SPEAKERMUTE

WMFO 91.5 FM BOSTON - HEAR IT WOW -Derrick Gerry
Speakermute: Songs for Selfish Lovers

"Courage" is the word that best defines the debut EP from Lowell, Massachusetts-based Speakermute. This band is confident in its direction, delivering a layered mix of sound that offers nods to its pop and rock influences without sacrificing creativity for the sake of earning an easy genre label. Listen close and you'll hear the echoes of bands ranging from The Clash to Tears for Fears, Third Eye Blind to U2, yet none of it feels derivative. Rather, Speakermute blends these influences into a sophisticated sound that reveals new layers with each listen.
Lead singer Bryan Mac Auslan shows off an impressive range, from the ephemeral vocals hanging over much of "In My Morning" and the radio-ready "Sadie Hawkins Dance" to a pop presence worthy of a young Andy Partridge on "Sound from Another Room." Lead guitarist Corey Blanchette channels the guitar spirit of Pete Townsend in places, but truly excels with slower, melodic riffs that evoke the themes of lost love and bittersweet memories that infuse the lyrics.
Bassist Jared Ambrose and drummer Mark McElligott round out the band, building a sound much larger than one would expect from a quartet. This isn't the quick and dirty pop approach of tossing everyone on the same melody line; it's four accomplished performers with the instinct and trust to weave sounds from their corners.
The title is no accident; this is a collection of songs for those at the crossroads of love, that moment when the self surrenders to the inevitable vulnerability that commitment demands while keeping a cautious eye trained on the pain of past losses. You can dance to it, but you'll get the most joy by listening in a darkened room, a claim that few albums can still make.
It's notable that the band chose to include an instrumental in the mix, "At Dawn We Drove to Billings, We Heard We Could Find Work There." Reflecting the atmospheric, somber mood that these musicians can create, it's an unorthodox but nonetheless inspired choice.
The lone misfire on the six-track EP is "Better Off Said," which never seems to find a coherent center to wrap itself around. It compensates for this lack of direction somewhat by laying the individual contributions of the band members bare, making it a useful map for those who want to deconstruct the other songs.
It takes guts to carve out your own identity as a band. Speakermute is well on its way, and this EP is exactly what everyone who's been crying about the death of music has been wanting.

- WMFO 91.5 FM BOSTON - HEAR IT WOW Feb 2009-Derrick Gerry

THE NOISE MAGAZINE- BOSTON FEBRUARY 2009

SPEAKERMUTE
Songs For Selfish Lovers
6-song CD
This has got to be my favorite album title in quite a long while. The first track was so catchy, I had to really stop and think about how good it sounds. The vocalist sounds kind of like Thom Yorke, but Speakermute is no Radiohead rip-off (although their names sound like cousins, donﾕt they?) With drum-style propulsion to the music that is more in line with Blues Traveler, you see where Iﾕm going with this? No. The music is really good with alternative arranging song craft and thematic arranging... Okay, well letﾕs get to the content. As the title implies, these songs tell the ever-adrift story of wanton longing and inevitable love lost, or at least postponed. It could be a 6-song model for a staged presentation, like a mini musical. The songs really convey the lyric in the right context. Develop more and listen closely. (Mike Loce)

- THE NOISE MAGAZINE- BOSTON FEBRUARY 2009

LOWELL SUN - LOCAL SPOTLIGHT - STEPPING OUT 11-01-07
Loud or Soft Speakermute Rocks
By Rachel R. Briere- rbriere@lowellsun.com

How did speakermute get together?
Originally I knew of the guys for years at Umass, we all went there for music. We were horn players- it’s funny actually, Corey I’ve known for years. We all basically started playing in different bands, then we were living together. We would go over music, ideas and then started playing guitars and bass. We now focus on these instruments.

Why do musicians tend to break off from their original bands and form others?
I was in Kweejeebo, a funk band. It’s just that a lot of bands run their course. We are still friends; we still hang out and will play at some point within the year. With Speakermute it just kind of comes. There is a big difference between guitar rock music and playing funk, which has a lot to do with the mentality and where you are at.

Where did the name Speakermute come from?
I was told when trying to write music you’re always trying to say something. We’re not trying to be political; we’re just speaking what’s on our mind. It’s the contrast when we want to speak out and have something to say and then other times we are not. We are muted. I guess some people look at it as we’re trying to say something on politics or politicians, like put tape over the mouth, but it’s not it.

