The Subterraneans

          Having been birthed in the "city that never sleeps" (NYC), The Subterraneans bring a mix of punk and classic rock together to create music with catchy hooks, hard-hitting drum fills, and ripping guitar riffs, all wrapped up in a commercially viable album that feels right at home as we near warmer weather and ultimately summer.  Having been formed in the 1990's, guitarist and vocalist Rik Mercaldi, drummer Mike Roze, and bassist Mike Curry are no strangers to the record industry and, on their new label Pyrrhic Victory Recordings, have just released their first album (Lost)  after a 9 year hiatus.

The Subterraneans New Album, Lost

          Lost makes a strong first impression with the track "What's On Your Mind".  The song begins with an upbeat distorted chord progression, backed by a classic drum beat.  Quickly transitioning into the verse, a clean-ringing single-note pattern and jazz-esque chords color the lyrics with vibes of relaxation and summer.  For the chorus, the punk influence is audible in the muted chugging of power-chords and the, again, distorted strumming of the guitar.  Mercaldi's confident, yet relaxed vocals further the song's tone and overall feeling, while also harkening back to the 90's with the occasional spurt of emphasized grit in his voice.  Mercaldi asks in an harder tone, "What' on your mind, is it you? Cause sure as hell ain't me..." and his guitar answers in a bluesy voice, soon transitioning into a varied solo that responds to the previous bar's question.  As the track draws to an end, ever-intensifying proclamations of "Sure as hell ain't me..." fade into Roze's heavy drum fills and rhythmic muted/open guitar chords.

The Subterraneans' Logo

           In a totally different musical direction, "Sliding" adds diversity to the album and makes notable use of a variety of lesser-used instruments.  The melancholy opening acoustic chords set the stage for the lead guitar, a clean "lady-tone-esque" sounding instrument played with a slide.  The main riff that is presented here is reminiscent of "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac and evokes a similar mood.  The distinctive sound of the mandolin makes its way into the track in the form of accents to the primary guitar part.  Similarly, the slide guitar and its relatively clean-driven sound adds to the mystery of the track.  The low rumble of the bass helps to hold the track together, especially in the absence of traditional drums on most of the song (Roze sounds as though he's playing non-standard drums and other forms of percussion).  Mercaldi's solemn lyrics and smooth, yet expressive voice dominates the track   and helps to tie together the instruments purpose with that of the whole song's.  Overall, the track maintains a unique spot on Lost as a departure from the typically punk-influenced and upbeat tracks that dominate it.

          The Subterraneans brought together pop sensibilities with a punk influence and a largely classic rock sound to compose their first album since 2007.  Their memorable lyrics and creative instrumentals make them a powerful group with a strong potential to make it big.  Check out their music on BandCamp and be sure to head over to their Facebook page, as well as their label's website for more information.  I look forward to seeing their following grow, as well as listening to their music all summer long.


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