The Barrens

The Barrens is a five piece psychedelic rock band made up of Colin Fitzgerald (vocals, guitar, bass), Debbie Chou (vocals, keyboard), Mike Koene (guitar, vocals), Chris Gersbeck (drums, vocals) and Jay Sharp (bass) formed in upstate New York. They released their debut album last year and have been causing a stir in the underground music scene with their raw and powerful sound since.

Having been compared to bands such as The Flaming Lips, Radiohead and Jefferson Airplane, they have quite clearly made a good impression on most people and after just the first listen of the record it’s not hard to see why.

The Barrens have an older, more familiar sound to their music than most new bands around today. It’s a nostalgic sound for that of the 60s or 70s. Songs like Felt are reminiscent of bands like Led Zeppelin due to the guitar riffs which is why it is such a great second track after Claw Remains. However other tracks like Sagaminopteron Psychedelicum have a newer feel to them sounding at times like something The Foo Fighters would have produced. There are also tracks on there that are similar in sound and style to Feeder such as Yellow Cigarette.

This record is a complete mixture of old and new which is fantastic. Their psychedelic influences can be heard in tracks like Claw Remains, Never Knew and Face the Eighth. The Barrens have placed the 60s and 70s into a modern world and given it just enough of a twist to make it work for them.

By having more than one singer being the main singer on different tracks it stops any of the songs from becoming plain and boring. With each song, you hear something new, something you hadn’t noticed in the previous track. There isn’t a song on here that sounds like anything out there at the moment or like anything else on the record. Each song is like a breath of fresh air.

The Barrens have produced a solid album that somehow manages to combine the best of the 60s and 70s folk, punk, rock and psychedelic scenes into a bundle of eleven outstanding tracks. Songs like Felt are rock, Bottom of the Well is more pop while tracks like Out of the Rain combine a Pink Floyd psych rock feel. It’s a truly magnificent album that will keep you nothing but entranced. - Rocking Republic

Harmonic, somewhat psychadelic and melodramatic – just three ways to describe The Barrens debut self-titled full length. Opener Claw Remains does feel a bit too melodramatic but all this changes as soon as Felt kicks in – a pure, adrenaline fuelled, rock n’ roll song. Sounding like their straight from the 60s or 70s, the New Yorkers have that old school rock n’ roll feel that so many bands have tried to bring back to the mainstream and failed (apart from bands like Them Crooked Vultures).

Felt is a rip roaring tune but Bottom Of the Well tones things down a little bit, showing off The Barrens more harmonic rock side in the vein of bands like Pixies or The Flaming Lips. Chopping and changing styles like there’s no tomorrow, the band follow it with In and Of Ice which feels a little bit too dreary amongst some of their other songs but just as quickly as that feeling comes, it goes and makes way for the epic Leave Of Absence which almost has a very Fleetwood Mac-esque feel to it.

Sagaminopteron Psychedelicum (say that three times fast!) clearly stands head and shoulders above the rest with it’s dark, psychadelic sound – a bit like a modern day Beatles if they’d actually crossed paths with Oasis. There’s a slow pause when the dreary one-two of Never Knew and Yellow Cigarette almost brings the record to a halt but the catchy, more upbeat Better brightens things up as the album comes to a finish. As Face The Eigth brings the record to a close, there’s a sudden realisation that perhaps this sort of music isn’t made as often as it once was for a reason. It’s not that The Barrens are bad (or even that psychadelic music is bad), but it seems difficult to perfect in 2012.

When The Barrens do unleash a good song, it’s excellent but when as for the rest they can often come across dull, dreary and boring. It’s a record of mixed songs that can leave you pleasantly surprised or suck the soul right from you.

For fans of: Radiohead, The Flaming Lips. - Rock Reviews 24/7

Harmonic, somewhat psychadelic and melodramatic – just three ways to describe The Barrens debut self-titled full length. Opener Claw Remains does feel a bit too melodramatic but all this changes as soon as Felt kicks in – a pure, adrenaline fuelled, rock n’ roll song. Sounding like their straight from the 60s or 70s, the New Yorkers have that old school rock n’ roll feel that so many bands have tried to bring back to the mainstream and failed (apart from bands like Them Crooked Vultures).

