The Ripe: Into Your Ears

The Ripe
Into Your Ears
Get Hip Recordings [2012]









 Fire Note Says: The Ripe's debut Into Your Ears takes you on a psychedelic rock tour.

Album Review:
The Ripe's debut Into Your Ears has an overall 60's psychedelic rock sound that also dabbles in a bit of folk, garage and power pop styles over its 12 tracks. The Austin, TX band has that slick retro groove throughout Into Your Ears that all starts with the laid back and soft toned vocals of Jake Garcia that successfully pull you into their brand of music.

The Ripe really succeed when the band hits this Doors meets The Kinks with Donovan type vocals. Tracks like opener "Be Adventurous" have the retro rock vibe going on that infuse a very modern guitar line which keeps the music sounding current. "A Good Thing Found" has foot tapping versus that combine with a straightforward harmonica which make it an album highlight as the sounds and tempo match perfectly. The Ripe also battle their own style on a track like "Constant Waves" which is much more an indie rock track comparable to Cloud Nothings but it is a song that works because the musicianship shines and there is more muscle in the vocals. The band also has the capability to plant a Strokes like guitar lick that runs in the background of "The Greatest" which once again highlights their recognition of 2012.

Not all the tracks here on Into Your Ears work in The Ripe's style as there are several songs that cruise by and remain unmemorable. Clearly this is a debut and if The Ripe stay the course I think they are definitely a band to watch as Into Your Ears has enough highlights for psychedelic rockers to become totally engaged. The rest of the indie world might be a bit slower to embrace The Ripe but with consistent songwriting, solid guitar work and more confidence in Garcia's vocals there is no reason that we won't hear more solid output from this group in the future.

Key Tracks: "Be Adventurous", "A Good Thing Found","Constant Waves"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Black Angels
The Kinks
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives

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-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony