The Sharking

Anyone who’s familiar with Boston’s local scene will recognize the name Marc Flynn: once the co-vocalist of Big D And The Kids Table, he also co-led the punchy-yet-quirkily melodic Drexel with current The Lot Six member Aaron Sinclair. Having been relatively silent since Drexel went caput several years back, Flynn has returned with The Sharking, the logical continuation of the acoustic stuff he had been dabbling with toward the end of Drexel. The strength of Flynn’s songs has always been the off-kilter melodic vocals, and The Sharking put ‘em front and center. Evoking the later period Elvis Costello records such as Mighty Like a Rose and Brutal Youth, Flynn somehow crams playful verbal meter (well pronounced too, mind you) and surprising melodic twists-and-turns into a deceivingly “pop” aesthetic, all the while his more than capable backing band muscularly accentuates the right moments (not unlike The Attractions). What you get are songs smart enough to be in the same league as Spoon, but catchy enough to be paired up with Ad Frank or The Apples In Stereo. It’s not only great to witness the return of one of Boston’s most refreshing songwriters, but to see that some people do still write songs without preconceived notions of genre or hipness. - Tim Den

A good band is hard to find—after all, The Sharking don’t play very often.

“It’s not really an effort to emulate any sort of aquatic predator,” says Shark-in-chief, Marc Flynn, “but I see how it could be seen as such. Laying low and then striking when you least expect it.”

That about sums up my experience with The Sharking’s debut: a nifty little 18-minute, six-song pop attack that snuck right up on me, took a big bite and has yet to let go. Clever lyrics and catchy hooks abound, and each track offers something fresh—from the nasty gnarl of guitars Built to Spilling all over the place in “Calculations,” to the tumbling Costello’d melodies of “Stop, Look & Listen,” to the lovable Ted Leo chatterboxing of “Life Has Been.” They sound like a band I’ve been listening to for years—or rather, like something that ate all the bands I’ve been listening to for years.

“In the past, when someone would get lynched, they'd call it a lynching. Maybe when sharks eat someone, it's a sharking,” Flynn says.

This particular shiver of sharks formed just last year, a few months after Flynn’s former band, Drexel, split up. Gathering up some songs that were “too melodic” for Drexel, Flynn recruited the help of a coterie of busy fellows: bassist Emeen Zarookian (of the Sterns), guitarist Ted Billings (of the Age Rings) and drummer Anthony Modano (formerly of Kicked in the Head). You’d think a band of part-timers would sound like one, but they don’t; and apparently, the eager ears of college DJs agree—their debut entered the CMJ Top 200 at #99 and jumped to #43 within two weeks—not bad for an album they released themselves.

“It's fun to look at the chart and be one of only two self-released records,” Flynn says. “I don't really know the logistics of the whole thing, but I get to tell my mom my band is on a chart of some sort. The chart also has a key to show you how to read it, which seems pretty legit to a parent.”
- MICHAEL BRODEUR

Late January, early February is a bit of a dreary time here in Texas. It’s not cold. It’s not hot. It’s either exceptionally dry such as this year and you’re catching shit on fire throwing your cigarette butts out the window or it’s gray and drizzly. What better time to throw on a toe-tappingly catchy guitar pop record with a heavy dose of riffage? So as you’re stuck in morning traffic, cursing construction crews, roll down the windows, turn up the stereo and let all cares, and those cigarettes, fly right out the window.

The Sharking’s debut EP burns through more hooks than Joe Frazier in 17 1/2 minutes and burrows under your skin from the hearty bass and cruchy percussion of “Life Has Been” right on through the countrified closer “Stop Look & Listen”. It’s pop music without the pretentiousness of late or the need to have a list of instruments longer than the list of tracks as it tips it’s hat to Elvis Costello, dingy bar house bands and contemporary hipsters alike.

And besides, who can’t relate to lyrics like this? “Wish that you could see me now / I know you’d be smiling ear to ear / and you’d say ‘I told you so’ / and you’d pick a spot and watch me drown” (from my personal fav “Ocean”)

7.1 Rating - Nick

The Sharking’s little-known status belies their skill. With over 20 years of collective touring experience under the members’ belts, the Sharking has issued a debut filled with catchy, up-tempo guitar rock. The energetic, straightforward vocal delivery portrays the band’s intelligent, thoughtful reflections perfectly, and never ventures into the cliched avenues of girls or angst. Borrowing Elvis Costello’s approach and an indie pop star’s attitude, the Sharking’s complex set of influences contribute to an impressive whole. For this, only the very broad label of “rock” seems appropriate. With a riff or two seemingly taken straight from Deep Purple, the Sharking pulls on more influences than most groups do in their entire careers. The New Englanders aren’t totally above imitation — on “Life Has Been,” the singer puts on his best impression of Spoon’s Britt Daniels, and the band gleefully follows suit. But overall, the artists present a promising composite of earnest songwriting that has just the right number of hooks. While the debut’s six tracks seem to meld into one long exercise, the Sharking is sure to stay a stand-out act.
4 of 5 stars - Raphael Garcia

The Sharking from the Boston area, play a pop rock variation that is a mix of old 70s southern rock and early 90s indie rock. It makes for a very toe tapping experience, and even more intriguing is that you cannot be in a bad mood after listening to The Sharking's latest release (debut, perhaps?). The Sharking offer up a great pop album that reminds me a lot of Elvis Costello, the Kinks, and a bit of the block of indie artists that peppered the airwaves in the 90s. While I usually bash anything that isn't punk rock, or at least doesn't even try to be punk, I found that this album pleased me on more than one occasion. With their upbeat tempos, seventies styled rhythm section, simple, but effective drumming, deliberate lead guitars that mimic a lot of southern rock licks, combined with the lead vocals provide for a very comforting effort. While I like the album and think that the band is extremely talented, by creating catchy and entertaining pop gems, I don't think it would fit many of the Hussieskunk listening audience. The acoustic guitars, piano backings, drumming reminiscent of Ringo Star and the southern fried country influenced lead guitars, simply would not be anything the crusty punks of the world would enjoy. However, I will give my approval to anyone who is a fan of good music, to check out The Sharking on their own time, as this disc is a great introduction to the brilliance of this band. -MG - Matt G.