Impostor Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome isn't actually a recognized psychological disorder – according to Wikipedia – but the subject of many books and articles deals with individuals unable to internalize their accomplishments.

Could there be a better name for a rock band? Really?

This East Coast trio grinds out edgy pop that sparkles but – like all things sparkly – leaves the inquisitive trying to look past the surface.There doesn't appear to be much there – just more of the same.

Kristen Persinos handles the guitar and vocals with prowess and skill far beyond her years. Her vocals are more textured – on any given song – than many singers can find across an entire album.Her guitar is jangly and sharp-edged – but no one's going to get hurt here.

Ken Nakano's bass playing is smooth and subtle, grinding away under the varied guitar and vocal work which is mixed perfectly so the listener is able to experience the entire song as it was meant to be experienced.

Craig Rogers plays drums with passion and power – mixed with dexterity that is nearly peerless. He either has three arms or there are some serious drum-dubs – or else he is just a fabulous drummer.

The difficult thing to reconcile is that with all of this talent, Fresh Air isn't more explosive and long-lasting. Having a mere four songs doesn't help – but there are deeper issues here. These four songs strain against themselves to be perfect and so they are; a little blemish might make this a more interesting release.Maybe the trio just haven't found a way to internalize their accomplishments. Well how about that? - Score Magazine

This album is not available to purchase yet, but will be on iTunes. So it’s not getting a full review. I have a real problem with download/digital only releases and would normally just ignore this one, but I like this band. I’ve reviewed them before so I wanted to at least mention it here.
The last time I reviewed them, I was intrigued. I enjoyed it and was hoping for a full length. Two and a half years later, we get more, but just another EP. So that’s too bad. But I understand that making records is expensive. So I’ll take what I can get.

Kristin Persinos has a really great rock voice and this band has a pretty full sound, especially when you realize there are only three people playing.
There’s a little PJ Harvey here, especially on the title track, Fresh Air.
I like this, and again wish it were longer (and available in CD format). - Collected Sounds

Impostor Syndrome has its roots planted somewhere in the days of early punk rock, coming across like a mix between Blondie and the Pretenders before they got big. That probably has a lot to do with the strong female lead vocals from Kristen Persinos, as her voice is absolutely captivating.

The songs themselves are rough around the edges both musically and sonically, but that only adds to the punkish appeal. Persinos seems right at home growling along with her overdriven guitar lines, so there's no need to try and pretty it up, even though she could probably croon well-structured pop songs sweetly if she wanted to. Something tells me that too much polish would probably put out the fire this New York-based trio is trying to set, and that would be a shame. With that, I think I'll turn this one up a little louder. - Mish Mash Music Magazine

"Simple riffs wrapped around time-tested melodies fuel this experienced LES trio. Singer Kristen Persinos’s vocals are not the standard sort of anybody-can-do-it nonsense." - Time Out NY

Impostor Syndrome’s latest 4-song EP goes by in a flash and left me wanting some more. Aw c’mon guys, why not a full-length CD? Sounding like a blurred combo of Cowboy Junkies and Sonic Youth, Impostor Syndrome rocks out four very intelligent tracks of drums-bass-guitar downtown rock-n-roll. Ken Nakano’s bass riffs provide a rock solid highway for Kristen Persino’s guitar to drive helter-skelter through chromatic chord progressions and feed-back soundscapes. Craig Rogers plays in a lower eastside punk style with some keen musicality that follows the riff as well as the vocal line, telling me he’s not just a large footed drummer, but a listening musician. Kristen’s voice sails smoothly over all of the band’s pulsing sonic disruption and the lyrics are heard clearly enough to deliver the message.

Wanting more lead me to their website, where I found a 2003 four-song EP that had great songs as well. Why an EP again? Why not a combo with those and the new ones? This band definitely has the ability to write solid songs and sustain a listener’s attention for more than 15 minutes, so I hope it wasn’t for something lame like lack of cash. Impostor Syndrome has made me believe that there are still bands out there that can rock with more than three chords and deliver a fresh view on what sounds punk and edgy. The karma is real – I want more. - Indie Music.com

Rose Colored Sabotage, the second release by Impostor Syndrome, is a little difficult to classify. The five song EP has some tinges of punk and alternative, and of power pop; there are also some moments when the music seems to harken back the sixties, to bands like Jefferson Airplane. On their myspace site, the band, which consists of: Kristen Persinos on guitar and vocals, Kevin Lacy on drums, Dan Smith on bass, and Josh Weisberg on guitar and keyboards, are tongue and cheek concerning a categorization of their music, entering “your momma” in the “sounds like” category. Let's leave my mother out of this. Just call it rock n' roll.
The music is guitar heavy rock, not heavy metal, by any standards, just rock: a lot of power chords delivered with standard overdrive and not too much distortion. Josh Weisberg won't be challenging Joe Satriani for his crown anytime soon, but on the short solos he takes, he acquits himself well, using searing feedback and wah effects to deliver some psychedelic 60's screamers. Kristen Persinos (who also writes the band's songs) delivers vocals which are dark and brooding, with lyrics that conjure a sinister landscape. Her sultry, mysterious voice seems to glide over the top the music throughout the disk.
Pictures of this band, on their website, show four freakishly normal middle aged individuals: no green hair, no piercings and no tattoos; but even though this band doesn't court the youth culture they do bring something new to the table, and they do it using the same old influences people have been getting inspiration from for decades. That's not easy. - Muzik Reviews

Having missed Crisis Center, listed as the opening act (and now I’ll have to track them down, listen, and give them their due), I finally turned to the stage as Imposter Syndrome picked up momentum. Stylistically tough to pin down, they have the virtues of great vocals, and rhythmic energy. They veered around the edges of loungy, trippy rock while maintaining that energy, and explored BST-like straight-ahead grooves, all well-matched with the video clips they’d chosen, reinforcing the party atmosphere. - LIC Notes

Resilient NYC rockers Imposter Syndrome continue the daunting mission of churning out edgy tunes brimming with grace on ROSE COLORED SABOTAGE. This five-track presentation illuminates this quirky quartet’s superb command of the signature jagged melody over sinewy groove concoction while Kristen Persinos’ silky smooth vocal style alluringly delivers intricate interpersonal lyrical content with arresting conviction (“Rose Colored Sabotage”). Possessing the comfort zone to crank guitars up and dig into a grunge groove (“Plastic Wrap”) as easily as slip back into an alt-rock meets Pink Floyd smorgasbord (“Black, One Sugar”), Imposter Syndrome’s shadowy aura and impressive musical dexterity fosters the lost art of organic composition that sets them apart from the pack, as this release aptly displays the tools necessary to build sturdy songs that progress to satisfying ends. - 3:16 Productions