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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"the makeout song EP review"

Somebody needs to teach these guys that 2 songs is a single, not an e.p. This new duo out of Boston does minimal electro garage punk like early Beastie Boys meets The White Stripes meets LCD Soundsystem, with heavy drums, fuzzed-out guitar, electronic fizzes and blorps, and humorous rhymes. The a-side is okay, but the b-side "High School" is a clunker with its widdly psychedelic guitar solo. Still, I have to laud them for their diversity of influences and for having their sound down right out of the gate, even though it's not one I'm a fan of. (mike.08.05)

http://www.copacetic-zine.com/music/product.php - copacetic-zine.com


"smother.net MOS EP reivew"

The Product - The Makeout Song EP Editor's Pick

“Loose lips might sink ships”. Oh don’t we all miss the fun posters of World War II? Hey at least back then Americans sacrificed something for their warriors rather than calling a magnetic yellow ribbon on their SUV a massive sacrifice. Massachusetts’ The Product call their ethic pure DIY in spirit and I certainly think I’d have to agree. That’s not to say the end product (excuse the rather inexcusable pun please) is lo-fi in quality; indeed these two songs are fun electronic rock jams that punctuate each note with a finesse that bands with millions of dollars in a budget aim for. Both songs have a funky lean to them and I’m excited to hear whatever they follow this with. - smother.net


"Insite Boston Live Review"

The Product – Smart Guys Multiply Fanbase

MIT’s latest invention, The Product, didn’t get me dancing, but these smartypants did get me thinking. After seeing these
guys, anyone who believes that Green Day is punk or alternative must be a true American Idiot.
Fans of the Product are smart enough to spot something that is rooted in punk’s rebellious spirit, but aren’t pretending to
be punk, pop, or anything in between. Everyone at a recent All Asia performance was enthralled by the jolting, highly
original performance. According to frontman Dan Paluska, fans “don’t mind laughing at themselves, smiling with us, and
jumping around.”
Engineering songs that don’t conform to the predicable standards that keep Boston crowds moving can’t be easy to write
and perform. On the genesis of their songs, guitarist Grant Kristofek said, “I've used acoustic guitars, electric guitars,
mandolin, harmonica, bass, keyboard, drums, beatmaking software, samplers, my voice, power tools, etc.”
At less than two years old, the band is just getting started. At this early stage the crowds are small and the dream is big.
Make the smart move to see them before The Product multiplies its fan base and you’ll be sure to have the time of your
life.
See The Product on April 15 @ 11:45pm @ O’Brien’s in Brighton. - Insite Boston Magazine


"stata live review"

Amusia, the Product
The Stata Center Amphitheater at MIT
Cambridge, MA
September 8, 2005
MIT’s Stata Center is a polarizing piece of architecture. While some see the building
as a look into the future, others regard it as a gross monument to ego. In the “back
yard” of the Stata Center is a medium-sized ampitheater, the kind where Socrates
might have hung out, except it’s made out of bright orange brick and populated by
electrical engineers. Instead of Greek philosophy, the smart kids were treated to a
one-two punch of local rock, courtesy of MIT-based bands Amusia and the Product.
Amusia took the stage/ground first, Ruth Peterson a confident and emotive singer
upfront, flanked by the brothers Russell on drums and guitar, along with a new
bassist. Matt Russell’s lively performance behind his seemingly too-small kit powered
Amusia’s set. He was a ceaseless whirlwind of sticks, brass, and faces (he likes to
sing along). A lilting mix of Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant, Peterson wastes
no breath; every available bit of lung power is employed for a strong and true tone.
The drumming and vocals take center stage, masking the mid-‘90s generic alt-rock
guitar strumming that infiltrates almost every song. Peterson’s confidence permeated
the band, providing a strong and solid set in which the band won over new fans with
their smooth brand of adult-alternative music.
Upon arrival, the Product quickly made it known that their trip was a different one from
the pleasantly heady Amusia sound. It began the moment that Grant Kristofek opened
up his guitar case and produced a bright red BC Rich guitar formed in the indelible
shape of metal. Frontman/bassist Dan Paluska joined him on stage in the requisite
western-style shirt and skinny-guy jeans, while behind them sat drummer Clark Kemp,
who smiled almost apologetically when he wasn’t mercilessly bashing the drum kit into
submission. The Product mixed their own brand of old-school rap with Black
Sabbath-flavored guitar riffs. Paluska seemed to have earnestly worked on his moves.
Once the beats began, he adopted the goofiest frontman stance the local rock scene
has witnessed in a while, bowing his legs as if riding a horse, prancing and mincing
around on the toes of his sneakers like a post-punk Pinocchio on marionette strings,
and punctuating the big musical hits with some rather impressive jumps. Kristofek’s
creative work on the guitar utilized some interesting synth-effect pedals as well as a
9-volt battery as a string-bow, perhaps as a nod to Harvard University’s own Tom
Morello, who uses Allen wrenches to similar effect. The Product could be described
as post-docs playing high school rock, but they are most definitely the real thing. The
stringy guitar riffing, bass slapping, and drum pounding stand proudly singular as the
Stata Center itself. Whether singing about drunken neighbors, mysterious electronics,
or even doing their own paraphrased version of “Scarborough Fair,” the result was a
fine evening for the MIT audience, even worth sitting on those damned orange bricks
for two-plus hours.
-C.D. Di Guardia - Northeast Performer Magazine


"BEST PRESS SNIPPETS"