Do you write all the music?
We all write music collectively, what ends up coming out is a collection of all of us. Someone will present an idea that becomes the foundation. Corey writes a lot of the chords and vocals, but when the four of us get together the song has an identity. It’s easy. We write and it comes together.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your band before?
Its rock influenced with funk-fusion jam beats. I’m influenced by electronic rock. It’s rock with a fusion feel to it.

Do you play cover songs?
We cover The Police and some Warren Zevon who has been a big influence on Corey. We not a cover band though.

It’s funny because some musicians say they would never play covers.
Usually everyone does a cover. We are musicians; any musician that doesn’t like to play good songs is lying. We will cover a Police song but we’re not trying to sound like them, we are trying to sound like SM.

What can we expect in the near future for the band?
We have a six song EP coming out in November and currently have a 10-song album in the works. We’ve laid down all the tracks; we’re halfway finished and hope to get it out soon.

Any gigs coming up?
We’re having a CD release show in November. It’s posted on the website. Booking is tough. The hardest thing about being in a band, and 99 percent of musicians will say this, is just the fact that it can be threatening to go out there, sell stuff, and get gigs. The main thing for us is to play and be creative; getting gigs and stuff like that I do myself. It relieves that stress on some of the guys.

What do you think of the music scene in the Greater Lowell area?
It’s hidden. The problem is there are no venues to play at anymore. There are some really good bands that all play at the college that you and I have never heard of. I think that Lowell in general, musically an artistically, there is a scene, but it is limited

What is Lowell missing?
I think that it is missing the space size-wise. There are a few places that we can really play. People don’t think about music when they think of Lowell. Cities go through phases like this. Five or ten years ago it wasn’t like this. I’m willing to bet that five to ten years from now it will be better than it ever was.

- THE LOWELL SUN

Review- The Noise December 2009- SPEAKERMUTE “The Weight”

I'll concede right off, “A+” for effort here. Impeccably composed, arranged, performed, and produced. Airtight, soaring, shit like that. And not easily pigeonholed, so I can can't just say “for what it is, it's exceptionally ambitious”(which I hate saying anyway), but it is. So, what is it? Polished, adult rock, unfortunately celebrating Junior High-level diary babble. OY, those f?&*%$# ' lyrics. That rare thing where, if they had a fraction of a half-baked atom of an actual message to impart, I'd scream is greatness from mountaintops! ENDLESS winning musical ideas, nuance up the patootie, frittered away on wanna-be sensitive themes of lovelorn angst, sung with much conviction as to render itself impotent. Which isn't to say they're full of shit. I think they mean it, and that's what makes this so difficult. These songs would be a lot more interesting if they were about, say, mayonnaise. Seriously. “Sadie Hawkins Dance”, for example, sounds instantly familiar and belongs on the radio NOW! Just don't listen TOO closely, or you'll get really upset.

Joe Coughlin- Th Noise - The Noise Magazine- Dec 2009

Speakermute is so musically clever that you've got to love the material they're playing. Stylistically, they're hard to pigeonhole but then why would you want to. Speakermute runs in the same category as bands like Steely Dan, U2, Death Cab for Cutie and Jeff Buckley; inventive,original and defying all categoization. They're music is melodious and whymsical and features layers of sound and rhythm that swirl around like snowflakes in the wind. They're pop, progressiove and clasical all in one deep breathe.

On the band's second effort The Weight, Speakermute exceeds all expectations and finds a stride rarely found by bands of any genre. Check out the infectious, funky groove of “stutter”, “Let Him Round”,”The Breaking View” and “E Bomb Baby” and see if Speakermute isn't one of the most original Boston bands performing in today. Good Stuff. - METRONOME MAGAZINE November 2009

ATTENTION, ATTENTION all major labels looking for a can't loss pop/rock band. Speakermute is the answer. They have everything that it takes to be a chart topping act. They write catchy songs that are easy to understand and sing along to (not to mention remember). They have talent at every instrument. The singers voice is distinctive not just another voice in a sea of copy cat rockers.

This is a can't loss score.

The CD was a 6 song EP and every song caught my attention. The band has a polished sound and stlye that reminds me of Cold Play meets U2. Even the instrumental song "At Dawn We Drove to Billings" was a good listen even though it didn't fit in with the rest of the songs on this EP. I would have loved to plug in my Les Paul and record a screaming guitar solo over that tune.


In conclusion
Overall, the style was fresh and inviting. The vocals where clear, understandable and well developed. The music was well recorded with a professional sound that leads me to believe that this band was serious about every phase of their CD release. I really believe that this band has what it takes to be a major label act that could sell millions of CD's. Somebody out there, give this band a shot!
Charles Harrelson- EvO:R Independent Musc Reviewer.
- EVOR Music