Search - Klondike-5 :: Steal the Plain Straight

Intimate Music For the Discerning Listener

Andrew Simpson | northwest of you | 12/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Klondike-5 are, simply put, the greatest band you've never heard. Okay, maybe you've heard them, but only if you are lucky enough to have caught one of their shows without having bought this record. Oddly enough, this record only evidences 74% of their capacity as musicians, since it was recorded before adding "Evil" Keith Womack to the lineup of Brian Stork on bass, Zack Stearns on lead guitar, and Kevin Rosinbum on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. 74 percent, you ask? Well, the other one percent comes from the collective. Each of them is a dynamo on their own... Sit Kevin down with an acoutsic and he'll break your heart, give Zack 5 minutes to show you what you missed in all of Kevin's song, set Brian up with any idea whatsoever, or ask Keith for something "simple" to back you up: all genius.



But it's that one percent that makes all the difference, because this band is 99% music and 1% magic.



Is the magic in the melding? Maybe. It COULD be that KL5 just meshes really well. Is it in the music? Maybe. It COULD be that they're just that freaking good.



I think the magic is in the brotherhood.



I mean, seriously. Look at all the bands out there that clearly exist simply because some executive decided they sounded good together. This band is different. There is a camraderie that is evident in the music -- do they look at each other when they play? Sure, when there's something funny. They don't NEED each other to be fantastic musicians... They're just all the more fantastic because of the others.



On this record, watch for tracks 1 and 4, "Open Wide" and "Glass Alice". There are plenty of songs they've done since this record that (most importantly include Mr. Womack) sound different than what you'll hear here. But "Steal the Plain Straight" is the perfect introduction to your new favorite band."