| Subject: ViV Releases Sophomore Album, Flawed |
Author:
Michael J. Media
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Date Posted: 21:16:29 03/30/04 Tue
Author Host/IP: adsl-68-21-136-107.dsl.akrnoh.ameritech.net/68.21.136.107
ViV Releases Sophomore Album, Flawed
San Francisco alternative pop/rock band ViV is set to officially release
their sophomore album, Flawed, with a street date of Tuesday, March 30. The
highly anticipated follow up to the band’s 2001 self-titled debut is already
garnering critical acclaim from peers and industry representatives alike.
“ViV has all the elements—songs, instrumentation, atmosphere,” says former
Train member Rob Hotchkiss. “If you’re a ViV fan, you’ll love where the
band is going with this record. If not, you’ll still love where the band is
going with this record.”
While the major labels keep merging and focusing on a select few artists,
the streets have become flooded with more great bands than ever, and ViV is
one of them. While there is a Pete-Yorn-meets-Foo-Fighters current running
through their music, there is also a Brit-pop melodic sensibility and a
feel-good factor that add dimension to the overall package.
Since their inception, ViV has been establishing themselves at the forefront
of independent music in San Francisco and other markets such as Denver, Salt
Lake City, Boston and New York, playing over 200 shows in the past two
years. They were chosen in Cornerband’s “30 Best Bands” competition, and
have had over 450,000 downloads off of their website. The bulk of those
have been “Friends,” slated as the first single from Flawed. Making these
songs available to fans was the litmus test that yielded the results
necessary for the band to continue funding the project themselves. As front
man and singer/songwriter Matt Ostrander said, “It gave us the emotional
bump we needed to make this album happen.” It also didn’t hurt that their
debut had sold over 8,000 units.
Flawed was co-produced by ViV, with help from David Cole (Melissa
Etheridge), Adam Rossi (LUCE) and Thom Canova. Ostrander is joined by Erik
Semo on bass; Pie on violin, mandolin and guitar; Steve Bowman (Counting
Crows, Third Eye Blind, LUCE) on drums; and Dan Eisenberg (Ryan Adams,
Shelby Lynne) on keys. Guest musicians include Dave Immergluck (Counting
Crows) and Bruce Kaphan (American Music Club).
“Friends” starts the record out with crunching guitars and lush harmonies,
and is a perfectly crafted pop tune. Ostrander has one of those voices made
for modern rock radio, and that is most evident on the second track, “Did
I.” The title track has an Americana flavor, courtesy of some cool slide
guitar and “Suzanne’s One Good Eye” sounds like Pete Yorn fronting Neil
Young’s band. “Bob Dylan Said So” is a lyrically intriguing pop diddy, and
“Shine” has some cool production value with guitars that seem to come from
everywhere amid slick drum loops and sweet vocal harmonies. “Suffer” moves
along slowly, but draws you in like a piece of meat luring a dog, and is
equally haunting and beautiful, and “Green” is a moody, timeless piece with
the added flavor of an electric violin.
By the time you reach the last track, “Out of the Rain,” it’s evident that
Flawed has one thing that most records lack—you can actually listen to the
whole thing, and never tire of it. There are artists like John Mayer and
Norah Jones that have come along in the last few years and have made the
jump from average Joe to pop icon. ViV is a band that, armed with a great
new record, has that kind of potential.
“The new music ViV is sharing with the world is bright and pleasing to the
ears – it's nice to hear melodies. There is so much crap out there, and
this ain't crap. Can I say crap?”—Renee Richardson, KFOG 104.5 FM Morning
Show
“Tremendous! A true piece of art with several guaranteed radio hits!”—Dave
Precheur, co-founder of H.O.R.D.E Festival and former road manager for Blues
Traveler
For more information, please visit www.vivtheband.com
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