Felt is a rip roaring tune but Bottom Of the Well tones things down a little bit, showing off The Barrens more harmonic rock side in the vein of bands like Pixies or The Flaming Lips. Chopping and changing styles like there’s no tomorrow, the band follow it with In and Of Ice which feels a little bit too dreary amongst some of their other songs but just as quickly as that feeling comes, it goes and makes way for the epic Leave Of Absence which almost has a very Fleetwood Mac-esque feel to it.

Sagaminopteron Psychedelicum (say that three times fast!) clearly stands head and shoulders above the rest with it’s dark, psychadelic sound – a bit like a modern day Beatles if they’d actually crossed paths with Oasis. There’s a slow pause when the dreary one-two of Never Knew and Yellow Cigarette almost brings the record to a halt but the catchy, more upbeat Better brightens things up as the album comes to a finish. As Face The Eigth brings the record to a close, there’s a sudden realisation that perhaps this sort of music isn’t made as often as it once was for a reason. It’s not that The Barrens are bad (or even that psychadelic music is bad), but it seems difficult to perfect in 2012.

When The Barrens do unleash a good song, it’s excellent but when as for the rest they can often come across dull, dreary and boring. It’s a record of mixed songs that can leave you pleasantly surprised or suck the soul right from you.

For fans of: Radiohead, The Flaming Lips. - Rock Reviews 24/7

The Barrens are a very unique very psychedelic sound that reminds me distinctly of Pink Floyd, only moreso. That is probably one of the few good ways to describe The Barrens sound, more Pink Floyd than Pink Floyd. With all of the trippy elements and general bizarre heaviness that makes Pink Floyd so good The Barrens take that sound to a new level layering in a whole new garage element and a whole new level of heaviness that makes their music distinct. The guitar work on this album is rather brutal and features some excellent riffs that remind me distinctly of garage rock legends like The Troggs. Meanwhile the bass playing is very heavy and really can provide some cool experimental vibes in songs like Bottom of a Well. (Which also includes an awesome clapping bit) The drumming on this album is very solid and encompasses a variety of style from classic rock, to psychedelia to some almost pop punk rhythms in certain tracks. This provides a very interesting layer to the playing and makes things a bit more interesting. The keys add a very trippy feel to everything and make the music almost shimmery at times. This is another quality that makes this band very Pink Floyd. Finally the vocals, both male and female are brilliantly executed and very beautiful. They have at once a classical and psychedelic quality. The male vocals can also get very garage rock. Overall, this album features a brilliant vocal performance that is not easy to forget. In conclusion, The Barrens are one of the most inspiring acts of 2012. They play glorious and powerful music that is hard to forget, so go check them out! - Two Guys Metal Reviews

The Barrens play a beguiling mix of psych-rock pop that washes
over you in waves of warm melodies but also have a much
harder edge that prevents this album from becoming just another
ode to this genre.

Fuzzed out guitar comes to the fore just when you thought
the Fleet Foxes were making a guest appearance and the
dark sound that permeates through the songs give the tracks
a welcome identity.

The double male/female vocals are skilfully interwoven and
allow you to get caught up in this gem of an album.


Bio: Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound. Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, The Barrens draw on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows. They have been featured on the Deli Magazine, Indie Darkroom, and Glide Magazine. In addition to being in rotation on over 30 college stations all over the US, they were also selected to play the CMJ Festival in New York City and NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.

Their 2008 EP "Worming" was engineered and recorded by Jim Bentley at the Fort Brooklyn and was the subject of a successful college radio campaign. Advanced Alternative Media described the success as "rare and exceptional for a self-released EP." Their first full-length album is available for digital download and 12" vinyl on http://thebarrens.bandcamp.com/ - Black Insect Laughter

The Barrens play a beguiling mix of psych-rock pop that washes
over you in waves of warm melodies but also have a much
harder edge that prevents this album from becoming just another
ode to this genre.

Fuzzed out guitar comes to the fore just when you thought
the Fleet Foxes were making a guest appearance and the
dark sound that permeates through the songs give the tracks
a welcome identity.

The double male/female vocals are skilfully interwoven and
allow you to get caught up in this gem of an album.


Bio: Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound. Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, The Barrens draw on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows. They have been featured on the Deli Magazine, Indie Darkroom, and Glide Magazine. In addition to being in rotation on over 30 college stations all over the US, they were also selected to play the CMJ Festival in New York City and NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.

