Xrayok "Like Life"
By Kimberly Rosenbauer
Wednesday. Jan 11, 12:49 AM
Though not entirely original, excellently performed indie pop.

An updated chicken vs. egg debate: which comes first, a new music genre due to listeners’ changing styles, or listeners’ changing styles due to a saturation of new bands playing a similar new genre? And the follow-up question: how do you define the fine line between an entirely new music genre and a bunch of “copycat bands” following one or two unique bands? Case in point, The Strokes. Countless bands have been accused of copying their “garage rock” style… but could it be that Julian and his crew just happened to arrive first on an already-established (yet undiscovered) scene? Were they just the first to do it right?

With all of these unanswered questions floating about, my opinions of the band Xrayok’s second release, the EP Like Life, are wavering. The group itself is musically solid . Singer TJ Hill’s voice is superb and he has a large range which he successfully shows off. Their sound is exactly as they describe themselves: “dark indie” with a “mix of catchy ‘80s influenced ‘feel-good’ pop.” Rhythms are tight, melodies creative, and choruses are memorable. My big issue with the band are the two observations I instantly made when I heard the first track on the EP (and the second, and the third). Hill’s voice is EXACTLY like Thom Yorke’s and the band’s music sounds EXACTLY like The Killers. In fact, it is a quite remarkable fusing of the two. Sadly, with these infallible comparisons constantly looping in my mind, the group will never pass Go and collect its $200.

Is this all such a bad thing, though? Is The Killers’ neo-‘80s/electro-indie-pop-rock an established genre by now, or what? The Bravery sure got their asses kicked for apparently copying The Killers’ “signature” style when they first came out. But would they now?

So anyway, some highlights. Opener “The Luster” uses layering in a very sophisticated way. Sound effects open the song, with a fast and catchy drum beat, keyboard, guitar, and the emotional vocals of Hill following. He almost moans through the chorus so that the listener really feels his pain, and he hits the money high notes like a pro. The next track, “Fall of Your Eyelash,” is similarly dramatic in its chorus: cries of “would you believe in love? Would you believe in love?” repeated over intense drum beats are cleverly contrasted with the song’s verses, which are calmer and simply melodic. “Sunshine” does venture off the familiar path for the band a little. Fast, percussive rhythms, heavier guitars, a tambourine, and abrupt stops in the chorus show us a glimpse of strong potential.

But here’s the kicker. The track “Smile” is the most single-ready song here, yet have a read at the chorus lyrics: “Smile just a little, smile, smile just a little for me.” Remind anyone of “Smile Like You Mean It” by everyone’s best friends, The Killers? And all this while still sounding exactly like Thom Yorke. Now, I’m not trying to start any conspiracy theories here, I’m just putting the mental food out there for the taking (personally, I’m glad the new rock world trend seems to be pushing smiling on everyone).

Again, Xrayok have some great talent, and every single track is enjoyable to listen to. But I just can't go two thumbs up here. In order to be successful, you’ve got to have your own sound. Even if it’s a version of a current hot music trend. Otherwise, you will always be “the band that sounds like…”
www.xrayok.com

Listen to a song from this album in our Radio section!

Kimberly Rosenbauer

Got something constructive to say? By all means, rant away. Gonna blab about something unrelated and/or talk shit? Don't expect your comment to stick around.