pop. - Music Emissions: Kevin Sellers
Discography
The End of the World (demo, 2008)
Four tracks:
1) The End of the World
2) I Pray That You Are Okay
3) Epiphany
4) You Will Die as You Have lived
Together they have graced over 163 radio stations worldwide and you can stream them all at http://www.myspace.com/lauriertiernan
Photos
Bio
Laurier Tiernan is a French-Canadian singer-songwriter. He was born with Marfans Syndrome; a genetic malformation that causes an often fatal heart condition. Through his late teens and twenties, he labored in the shadow of different bands and projects, dreaming that someday, if his song writing was good enough, he would be discovered. On March 6th, 2008, he almost died when his aorta suddenly started rupturing. Luckily, he was rushed into emergency surgery, and when he woke up afterwards, he knew without a doubt that his life had been spared for a reason. He suddenly knew that he could reach all of his goals if he set about them fearlessly and steadfastly. Since then, his latest demo has been played by over 160 radio stations world wide, he has done interviews with dozens of publications and radio stations, and his video for The End of the World has entered the top 10 at WorldSings.com (an international songwriting competition). The video for "You Will Die as You Have Lived" was released in November 2009, and the full album (to follow up the latest demo) will be released in February, 2010, on Prograde Records (Japan). He currently resides in Tokyo with his life partner, photographer E.H. Tiernan.
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