Their 2008 EP "Worming" was engineered and recorded by Jim Bentley at the Fort Brooklyn and was the subject of a successful college radio campaign. Advanced Alternative Media described the success as "rare and exceptional for a self-released EP." Their first full-length album is available for digital download and 12" vinyl on http://thebarrens.bandcamp.com/ - Black Insect Laughter

The Barrens' self-titled album is often dark, brooding and menacing like on "Claw remains" and powerful, dangerous such as on the rock attack of "Felt".

This is the first full-length album from New York based The Barrens and it runs from heavy grunge rock to lighter psychedelia, "Bottom of the well" is a good example of the latter which comes complete with cute handclaps.
I like them best on the darker heavier stuff though, "Face the eighth" for example with its booming beat and atmospheric guitar noise or on my favourite track on the album "Never knew" with its grinding rock melody and waves of guitar noise.

The Barrens' album is full of great atmospheric alternative rock power and its quite simply great! Its available as a digital download or as a vinyl LP on the band's Bandcamp site. - Trip-TV

The Barrens' self-titled album is often dark, brooding and menacing like on "Claw remains" and powerful, dangerous such as on the rock attack of "Felt".

This is the first full-length album from New York based The Barrens and it runs from heavy grunge rock to lighter psychedelia, "Bottom of the well" is a good example of the latter which comes complete with cute handclaps.
I like them best on the darker heavier stuff though, "Face the eighth" for example with its booming beat and atmospheric guitar noise or on my favourite track on the album "Never knew" with its grinding rock melody and waves of guitar noise.

The Barrens' album is full of great atmospheric alternative rock power and its quite simply great! Its available as a digital download or as a vinyl LP on the band's Bandcamp site. - Trip-TV

The Barrens unite a wonderful array of influences on their debut full length self-titled release; Pink Floyd, The Flaming Lips, The Breeders, The Pixies, even Black Sabbath…they all come to mind at different times, making for a suitably topsy turvy psychedelic adventure. After opening with the sleepy “Claw Remains” (which has a very interesting slow motion music video), they don’t hesitate to bring out the prog rock/metal on “Felt”, which could have very well been written by those lovable desert rock kings, Kyuss. We head into poppier territory with “Bottom of a Well”, where Colin Fitzgerald and Debbie Chou’s vocal chemistry really shine, as they harmonize us into indie pop/rock paradise. This is really beautiful stuff.

“In and of Ice”gives Debbie’s voice a chance to shine on it’s own, and it’s the first of a few stunners from her on the album. Musically, it’s very dreamy and sparing. This is a band who know their dynamics. “Our of the Rain” is possibly the album standout for me…too lengthy for radio but full of depth and mystery for the dedicated listener. Chalk full of emotion and definitely an epic. Other standouts include “Never Knew”, which borders on soul music; moving, honest lyrics and the piece just soars; and “Yellow Cigarette”, which finds the band at their frantic “The Pixies” best. Coupled with the sobering closer “Face the Eighth”, there isn’t a miss on this release.

I’d go as far as to say The Barrens should be getting known well outside of their native Brooklyn before 2012 is up. - All Access Magazine

The Barrens unite a wonderful array of influences on their debut full length self-titled release; Pink Floyd, The Flaming Lips, The Breeders, The Pixies, even Black Sabbath…they all come to mind at different times, making for a suitably topsy turvy psychedelic adventure. After opening with the sleepy “Claw Remains” (which has a very interesting slow motion music video), they don’t hesitate to bring out the prog rock/metal on “Felt”, which could have very well been written by those lovable desert rock kings, Kyuss. We head into poppier territory with “Bottom of a Well”, where Colin Fitzgerald and Debbie Chou’s vocal chemistry really shine, as they harmonize us into indie pop/rock paradise. This is really beautiful stuff.

“In and of Ice”gives Debbie’s voice a chance to shine on it’s own, and it’s the first of a few stunners from her on the album. Musically, it’s very dreamy and sparing. This is a band who know their dynamics. “Our of the Rain” is possibly the album standout for me…too lengthy for radio but full of depth and mystery for the dedicated listener. Chalk full of emotion and definitely an epic. Other standouts include “Never Knew”, which borders on soul music; moving, honest lyrics and the piece just soars; and “Yellow Cigarette”, which finds the band at their frantic “The Pixies” best. Coupled with the sobering closer “Face the Eighth”, there isn’t a miss on this release.

