Quickening

Musicianship – 9 out of 10
Are You Listening? is the sophomore release from Quickening, a great band from Cleveland, OH. It features the same lineup of musicians found on their EP A Victory, and shows that the boys have been hard at work, perfecting their craft! In fact, Are You Listening? displays more seasoned talent, and an ability on the part of each member to create more music from less intricate playing! The guitar work of Isom and Haberer is still excellent, the rhythm section of Ginley and Irwin is still thunderous, and as a whole, band seems to be tighter than ever! What else can I say? Quickening is a band chock full of great musicians who are able to create great Rock and Roll!

Songwriting – 8.5 out of 10
Before writing this review, I read my review of the band’s previous release just to see what I was thinking at the time I reviewed that album. In short, my opinion at that time was that Quickening was a great band, but that their songs were way too long! In fact, the EP contained 4 songs with a combined elapsed time of over 22 minutes! My constructive advice to the band at that time was to focus on writing shorter songs that were less likely to lose the listener’s interest.

Talk about a turnaround! Are You Listening? is a full-length release, containing 11 songs with a total elapsed time of only 38 minutes! I’d like to take credit for this dramatic change, but more than likely, the band received the same advice from others more qualified than me! By contrast, there are only two songs on the new album that are over 4 minutes long; some are not even 3 minutes long! For me, that makes a huge difference! You can say goodbye to the 2 minute song intros, and hello to lean, mean Rock and Roll compositions! In my opinion, the band has taken all of their best traits – interesting guitar work, complex rhythm changes, and creative melodies – and focused on using those tools to make a great collection of songs. There isn’t a stinker in the bunch! It goes without saying that I was extremely pleased with the band’s new, focused approach to songwriting.

Sound Quality/Professionalism - 9 out of 10
Quickening is a great-sounding band, and that quality is definitely showcased on this new release. The intricate guitar work is mixed and recorded perfectly, giving the band that full, thick sound achieved when two guitarists work well together. Everything sounds as it should, and great songs are not spoiled by poor production work or careless engineering. The staff that the band chose to assist on the production side of this album is every bit as adept as the band members, and their quality work shines forth. This album is a rival for almost any major label release that you could possibly mention!

Packaging – 8.5 out of 10
In the same fashion, Quickening has assembled a first-rate wrapper for their first full-length release! A six-panel CD insert includes great photography work, a great concept, and all of the bells and whistles that I like to see in a CD insert (musician credits, production credits and lyrics). I am continually amazed at the level of professionalism that I see from Independent bands today. They all seem to understand that consumers want a huge amount of bang for their buck, and are determined to provide as much as they possibly can! To me, this is the greatest compliment that a band can pay to their fans! Nothing impresses me more!

Favorite Tracks
Are You Listening?
Radio
Collision Course
Periodic Table of The Elements
1000 Thoughts and No Words

Overall Rating - 9 out of 10
From the first time I heard them, Quickening has been one of my favorite bands; they have done nothing but solidify that status with the release of Are You Listening?. The release shows a lot of improvement over the band’s first effort, and displays a more mature feel. In my opinion, the band has come to the realization that flashy guitar work and intricate chord progressions are nothing without the foundation of good songwriting. As such, they have restructured their approach, and created great Rock and Roll songs! My hat is off to Quickening, and especially to James Isom for writing great lyrics (something that I hadn’t yet mentioned) and coming up with killer melodies. If any band truly deserves to be heard by fans in the mainstream, this one should go to the front of the line!

This is one of the best albums you’ll hear this year! As such, I recommend that you get your own copy as soon as possible! If there were Grammys for Independent music, I would definitely place Are You Listening? in the running for Rock Album of the Year! Seriously, it just doesn’t get much better than this!—Mark Lush, Midwestbands.com, 10/8/04 *Listen to Quickening on MWB Radio!
- Mark Lush/mwb.com

Quickening-Ones And Zeros
www.quickening.tv
By: DX Ferris


Quickening's Ones and Zeroes deserves a listen -- and now. What initially seems like another run-of-the-mill pop-punk affair quickly jells into a catchy distillation of all things post-grunge: Blink's springy guitars, Sum 41's pogo-inducing song structures, emo's soft/hard dynamics, indie rock's earnestness, and on occasion, modern rock's bombastic choruses. In the right hands, this disc could hit big.
James Isom turns in triple duty on vocals, guitars, and keyboards, and his rough edges in the former two capacities contribute mightily to the album's no-brakes thrill ride. On an album full of sensitive-guy lyrics ("I am waiting for you," "I've felt this before but it goes away," "I know how you feel," "I loved you way too much," etc.), Isom emerges as vulnerable, but never whiny. Quickening stands a chance to earn points with radio listeners as well as those who gave up on radio long ago.
clevescene.com | originally published: January 15, 2003 Scene Magazine Cleveland, OH


