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Album Details

• Artist: Umbrellas
• Album: Umbrellas
• Label: Militia Group
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2005-05-05

The piano keys float in like puffy clouds. Slowly a garden variety of instruments join in on a traditional beat of contemporary rock. Next a soft unrecognizable voice whispers its way through, and off we go, track one "The City Lights," off the Umbrellas self-titled full length debut is sneaking into your life.
Track two "Sleep Well" follows the same writing path of "The City Lights," a simplistic banding of progressive rock with just a dash of piano rock. Each verse slowly building on the backbone of its eerie tempo, making its way to a chorus of heights. Already consumed by the flight of instrumentation, I'm looking for similarities to help you understand the sweet nectar that is the lead vocals. Female for sure, I'm more than tempted to group this voice with that of Garbage's Shirley Mansion. Always a story to tell, but more coherent upon the tones in which its told.
Morbidly positive the Umbrellas are an old scope view of the new school rock. Initially seeming less than kosher here is the tendency of abrupt endings like track three "Ghost". Almost religiously each track ends on a high note, leaving you gasping for a more predictable conclusion.
Up till this point, this Militia Group (label) artist has been fairly radio friendly, which leaves a boringly bland taste in my mouth. That is until track six "Black Dress". By far the best song yet featuring instrumentation that may be a long lost rejected theme song from some non-particular random 70's sitcom. Energetic handclaps, and soul driven pianist fingering is the heart of this grass roots guitar melody that will have any human in the room participating. Lyrically there's not much, but with this kind of rhythm who cares. Track seven "The Reactionary" is a slow dreaming scale of creativity making waves for lyrical vulnerability.
After a slow number, this album is really starting to perk up with track eight "June, Summer, Rose". A bouncy little number that protrudes echoey guitar fretting, and complimenting drums.
Track ten "Vampires" has a blue grass rock feel accompanied by the usual soft spoken vocals with some bonus accordion. Verses quiet down for the story. "Thought I put the keys in the ignition. I think that the entire existence is asleep so quiet." Apparently a story of blood sucking powerful self-indulgence.
Though initially this album hit me like a valium on a rainy Seattle night, each listen brought me into a zoning familiarity. The Umbrellas, though at the moment only great in its genre, may soon become an escape from the rain for all listeners alike.The piano keys float in like puffy clouds. Slowly a garden variety of instruments join in on a traditional beat of contemporary rock. Next a soft unrecognizable voice whispers its way through, and off we go, track one "The City Lights," off the Umbrellas self-titled full length debut is sneaking into your life.
Track two "Sleep Well" follows the same writing path of "The City Lights," a simplistic banding of progressive rock with just a dash of piano rock. Each verse slowly building on the backbone of its eerie tempo, making its way to a chorus of heights. Already consumed by the flight of instrumentation, I'm looking for similarities to help you understand the sweet nectar that is the lead vocals. Female for sure, I'm more than tempted to group this voice with that of Garbage's Shirley Mansion. Always a story to tell, but more coherent upon the tones in which its told.
Morbidly positive the Umbrellas are an old scope view of the new school rock. Initially seeming less than kosher here is the tendency of abrupt endings like track three "Ghost". Almost religiously each track ends on a high note, leaving you gasping for a more predictable conclusion.
Up till this point, this Militia Group (label) artist has been fairly radio friendly, which leaves a boringly bland taste in my mouth. That is until track six "Black Dress". By far the best song yet featuring instrumentation that may be a long lost rejected theme song from some non-particular random 70's sitcom. Energetic handclaps, and soul driven pianist fingering is the heart of this grass roots guitar melody that will have any human in the room participating. Lyrically there's not much, but with this kind of rhythm who cares. Track seven "The Reactionary" is a slow dreaming scale of creativity making waves for lyrical vulnerability.
After a slow number, this album is really starting to perk up with track eight "June, Summer, Rose". A bouncy little number that protrudes echoey guitar fretting, and complimenting drums.
Track ten "Vampires" has a blue grass rock feel accompanied by the usual soft spoken vocals with some bonus accordion. Verses quiet down for the story. "Thought I put the keys in the ignition. I think that the entire existence is asleep so quiet." Apparently a story of blood sucking powerful self-indulgence.
Though initially this album hit me like a valium on a rainy Seattle night, each listen brought me into a zoning familiarity. The Umbrellas, though at the moment only great in its genre, may soon become an escape from the rain for all listeners alike.

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