System and Station
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System and Station

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"Amplifier review"

YSTEM AND STATION
A BRIGHT FUTURE BECKONS

Ryan FK Heise is smiling.

His number one influence: “Sunshine hitting you just when you are about to jump off a bridge.??

Turn the clock back to March 2005 and you’d find the once beleaguered System And Station leader in diving mode, breaking up his beloved band and calling it quits. One year later a ray of light generated by devoted fans along with dedicated new band members spurred Heise into a newfound feeling of optimism which culminates in a new record Here Is Now.

“The album title really comes from the very moment we decided to do another record?? Heise enthuses. “We’d been through so much. I really just needed to take a break.?? The title track, which closes the disc, says it all. “The lyrics were about redemption and the idea that maybe we were all meant to go through the shit we have to in order to truly know ourselves and to live in the present- which is all we really have anyway.??

Seamlessly melding progressive, pop, punk, and jazz-fusion into a commercially accessible collection, the new and improved System is built to last. “Palmer Cloud (guitarist) and I have been playing together since we were kids, so we read each other pretty well. Palmer wrote a lot of the songs with me on this one, and it’s been tremendously rewarding. Adam Draper, our drummer, has been a friend of ours for four years and we played a lot with his band Forth back in the day. He drives the hell out of the songs which is exactly what they need.??

All that was required to get System completely off the ground was a simple twist of fate, which came in the name of bassist Mark Mattrey, who was found by way of (gasp!) a classified ad. Heise proclaims “we are now officially the luckiest band in the world. After the first song we knew he was the missing piece of the puzzle.??

Though Heise and Cloud had demoed a majority of the songs with all the parts mapped out, veteran producer / engineer Larry Crane (John Mellencamp, The Decembertists, The Walkabouts) was instrumental in capturing System’s sonic rebirth on record, tweaking the songs with delay, effects and employing various tricks to spice up the mix. “If Larry said something was wrong, we knew it was wrong. He trusted me as a songwriter.??

With the album format giving way to the downloaded song, classic rocker Heise nevertheless sees a light at the end of the digital tunnel. “If someone can fully express themselves in exactly three minutes and forty two seconds I don’t think they have a fucking thing to say! It is completely scary, it kills the art and the experience of an album and what the artist is truly trying to express. At the same time, I also believe it will come back around to be hip to be the guy that buys albums…kind of like the resurgence of the ten speed bicycle!??

System And Station will soon be taking Here Is Now on the road. Heise eagerly anticipates bringing the latest version of the band to the public. “Many strange things have happened, but one time we were playing a gig and Palmer had three of four bras thrown at him, but the funny thing was, on that night, there were only like fifteen people in the place!?? - Amplifier


"Detroit Metro Times review of 'Here Is Now'"


SIZZLING PLATTER OF THE WEEK:

System and Station — Here Is Now (Latest Flame) :: Now here is a record that’s so refreshingly professional it’ll make you realize how truly amateurish most indie releases are. Well arranged and emotionally engaging, System and Station’s eclectically adventurous brand of melodic music has more than enough of what it takes to get them noticed today while they carve out a niche in tomorrow’s pop pantheon. Good job, lads. Carry on. - Detroit Metro Times


"Kevchino review of 'A Nation of Actors'"

Portland band (by way of Boise, Idaho and Madison, Wisconsin) System and Station have been cutting their by now dagger-sharp teeth for ten years. They’ve made their bread on the old fashioned formula: book shows, blow the crowd away, record an album, repeat.

Their latest album is a no-frills, thoroughly effervescent rocker (á la, Supergrass, Built To Spill, or sometimes, when the mood is right, Queens of the Stone Age) that you can really roll your sleeve up to. From Latest Flame Records in Chicago, A Nation of Actors shows just what happens when you stick to your bread and butter and let the instruments do the talking. Band leader RFK Heise is an enthusiastic vocalist/guitar player, displayed in droves all over the record. His imprint is splayed all over the lead-off track, “The Magnetic North,” through the swirling, tele-mystic title song (and album ender). They also know how to stomp about, evident in the soon-to-be club pleaser, “A Light To Lead You Home.” System and Station songs tend to wax poetic about distance, travel, and space, and while that might seem slightly on the esoteric side, it is no indication of a soft sell. Their brand of rock is pleasing on the gut level.

Maybe System and Station are operating on an antiquated formula for rock band success—they play hard, earnest rock songs, resulting in a soundtrack for summer days. It’s hard to deny that A Nation of Actors gets better each time through its 11-song track set, proving that the hooks are a mere introduction. There is no smoke and mirrors, no lifestyle antidote, no reality show.

