Posted 03/28/07

The Smyrk
New Fiction

Jon Taylor l managing editor
jtaylor@smcvt.edu

It seems like everyone with a lackadaisical sense of how to play a guitar, a computer program like GarageBand, and a few poorly-placed microphones, thinks he or she can make the next “Dark Side of the Moon.” For the most part, the majority of this self-produced music is utter and complete garbage. In this world of recycled three-chord crap passing for the next big thing (take that, Arctic Monkeys), The Smyrk’s New Fiction is a gigantic breath of fresh air.

The Smyrk consists of four members — singer Doron Flake, guitarist/bassist Nick Logan, bassist/guitarist Ari Sadowitz, and drummer Chris Barone — who originally hail from the New Haven, Ct. area. The band, newly relocated in Philadelphia, has been shattering stereotypes established by much lesser bands that somehow obtain headlining slots at small local gigs. The Smyrk is the day of reckoning and it’s time to see the light.

The Smyrk (from left to right): Ari Sadowitz, Doron Flake, Chris Barone & Nick Logan Photo by Michael Scott Kenney

Its new EP New Fiction is a blistering joy-ride through the sound that has come to define The Smyrk — a fusion of power rock and soul with just the slightest hint of jazz thrown in for good measure. The first single “Dial V for Venom” exemplifies this formula, mixing Barone’s exceptionally precise drumming with Sadowitz’s (who alternates between bass and lead guitar with Logan) effective hard rock harmonics. Watching Sadowitz play “Venom” is an event in itself, as he effortlessly swaps strummed chords for single-note hammer-on and pull-off riffing — sans pick.

“Conflict Addiction,” a staple of The Smyrk's live performances, features a riff that could be a B-side from a 007 movie and a distinct rhythm that drives a progression of tricky guitar licks and off-beat chord placement. The Smyrk really gels here, finding a common ground amongst Flake’s sharp lyrics and Logan’s lightning-fast transpositions. More of the same is featured on “It Was Nice Meeting You Again,” with equally impressive results.

Flake, who writes all of the band’s lyrics, never falters in his sense of prose when putting his pen to the page. This EP’s title track is brutally honest and draws on some heavy emotional themes:

Maybe it’s the taser talkin’
But that feels like an illegal hold
And though your synapses fire
I know your heart’s still cold

I’d hate to be whoever that’s about. Yeesh.

The real high point, however, is the stunning beauty of “My Weakness.” Forget the generic title; this should and will be The Smyrk’s calling card for years to come. “My Weakness” is a simple ballad that fully showcases the range of Flake’s silky-smooth soul-ridden voice. It’s a balancing act of lush, airy guitar work and nicely-placed cadence that never upsets its sultry flow.

The only spotty track here is “Aphasia,” which leaves ground, but never seems to reach its destination. It’s full of unnecessary shifts that throw off what could be a promising cut. The Smyrk experiments with a new sound on this one and ends up leaving the song merely simmering – not even close to the rapid boil of the other five tracks.

New Fiction is co-produced by the band and former Incubus bassist Ben Kenney. There are little production flourishes scattered throughout the disc, but they never overwhelm, allowing The Smyrk to let its pure sound through. Hopefully the band will re-team with Kenney when they (finally!) record a full-length album. He’s definitely a keeper.

This EP is a brisk ride into the heart of The Smyrk, clocking in at slightly more than 16 minutes long, which is a huge disappointment because once the record starts, you’ll never want it to stop. Even so, it’s still worth the price of admission. The Smyrk will make you believe that the local scene can find a way to splinter your perception of how good music can be.

GPA: 3.7

http://www.thesmyrk.com
http://www.purevolume.com/thesmyrk
http://www.myspace.com/thesmyrk