Music:
Member Since: 9/8/2005
Band Website: themorningstares.com
Band Members:
Reviews
FROM FEARLESSRADIO.COM
REVIEW OF THE MORNING STARES LIVE AT DOUBLE DOOR 10/17
"During the Double Door show on Tuesday night, SouthSide encountered a fan, Jesse, and he was very excited to see the next band. Already the house was packed as most of the audience moved from the back to the front."
"The set opened with the bassist playing while Scott, lead vocalist/guitarist, kneeled on stage singing. After the striking beats of drums follow, SouthSide was awestruck by the haunting vocals of Bethany, the bands' sultry chanteuse, when she began singing. Their 1st song was so unbelievably haunting and beautiful as the two vocalists harmonized perfectly while the keys played a dream-like techno beat. *Sighs* Such powerful emotions could be felt in The Morning Stares’ unique sound and music that this reviewer couldn’t help feel mesmerized by it. "
"Their final song, “Going Home†off their "Light from Stars" CD, began with a haunting mood as the drums and techno sound from the keyboardist set the beat just before Bethany and her wonderful vocals joined in. Her vocals were hypnotizing to the ears and just right for this song while Scott, on backing vocals, harmonized with hers on the chorus. This song also had amazing guitar riffs that really rocked out their set in front of the packed house and shocking surprise, the bassist sings too! Bethany’s vocals closed out this song with a powerful and subtle finish that was so awesome."
"SouthSide loved the way The Morning Stares combined different music sounds to create one unique sound which she recommends Fearless fans definitely check out. The audience was wowed and amazed by the music...this reviewer cannot wait to catch their next performance to experience them and the music again."
FROM WWW.MOFTAR.COM
Review: The Morning Stares "Light from Stars" CD
The Morning Stares debut album, Light From Stars, is a wonderfully eclectic compilation of soulful work. The melodic sounds and voices of the remarkable artists is the standout trait for this band. With a calming brightness that hails back to the prime of Belle and Sebastian and Jesus and the Mary Chain, this Morning Stares album is an original, standout independent album with a sound and vibe all their own.
On the first run through on this album, you are sucked into the vibe and sound of The Morning Stares. What is more impressive is the second time through, when you begin to notice the overall flow of the album. In a way the flow is comparable to that of the soundtrack of a movie. The first third of the album is a slow passive sound, the equivalent to building of the characters and plot of a movie. Then with the popular songs, Nighttime (part 2) and And The Forest..., a heightened state of awareness and tempo is introduced that moves us further along anticipating what is next. Finishing the album/movie is How the World Will Be, the relatively upbeat ending with thoughtful lyrics. There are 2 more songs but I toss these into the analogy as the songs that run during the credits of the film. These 2 songs wrap up the general and overall feel of the whole album.
Overall "Light From Stars" is a must hear for indie fans everywhere, especially if you fall into that group looking for a new and refreshing sound. With great vocals, musical aptitude, and production all I can hope is that The Morning Stares will be around for a long time to come. The album is available now through the website www.themorningstares.com.
~ Review By Brian Jurries
FROM PACE UNIVERSITY PRESS
REVIEW: LIGHT FROM STARS has a bright future...
by Charissa Che
Ever since MySpace.com entered the picture for me, Ive found some pretty stellar music. The most recent artist Ive come across totally blows me away. Redefining the genre of contemporary and experimental music with its debut CD Light From Stars, The Morning Stares innovative effort cant be contained within a few words, not aptly at least, but I will try to do so nonetheless.
Consisting of only Scott Fritz and an unnamed female vocalist called B, the brilliance of Light From Stars comes from its austerity and raw simplicity. From the first track onwards, the listener is drawn in by its hypnotic and serene undertones. Oftentimes only acoustic guitars accompany the vocals; other times it is synthesizers, electric guitars and drum. The instruments never overwhelm the singers and never impede upon the lyrics, which is a remarkable feat.
There is a powerful, meditative quality about the music. Although it is good for a casual listen, its best experienced when one finds himself in a pensive state of mind. The lyrics do their part in conveying this effect. Consider the first lines of Nighttime Part 2, where she sings, Keep a firm step on the ground whisper/ Whisper hold tight/ Hold tight winter/Winter moonlight at midnight... This repetition and internal assonance is not only cleverly done, but it also effectively lures the listener into the musics grip. One is only content to acquiesce.
Lying Down on the Surface of the Moon, with only a violin and a guitar to accompany Fritzs pleading, anguished voice, is depressing at first listen, but upon several more listens, one discovers that there is a certain hope offered in the subtlety of the dissonant melody.
Sheer beauty is found in the words: What of the things Ive done/ What of the ones Ive loved/ They will fall into the sad trap of gravity/ Spinning round and round and round... Another one of my favorite lines comes from the first track, Breath: There is no wonder left in the soldier/ Who crosses these fields just to find that theres no home to go to. What a powerful statement on youths disillusionment once faced with the pitiful, harsh consequences of reality.
The most haunting track is And The Forest because of the discordant composition and the absolutely awesome line, sunrise/ Fast forward sunset/ Fast forward I have died.
I especially love how the CD goes from the sullen, mournful church-esque music of We Are Alone immediately to the considerably chipper, folk-styled and optimistic track, How the World Will Be. Yes, there may exist in the world hopelessness, futility and wasted dreams, but there is still the future and the chance to create new hopes a clever notion conveyed simply by the order of the songs.
Although the aforementioned dissonance succeeds in making Light From Stars an exceptional experimental CD, it may also contribute to how its respective songs slip from the listeners mind soon after listening to them. The unpredictability and spontaneity of each note makes for rapt listening, but it also makes it hard for the listener to feel a sense of familiarity with the music.
Perhaps this is a good thing as every listen of the CD will be likened to a new experience; hence its meditative quality. With each listen, past interpretations of the songs will be washed away to be replaced by fresh nuances. Its a totally cleansing experience.
Light From Stars is good for curing insomnia. Fritz suggested that I listen to the CD from start to finish at night. I tried it, and the effect was remarkable. I was lulled into a state of utter peace and placidness that few other CDs have the power to do, and in effect, I was lulled to sleep.
I gave up meditation a few years ago, on the account that it was too hard. But to go against traditional methods of meditating in total silence (save for chanting a mantra over and over again), I just might take it up again, with the aid of The Morning Stares.
Influences: Music, Passion, Snow, Wine, Fire, Country, Computers, Stars, Sex, Sleep, Guitars, Voices, Escape, Nature, Coffee, Technology, Literature, Heroes, Celebration, Spirituality, Love
Record Label: Feck Records
Type of Label: Indie
