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The Relief Effort - At Your Mercy
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 The Relief Effort is At Your Mercy to listen to their music, but once you hear it, the tables turn, putting the band in the driver’s seat. Their echoing guitars and Steven Wolfe’s roughly hewn vocal style settles in and grabs you with authority once the lead off title track kicks in. From that point forward, this band gets the job done keeping you absorbed with contemplative lyrics that are the perfect counterpart for their appealing sound.
While Wolfe contributes the necessary edge with his vocals, he adds his guitar playing and Justin Daniels compliments him with some licks of his own. The rhythm section is right up front in their sound; Stephen Graham (drums) and Preston Jackson (bass) ignite each other and the rest of band follows, just as spark plugs fire off to start an engine. I found the drums in particular to be very noticeable in the mix. Graham plays with authority and has no problem leading the pack to where they need to go with each track.
The best tracks that typify their sound are “Save The Radar,” “Forever 16,” and a surprisingly good version of the Billy Ocean hit “Caribbean Queen.” When I was looking at the tracks before I gave this CD a spin, I could not understand why a band like this would cover such a pop oriented tune but they manage to make it their own somehow. To their credit, they are open ended enough with their style and approach to make it happen. Bands like this can play anything because they have the talent and the right attitude. I especially enjoyed these tracks for their shifting moods and the way the music builds up to a crescendo, lets you down easy, then brings you right back to the highest highs their music can muster.
I really like the rawness of The Relief Effort, they sound hungry and ready for a fight. You have to love that kind of spirit; I hope they keep that attitude for as long as they record music, and if they do, I would be willing to bet every CD they put out is better than the one before it. Easier said than done, I know, but I can have hope. How many times have you heard bands like this only to see them disappear? I am not claiming that this band is the second coming of anything or the next big thing since sliced bread. They have one thing going for them that most bands do not, an original style that is simple and straight forward, a lead singer you can understand, and music that will keep you tuned in and turned on from beginning to end. That my friends is the one thing that separates bands like this from all of the could of, should of, would of bands of the world.
Tracklist
1. At Your Mercy (3:03)
2. Come Up (4:39)
3. Save the Radar (4:51)
4. Forever 16 (4:19)
5. Snowflake (3:48)
6. Tape Recorder (4:33)
7. Palestine (3:53)
8. Fire (3:03)
9. Caribbean Queen (6:05)
© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck |
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