What keeps you there with System and Station is a sense that this band has still yet to crest its own wave. - Kevchino


"The Pitch - Kansas City"

"The Magnetic North," by System & Station, fromA Nation of Actors (Latest Flame Records):

The decade mark is a meaningful one for a band like System & Station, a group that has plugged away in relative obscurity despite owning a polished sound that deserves at least as much props as similar, more-lauded acts such as Foo Fighters or Sunny Day Real Estate. Steering its mighty ship through three home states — Idaho, Wisconsin and now Oregon — and four albums, the group is the kind that thrives on enthusiastic responses from small pockets of fans across the country. Kansas City is one such place. Here, S&S can count on massive groupie love from the similarly oriented Life and Times and its attentive following.
- The Pitch


"Portland Mercury"

It's entirely possible that you missed System and Station's last album, A Nation of Actors, upon its release earlier in the year. It's also possible that you're still unfamiliar with the band even though they've been part of the Northwest scene (originally Boise, now Portland) for close to a decade. What's not possible, however, is you being able to resist the hook-laden guitar rock that System and Station lays down; they're not afraid to be catchy while they rock, and their expertly honed songs frequently achieve an unpretentious but inspiring grandeur. In no uncertain terms, System and Station deserves to catch the ear of the same mainstream audience that listens to Modest Mouse, or Death Cab, or Built to Spill; in many ways, the band's skyscape anthems—with their fuzzy guitars and arching melodies—are perfectly engineered to be heard from the sloping field of the annual Sasquatch Festival. Music comes in so many different flavors that it's sometimes easy to forget how good the basics are, so listen to A Nation of Actors and stop worrying about the flavor of the month. Better yet, check out the show tonight. NL - Portland Mercury


"rockfreaks.net review of 'A Nation of Actors'"

System And Station has been one of the most positive surprises I've had in a while. I was expecting a washed up, boring indie rock band when I read their description, but instead I was welcomed by a vibrant, eccentric, lovely sound on their new album "A Nation Of Actors". Just why they haven't gained any more attention yet is a mystery to me, because judging by the songs on this record, their material is exactly of the kind that not only has indie fans drooling, but also transcends genres into experimental music and alternative rock, among others.

The opening song "The Magnetic North" is a gem worth saving for a long time to come. The guitars are refreshingly original, constantly moving between chord based melodies to hooks and plain riffs, with the lead guitar offering unmissable melodic delicacies. The production has been fine-tuned to perfection, with a warm, soft sound with slight roughness on the edges allowing the gentle distortion to really float and support vocalist RFK Heise's eccentric vocal style. "Sell Out" is equally catchy, but more importantly, it showcases that System And Station are able to write songs that don't really sound like anyone else, no matter how hard you try and compare them to others. I guess that's why the band has toured with acts as various as Built To Spill, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Sloppy Seconds. That's everything from soft indie to metal to DIY punk rock for the uninformed, a remarkable achievement if you ask me.

"On The Way" is another album highlight, featuring gentle chords and a slightly faster pace, demonstrating that the band doesn't have to rely only on slow songs to be great. The guitars here are angular, curvy, and pleasantly melodic, creating a rich, rewarding overall instrumental sound. Not the landscape creating kind, but the one where you can really just feel the entire soundscape filling with bright, memorable melody just the right way.

Overall, "A Nation Of Actors" has few faults and tonnes of bright sides. It's awesome to have an indie band sounding friendly and welcoming instead of arrogant and snobby, and perhaps that's why System And Station have gained my uttermost respect with this release. Without a doubt one of the finest indie rock releases this year, don't miss this. [8]
Download: On The Way, The Magnetic North
For the fans of: The New Frontiers, Built To Spill, Copeland, Radiohead
Listen: Myspace - rockfreaks.net


"rockfreaks.net review of 'In The Twilight'"

Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing the third System And Station album "A Nation Of Actors", which was an excellent example of how eccentric, experimental indie rock can be far more interesting than the genre description will initially tell you. The way these guys transcended genres with a distinct sound that's undeniably theirs gained the band a lot of respect in my eyes, and seeing another one of their records land in our mailbox had my lips drooling from excitement. Unfortunately it wasn't their new, yet-unreleased fourth album, but a re-issue of their 2005 debut "In The Twilight", but that's okay because I hadn't heard the record before, and now that I have, it's right up there with "A Nation Of Actors".

System and Station have their own sound, there isn't anyone else who sounds exactly like these guys. That's also why they are such an enjoyable listen, for you never know what's coming next. They play intelligent, experimental indie rock with lots of casual tempo shifts and angular riffs that burst into different directions, giving the otherwise slow-to-medium tempo songs a great energy. Some of the songs are smooth and delicate, featuring extra instruments like electronic organs (at least that's what they sound like on "Oregon", for example), while others are much more direct, in-your-face with an added element of post-hardcore in the mix. A song like "See You On The Moon" showcases these guys at their best: the guitars are wonderful, going in every direction at the same time while maintaining a mildly distorted, high-pitch ring to them. The vocalist croons in a slightly whiny voice (in a nicely warm way), ranging from powerful high-pitch singing to delicate and silky-smooth stuff at mid-range.

