mealfrog

Seattle’s newest acoustic jam rock band MealFrog has just released their debut studio album, Luna Vivarium. The guys (Jason Riemath – Vocals/Guitar, Chad Hoflin – Bass, Casey Bever - Lead Guitar, Brandon Barrett - Rhythm, Chris Jenkins – Percussion, Ryan Peterson – Ukulele) were nice enough to contact us and ask us to give them our take on the record- so here it is!

My first impression of the album was how heavy it was, not just in sound but also in length and composition. Clocking in at nearly an hour long, Luna Vivarium holds nothing back. From the first note to the last, it’s an all out, conscious effort from all six members and will serve as a fantastic representation of who MealFrog is, and where they are going as a band. As far as the sound, it covers the spectrum. The attention to detail, particularly in the percussion and guitar layering, adds to the overall experience of listening to the record and develops the sound as it happens. Combinations of funk, rock, blues, reggae, and jazz make for an incredibly complete album, one which requires a very careful and thorough listen in order to appreciate all of the nuances that make it great. Good records can be listened to once and dissected, but great records need multiple listens to truly comprehend- and that’s what Luna Vivarium demands of it’s listeners. Anyway, before I give too much away, let’s dive into the record song by song……

Sumpthin Funky: Definitely a simple tune lyrically, but musically very busy. Showcases the funk side of the record early on with an infectious lead guitar line and vocal melody. Lead vocalist Jason Riemath’s rhythmic delivery drives the whole band through the song as it dips and dives through the different sections.

Vibe Sniper: The psychedelic son of this album. Very similar to Pearl Jam’s “You Are” with the heavy guitar and vocal effects reverberating throughout the song. Bassist Chad Hoflin’s best song without a doubt. An infections bass groove that dominates the song and is in a world of it’s own throughout. Lyrically thought provoking with lines such as, “Drink the poison/How much can you still provide?” When listening to this song, I challenge you to count the layers. Lead guitar, rhythm guitar/ukelele, bass, drums, percussion, and then multiple random noises that I have yet to decipher. The details to this song are absolutely endless, making it one of the most complete tracks on the record.

Dada: The light-hearted, bob your head to it while sitting on the beach, song. Jimmy Buffet would be proud of this one. A light, rhythm guitar starts the track leading into a simple beat with thoughtful lyrics over the top. Lyrically, this just might be my favorite on the whole record. After about three minutes of a fairly straightforward pop song, everyone drops out leaving an acoustic guitar standing alone. After that, all bets are off as lead guitarist Casey Bever takes over delivering a blistering solo before the band brings it back into the main theme of the song. I’d be willing to bet that Dada becomes a monster live tune, as the potential for jam is ridiculously high. You won’t be able to “stand still” when this one is playing. No way.

Dancing in the Rain: Before I review this song, I have to say this is far and away my favorite song on the record. After listening to the album for the first time, this was the one song I had stuck in my head. The mood is set almost immediately as the sound of rain comes fading into the track, and not long after that the band slips into this air-tight groove. Reminiscent of the Dave Matthews Band cut from The Lillywhite Sessions, “Captain”, MealFrog channels that same mood in this song. This is another song where we can play the “Count the Layers” game as it seems endless at times once again. From the bluesy electric guitar in the background dictating the melody to the funky time signature, this is a very strong studio cut. I’m no expert on time signature, but drummer Brandon Barrett seems to avoid the “1? for a very long time, prompting a fusion of sound to build up before launching into the instrumental section. Guitarist Casey Bever once again takes over while Reimath’s powerful vocals scream, “I’m never coming home no more”, which leads to a frantic crescendo before coming down and ending the song. Overall, another one of those “must listens” from this record. A fantastic studio song that will blossom in the live setting.

C.O.A: Another funked out piece that bounces in many different directions. Definitely a change of mood from the darker, “Dancing in the Rain”, and a necessary change for sure. Having a lighter, happier song following the darkest song on the album is important. Provides a nice contrast as well. Nothing of much note here- just a solid song that has that “different” sound I spoke of earlier. Creative drum beat and some quick changing sections that’ll be a challenge on stage. It’ll be very interesting to watch this song grow on stage.