I’d go as far as to say The Barrens should be getting known well outside of their native Brooklyn before 2012 is up. - All Access Magazine

Deep from the depths of the New York arises a 5 headed beast known as The Barrens who just released their debut, self titled CD in 2012. I always listen to the opening track extremely carefully. It’s the opening track the artists has selected to hit your ears first and foremost. The opening track “Claw Remains” sets the stage rather well for a CD like this. It was a great intro piece that stuck in my head and had me eager for what lied ahead. All in all the whole CD is brilliantly delivered with a richly woven Alternative-Rock texture with songs that have serious staying power. Music will remind you of The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Portishead and even Radiohead. To be honest I can’t say enough about this bands overall signature sound. Their bio describes it best: “The Barrens are diverse and daring psychedelic rock”. The album remind you how records are supposed to be made. It captures a very pure and organic sound that is real, and not so overly- corporate sounding. The Barrens have a sound that favors the late 90’s Alternative Rock with a modern new age rock feel. They will also remind me of a variety of bands from the 80’s in the hey day of the Psychedelic Punk movement.
I’ve never heard a band skillfully combine so manygenera’s into one unique sound. The songs that stuck with me the most were Felt, In and of Ice, and Leave of Absence.

My only negative comment – I felt the CD attempts to be too many things at one time, to to many people. There are melodic poppy moments, hard rock moments, sing songy moments and Psychedelic Punk-ish moments. I would advise the band narrow their sound a bit within the fairway. This doesn’t mean the CD isn’t impressive – because it is.

If there was one word I would use to describe The Barrens it would be diversified. This CD will simply make your day more entertaining, but beware The Barrens are one band not so easily pinned down during the first listen. In close “The Barrens” deliver the goods – in so many different and unique ways. - Topicalise

*An interesting fusion of dream-pop, alt-rock and psychedelia, this album casts a lingering spell.

The Barrens are a band from NYC that are doing an interesting blend of alternative rock sub-genres on their self titled album (which you can download here from Bandcamp; you set your own price before prior to downloading).

The album opens with “Claws Remains” which has a nostalgic, ethereal sound that reminds me a bit of Slowdive with its swirling dream pop guitars and the echo chamber vocals of Debbie Chau and Colin Fitzgerald.

“Felt” which follows is the polar opposite, with a bottom heavy riff that wouldnt sound out-of-place on a Sabbath or Soundgarden album. Moody, gritty and undulating, it delivers a satisfying crunch with nice guitar work from Fitzgerald and lead guitarist Mike Koene.

“Bottom Of A Well” is poppy in a good way with nice dual harmonies and atmospheric guitar work.

“Leave Of Absence” and “In And of Ice” again reference the dream pop sound with melodies that will linger with you long after the album has stopped playing.

I think “Never Knew” might be my favorite, with a satisfying new wave synth and drum groove. Chau’s vocals here brings to mind Shirley Manson from Garbage in both her vocal style and pithy one liners like “I was the first to know I was the last in line”.

I think one of the things I like about this release is how diverse the material feels while still sounding like the same band.

“Yellow Cigarette” is a more upbeat number, replete with cool synth squiggles and hand claps. The song builds slowly adding on guitar lines and feedback before breaking into a slamming beat by drummer Chris Gerbeck followed by some blasting psychedelic guitar. Very catchy and infectious.

“Better” almost has a Phil Spector Wall Of Sound dynamic. Simple yet elegant. I dig.

The album closes with “Face The Eighth” which has that lilting ballad, echo-guitar vibe thing going for it which I’m always a sucker for.

The Barrens are a band that are able to capture the alt-rock 90's vibe while giving it a new twist., which makes it refreshing in a musical landscape filled with auto-tuned pop awfulness. Give them a listen. - Smells like Infinite Sadness

Curries with a mix of spices and Bollywood films with their mix of ingredients are known as Masala as they take a pinch from here, a scraping from over there and another pinch from the small box that has been sitting on the pantry shelf for over a year. This helps their flavours to appeal to a wider range of people.


New York band The Barrens describe themselves as diverse and daring psychedelic rock.
The band utilize the dual singer approach with both male and female voices both together and individually. An unwary listener is lulled in by the shoegazy indie opener "Claw Remains" and then beaten slowly over the head with the Black Sabbath and Kyuss influenced "Felt". After being hammered down The Barrens lift spirits with the upbeat cheerful pop of "Bottom of The Well". Debbie Chou's voice bestows a dreamy character to "In and Ice" without stealing attention away from the wall of reverb guitar.

