"The most important thing about last night was how great Channel One sounded. To be honest, I remember The Resistors sounding like a good high school (?) ska band (damning praise, to be sure), but Channel One was a complete package. Tasteful harmonies, catchy tunes, humor, and drama were all displayed with a skilled touch. I’d be happy to go see them play again."
- Bill Grady, founder/member of the influential Houston, Texas SKA band, The Suspects
REVIEW OF THE CHANNEL ONE ALBUM "Pose & Posture" by Http://amusicfan.blogspot.com
Channel One is a new addition to the Megalith Records roster, and have recently released thier debut album for the label, Pose & Posture. The album starts off with an introduction to "Channel One Radio" by Bucket from the Toasters, giving his stamp of autheticity to this exciting and unique band.
First out of the gate is Please, which is a great tune to start off the album. The vocals on this track remind me a little of Brandon Phillips from The Gadjits and Architects, which is definitely a compliment in my book. In fact, this first tune definitely has a Gadjits feel in the organ playing, "woahs" and vocal harmonies, as if it could have been taken from the At Ease album. The next track, I Let My Guard Down, takes a more jazzy turn in the songwriting, and establishes the true Channel One sound a bit more. A strong rhythm section accented by the sax and trumpet in just the right places, and driven by organ, Channel One is an overall tight knit unit. Did I mention the vocal hamonies yet?? I'm loving them in just about every track.
Let Her Run is up next and could easily be a radio single. It's catchy, well produced, has a strong rock/ska feel ala something you would have heard from the Bosstones in their commercial prime, only with much smoother vocals. Brother, Brother continues in this same vein, and it's not until Til It's Too Late that we see a change in style with with the acoustic guitar and stripped down percussion. This might be my favorite track on the album!
As each song plays I'm trying to move past a track-by-track review, but each offers something fresh and different that I have to mention. While the basic song structures are similar in some of these tracks, I'm picking up on fresh influences that surprise me at each turn. For example the "western" feel of Debt To Pay with the twangy guitars, and the group vocals in both Hum and Right Behind One Another, which would make great singalongs in a live show.
Since I'm this far into it I may as well finish... Jah is the most upbeat number and is probably the best showcase of each of the band members' talents. Excellent solos from each band member leaving room for lots of interpretation, which I can only imagine would make for another great live tune. The last track Who Are We? is a mellow closer, and rounds out the album nicely.
Channel One is a breath of fresh air in a scene sometimes plagued with familiarity, and leave it to Megalith to find the talent and bring something new to the table. These guys have the chops to hang with the heavy hitters in US ska scene but also have a fresh and accessible enough sound to cross over to new listeners. Hopefully this album will bring them success, and I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for any chance of a tour near me, and whatever else they have in store for the future.
REVIEW OF "Pose & Posture" by www.phillyska.com
Pose & Posture is the premiere album from the six-piece band Channel One and has been released by Megalith Records. The band hails from San Antonio, Texas and its influence can clearly be heard in their music. This is Texas ska: contemporary ska combined with country-style compositions and delivery. It is something a little different, yet also familiar. In short time the album rose to become one of my favorite releases so far this year with a secure position on my playlist.
Channel One certainly delivers the goods for dedicated ska fans, but it stands out as one of those few bands capable of projecting an appeal beyond the standard niche base. The lyrics are down-to-earth and relatable. When music works well, such as the case with this album, it is able transcend the labels that we impose. It is infectious and simply fun without resorting to meaningless lyrical gimmicks like chants. Each song tells a story.
“Let Her Run” is easily the standout track on the album. Once you hear it, you’ll understand the appeal. The song is about accepting a girl’s decision to run away after a confrontation with her mother in order to take control of her life. At its core is a catchy country song, but Channel One is able to seamlessly infuse it with ska to make it something unique.
As a sucker for good acoustic ska, “Til It’s Too Late” naturally became a favorite as well. It’s about the pain of looking back at love lost and how you don’t recognize that you’ve lost it until it’s too late to do anything about it. For sure just something that just about any of us can relate to and, in this case, very elegantly worded and beautifully sung.
There’s plenty of more straightforward ska on here as well to get you moving. Overall, it’s a fun album throughout. While there’s certainly room for improvement, I certainly look forward to how they manage to top this release. It is quite a solid first album and is well worth a purchase as it may likely become a fixture on your playlist too.
REVIEW OF THE CHANNEL ONE ALBUM "Pose & Posture" BY MUSICALOCCUPATION.COM
Channel One - Pose & Posture
Posted in Reviews on March 10th, 2009 by Gabe
2009 Megalith Records
If there’s one album that stands out as different this year, it’s Channel One’s Pose & Posture. The band hails from San Antonio, Texas where not only do they know what salsa is supposed to taste like they know what good music sounds like to.