- Scene Magazine

Speechless. Wow. Amazing. Are just some of the words that I thought after listening to "Are You Listening?" by Quickening. I must say this band really impressed me with their talent and ability to write lyrics that meant something more than just a couple of lines sung to a melody. For those of you, who don't know Quickening -- they are James Isom (Vocals/Guitar); Patrick Ginley (Drums); Darren Irwin (Bass/Vocals); Justin Haberer (Guitar) and are based out of the Cleveland area.

Some of my favorite tracks "This Is Ours" and "1,000 Thoughts And No Words" really showcase the bands talent. The fact that Quickening has this ability to paint a picture not only with music, but also with their words just gives an insight of whats going in the mind of the writer. It so hard not to feel whats going on within the music itself. A band who isn't afraid to express themselves through words for the whole word to interpret -- is kickass in my book. The band Quickening asks the question, "Are you listening?". The answer to that, "Yes." But are you listening...Great job guys!

Recommended tracks: Radio, Goodbye Again, Periodic Table Of The Elements, This Is Ours and 1,000 Thoughts And No Words.

- Review from The Edge Underground

By Genevieve Will

Quickening’s debut album A Victory is a successful musical manifestation of the band’s tour-centered fan base’s support and emotion. Their emo-rock sound echoing that of bands like Incubus and Thursday, perhaps with a bit heavier a resonance, seems they are destined only for victory indeed.

Furthermore, band members’ self-professed motivations for playing and songwriting appear to be always in the fans’ best interest, something many bands never had or have lost sight of. Drummer Patrick Ginley maintains playing music is his emotional outlet, an sentiment seemingly matched by the band’s loyal following.

Although their signature sound is an emo-rock one, the Cleveland, Ohio band remains dedicated to originality. Members cite influences as diverse as AC/DC to The Cars. Further demonstrating their gift of freshness to a tired genre is the band’s interesting method of constructing songs. They say the music is written first, with lyrics second so that a song will not be restricted by a certain genre or by the nature of its lyrics.

Never a huge fan of emo myself, I nonetheless could find nothing unattractive about Quickening’s debut: a cohesive album with inspiring words and innovative musical combinations. It’s a great get-up-and-jump-around album but at the same time has a stirring sensitive side. While a great advancement in emo-rock style (although I agree with the band that it cannot be contained in one genre), A Victory also has a twinge of early alt-rock bands like Sponge, Nada Surf, and Tripping Daisy. While the album is short and therefore you have no reason not to listen to it all, I still recommend “Bad Days” as a personal favorite track.

And if four tracks aren’t enough for you, join their growing tour fans by checking out tour info and other stuff at:

- Indie-music.com

Seven years after Quickening made its debut, it might be Northeast Ohio's most overlooked band. The Cleveland post-emo alt-rock group averages two shows a month and one release a year. Maybe the fact that the band comes with short discs rubs potential fans and benefactors the wrong way; in the fickle world of rock, more is more. That said, all four new Quickening songs are keepers.

Riffing like the big Quicksand fan that he is, singer-guitarist James Isom plays harder than ever and shows real growth as a writer. He's finally moved from delicate-boy clichés to real lyrics, as in "Did You Know" -- "To give you what you want/Is gonna cost me what I need/Take it to another level/Baby, you're the fucking devil." Maybe he's talking about an ex-girlfriend, or maybe he's talking about Cleveland. If it's the latter, we need to patch things up and be friends again.
- 2005 New Times

Quickening
A Victory
By: Dan Bergman
10/22/2003

Artist: Quickening
Title: A Victory
Genre: Modern Rock
Label: www.quickening.tv
Website: www.quickening.tv

Many CD reviews use the word "urgency" like it's apt to propel the reader to rapidly grab the CD off the shelves in hope to stay in the fast lane of the modern-rock highway. I use this word here instead to say that no matter how fast you drive, you can't keep up with Quickening.

Led by vocalist, guitarist frontman James Isom, this "Tool"-box assorted 4 song demo makes a strong statement to the radio friendly, cheese-pop bands. The statement is: these guys actually have the nads to play for themselves and boy, does it sound REAL!