I Am: Rhythmic and - Rob Slater, unpluggedmusings.com

Seattle’s newest acoustic jam rock band MealFrog has just released their debut studio album, Luna Vivarium. The guys (Jason Riemath – Vocals/Guitar, Chad Hoflin – Bass, Casey Bever - Lead Guitar, Brandon Barrett - Rhythm, Chris Jenkins – Percussion, Ryan Peterson – Ukulele) were nice enough to contact us and ask us to give them our take on the record- so here it is!

My first impression of the album was how heavy it was, not just in sound but also in length and composition. Clocking in at nearly an hour long, Luna Vivarium holds nothing back. From the first note to the last, it’s an all out, conscious effort from all six members and will serve as a fantastic representation of who MealFrog is, and where they are going as a band. As far as the sound, it covers the spectrum. The attention to detail, particularly in the percussion and guitar layering, adds to the overall experience of listening to the record and develops the sound as it happens. Combinations of funk, rock, blues, reggae, and jazz make for an incredibly complete album, one which requires a very careful and thorough listen in order to appreciate all of the nuances that make it great. Good records can be listened to once and dissected, but great records need multiple listens to truly comprehend- and that’s what Luna Vivarium demands of it’s listeners. Anyway, before I give too much away, let’s dive into the record song by song……

Sumpthin Funky: Definitely a simple tune lyrically, but musically very busy. Showcases the funk side of the record early on with an infectious lead guitar line and vocal melody. Lead vocalist Jason Riemath’s rhythmic delivery drives the whole band through the song as it dips and dives through the different sections.

Vibe Sniper: The psychedelic son of this album. Very similar to Pearl Jam’s “You Are” with the heavy guitar and vocal effects reverberating throughout the song. Bassist Chad Hoflin’s best song without a doubt. An infections bass groove that dominates the song and is in a world of it’s own throughout. Lyrically thought provoking with lines such as, “Drink the poison/How much can you still provide?” When listening to this song, I challenge you to count the layers. Lead guitar, rhythm guitar/ukelele, bass, drums, percussion, and then multiple random noises that I have yet to decipher. The details to this song are absolutely endless, making it one of the most complete tracks on the record.

Dada: The light-hearted, bob your head to it while sitting on the beach, song. Jimmy Buffet would be proud of this one. A light, rhythm guitar starts the track leading into a simple beat with thoughtful lyrics over the top. Lyrically, this just might be my favorite on the whole record. After about three minutes of a fairly straightforward pop song, everyone drops out leaving an acoustic guitar standing alone. After that, all bets are off as lead guitarist Casey Bever takes over delivering a blistering solo before the band brings it back into the main theme of the song. I’d be willing to bet that Dada becomes a monster live tune, as the potential for jam is ridiculously high. You won’t be able to “stand still” when this one is playing. No way.

Dancing in the Rain: Before I review this song, I have to say this is far and away my favorite song on the record. After listening to the album for the first time, this was the one song I had stuck in my head. The mood is set almost immediately as the sound of rain comes fading into the track, and not long after that the band slips into this air-tight groove. Reminiscent of the Dave Matthews Band cut from The Lillywhite Sessions, “Captain”, MealFrog channels that same mood in this song. This is another song where we can play the “Count the Layers” game as it seems endless at times once again. From the bluesy electric guitar in the background dictating the melody to the funky time signature, this is a very strong studio cut. I’m no expert on time signature, but drummer Brandon Barrett seems to avoid the “1? for a very long time, prompting a fusion of sound to build up before launching into the instrumental section. Guitarist Casey Bever once again takes over while Reimath’s powerful vocals scream, “I’m never coming home no more”, which leads to a frantic crescendo before coming down and ending the song. Overall, another one of those “must listens” from this record. A fantastic studio song that will blossom in the live setting.

C.O.A: Another funked out piece that bounces in many different directions. Definitely a change of mood from the darker, “Dancing in the Rain”, and a necessary change for sure. Having a lighter, happier song following the darkest song on the album is important. Provides a nice contrast as well. Nothing of much note here- just a solid song that has that “different” sound I spoke of earlier. Creative drum beat and some quick changing sections that’ll be a challenge on stage. It’ll be very interesting to watch this song grow on stage.

I Am: Rhythmic and - Rob Slater, unpluggedmusings.com