Magnetic Flux

Rock-n-Roll

Watch For Flowing Rock
Louisville Music News
By David Lilly

If you've had more than enough bad news and stress lately, plug in Magnetic Flux and let them be the catalyst to your relief. That is, if 30 minutes of mostly wall-battering rock `n' roll helps open the clogged areas in your brain.

The opening title song is chiseled from a mono AM sound, which evokes early Seventies Alice Cooper on transistor radio. That is a compliment -- and it also might not be what you're used to hearing, but it's fun. The low point of the disc isn't really a low point, but a breather. During my first listen to the ballad, "Lie to Me," my mind conjured an image of Cinderella's Tom Keifer playing a piano ballad and singing. That image disappeared after the first time. "Lie to Me" is a nice ballad and it provides a three-and-a-half minute breather from the solidarity of the rock that makes up the rest of this album.

Speaking of that rock, the title of the song, "Wasted," may suggest ingesting too many drugs or too much alcohol, but upon hearing no mention of substances, it could well be about a rock band working - yes, working - itself to exhaustion. For you Led Zep fans, "Skin" seems to borrow just a touch of the guitar riff from "The Immigrant Song." Could be my imagination, although there's nothing wrong with using your influences in your own way.

I could be mistaken (but I hope I'm right), but this album sounds to me like Magnetic Flux's launching pad to widespread recognition. There are at least two songwriters in the band and these guys rock like a jagged cliff. Anyone that likes dirty, gritty rock 'n' roll ought to buy this album and see the band play live. Meanwhile and thereafter, keep up with Magnetic Flux at www.MagneticFlux.com

- David Lilly

Watch Out

Velocity Weekly
By Joshua Hammann

Magnetic Flux is not part of the glam revolution. There are leather pants, studded belts and an allegiance to all things rock 'n' roll all over the band, but the music is hardly a homage to the image-driven excesses of T. Rex or Gary Glitter. It is more of a return to when rock stars were superheroes, not messy-haired junkies with skinny ties and hangovers. On "Rock-n-Roll," the Louisville band's debut album on Catch 5 Records, Magnetic Flux flexes crunchy guitar muscle over rapid-fire drums and bass. Lead singer Bobby (just plain "Bobby") screams and rasps like a distorted Rob Zombie over 10 songs dedicated to the usual suspects of rock 'n' roll decadence. Dragon Fly" stands out among the rest thanks to a inspiring guitar solo. And "City On Fire," the last song on the record, shows the band straying casually toward the fuzzed out, dance-punk noise that is putting Brooklyn back on the musical landscape. If Magnetic Flux would infuse a touch more melody into the darker edges of its music, favorable comparisons to Guns N' Roses wouldn't be far off. Who wouldn't love that
- Joshua Hammann

Turning the Tables

Turning the Tables
Leslie Stewart / Media Relations

Earlier in 2003, Magnetic Flux made some inroads with a legendary rocker who has his own label with major distribution (said rock star, for these purposes, shall remain nameless). The Flux boys were given the VIP treatment at said rock star's own concert in December, then given the abrupt show 'em- the-door routine by the star and his label co-hort after the show. Only momentarily crushed, frontman Bobby O and the boys turned the tables the following day by usurping said rock star's massive book-signing at Carmichael's, pressing the flesh and handing out over 150 free Magnetic Flux CDs to the enthusiastic crowd while the cameras flashed wildly. Did it work? Well, even if the band doesn't get a deal from said rock star's label, they made their point, and with no small degree of style! They doubtless won some new fans - everyone loves free music, and they certainly love it when presented with that kind of flair! As for the end result, stay tuned - although said rock star was reportedly not amused at the time, it's exactly the kind of stunt he probably would've pulled himself in his younger days!
- Leslie Stewart