THE PHOBES

Fotos: J. E. Gómez -IndyRock
Granada (Spain) 3-12-2000 - Sugarpop

En su nuevo album, "The Beginning or The End", este Power Trío de Washington DC presenta 12 magníficamente "cortados" temas de modern-rock. Con su minucioso y honesto estilo, su sonido de guitarra atraviesa un espectro que va desde el crudo garage 60's, pasando por el sonido soul de Stax hasta el bonito y melódico Pop. A estos jóvenes elegantemente vestidos nso les atemoriza mostrar sus influencias en las portadas de sus discos a la vez clásicas y modernas -de The Small Faces a The Replacements o Supergrass. Este disco brillante y sincero porta un crujiente paquete de ritmos bailables, coros pegadizos y genuinos riffs rock . La chispa de su primer EP aún está ahí pero se complementa ahora con una producción de lujo y una madurez notoria que les acerca a una más amplia y sofisticada audiencia. Los temas veloces como "Something in The World," "Pick It Up" y "Everybody Knows" se balancean con los honestos y sentidos temas pop como "Today" y "He's Alright" añadiendo además el pulso instrumental meditabundo, obsesivo de instrumentales como "La Dama in Nero." En este disco, el cantante, guitarrista y compositor, Eric Litts, se revela como un talento a tener en cuenta, a un tiempo duro y vulnerable; y el grupo se demuestra capaz de mucho más que mero "garage" o "rock." Escuchad la verdadera gema del disco, "Greenwood Park," para comprobarlo. The Phobes llevan en esto desde el invierno del 97, cuando Eric Litts y Chadd Ritenbaugh, se sintieron vacíos con la vida sedentaria tras sus estudios, querían algo más. Se fueron a Washington DC pretendiendo formar una banda de rock inspirada en los grupos y sonidos con los que crecieron -The Buzzcocks, The Replacements, Television, Love, The Clash, The Jam, Elvis Costello, Velvet Underground, The Standells, The Kinks. Su debut, "Poverty Jetset" fue editado por el sello de Philadelphia Beat Neat-O Records en 1998. El single -alabado por la crítica- "Something in the World/She's Into" fue seguido en el 99 por un album en directo grabado en DC y un montón de temas en recopilaciones. The Phobes están forjándose una reputación a base de conciertos salvajes por toda la Cosat Este de USA y compartiendo escenarios con Spacehog, Sloan, Mooney Suzuki, ? and The Mysterians, y The Lilys.
"Únete a las legiones de conocedores fans del pop tarareando los temas melódicos de 'The Phobes' y su estilo rock único". Ready! Steady! Go! Available from Street Songs for Modern Rebels / Fastmusic.

The Phobes On their new album, "The Beginning or The End", this Washington, D.C.- based power trio serve up 12 perfectly tailored modern rock numbers. With their urgent, honest and thoroughly original spin, The Phobes' ace guitar sound crashes through a range of rough, sixties-styled garage, Stax-inspired soul, and pretty, melodic-pop. These sharply dressed lads are not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves and stylistically nod to inspirations both classic and modern - from The Small Faces to The Replacements to Supergrass.
This is the album The Phobes have been waiting to make since the word GO. Tight, bright and true, the disc makes a crisp package of toe-tappin' rhythms, "oh, oh, oh" choruses and genuine rock riffs. The honest, gritty vibe of their debut EP remains but is complemented here by top production values and a reflective maturity that deepens their impact and shows the band reaching for a broader, more sophisticated audience. The up-tempo vibrations of tracks like "Something in The World," "Pick It Up" and "Everybody Knows" are balanced with the honest, heartfelt pop of "Today" and "He's Alright" and countered by the haunting, pensive, instrumental pulse of "La Dama in Nero." Throughout the disc, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Eric Litts, reveals himself as a real talent to watch - both tough and vulnerable, and the band proves itself capable of well more than just "garage" or "rock." Check the album's true gem, "Greenwood Park," for absolute proof.
The Phobes have been at it since the winter of '97, when Eric Litts and Chadd Ritenbaugh, left unfulfilled by post-college work life, wanted something more. They moved to Washington, DC intent on forming a rock and roll band inspired by the music they loved growing up - The Buzzcocks, The Replacements, Television, Love, The Clash, The Jam, Elvis Costello, Velvet Underground, The Standells, The Kinks. Their debut, "Poverty Jetset" was released on Philadelphia's Beat Neat-O Records in '98. The critically praised "Something in the World/She's Into" single followed in '99 along with a Live album recorded in DC and tracks on several compilations. The Phobes are steadily building a larger following by playing high-energy shows through-out the East and by sharing the stage with the likes of Spacehog, Sloan, Mooney Suzuki, ? and The Mysterians, and The Lilys.
Join the growing legions of pop fans in the know by catching The Phobes' melodic tunes, and rock style. Ready! Steady! Go! Available from Street Songs for Modern Rebels / Fastmusic.