The Forest

Music:

Member Since: 23/02/2006
Band Website: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Forest
Band Members: Jonah Leo Stevenson ALBUM 3 - ALONE IN MUSIC - 29/05/08. ALBUM 2 - LION OUT - 27/09/2007. ALBUM 1 - HIDDEN FORTRESS - 27/02/2007.
Influences: Have a bleeding guess.
Sounds Like: ALONE IN MUSIC REVIEW - ANGRYAPE.COM BY DAVE ADAIR "A genre-bounding Mark E Smith (The Fall) vocal, independent spirited, irreverent and slightly raw strut and stroll culminates in 3rd album 'Alone In Music' - the work of Jonah Stevenson, who has seen attempts to build up an established band fall apart in front of him, like Gordon Brown’s attempt to repair New Labour. Naturally, by going it alone as The Forest, Stevenson oozes abandon and there is a sense of freedom that filters through this nine track foray.‘Uncredited Serial Killer Blues’, uses a skill not seen since Dostoevsky put his pen down, of being able to logically draw attention to the failings in the attitudes of society through the dark humoured perspective of a murderer; "I’ve got those uncredited serial killer bluuuuueeeeeesss; I exposed my last crime to a passer-by,but he just told the police it was a black guy. So he’s a racist and he’s covering up murder, which is pretty despicable in my book."A croaky and creaking anti-folk vibe eeks out through the title track and ‘I’m Not Van Gogh’, whereby, Stevenson’s vocals hit a rugged pitch somewhere between the worlds of Jeffrey Lewis and Brer Brian. Most of the album is littered with quirky asides and basic, but blasé guitar trundles. This helps to show off a made-in-the-garage honesty that some modern acts spend wedges of major label money on and hours in a swanky studio with a producer, in order to achieve the same impact.‘You’re A Fascist’, brings about some coarse political commentary and takes a leap towards resurrecting that punk spirit through a rugged folk based funnel. It is in the Leonard Cohen at his peak mirroring and mournfully mystical ‘Can I Live In Your Mouth’ that Stevenson truly exposes Stevo’s eccentricity, through psychedelic build-ups and rugged, mildly distorted vocals. This is complemented in the slow burning blues hued finale, ‘Mushroom Field With Crows’, featuring a more laid back/chilled out lob to set you off on the road of reflection. The Forest will certainly grow if it is left alone to choose its direction."ALONE IN MUSIC, CD Of THE WEEK- STARSHIP OVERFLOW (radio): "Back with their third studio album, this is without doubt their best work so far. Alternative Indie-Rock at its finest, originally hailing from Manchester, though the new album was recorded in Aberystwyth after re-locating (very wise we think). Check out 'Rock'n'roll canal boat' & 'Breaking satan's back', though we will be plugging more than just those two songs."ALONE IN MUSIC REVIEW - MANCHESTERMUSIC.CO.UK BY JA "The third (yes the third !) album from Jonah Stevenson’s The Forest is another erratic and acerbic affair. There are nine pop-song-length tracks here, but none of them will get near the top 30; but it doesn’t make them any less entertaining. The whole question of being in a band and making records is itself pondered in “Alone In Music”, which roughly jangles along on a sea of questions, whilst instead of a guitar solo, Jonah executes a rather good impression of a disturbed cat. There’s plenty of time for gutsy loops, interspersed with static and a gritty grind, as “Rock And Roll Canal Boat” once again proves that The Forest are still very much a credible force. Jonah often mines his favourite influences, which are often found in the dark, early days of the Mancunian post punk scene. “You’re a Fascist” is the starkest and perhaps simplest outing; “We can live in a cave and raise a family of incestuous cannibals …..but not if you’re a fascist “ – it's truncated genius at its best. The rhythmic, musically rhyming “Piss All Over Everything” is a superb theme of loosely rattling, slow motion guitars. There’s no hint whatsoever that the ideas are running out at the Forest farm." MMMM ½
Record Label: We Hate You Records
Type of Label: Indie