Pirate Radio: New Record, At Amnesia Tonight

Normally being compared to Bob Dylan is not a good thing. It's kind of like being compared to The Beatles: the implied greatness of the artist somehow indicates that trying to emulate them is futile. That being said, we have to admit that sometimes you can be compared to the greats and have it be a good thing: Such is the case with Pirate Radio. The band released their new record Welcome Home at the beginning at the month, and the first thing we thought when we heard it was "Oh Mercy".

That's certainly a vocal nod, but the more we listened to the disc, the more that we realized there's a whole lot more going on than just a solid vocal tribute. The band has an understated traditional rock vibe that manages to keep you listening and paying attention even when the overall tone of the piece seems familiar. Put differently, they deliver a record of actual high quality rock songs, rather than an imitation of those that already exist. That being said, the record's vibe is definitely traditional. It would be hard to argue that there are many difficult musical boundries being broken. Rather, it's a solid effort in songwriting and instrumentation rooted firmly in the traditions of Dylan, Young, and Springsteen.

We have yet to see the band live, and unfortunately our schedule keeps sidelining us whenever they're playing. However, for you lucky folks, the band will be at Amnesia this evening. If you're feeling in the mood for some quality tunes, it's worth checking out.