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Off Road Minivan – Swan Dive

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, May 28, 2020.

  1. Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Let me introduce you to Tooth & Nail Records’ latest great find in Red Hook, New York’s own Off Road Minivan. This five-piece band is led by charismatic bassist/vocalist Ryan Tuck O’Leary and features a triple-guitar attack of Melvin Brinson, Dave Trimboli, and Miles Sweeny. Rounding out the band is an underrated drummer in Evan Garcia Renart. On their debut full-length album, Swan Dive, Off Road Minivan described this record as a love letter of sorts to the bands that influenced their sound. “For us, this album touches on the sounds that made us want to play in the first place – an alternative rock landscape from early 00’s emo to grunge influence,” the band shares. “We aren’t here to teach any defining life lesson, just trying to sing about the ones we’ve experienced.” Their debut features flashes of greatness and is reminiscent of bands such as Anberlin, Hawthorne Heights, and Young Guns.

    Led by the satisfying single, “Vampire,” Off Road Minivan wastes little time getting down to the business at hand. O’Leary’s vocals drift from a drowned-out whisper in the verses to an emotive scream in the choruses that master the soft-loud dynamic so frequently used in this scene. Other tracks such as “Spiral Gaze” that was prominently featured on their debut EP of the same name showcases the band experimenting with some darker-toned guitars that build up to an anthemic chorus. What this collection of musicians do best is play off of each other’s strengths and make a cohesive sound that is melodically pleasing.

    The title track is sandwiched right in the middle of the album’s sequencing and further displays what the band is capable of creating when they are in tune with each other’s playing. The song reminded me a lot of what Hawthorne Heights were going for in The Silence in Black and White, but Off Road Minivan has a more rock-centric approach to their sound with some hints of emo.

    My favorite from the record comes in the blast of grunge-flavored guitars in “Bliss.” The band can throw in a wide variety of influences and sounds into a blender of rock that leaves the listener with a satisfying mix.

    Overall, Off Road Minivan has made a worthwhile debut record in Swan Dive. As the band mentioned in their quote, they don’t cover too much new ground stylistically, but they play off of their influences brilliantly and may not be giving themselves enough credit on their strong opening statement.

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  2. choke

    Skatecat

    Great album, title track is one of the best songs so far this year imo.
     
    paythetab likes this.
  3. stringerebrock

    Newbie

    Loving this album. Bliss is my favourite song of the year so far.
     
    paythetab likes this.
  4. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

    I'll have to give this another listen. I didn't connect to it much my first time through, but the song Carousel Blues definitely stood out the most to me.
     
    paythetab likes this.
  5. chhholly123

    i’ve been meaning to tell you

    I wanted to like this more than I did. I loved the EP, but this isn't really sticking with me.
     
    paythetab and Chase Tremaine like this.
  6. -deleted-

    -

    Was a strange experience listening to the opening track as it is written about walking through where I grew up and currently live again.

    I liked this a lot.
     
    paythetab likes this.
  7. On my podcast next week, we'll be talking about all of this year's Tooth & Nail and Solid State releases. It's been a really heavy release year for them. That said, I was probably stoked for this one more than any of them based on how great their 2018 EP was. Unfortunately, I've had mega trouble connecting to this one. Not only do I find much of the songwriting lackluster, I also find the sound of the band far less passionate and not as well produced as they sounded on the EP.
     
    paythetab, bachna84 and chhholly123 like this.
  8. saaaaaame!
     
  9. Solid review. I'll be giving this album another chance over the weekend, so I'll come back and report if my opinion on it changes. I definitely think this band has potential and I hope we get another album relatively soon. As of now, the only songs that really stick out to me are the title track and "Keepsake."
     
    paythetab and bachna84 like this.
  10. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

    What's your podcast called? That subject matter is right up my alley!
     
    paythetab and Chase Tremaine like this.
  11. the JFH Podcast! Episode will be up on Wednesday, and we’ve probably got some older episodes you’d be interested in? There’s like....106 of them?
     
    SaveTheEarth, paythetab and bachna84 like this.
  12. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

    Just added it @Chase Tremaine!

    Looking forward to listening! T&N and Solid State were two of my favorite labels growing up, but I haven’t done as well in keeping up with their releases these past several years.
     
    Chase Tremaine likes this.
  13. They're in a pretty good season right now. I don't love much, but I don't necessarily dislike much of it, either. Plus it's cool that they've got "legacy" bands like Mae and Copeland back. Biggest bummer for me is that one of the most exciting signees they had all decade, Artifex Pereo, has slowed to a halt and might not ever make music again.
     
    bachna84 likes this.
  14. chhholly123

    i’ve been meaning to tell you

    What happened to them? I thought they said were recording back in the fall?
     
  15. have you heard something newer than my information? It was about a year ago when I ran into two members and they told me prospects were dim on a third album. I think they might’ve also mentioned being down to members at the time. But my intel could be outdated
     
    chhholly123 likes this.
  16. chhholly123

    i’ve been meaning to tell you

    Just their Instagram, they were talking about recording back in September. That’s a real bummer if they’re done. I loved Time in Place, and Passengers was pretty good too.
     
    Chase Tremaine likes this.
  17. agreed!