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Centro-matic

(We featured this artist last year on See You in the Pit; the following is a semi-reprint that's been updated.)

Will Johnson must be one of the most prolific songwriters in independent rock today, writing and performing songs under his own name, as well as South San Gabriel and Centro-matic. At the core, Centro-matic is a rock band from Denton, Texas that has slowly built up a fan base across the United States through a mad-cap touring schedule. Fans of Whiskeytown, Son Volt, and Uncle Tupelo will appreciate their Americana-tinged music. Centro-matic are best described as the new working-class heroes of indie rock: spunning up catchy country rock spanning a wide spectrum of pop, with flourishes by organ, cello, piano, and violin. It's classic, it's elemental, it's a sound that never goes out of style, and also amazingly well executed for a band that's been around for years and years. (The band is celebrating its tenth birthday in a few weeks.)

That particular sonic combination may not seem out of the ordinary at first, but their country-fried pop combines the best of sweet, carefully-arranged ballads with energetic bursts of rock and loud, hook-filled power pop anthems with a healthy dash of Texas weird. The signature sound of Johnson's sincere, gravelly vocals mixed with the insistent keyboards of Scott Danborn create pure joy, live, and audiences agree. Just listen to "Love Has Found Me" and see if you don't find yourself whistling or humming along to the adorably sweet song. The first time I saw Centro-matic live, I didn't know what to expect but within a minute or two, I found a large grin on my face and one of my best friends shouting how happy she was to be there at that very moment.

On Fort Recovery, we find the band three years later and more polished than ever, with Johnson's voice sidling up to speakers, swinging, under guitar flourishes. It's the type of album with just enough classic rock roots to make it perfect for pumping up the volume in your notional vintage convertible, and letting the wind run through your hair, with just enough grit and heart to stand out from the crowd. No fancy sleight of hand, no tricks, and no gimmicks: Centro-matic are as American as good old-fashioned rock'n'roll.

Centro-matic - I See Through You
Centro-matic - For New Starts
Centro-matic - Take a Rake
Centro-matic - Flashes and Cables
Centro-matic - Argonne Limit Co.
Centro-matic - Biology Tricks
Centro-matic - Love Has Found Me

Centro-matic official web site. Fort Recovery is in stores on March 7th but you can get it via mailorder from Misra Records right now, or pre-order from Amazon. You can also buy their last album, Love You Just the Same, from Misra Records, Amazon, iTunes Music Store.

Shadows tags: centromatic.

Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 02.17.06 at 12:18 AM

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