New Review: "Archaeopteryx" by The Zou
Ohio Indie Rock Band Shows Great Promise With Their Latest Relase
Jan 16, 2009
The Archaeopteryx is widely known as "the fossil caught in the act of evolution." Not quite bird, not quite dinosaur, the creature itself symbolized endless potential, because it signified where evolution was coming from and where it intended to go.
The Zou’s latest creation, Archaeopteryx, fulfills every definition of the word: it is a blend of old techniques, new approaches, and an emotional maturity that gives the Youngstown natives profound depth in their quest for artistic significance.
Without losing the Zou’s trademark grit, Archaeopteryx delves deeper into internal conflict than its predecessor, The Pinebox. Part of the Zou’s appeal is rooted firmly within their unflinching honest approach in their music, and this latest brainchild does not disappoint.
Indie Music at Its Finest
Khaled Tabbara’s voice matches the range of expression in Archaeopteryx. Creeping from just the slightest whisper to a ferocious roaring intensity, and matched by his colorful keyboard finesse, the feelings conveyed in those quivering chords complete the stories that the lyrics spell out. The metallic ebullience of Rob Thorndike’s guitar work keeps even the more brooding pieces interesting and lively, without completely dominating the ensemble.. Menacing and emphatic, Murad Shorrab fills out The Zou’s darker side with his precocious bass work. Flying solo in the rhythm section is Dean Anshutz, who serves as the driving force behind The Zou’s boundless energy and relentless enthusiasm
.Harder than The Decemberists, more modern than The Smithereens, and ending up somewhere between The Killers and The Ramones, The Zou takes independent rock and revamps it with their own angst-and-apathy-ridden recipe
Noteworthy Tracks
Both “Forget My Name” and “Lovely Flower in Your Pretty Red Hair” have a vintage feel --for anyone who has ever give The Pinebox a spin, it will be easy to recognize that “signature” Zou sound. They are every bit as gritty and sneering as that infamous title track to their sophomore album.
But in an unsuspected twist, “Rose in a Mason Jar” and “For a While” are almost cringingly mournful---close to reaching a “ripping-your-heart-out- stuffing it down a wood-chipper-and-burning-the-remains” painful. Slower, with less instrumentation and hushed vocals, these songs reveal a well-hidden tender side of the Zou, proving them to be more than a group of emotionally-stunted cynics. “When the Ink Dries” hides under an introduction that plays like a Death Cab for Cutie hit, but self-destructs at the end with a remarkable explosion of guitar and glory that would make Ben Gibbard hang his head in shame.
Final Judgment on The Zou
Like its predecessors, Archaeopteryx is pleasantly rough and distinctly refreshing. Rejecting accepted norms and stereotypical sounds, this evolutionary experiment transcends genres and transforms the very nature of underground music. Old fans will love this album because it retains much of the charming cynicism of former albums, but incorporates a new vulnerability that will widen the audience spectrum.
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