Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Bliss on a stick to say the least, frontwoman Maria Aggabao has a voice to die for, while she is backed up with precise samples and subtle sounding guitars. There is no doubt that this act is one of the most underrated underground acts going around and if someone can pick up on them then their hard work could be rewarded - ANEMIC MAGAZINE, Australia
A lush, great sounding track with a wide variety of influences...I love the melodic lift...I personally love the sound of this music & the blend of styles this band is trying to accomplish…they succeed admirably, as well as still sounding like themselves….good job! You have a great voice; it's strong, yet can sound emotionally fragile, too
-- Broadjam.com review of EVERYONE'S CRIME - TAXI.COM
“Good vibe to the song. Very cool feeling song. Bass is killer, and the singer is heartfelt.
-- Broadjam.com review of FLOW - BROADJAM.COM
“…finally something worth rating--- A plus ya'll. Great Instrumentation…Awesome bass tone. Singer can actually sing. Nice use of inharmonic minors on vocal…good job guys and gal.” – BROADJAM.com review of “Introspect” - BROADJAM.com
This is one of the best female fronted hard rock bands that I've heard in a while. Singer, Maria Aggabao really packs a punch with her vocal ability, and I think it rocks! I'm really curious to see if Smear-Campaign gets picked up by a label soon because they sound like they have it."
- Aquarian Weekly - Tim Louie
I like how they describe their music as `sultry metal` because that`s totally right on with the definition of this female-fronted band from New York. Maintaining the cold veneer while holding listeners close is no easy task. But Smear-Campaign does it with seemingly ease as their coerce their way into your mind and your pants. Their song “Cold” is by far their best tune and could really open doors for these guys and gal. I dig how they intersperse heavier tunes with the more sultry, dark and moody ones that may conjure up the likes of Tool at times. Produced by Anthony Krizan who also worked with the Spin Doctors, this 5-song long EP is a haunting reminder to keep your candles lit at night when you`re home alone or with your mate.
– J. Sin
Smother.net
- Smother.net - J. Sin
Smear Campaign is fronted by Maria Aggabao and supported by four exceptional musicians. Aggabao has tremendous vocal power and range that could easily take Smear Campaign far. Based on this EP it seems that Smear Campaign have a good road ahead of them."
– Brian Fogarty
ExoDuster.com
- Exoduster.com
Sultry, deep, and moody...
Go get what you want!" - New York Waste - Starr Tucker
They attack with a vengeance ("Freak"), they break it down with greasy aplomb ("A Far Better Place", which also happens to be a comment on abusive men), and they even go the remix route (two versions each of "Cold" and "Travesty"), courtesy of their very own mixmaster, DJ Dubcrash....the chorus of "Travesty" is stuck in my head 24 hours after listening to it, this bodes well for their future. In all, the EP holds together and makes me wish it was a tad bit longer -- the purpose of all good EPs, I'd say.
-- Justin Kownacki - Splendidezine.com
Discography
Smear-Campaign (5 song EP) including 2 remixes by DJ Dubcrash; Orange Hill full-length CD.
College radio promotion campaign with Planetary Group beginning August, 2004.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
SMEAR-CAMPAIGN is a project established by rockers purely passionate about creating a complex eclectic sound of hard rock. Their music is intense yet intimate, camouflaged by a sultry voice singing about life - complex love, loss, and yearning.
SMEAR-CAMPAIGN is comprised of Craig Franklin (bass), Danny Murphy (guitar), Maria Aggabao (vocals), Steve Dorlen (drums) and DJ Dubcrash (keyboards). With years spent absorbing the sounds of Tool, Incubus, Radiohead, Jane's Addiction and Bjork, SMEAR-CAMPAIGN finds their sound hard to classify. In its simplest terms, SMEAR-CAMPAIGN fits into the hard rock mold, but hints of outside influences can also be heard. Words like "ambient, sultry, moody, jazzy, bluesy, and dark" have been used by listeners and critics to describe their music as well.
Based in NYC, SMEAR-CAMPAIGN released their first self-titled EP in 2002 working with producer Anthony Krizan (songwriter to Lenny Kravitz and former guitarist of the Spin Doctors). Since the release, their songs have been ranked in the top 5 in the Hard Rock Charts on music web sites such as Broadjam.com and Garageband.com, chartings based solely on listener reviews. Most recently prior to the release of their new CD, their songs “Orange Hill” and “Introspect” were ranked in the Top 10 Hard Rock Category on Broadjam.com. “Introspect” peaked at #1 in the Hard Rock Category in the US. In the summer of 2003, their song “Cold” was chosen as Track of the Day in the Hard Rock Category on Garageband.com.
SMEAR-CAMPAIGN emerged onto the New York City music scene playing gigs at CBGB, Continental, Don Hill’s, Downtime, and Mercury Lounge. With a slew of live experience under their belt, and with a new full-length album ready to be released, SMEAR-CAMPAIGN has just begun on their mission to create their brand of complex eclectic hard rock.
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