Think of all those great early Jamaican musicians that incorporated that country music influence such as Toots And The Maytals or Lee Perry and The Dynamites.(EX: My New Name/Solid As A Rock) Take those elements and dip them in some Texas made hot salsa with it’s rock ‘n roll flare, alt-country edge, and great story telling and your starting to get an idea of what this album is like.
With songs ranging from topics of love lost to losing faith, Pose & Posture has a little bit of us all in it. The songs are very well written and the attention to detail is very easy to pick up on. So good in fact that I would say they can be played on the radio and the average listener could get into it in no time. It has just the right amount of alt-rock and country flavors that they would be familiar with yet those sounds are carried by a very distinctive ska and reggae rhythm that grabs the listener by the ears and screams this is different! The ska and reggae elements are never compromised to sound like some pop song.
Hum is one of those songs that stands out. Feel good horns, with a great bed of organ and bouncy bass line that’s complimented by a crisp offbeat. The intro to Let Her Run gives you a taste of Gerald Hooper’s vocal country twang and right there you know they are set apart from the pack. This is their signature sound that comes to mind when I tell anyone about them. This one can be a hit on the radio and be a great bridge for someone to find out about ska music. Right Behind One Another has a kind of calypso feel to it and transitions to a rock ‘n roll bridge seamlessly. And Till it’s To Late is an acoustic tune which shows off those country/reggae roots in all their glory making you feel happy and sad at the same time.
Singing with passion and conviction in his voice singer Gerald Hooper knows how to pen a tune with feeling and true life experiences that will have you singing along in no time. And the band is no Rudie Come Lately, the members have been around since the mid 90’s playing ska and reggae music in various groups. I gotta say at first I skipped through these songs thinking I would not really like them since it didn’t appear to be familiar ska territory. But as I turned up the volume I found that is exactly what I love about it, it’s far different from what many bands are doing right now, they really do have a sound all their own.
In my opinion they are up there with the likes of The Dualers and Babylove and the Van Dangos in terms of a tight polished different sound.
Buy it at www.megalithrecords.com
1. Who is Channel One and how did you all come together?
Unfortunately, I give long explanations to things that can easily be related in few words….
I went to work for Columbia Records after school. After Columbia, I went to BMG/RCA. Working for a major label ruined music for me. There was a 3 year period where I couldn’t even look at a guitar – and I definitely would not go see a show…of ANY kind.
After I got my walking papers from RCA, I returned home. Being home, and near people I had made music with when I was younger, made me want to write songs again.
So, I’d say Channel One is born out of a batch of songs I wrote right after coming home from Detroit and New York.
I called Laith Fisk (trumpet) and Jeremy “Germ” Garza (sax) who I have spent almost ALL of my musical life working with. They were down for it. I met up with Jorge from Spies Like Us at a Slackers show in SA. We talked about the good old days, and I told him that I was in talks with Laith and Germ, and he said he’d be interested in jamming. Jorge introduced me to Al Amaya (drums). Duff (bass) was a friend of Laith’s. We got together and everything was cool, but I knew we needed more “beef” in our rhythm section, so I got Jason Trevino’s (lead) number from Jorge. Jason joined after seeing the band show up on time to rehearsals (rare). So, I owe a lot to Jorge for introducing me to some great people. That’s how it started.
2. Channel One is considered by most as a “ska band”. Is that a label that you embrace?
Man, I don’t wanna sound like a dick here. I don’t like this question and I don’t like being labeled anything other than the name of our band. I recently got a message from some guy that said we sucked and that some other band was way more “Real Ska” than us. To me, music is music is music. As a Bill Hicks used to say “Play from your fucking HEART!” So, I’m no snob. Music is hard to make and even harder to pay bills with. If you love electro house jungle boogaloo what the fuck ever dance music, then get after it.
3. As the group’s primary songwriter, what are you trying to say and why are you using ska as your voice?
This music has always spoken to me. All my favorite bands were influenced by ska and reggae. Costello, Blondie, Talking Heads, etc… Great ska always delivers LIVE as well. I go to straight rock shows and I get bored. I’m not really into the herky/jerky ska/punk either…but I’ve seen some very dynamic ska concerts over the years – and all the energy is a plus, most of the time. Shoegazing is for folk singers – and I LOVE folk music – but I feel that hard or loud music is a strange showcase for deep levels of introspection. I get about as complicated as a ska band should get with lyrics. Actually, the slackers are probably even more cerebral than my lyrics. The Slackers are one of my favorites, but I think Vic can be meanderingly poetic in a genre that doesn’t always call for it. Aggrolites are the OTHER way. A ton of call and response material that KILLS live. But you could make the argument that different material would hold up better on record. I’m not saying we make the right decisions all the time – I’m just trying to explain my thoughts on where I think we fit in, lyrically…
4. You founded a popular ska band in the 90’s called the Resistors. Having recently returned to ska in Channel One, can you comment on how today’s scene compares with the “Third Wave” scene of the 90’s?