“...fun electronic rock jams that punctuate each note with a finesse that
bands with millions of dollars in a budget aim for. “ - smother.net
”...minimal electro garage punk like early Beastie Boys meets The White
Stripes meets LCD Soundsystem...” -copacetic zine
“While any girl these songs are directed at has reason to be disturbed, The
Makeout Song EP is a decidedly enjoyable experience.” -NE Perfromer
"Fans of the Product are smart enough to spot something that is rooted
in punk's rebellious spirit, but [isn’t] pretending to be punk, pop, or
anything in between.” -INSite Boston
“... everything good that every came of 80's music, with awesome vocals
and great stage presence. ” Emergenza Magazine Live Show Review - various magazines


"NE Performer Spotlight, May 2006"

The Product
Words by C.D. Di Guardia
Photo by Dave Reeves

Let’s go check on that jacket,” suggests Clark Kemp. The jacket he refers to is his own which he left hanging on a fence post a good 200 yards away, out of sight. “I had forgotten about it, actually,” muses Dan Paluska, thoughtfully fingering a falafel that he has just purchased from one of the many food-service trucks that park in this particular area, which happens to be the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kemp and Paluska are more than a simple PhD and soon-to-be PhD from the foremost scientific institute in the world; they are members of the Product, and that is all that matters today. “Grant can’t be here,” explains Paluska. The missing band member, guitarist Grant Kristofek, is at work. While Paluska and Kemp are both still heavily involved in research at MIT, Kristofek is a full-fledged member of the workforce when he’s not ripping out bizarre noises on his metal-shaped BC Rich guitar for the Product. This post-punk/dance/old-school trio has been exciting smart people for about a year now. They are venturing outside of the labs and the libraries with their music, trying to reach as many ears as possible.

While the Product is quick to cite all MIT rock bands such as Sonic Bonnet or Chimp Simple, people generally don’t expect anything resembling this band to emanate from between the stately pillars, but here they are. They are sitting on the harsh orange bricks of Frank Gehry’s amphitheatre trying to explain their old-school rap influence. “I think it’s pretty apparent,” says Paluska. “I mean, the first words are ‘Kick It!’ and that kind of sets the tone.” Paluska is referring to “The Makeout Song,” one of the first Product pieces that the band put together in their home studio as part of their experimental two-song EP. “The Makeout Song” is a bombastic call to arms, or lips, in which Paluska seeks not only personal attention, but also incites whoever is within earshot to make out with everyone else. “It’s the eighth wonder of the human race,” proclaims Paluska.

The Product can be described as post-docs playing high-school rock, but they don’t do it to be ironic or cool; they just like to freak out onstage.

They sing about silly things and they do some silly things too. “I like to jump,” states Paluska, in a moment of extreme understatement. He is the focal point of this musical triad and serves as bassist, MC, singer, and acrobat. Every once in a while, Paluska bends his knees down really far and then he’s up in the air, shouting about steak take-out and stakeouts and anything else he can think about. Sitting at the drum kit, Charlie “Clark” Kemp bashes his drums with both ferocity and an almost apologetically genial smile. Guitarist Kristofek stomps on weird pedals to make his guitar sound anything like a guitar. The Product’s live show is a mere representation of the band’s recorded songs.

“I’d say there are two Products,” says Kemp as he thoughtfully considers his truck-bought lunch. “You have your studio Product and your live Product,” he concludes, holding up a spoon for the studio, a napkin for the stage. “Ah, there it is,” he exclaims, as his green jacket comes into view. Paluska picks up the train of thought as Kemp picks up the jacket: “Yeah, we put a lot of what you might call extra [stuff] on the tracks like drum machines and synthesized sounds, but we don’t bring them with us when we play out,” says Paluska.

www.usemoreproduct.com

The Product is currently working on a full-length release, which is as-yet untitled. They hope to have it done before the end of summer. - NorthEast Performer


Discography

The Makeout Song EP - 2005

We've confirmed airplay on WAAF, WZBC, WMBR, and WMFO.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

The Product is a three man rock formation. They coalesced in fall 2004 and haven’t
gathered moss yet. Their mission is simple: have a damn good time playing music,
make shitloads of money, and get lots of lingerie thrown on stage.
Although The Product doesn't think of itself as sounding 'Punk' as it's currently
defined, they're heavily influenced by the original punk DIY aesthetic. This
aesthetic shows up in everything they do from home recording, to homemade
cardboard CD mailers, to modified guitar electronics. They are committed to
experimentation on stage and in the studio. They're already well-known for their
energetic and unpredictable live shows. Most stages barely contain the relentless
energy of the six million dollar dan, whose legs move like Gumby’s on adderall.
Grant and Clark arrive at each gig with heavy sacks of quarters with which they
feed the mechanical bull until sunrise. Grant wrenches majestic power chord
soundscapes from his trusty axe, Big Red, while Clark shows off his super powers
with an array of other worldly beats. Props and guests are the norm. How many
punk bands have a classically trained opera singer as a guest? The Product is coy,
brash and dastardly clever. Why don’t you try to listen to their entire demo while
sitting down and frowning.
The Product teamed up with friend and electronic music producer Ben Recht, aka
Local Fields, to produce the included tracks. Working in Dan's basement studio
and using Ableton Live, they've created something which resembles their live
material but also quickly exposes their early hip-hop and dance music influences .
The Product has played numerous venues all over Boston including TT the Bears,
the Middle East downstairs., and the Paradise. Their members have been active in
the Boston music scene for years and can also be found around town playing in
blues jams or rocking laptops at dance music events. If you want to come over for
breakfast, Dan can make you some holy toast.