Weatherbox “The Cosmic Drama” Review

As journalist and an avid music fan I am often bombarded by waves of mediocre bands whose writing is indolent and instrumentation lacks substance; as such Weatherbox was a relief for me to hear. While I have been listening to The Cosmic Drama for over three weeks I initially struggled with it at first, particularly with how the band was attempting to communicate their sound. Yet after many late nights sitting in my kitchen indulging in the record I believe I have come up with a description that does this band justice: Weatherbox is the antithesis of making music for the sake of just making something.

Their sound provides the listener a chance to experience a paradigm shift when listening to tracks like, “Two Satchels of Light” or “Contactus the Little Green Man” due to the musicianship and abstract lyrics. Weatherbox’s sound is calculated and meticulous. Each verse, each riff, right down to the guitar effects and the intonation in Brian Warren’s voice lends itself to a sound that is as smart as it is fun and accessible.

What is unique is how the band, and Warren in particular, coils those sounds together. For ease of description their sound is progressive, intelligent, indie-punk-rock. The influences and styles at play in these songs are dynamic, giving Weatherbox a dense, layered sound, which is always topped with Warrens’ throaty, sort of nasally vocals. The songs have a lot shifting intensity, and an ebb flow feel dominates the album.

[uncredited group shot via Doghouse Records]

The Cosmic Drama is an innovative album, one that is as aesthetically awkward as it is stylistically strange. This is the reason I returned to it time and time again despite it not immediately grabbing me. After repeat listens I continue to find something new, some hidden sound, or new verse to ponder upon each listening. The songs are mix of existential ideas, introspective and highly personal writing intertwined with uniquely crafted music. This is to say, they have a sound that is easily identifiable and has secured the band a unique identity in today’s niche crazy industry. The album is loaded with punk elements, low-fi acoustic tracks, and art rock bangers amongst a host of other styles. The Cosmic Drama is an amalgamation of all that is smart, progressive and artistic about So-Cal’s music scene. This is going to be a stand out record in 2009.

[This article was written by guest contributor Kevin Farr.]