The first three tracks are all really strong, upbeat songs that are rich in melody and longevity. They are then followed by a slower sound in "Patience To Burn", which starts off rather uneventfully in comparison to the songs before. The first two and a half minutes or so feature delicate guitars and silky vocals, which are good for absorbing the sheer awesomeness of the songs before, but they aren't anything to write home about. Then all of a sudden the guitars crash, the time-signature changes rapidly, and soaring vocals take over. In an instant, the song has changed from delicate indie into an experimental post-hardcore song that even spills over to punk rock at times. The rock'n'roll styled mini solo towards the end sounds fuckin' rowdy as well. A similar formula can be found on "Same As You", which also starts with gentle keyboards, soft ambiance, and a loud bass-line. The band again spends the first half of the song experimenting with various guitar melodies, but around the half-point mark the soaring vocals and angular guitars take over. The quiet/loud shifts are completely seamless and make the songs so much more interesting than if the band just played on quietly for the whole duration. When they aren't busy building up experimental soundscapes and exploding them into soaring melodies, System And Station are rather happy at just delivering back-chilling scaling vocal harmonies, as evident on a track like "Spanish Tree". There's something about this dude's voice that makes these songs work so well; he sings so calmly, yet with such emotion and devotion to the music that you can't but admire his ability. Where some vocalists need to scream and yell, and others just need to place a significant amount of power behind them, this guy is at his best during his relaxed moments. Think of Copeland's softest moments, or even the dude from The New Frontiers for a point of reference.

While most indie rock bands tend to follow a set formula for the genre, and some are even successful in doing just that, System And Station's debut album "In The Twilight" and their third album "A Nation Of Actors" demonstrate a band that's walking their own path, writing heartfelt music that just feels so right in every way. You know they've got it right when ten listens in you're still discovering new intricacies in every song. [8]
Download: See You On The Moon, Spanish Tree, Patience To Burn
For the fans of: Copeland, Built To Spill, The New Frontiers - rockfreaks.net


"Wired"


It’s easy to lump this Portland-based band into the mix with Shiner, Built to Spill and Sunny Day Real Estate, because it has played with all of them. But it’s still alive, unlike two of those bands, and its latest effort A Nation of Actors bites a bit harder than Doug Martsch lately has. But no worries, Built to Spill, Listening Post likes growling guitar bands, long after they’ve gone soft.

Speaking of soft, check out the stream for System and Station’s track "Light to Lead You Home" below. It’s the most chilled tune on the band’s MySpace page, but still shreds rather nicely. And also take a peek at the band’s album cover for A Nation of Actors. Remind you of anything? I’m calling the cover for Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. Anyone else?

Either way, System and Station has upgraded its sonics for a 21st century looking for nostalgia in a crunchy, new wrapper. I’ll taste some of that for sure. If you’d like to as well, the band kicks off its national tour on August 20 in its hometown. Get some. - Wired


Discography

System and Station
'I'm Here To Kill' - EP - Oct 27, 2009

'A Nation of Actors' - 2008
'Here Is Now' - 2006
'In The Twilight' - 2005
'If You Find Me, Let Me Know' - EP - 2003
'Pictures Found In Paragraphs' - 2000
'Prospects of Living Daily' - EP - 1999

Photos

Bio

System and Station have been crafting smart, angular indie-pop for a decade now. While most bands have a tough time reaching the 10-year mark without growing stale or going through the motions, S&S are busy writing albums that consistently move forward into a melodic and tighter whole without sacrificing the serrated edge of their live shows.

Their new EP, ‘I’m Here To Kill’, features guest appearances by Scott Hampton (Bear Proof, Acetalyne), Douglas Jenkins (The Portland Cello Project)m and Elizabeth Venable (Sad Horse), who sings the lead on the haunting track “I’m Here To Kill”.

This short-playing EP is lyrically based on the true story of a woman living in the Pacific Northwest, her struggle with abusive relationships and the loss of her child at the hands of her then husband. S&S leader Ryan Heise, explains, “The title I’m Here To Kill comes from her stories of revenge. Waking up next to her husband, watching him sleep and thinking “I love you but I’m going to kill you”.

Larry Crane, of famed Portland Studio Jackpot!, recorded and produced ‘I’m Here To Kill’.

System and Station formed as a 3-piece in Boise, ID in 1998. Since their inception, and through moves to Madison and back to the west coast (Portland, OR has been home for the last 8 years) singer-songwriters and mainstay, Ryan Heise, has guided them through 4 full-length records, and 4 EP’s. Along the way they’ve gone on 19 national tours, owned two very loyal Ford E350 Club Wagons, and have had approximately 12 breakdowns (some in -20 degree weather, some strictly mental).

They torched approximately 4 computer monitors in San Antonio, have seen 1 man dressed as a nun physically defile another person in New York, and have been jumped by 1 crackhead and 2 hookers in Knoxville, TN. They crashed at the house of the producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show (along w/Caustic Resin) without him being aware of it. They’ve had 1 fight with a gang of dj’s in Las Vegas, have been in 1 Texas jail cell, and have been pickpocketed by a gypsy in New Orleans.

System and Station have played with everyone from Marky Ramone to Shiner, from Alex Chilton to Built To Spill, from Jeremy Enigk to Canyon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Meat Puppets, The Life and Times, and oh yeah…Sloppy Seconds. They’ve met some of most inspiring and amazing people on planet earth who have taken them in without a second thought, and that is their favorite part of all of this.