Y’know, I’ve been as big a part of the SA ska “scene” as anybody. But I’ve never shared a secret handshake at the mall, or a knowing wink with someone at a bar. I’m very wary of calling anything or any group of people a “scene”. Depending on the city, it is evident, that people love ska and it’s influence … and they also believe in it’s live manifestation. To me, it’s all the same. Right now, we don’t have popular music or MTV to tell kids that ska is cool. So, I’m just handling it one day at a time. I’m trying to avoid label, and promote the band! A kid that is into deathcab for cutie WILL or COULD enjoy my band. And it’s up to us to let them know that.
5. There have been many “Costello” references to you and your band. Why is this?
Are you trying to be an asshole? There is no one on earth that sounds like Elvis. I think we’re a song-based group. We don’t jam, we don’t elongate solos. We care deeply about arrangement and length of song. We are entirely focused on melody and how the melody is treated. Costello is the same way. If anyone thinks my melodies sound like his, they are out of their fucking minds…that guy is the shit and no one could rip him off, no use trying.
6. Are there any artists that you would consider a kindred spirit to you and an inspiration to what you’re trying to do with Channel One?
I love all songwriters. Bucket Hingley of the Toasters. Vic from the Slackers. I’m sort of a solitary figure for the first 80% of a song. I am lucky to work with super tasty musicians that finish songs off. Jason and others in the band have their own projects. I am not a very skilled musician on the guitar, so I really don’t enjoy writing with a band. I do my homework by myself, and then present a product to the guys. I’m sure they wish I would bring in rougher nuggets for them to work with, but I am pretty set in my ways about how the melodies should go… I think Bucket and Vic are like this as well. But both of them are much more talented on their instruments. I’m almost PURELY a songwriter.
7. The 2-Tone British ska movement lasted from 1979-1982. The 90’s Third Wave’s heyday was from 1994-1997. How will Channel One survive another possible “death of a ska movement”?
Quailty. That’s how you survive anything. Channel One HAS to put out great records. If we can record well, and write well, then it doesn’t matter. To give everyone an example in a genre that I don’t listen to – grunge rock – Nickelback. Grunge has been dead forever. But Nickelback, regardless of what I think about them, put out GREAT songs. I don’t like the songs, but it is apparent that they are good. I mean, who can really say that they AREN’T well written tunes?
8. Channel One is releasing its debut album in the fall. Can you talk a little bit about it?
This album is our art. And any artist knows, that your creations are your babies. People are gonna hate the record, and I can pretend that it won’t bother me. But that record is my child and I don’t like people making fun of it on the playground. We made a great record in a short period of time with incredible people. Recorded at Keith Harter Music studios in San Antonio. Engineered and mixed by Jerry Fuentes in Seattle at a studio that doesn’t even know we were there and also at Metrosonic studios in Brooklyn, NY (where moby recently laid tracks). Mastered by Turtlestone and West West Side Music in New York City. It’s been a lot of work and I think people will dig it.
9. What kind of album would you make if money, time, or any other resources were unlimited?
Well, there would be a lot more overdubbing. What you hear on this record is 6 guys in a room. We played together, had minimal overdubs, and tried to capture what we actually sound like. Casual listeners do not realize what small changes can mean to the overall product. For example, I would love for the guys to be able to jam with or try many different lead lines, or different voicings, or different instruments…but there’s just no time. Being in a recording studio is like setting cash on fire.
10. Desert Island: What 3 albums would you bring if you were stranded on a desert island?
David Byrne “Look into the Eyeball”
Sublime “40 Ounce to Freedom”
David Wilcox “How Did You Find Me Here”
Last night was fun as always. I needed the unwind after an exhausting week at work. Jack's should be fun and you guys will have much more room to move around as will we lol. Much love, have a good weekend boys.
Yo Tuesday at the White Rabbit in San Antonio we hit the Malus Clothing "Be Shred Or Be Dead" Tour with Sea Of Treachery, Blind Witness, And Hell Followed With. Can you make it out? Would love to see you there! Also use promo code BESHRED on www.buymalus.com and get 10% off until Nov. 29th when the tour ends.
Come help us with our chores down at... The Farm!!!! 311 Howard (just south of SAC) First chore: drink a little beer! Second shore: have a good time! tHIRD CHORE: drink a little more beer!!! Who knew agricultural work was so difficult?
Online Now!
) but here ya go guys!
