Oh Condor

In the original Star Wars film, Han shot first. In the 1997 re-release, Lucas screwed the pooch by altering this scene. When Dayton, Ohio’s 8 Bit Revivial decided to shed their old skin and start anew as Oh Condor, they were careful not to make that mistake. Their snarling, propulsive first single, titled “Shoot First”, proves they haven’t lost the fire that made them one of the cities most respected bands. - Turntable Kitchen

Although Oh Condor's musical roots can be traced to '90s indie rock, their production is a little too slick for lo-fi, too ambitious for slacker rock and too fun for shoegazing. The quartet's Reflector Ep, which hit the streets via Gas Daddy Go today (February 28) showcases a scrappy and ambitious Dayton, Ohio-based quartet capable of and committed to chasing down moments of pop and rock brilliance and setting them to tape. And though the EP is short, any of the cuts in this collection of indie rock songs is capable of holding their own with Arches of Loaf's "Wrong," Pavement's "Cut Your Hair" and Superchunk's "Hello Hawk." None of this is tremendously surprising considering the strength of the band's formidable back catalog of self-released albums and EPs. From the squealing synth intro of "Shoot First" the band jettisons out of the gates at a breakneck clip. Brainiac fans will crack a smile at the baritone vocal gobbling that recalls "Sexual Frustration," and modern rock fans will pause at the Franz Ferdinand-like temp change. The muscular guitar lines on "Windsor Knot Ontario" are among some of the finest Oh Condor has ever conjured, and the dual vocal delivery is scrappy and endearing. Capture this EP before the limited-edition release is extinct. - Dayton City Paper

...alterna-rock that wouldn't sound out of place in the early '90s. The opening "I Wish You Weren't Horrible" as well as a few other tracks such as "Tunable Ghosts" are laden with heavily delayed guitars, which appeals to my psychedelic side. The songs are full of hooks that mostly remind me of old Soul Asylum for some reason. There are even some neat synth noises to add to the texture.

Chuck Foster / The Big Takeover (Issue 67) - The Big Take Over

...alterna-rock that wouldn't sound out of place in the early '90s. The opening "I Wish You Weren't Horrible" as well as a few other tracks such as "Tunable Ghosts" are laden with heavily delayed guitars, which appeals to my psychedelic side. The songs are full of hooks that mostly remind me of old Soul Asylum for some reason. There are even some neat synth noises to add to the texture.

Chuck Foster / The Big Takeover (Issue 67) - The Big Take Over

...alterna-rock that wouldn't sound out of place in the early '90s. The opening "I Wish You Weren't Horrible" as well as a few other tracks such as "Tunable Ghosts" are laden with heavily delayed guitars, which appeals to my psychedelic side. The songs are full of hooks that mostly remind me of old Soul Asylum for some reason. There are even some neat synth noises to add to the texture.

Chuck Foster / The Big Takeover (Issue 67) - The Big Take Over

You've Been Believed is a pristine (but not sterile) and engaging record that the band recorded in the basement studio of drummer Jayson Hartings. "i wish you weren't horrible" is a hooky, herky-jerky opener, that immediately shows Harting's skills behind the skins. Call and response vocals between guitarists Shane Weber and Tim Krug during the song's chorus drive home the tune's 90s indie guitar rock vibe, perhaps because of Weber's vocal similarity to Braid's Bob Nanna. "man made gods" and "tunable ghosts" are fantastically tight indie pop songs that push the boundaries of what pop should sound like when it is set to angular riffing and the lock-step, off-timed rhythms of Hartings and bassist/co-vocalist Alan Baker. While the band is quirky, they never sacrifice hookiness for weirdness. I really appreciate the band's self-assuredness in this area because they manage to avoid making something that sounds over-wrought and that would otherwise ruin an upbeat and memorable song and record. "kids get caught" jumps off with buzzing guitars that make way for one of many of the records highlights - a song with both poppy immediacy and edginess. The stop-start rhythms in the bridge and the gang vocals make way for the record's most memorable moments, complete with sing-along "whoas." Baker's presence is perhaps most noticeable during the moody, post-punk grooviness of ""wake up". By Pixies-esque, slow- burn closing track "politics are better at night" it is clear that each of these guys bring their own distinct skillsets to the band and that 8-Bit would be an incomplete picture if any of these personalities weren't present. Simply, these guys have an enviable friendship, and a mature understanding and respect for the music they make together. And having seen them grow over the years, it is no surprise to me that this record is one of the strongest and most rousing local releases in recent memory. 8-Bit are the kind of confident, competent band that takes chances without stooping to apeing anybody else's sound or cherry picking the popular sounds that would make the record a cookie-cutter version of somebody else's work. You've Been Believed stands strong on its own merits, and it is my sincerest hope that a week on the road early this April will create the buzz the band needs to continue building the audience they deserve.

<br>Recommended For Fans Of: Braid, Dismemberment Plan, Les Savy Fav
- Tim Anderl / YouIndie.com (03/29/10) - YouIndie

Dayton, Ohio based quartet Oh Condor had me after my first spin of their Reflector EP. It's a quick, tight, and well executed EP that shows a band that's been around since the turn of the millennium (then known as 8-bit Revival) continuing to improve their brand of idiosyncratic fuzz-pop.

Their roots are easily traced to 90s indie rock staples like Swervedriver, Les Savy Fav, The Wrens, etc. with bouts of buzzing angular guitars, moody vocals, and melodic rhythms oscillating between cool and crazy; however, instead of being blatantly derivative, they blur the lines between their influences and produce something wholly their own.



The EP was released last year, but I still like to champion it because it remains one of my newer go-to tapes in my collection. Check out my two favorite tracks Tidal Waves Goodbye and Got Your Nose above and below and support these underrated gents by grabbing the cassette. You can also grab a free download of the EP if that's not your thing. - Ground Floor Go