The Archive

With influences ranging from Captain Beefheart to Sonic Youth, Radiohead to Neil Young, New York City’s The Archive is looking to put their stamp on rock and roll. While it may not be groundbreaking experimental, “Dear Julia” seems to be the next evolutionary step in rock. While others have been distracted by passing genre-melding fads, The Archive aim to bring the music back to its roots – where one chord, some strong reverb, and a fiery passion is all it takes to turn heads. - Our Vinyl

New York’s The Archive have been working on their debut for the better part of the last two years, and the effort has finally paid off.

Great Low Down is a strong collection of tunes owing equal debt to U.K. modern rock and whiskey-soaked Americana. Twin guitars crunch like Crazy Horse, and vocalist John Epperly belts with a confidence recalling a pre-fame Bono or less maladjusted Thom Yorke.
We are pleased to present the world premiere video for “Julia Dear.” The complete album will be available for purchase on November 2, but eager listeners can preview three additional tracks now via Soundcloud.

The band is celebrating the release of Great Low Down with a show November 2 at Zebulon in Brooklyn. Opening ceremonies will be provided by the psychedelic sounds of Your 33 Black Angels. - The Vinyl District

The members of New York’s The Archive have been at this crazy little thing called rock for a long time, though exactly how long is between the band and their Rock God. However, the four of them claim a musical vita that cites influences as diverse as Paul Westerberg’s intimate brand of American punk to the Southern folk styling of Gillian Welch, and even a little early shoegaze for good measure. Strictly speaking, a band with this many ties to multiple genres does not produce a straightforward interpretation of contemporary rock, and their debut record is proof of something stirring.

Great Low Down opens with “Julia, Dear,” a nod to the band’s punk sensibility, though slightly countered by a soaring melody. There’s an absence of the biting snarl preferred by vintage punkers and their new age protégé; instead, singer John Epperly sounds less disgruntled as he does worn in. Never more so than on “Kid Glove Tangerine,” a very Westerberg-esque self-designated state of weariness (“You took your tongue tearing apart…me”) or the album’s closer, “Black Rain,” that wanders without a destination and feels like the lyrical equivalent of restless legs. Of course, The Archive can bring it on when they want to, and “Holy Ground” boasts a guitar-driven fury that reminds us this is not a band so easily compartmentalized. As a whole, Great Low Down suggests a symbolic clock is ticking and the band—while somewhat disillusioned by the state of things—can’t help but chase the elusive white rabbit, reason be damned. - We Heart Music