Soft Signal

There are few genres I find more boring than straight-up, plain rock ‘n’ roll. The sort of straight ahead, unchanging rock that has been done to death since the 1970s: unflinching 4/4 rhythms, two guitars (lead and rhythm), and a bass plucking away solid eighth notes endlessly. While this could be used to describe an endless number of different subgenres, those genres usually have some sort of distinguishing characteristic to set them apart. It’s why we have so many different describers–lo-fi, surf-pop, post industrial psychedelia–but garden variety rock seems to persist in face of all these.

So it’s a wonder why I love Zeus‘s latest single, “Are You Gonna’ Waste My Time?” so much. It not only carries all the trademark and traditional rock elements, it revels in them. It’s a good ol’ fashioned jam in every sense of the word, but still manages to make it seem interesting and relevant in 2011. It’s a true testament to the  sheer skill and keen ears of these fine gentlemen. They’ve crafted something that feels current and timeless all at once, and give me a little bit of hope that true rock ‘n’ roll might not be so dead.

“Are You Gonna’ Waste My Time?” is pulled from the as-of-yet nameless and dateless upcoming record from Zeus, which will be out via Arts & Crafts sometime early next year.

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2 Nov 2011 at in New Music by Kevan 2 Comments »