The title song "A Victory" is just that. A victory. This is the hit song any producer would want on his list of credentials. It begins with a vaguely familier, 90's rock guitar rythem reminiscent of say late "Screaming Trees" meets, well, early "Screaming Trees" then heads into the (yes here's that damn word again) "urgency" overdrive. Very "Tool" and, of course, very cool. Isom's voice fits like a black leather audible glove over the minor chord flowing, propelling chorus. I can almost picture the eventual strobe lights pulsating in correspondence with their climatic tension in Quickening's theoretical live performance.

This album has a clean mix from start to finish. A+. The only negative I could print is that the vocals come in too late: although 50 seconds doesn't sound like a long time, for instance in the song "Find Yourself", you may think that there is no vocals. There is no song?...So any criticism to Quickening would be to step to the plate on the first pitch, instead of waiting for the fifth inning to take to the mike.

I recommend this album to anyone interested in moderate to heavy metal, hard alternative rock, and who enjoys crisp and clear vocals that don't sound like todays typical "bulldog with a chest cold" bark.

- Evolving Artist

Appeared page 20 above Quickening bio picture:

Cleveland's Quickening is a hard-driving, powerful combo of rythm, melody, and sweat. The members bring a wealth of experience to the band ant to the stage- sharing the bill with national acts like Tonic, Semisonic, Kid Rock, and Our Lady Peace. Quickening has earned it's stripes the old fashioned way; by playing out live. The music is loud and raw, and the beats deep and hard. Quickly, check the Quickening vibe, and feel the groove for yourself. - Billboard Magazine

Certainly this is a victory for not just the band but music aficionados worldwide. Featuring members from Hilo (their album on Cambodia Recordings called “This is the Destroyer” is a must-have for any CD collection), Hessier, and Canis Major, Quickening bring to the table a unique brand of hard-edged rock. And get who they’ve shared the stage with none other than Hum, Hey Mercedes, Jets to Brazil, American Hi-Fi, Shiner, Our Lady Peace, just to name a few. Impressive huh? Well not nearly as impressive as this EP! It’s shameful that these kids are just in the early 20’s as they sound mature enough to give legendary rockers a lesson or two.

- Smother.net

To say that 'brilliance' only comes in one facet would be a complete LIE. When someone can command a sound from an inanimate object ... that person is treated as a 'God'. Rightly so.

(yes that's a word)

This band has the forcefulness and attitude of an MX missile, aimed straight up bin Laden's culo.

(pardon the language)

I would dig a live show, they are progressive, powerful and nuevo.

Cleveland is a very hard town to compete in. That said, Quickening has taken a sound that has been recently smothered to death, and taken it to a flavor that even the Ice-Cream-Man can't keep in stock.
- Gods of Music

Appeared page 20 above Quickening bio picture:

Cleveland's Quickening is a hard-driving, powerful combo of rythm, melody, and sweat. The members bring a wealth of experience to the band ant to the stage- sharing the bill with national acts like Tonic, Semisonic, Kid Rock, and Our Lady Peace. Quickening has earned it's stripes the old fashioned way; by playing out live. The music is loud and raw, and the beats deep and hard. Quickly, check the Quickening vibe, and feel the groove for yourself. - Billboard Magazine

Quickening
Are You Listening?
(self-released)

Post-punk bands have always vacillated between loud outbursts and quieter bits of melody. While those tendencies have devolved into emocore cliches, the Quickening stays on track by looking to the genre's smarter proponents — groups like Quicksand, Hum and Jawbox — for inspiration. So the slashing guitars in a song such as “Here's a Tip” prevent the sensitive vocals from taking on the bleating of Dashboard Confessional CD. Quickening singer James Isom has one of those quivering voices that's equally suited to crooning and screaming, explaining how the band's pulled off opening for acts as diverse as Tonic, Jets to Brazil and OK Go.

— Jeff Niesel
- Cleveland Free Times

Quickening
Are You Listening?
(self-released)

Post-punk bands have always vacillated between loud outbursts and quieter bits of melody. While those tendencies have devolved into emocore cliches, the Quickening stays on track by looking to the genre's smarter proponents — groups like Quicksand, Hum and Jawbox — for inspiration. So the slashing guitars in a song such as “Here's a Tip” prevent the sensitive vocals from taking on the bleating of Dashboard Confessional CD. Quickening singer James Isom has one of those quivering voices that's equally suited to crooning and screaming, explaining how the band's pulled off opening for acts as diverse as Tonic, Jets to Brazil and OK Go.

— Jeff Niesel
- Cleveland Free Times