Stone Mountain Station
Brooklyn, New York, United States | SELF
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Self-described as an alt-country americana rock band, New York-based Stone Mountain Station has released their second EP effort, Sundown at High Noon. The band was formed by Mark Ciani in 2011 with the goal of adding to the New York music scene some much-needed timeless-sounding rock tunes.
The EP opens up with "Kiss Me," a mid-tempo number that displays pretty much all the elements the band is made of: steady rhythm, guitars and piano in the pocket, and harmonizing male and female vocals. The formula suits them just well. And the short piano solo was a nice touch. "Tonight" is definitely the EP's catchiest song with Anna Murphy front and center on the vocals. However, "Something Good" moved me more than the rest of them. It opens up as a soft piano ballad. Then the drums have this nice pick-up rhythm at around forty-four seconds in. Beautiful song. Lots of dynamics.
SMS's charm is in their grit. They have a nice garage quality reminiscent of many of my favorite classic rock albums. But this is no special effect they applied with software after the recording was finished--at least, not from what I can tell. They're the real deal. The music is rock; the vocals are country; this is pure americana in the vein of Neil Young, Wilco, and The Bottle Rockets. Sometimes that classic sound comes full circle and is new all over again. Stone Mountain Station has achieved such a feat with Sundown at High Noon. Refreshing. - musicemissions.com
Self-described as an alt-country americana rock band, New York-based Stone Mountain Station has released their second EP effort, Sundown at High Noon. The band was formed by Mark Ciani in 2011 with the goal of adding to the New York music scene some much-needed timeless-sounding rock tunes.
The EP opens up with "Kiss Me," a mid-tempo number that displays pretty much all the elements the band is made of: steady rhythm, guitars and piano in the pocket, and harmonizing male and female vocals. The formula suits them just well. And the short piano solo was a nice touch. "Tonight" is definitely the EP's catchiest song with Anna Murphy front and center on the vocals. However, "Something Good" moved me more than the rest of them. It opens up as a soft piano ballad. Then the drums have this nice pick-up rhythm at around forty-four seconds in. Beautiful song. Lots of dynamics.
SMS's charm is in their grit. They have a nice garage quality reminiscent of many of my favorite classic rock albums. But this is no special effect they applied with software after the recording was finished--at least, not from what I can tell. They're the real deal. The music is rock; the vocals are country; this is pure americana in the vein of Neil Young, Wilco, and The Bottle Rockets. Sometimes that classic sound comes full circle and is new all over again. Stone Mountain Station has achieved such a feat with Sundown at High Noon. Refreshing. - musicemissions.com
Discography
Victory Avenue EP -- March 2012
Sundown at High Noon EP -- January 2013
Sum of It LP -- TBD
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Bio
Who is Stone Mountain Station?
Stone Mountain Station is a rock band from New York City. Keyboardist and vocalist Mark Ciani founded the band in 2011, after he finished writing a bunch of songs that would have fit quite well on the Band's self-titled album. He and four others, including drummer Matt Musty and bassist Ryan Gleason, recorded four of those songs in January 2012 and released them as their first EP Victory Avenue. Now cooking with gas, Mark, Matt, and Ryan recruited Matt and Ryan's Berklee college buddy, guitarist Alvaro Kapaz, and the four of them quickly recorded and released a second EP, Sundown at High Noon.
While both EPs were excellent facsimiles of some of the band's favorite artists, Mark's voice was quite limited and, to make the mind-blowing noises Mark was hearing in his head, the band needed to add some young blood to the band. Enter Dan Sussman and Gina Tolentino. Guitarist Dan Sussman provides Stone Mountain Station with a rhythmic anchor that frees Mark and Alvaro to produce beautiful melodies and hooks. He also is a gifted songwriter in his own right. Lead singer Gina Tolentino has a transcendent voice that appeals to virtually every human on the planet and most other mammals as well. With the addition of Gina and Dan, the band is ready to take off.
What does Stone Mountain Station sound like?
Stone Mountain Station's first two EPs can be characterized as alt-country, americana, folk or country rock. The sounds are warm, familiar, and inviting, and the melodies will swim in your head for days.
The new material that the band has recently put together is a different animal. While the touchstones of alt-country and americana are still there, the band has added elements of r&b, classic rock, indie rock, prog rock, and pop to its sound. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. You will love it.
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