Casanatra – Split the Atom Again
Split The Atom Again is actually the fourth album by US Alt-Rock band Casanatra, but their first to be given a UK release. The accompanying blurb promises great things such as 'Casanatra have raised the bar' and '...inspires and challenges its listeners' but, on opener 'Empty Goldmine' these assertions are slightly optimistic; in their defence the song is easy enough on the ears (as is the rest of the album), with a laid-back, funky groove and suitably catchy chorus, but it is a little too restrained and slightly overstays its welcome. Second track, Charlotte, is much more deserving of the hype and is a standout track on the album; The press release compares the band to Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age, but this track (along with several others), with its subdued beginning and build up, puts them much more in Incubus territory both musically and vocally.
The rest of 'Split The Atom Again' is polished, classy stuff, and the band have no problems getting a funky groove going, but they are let down on several of the tracks by lacklustre vocals; there are comparisons with Incubus' Brandon Boyd and, to a lesser extent Chris Cornell, but unfortunately lacking the power of either of them. On the laid back numbers this isn't a problem and the vocals have a soulful feel about them, but there are times when the singer, (who obviously has the ability, but seems to be holding back to the detriment of the songs), desperately needs a bit more power to really do the music justice.
There is certainly no shortage of ideas in the Casanatra camp and the musicianship is generally beyond reproach, it is just a shame that they let themselves down with some unimpassioned vocals. Despite this, there are some well-crafted songs on here that hint at the band's potential; particularly noteworthy are the aforementioned 'Charlotte', 'Sleeping On Air' with its soothing verse and Soundgarden-esque chorus, and the fast and furious bonus track 'They Don't Build Them Like They Used To'.