New Show review by Three Imaginary Girls
Review
"Listening to Key Note Speaker's MySpace profile had prepared me for their smooth concoction of melody and lyricism, but the band displayed a raw energy during their set. Frontman Scott Gallagher threw himself around the tiny stage when he wasn't singing, dragging the small but attentive crowd into the moment. The groups songs took on a more immediate edge. Think of The Pixies without the manic craze, or R.E.M. without the sly grin. Contemporary rock that's fresh yet familar."
New Video for "Reaction" from our early 2007 release, The Musical
Directed by Ben Medina
Video for "Charlie" from our early 2007 release, The Musical
Directed by Ben Medina
Georgetown Music Fesitval 2007 Featuring "Don't Be Fooled"
New Album The Musical available now!
And check out the KNS debut record - Fiction
Online at CD Baby & Sonic Boom.
Keep listening andrequesting , Key Note Speaker on KEXP as well as 107.7 The End
REVIEWS FOR THE MUSICAL:
"Make this the year you get to know Key Note Speaker.
Judging from the sound of its latest release, "The Musical,"
this smart, versatile local band is on its way up."
Pop Music/Nightlife
Seattle Times/PI
NWSource.com
"For their sophomore release, Seattle band Key Note Speaker chose to pursue the concept album.
A particularly bold endeavor, since in order for a release of this nature to appeal to the masses it must
be able to lead its audience through the narrative without turning the story into melodrama or leave them
feeling as though the songs are destined along some planned lineage to a premeditated outcome.
For the journey that is The Musical, the four members of KNS--Scott Gallagher (vocals, guitar),
Edmund O’Brien (bass), Chris Olson (keys) and Joe Couden (drums)--along with legendary indie producer
Jack Endino, pull it off flawlessly, creating an anthology whose compositions are just as strong
independently as they are as part of the whole.What results is quite possibly one of the most
distinct and intelligent albums of the year. "
Sara Huguenard | The Wig Fits All Heads
READ MORE!! AT www.thewigfitsallheads.com
Pop Overthrow
Key Note Speaker's Subtle Reinvention
"Key Note Speaker introduced themselves to Seattle's local pop scene in
2005 via Fiction, a pretty impressive collection of Jack Endino–produced tunes
that managed to sound crisp and bright while still maintaining a sense of depth
thanks to a few creative alternative rock and country twists. Fiction's catchy
tunes secured the band's place as a local pop outfit, resulting in Key Note Speaker's appearance on bills with other indie rock groups such as Young Sportsmen,
Some by Sea, and the Pale Pacific.
Now, a year later, it's time for the band to reestablish their relationship with the
music community. Instead of springboarding off their previous pop reputation,
Key Note Speaker give us The Musical, a collection of songs (recorded again with Endino) that step even further away from anything that could be defined as "power pop"
(a term that has unjustly found its way into more than one KNS review).
The Musical's opener, "Overture (On the Prowl)," is a haunting and deeply sung track
that may imply a more Alice in Chains–inspired "grunge" flavor is to follow. But in "Nightly News," the second track, the band subtly toys with melodies and keyboard, proving there's still some bright spirit at this album's heart.
The Musical continues to wade through darker territory, but that isn't to say there aren't some upbeat highlights that get the toes a-tappin'. "Please" is almost
Smoking Popes–esque, and "The One I Always Call" is reminiscent of Pedro the Lion circa Winners Never Quit.They may not be the kings of much in this town, but Key Note Speaker are moving inexorably toward a throne, albeit a self-created one."
BY MEGAN SELING /The Stranger
thestranger.com
REVIEWS FOR FICTION:
"..brilliant bit of modern, alternative ethos. This band captures the perfect melodies, the perfect harmonies, and the perfect attitude . These guys are the real deal. "
Skratch Magazine
www.skratchmagazine.com
"... the raw tools and talent generally endemic to superior rock & roll. Fictions smartly crafted melodies are well served by a nuanced, spacious sound that suggests a wide range of influences but pays blatant homage to no one source in particular..."
All Music Guide
"Key Note Speaker's brand new release was one of those records I liked the
first time I heard it, really liked the second time and then loved the
third time around....plus I don't have the time to be reviewing anything 3
times all the way through. Its solid from start to finish and should have
people excited to see where they go from here. I know I am."
John
The Morning Show with John Richards
90.3 KEXP
