JEFF ANGELL’s STATICLAND – ST (2016)
Recently involved with the critically aclaimed Walking Papers alongside Guns N’ Roses drummer Duff McKagan, vocalist JEFF ANGELL has been involved in the American music scene for decades. Now he’s debuting a new band, JEFF ANGELL’s STATICLAND, and their self-titled first album.
Staticland came together as a result of Duff McKagan’s hiatus from Walking Papers, who is currently focusing his time on the reunion of the almighty Guns N’ Roses.
In this time, Angell and key collaborator Benjamin Anderson (both known for their roles in the American Rock band Walking Papers) were offered the opportunity by UDR Records to expand on the sound they had defined in previous bands to form what is now known as Jeff Angell’s Staticland.
Soon after, the band recruited experienced drummer Joshua Fant, and in only a short space of time the trio managed to put together a whole heap of potent new material which would soon become their first album.
When a group with such a collection of stylistic diversity and existing success choose to join forces, it’s hard to pass on the opportunity to listen in on what they have to offer. I sat down this week and listened to the debut album, Jeff Angell’s Staticland, with no clue over what to expect, and I wasn’t left disappointed.
The album offers a well-balanced blend of vintage hard-rocking, bluesy sound, accented with fuzzy guitars and rumbling bass, plus some seventies glam-rock and poppy melodies all of which is tied together and fused seamlessly with the captivating lyricism of Angell and an updated production.
The true passion and expertise from each member makes Staticland come across as a real ‘legacy’ band already, with such a strong presence you’d assume they’d been established for years with a legion of albums under their belt.
‘Everything Is Wrong’ kickstarts the album with dark, deepened Bluesy riffs, met by Angell’s smoldering vocals. The track seamlessly slips into ‘The Edge’, which encompasses the same groovy riffs, but with a change of tempo to match the direction of the track.
‘Phantom Limb’ is a strongly built track, which again brings together heavy basslines and a haunting guitar riff, taking the track in a more heavy, progressive direction.
‘The World Is Gonna Win’ is a beautifully emotional track, a gentle breather and defeatist anthem, then ‘Nola’ has a very retro feel with classy bluesy riffs, soulful vocals, old-school organs and a powerful drum beat to match.
‘High Score’ introduces raw fuzz guitar and further intensified drum beats, balanced out superbly by Angell’s versatile and calming vocals, which resonate through the track and remain centre stage.
Among my favorites there’s the organ-powered ‘Tomorrow’s Chore’, with a foundation provided by valvular amp guitars and loosely, glammy vocals. The wide-open, atmospheric ‘Freak’ is a highlight, a dark number with some early ’80s British feel in the vein of the first The Cult.
‘I’ll Find You’ is yet another track which demonstrates the articulate songwriting by Angell, describing the strong bond between soul mates. For such a colourful track, the band have pieced together the instrumentals in such a way that the track is complemented in such a way it forms more of a stand out love ballad.
The double vinyl LP edition of the album includes two extra tracks (featured here) titled ‘The Past Where It Belongs’ & ‘The Cure Or The Curse’, both chained into a same sonic concept. And both are superb cuts.
‘The Past Where It Belongs’ is a rumbling rocker with a strong The Cult feel but classic rock intrumentation which at the end turns darker leading into ‘The Cure Or The Curse’, an atmospheric heavy-rock with lots of captivating sounds, groovy guitars and a steady rhythm section.
There is such a diversity in the sounds and direction within “Jeff Angell’s Staticland” that if it was pulled apart, you’d question whether you were listening to the same band.
I like that in an album, you receive more than you bargained for and it gives the band freedom to move in directions that they are passionate about, rather than catering to a sound people expect.
Really different and original.
01. Everything Is Wrong
02. The Edge
03. Never Look Back
04. Band-Aid On A Bullet Hole
05. Phantom Limb
06. The World Is Gonna Win
07. Nola
08. I’ll Find You
09. High Score
10. If You Only Knew
11. Tomorrow’s Chore
12. Freak
13. The Past Where It Belongs
14. The Cure Or The Curse
15. Let The Healing Begin
Jeff Angell – vocals, guitar
Benjamin Anderson – keys, bass
Joshua Fant – drums
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