The Handshake

The Handshake is a band that calls Brooklyn, New York home and is comprised of Keith Fredrickson on vocals and guitar, Daniel Kutcher on bass, and Joe Hertenstein on drums. Andy Marcinkowski appears as a special guest and provides synthesizers and samples. Their debut album, also titled The Handshake, is described as being beautifully alive. A handshake is an agreement, an understanding, a welcome, an interaction. Likewise, the music of this band is dependent upon the interaction between the musicians and the listeners, a creative spark that lights even the coldest of nights.

"Margaret" is the introductory track and the contagious energy of this offering will have the feet tapping from the start. Fredrickson's vocals are confident and have an edge of punk to them. The delivery is strong and conveys the well-written lyrics wonderfully. The Handshake may fall into the "pop" music category, but in all honesty, it is evident that their brand of music is unique, and if this track is any indication of what the rest of the album has in store, listeners are in for a treat.??"Rejuvenate" is an upbeat number with a catchy rhythm and lyrics that portray the human emotions that this band so easily puts into musical form. Not every band has the skills to write exceptional lyrics, let alone put them to music so effortlessly. The vocals are a bit pitchy at times, but this only adds to the overall charm of the piece. "Louise" changes the pace up a bit with a slower tempo and Kutcher on bass and Hertenstein on drums are spot on with their performance. Fredrickson's vocal ability is likewise showcased within this offering and this track has attitude, sensuality, and a skilled performance by all band members.

"Manhattan" is one of the more intricate songs on the album and the sound quality is absolutely stellar. Every note and effect is clean and Marcinkowski on synths and samples is the star of this track. Fans will simply love this song due to its diversity, otherworldly elements and killer vocals. "Science" is a unique and lovely song that highlights the softer side of The Handshake. Their ability to transform human emotions into the most beautiful music is uncanny and their skill in carrying it out is fantastic. This melodic and haunting piece is made even better by Fredrickson's vocals, which range from low to high without a missed note.

The Handshake continues to enthrall with "Backwards," the longest track on the album, and also the most melancholy. With a sense of harmonious sadness, the band gracefully embraces the heartache and sense of despair that we all feel occasionally, once again creating a song that hits home lyrically and instrumentally. "Electricity" picks the pace up a bit with a more energetic rhythm and a great guitar hook. The Handshake showcases their skill navigating differentiating tempos within this piece and they do it effortlessly. Every song on the album is lyrically sound and very well-written, but this one is perhaps the most poignant.

"Horizon" is another Marcinkowski specialty with regards to the synthesizers and sound effects, but the other members of the band each add their own unique talents to make this a well-rounded piece with excellent tempo changes and a smooth rhythm. "Margaret Revisited" is a longer version of the first track “Margaret” and contains a guitar solo that adds a little something the original song didn’t have. Following “Margaret Revisited”, there is a brief track, aptly called “Soon”, which consists of the sound of an airplane doing a fly-by and leads nicely into "Dead Man Running," which begins with light acoustic guitar work and a cheerful and uplifting vibe, but also contains a darker edge and an ethereal flair.

The Handshake is an album full of skill, talent and exceptionally written songs that is a must for anyone with any sense of good music. This collection of original and unique songs will definitely stand the test of time. This album can't be categorized into a specific genre. The band takes elements of rock, punk and pop to create an exquisite blend of intricate melodies and a lasting style of music that cannot be replicated. The Handshake has succeeded in interacting not just with their fans, but with the hearts of everyone who listens to this extraordinary pleasing and well-rounded collection of music.

Artist: The Handshake
Album: The Handshake?Reviewed by Rhonda Readence
5 stars (out of 5) - Rhonda Readence

The Handshake is a band that calls Brooklyn, New York home and is comprised of Keith Fredrickson on vocals and guitar, Daniel Kutcher on bass, and Joe Hertenstein on drums. Andy Marcinkowski appears as a special guest and provides synthesizers and samples. Their debut album, also titled The Handshake, is described as being beautifully alive. A handshake is an agreement, an understanding, a welcome, an interaction. Likewise, the music of this band is dependent upon the interaction between the musicians and the listeners, a creative spark that lights even the coldest of nights.

"Margaret" is the introductory track and the contagious energy of this offering will have the feet tapping from the start. Fredrickson's vocals are confident and have an edge of punk to them. The delivery is strong and conveys the well-written lyrics wonderfully. The Handshake may fall into the "pop" music category, but in all honesty, it is evident that their brand of music is unique, and if this track is any indication of what the rest of the album has in store, listeners are in for a treat.??"Rejuvenate" is an upbeat number with a catchy rhythm and lyrics that portray the human emotions that this band so easily puts into musical form. Not every band has the skills to write exceptional lyrics, let alone put them to music so effortlessly. The vocals are a bit pitchy at times, but this only adds to the overall charm of the piece. "Louise" changes the pace up a bit with a slower tempo and Kutcher on bass and Hertenstein on drums are spot on with their performance. Fredrickson's vocal ability is likewise showcased within this offering and this track has attitude, sensuality, and a skilled performance by all band members.

"Manhattan" is one of the more intricate songs on the album and the sound quality is absolutely stellar. Every note and effect is clean and Marcinkowski on synths and samples is the star of this track. Fans will simply love this song due to its diversity, otherworldly elements and killer vocals. "Science" is a unique and lovely song that highlights the softer side of The Handshake. Their ability to transform human emotions into the most beautiful music is uncanny and their skill in carrying it out is fantastic. This melodic and haunting piece is made even better by Fredrickson's vocals, which range from low to high without a missed note.

The Handshake continues to enthrall with "Backwards," the longest track on the album, and also the most melancholy. With a sense of harmonious sadness, the band gracefully embraces the heartache and sense of despair that we all feel occasionally, once again creating a song that hits home lyrically and instrumentally. "Electricity" picks the pace up a bit with a more energetic rhythm and a great guitar hook. The Handshake showcases their skill navigating differentiating tempos within this piece and they do it effortlessly. Every song on the album is lyrically sound and very well-written, but this one is perhaps the most poignant.

"Horizon" is another Marcinkowski specialty with regards to the synthesizers and sound effects, but the other members of the band each add their own unique talents to make this a well-rounded piece with excellent tempo changes and a smooth rhythm. "Margaret Revisited" is a longer version of the first track “Margaret” and contains a guitar solo that adds a little something the original song didn’t have. Following “Margaret Revisited”, there is a brief track, aptly called “Soon”, which consists of the sound of an airplane doing a fly-by and leads nicely into "Dead Man Running," which begins with light acoustic guitar work and a cheerful and uplifting vibe, but also contains a darker edge and an ethereal flair.

The Handshake is an album full of skill, talent and exceptionally written songs that is a must for anyone with any sense of good music. This collection of original and unique songs will definitely stand the test of time. This album can't be categorized into a specific genre. The band takes elements of rock, punk and pop to create an exquisite blend of intricate melodies and a lasting style of music that cannot be replicated. The Handshake has succeeded in interacting not just with their fans, but with the hearts of everyone who listens to this extraordinary pleasing and well-rounded collection of music.

Artist: The Handshake
Album: The Handshake?Reviewed by Rhonda Readence
5 stars (out of 5) - Rhonda Readence