Roses occupies that strange space between tributing their influences and disregarding them, perhaps this is due to their hometown of Providence RI, a city full of juxtaposition and contradiction. We’ve heard jangly guitar pop before, and maybe some of us have heard guitars shimmering over drum machines before and yes, vocalist Andrew Grant Tobiassen does sound a little like Marc Bolan but the honesty and execution of the music proves that Roses really dont give a shit if you think they are original, just that they do their thing.
On their Roses EP, released just over a year ago, they set out to determine just what that ‘thing’ is. For a self-released, self-produced, early-in-the-career album, the self-assured tone is prevalent. Get It Right borrows liberally from the Roy Orbison classic Blue Bayou, adding in a few Beach Boys harmonies for fun. The highlight of the album is the slow-burner KISS KISS KISS, that burned those catchy pop hooks into my memory for the forseeable future. The chorus is so instantly recognizable, I was sure it was lifted from something older. But Roses aren’t theives, they are just so well versed in classic pop composition that they can create something new and trick you into thinking they didn’t. Magic! See them tonight performing with Computer Magic, D/A/D, and DJ Dirty Dave at The Lyric Theatre, tickets below!
House Beer Session – Roses from House Beer on Vimeo.