My Bloody Valentine fans are likely to drool at "Sagaminopteren Psychedelum". "Yellow Cigarette" toys with casual listeners who are likely to hear the intro and dismiss it as just another pop song. The drums are hammered and the vocals are distorted and a humming bird hovers over the chaos checking in for nectar whenever it feels the desire.

"Better" made me nostalgic for beef noodles, dumplings and scooter chaos because the song is reminiscent of Taiwanese band, Tizzy Bac, who are a better version of Bens Fold Five largely due to female vocals.


The Barrens are definitely a hard group to pin down although they do snuggle reasonably comfortably into the psychedelic rock label. The band's diversity is their strength. The band have found their niche but possess a wilingness to stretch further.

3.5/5 - The Small Takeover

Curries with a mix of spices and Bollywood films with their mix of ingredients are known as Masala as they take a pinch from here, a scraping from over there and another pinch from the small box that has been sitting on the pantry shelf for over a year. This helps their flavours to appeal to a wider range of people.


New York band The Barrens describe themselves as diverse and daring psychedelic rock.
The band utilize the dual singer approach with both male and female voices both together and individually. An unwary listener is lulled in by the shoegazy indie opener "Claw Remains" and then beaten slowly over the head with the Black Sabbath and Kyuss influenced "Felt". After being hammered down The Barrens lift spirits with the upbeat cheerful pop of "Bottom of The Well". Debbie Chou's voice bestows a dreamy character to "In and Ice" without stealing attention away from the wall of reverb guitar.

My Bloody Valentine fans are likely to drool at "Sagaminopteren Psychedelum". "Yellow Cigarette" toys with casual listeners who are likely to hear the intro and dismiss it as just another pop song. The drums are hammered and the vocals are distorted and a humming bird hovers over the chaos checking in for nectar whenever it feels the desire.

"Better" made me nostalgic for beef noodles, dumplings and scooter chaos because the song is reminiscent of Taiwanese band, Tizzy Bac, who are a better version of Bens Fold Five largely due to female vocals.


The Barrens are definitely a hard group to pin down although they do snuggle reasonably comfortably into the psychedelic rock label. The band's diversity is their strength. The band have found their niche but possess a wilingness to stretch further.

3.5/5 - The Small Takeover

"It's hard to pinpoint the diverse sound of The Barrens. What sets them apart is that they play all sorts of styles within the rock realm. Let's examine some particular songs. "Bottom of a Well" features clapping, clean male and female vocals singing "ooh's;" it has a fun, hippy vibe. "In and of Ice" features ghostly tremolo picked, delay and reverb drenched guitars are reminiscent of post-rock. The production of the album aims to sound like an old, dusty vinyl record. Featuring heavily compressed 70's sounding drums, and classic psychedelic, bright, jangly, twangy guitars, you definitely get into time machine and travel back to the era of cutting tape. Analogue synthesizers are used as well, especially on "Out of the Rain," which is a rich, full, energetic song that showcases The Barrens' spontaneity; perhaps it is a representation of their live performances. The loud wall of sound along with the melodic, catchy singing on "Sagaminopteron Psychdelicum" reminds me of My Bloody Valentine. The vocal work of both singers on this album fits the music beautifully, it's refreshing to hear the quiet and harsh, angsty vocals sung so well by both male and female on one album. "Yellow Cigarette" is the loudest part of the album, showing off their noise-rock side while singing some "oohs" with an agonizing scream, pretty abrasive compared to most of the songs. In a nutshell, they have blended a myriad of different styles and created a beautiful piece of colorful rock art." - Vandala Concepts

Being born and raised in New York City I often overlook the powerful draw the NYC has on people. From tourists wanting to see tall buildings, to pretty girls thinking they can become models, to musicians yearning to become part of a real scene, I never really got it until I spent some time in the US Army in North Carolina. Being a musician, I now truly see how much easier it is to introduce your craft to the masses in a city known for its musical past. Many bands force themselves to move here and quickly fade out in the crowd of great bands. I do NOT think this will be the case with former upstate New Yorkers The Barrens after their required relocation to the city that never sleeps.

The hard to pinpoint into any genre psychedelic rock band uses all parts of rock music’s past to create a sound that is all their own. Cliché, I know but actually true in this case. They even try to describe themselves as a phased out, grungey, glittery, jangley, punky, and loungey act. Honestly, I do think they hit on each one of those adjectives on their recently released, self-titled album The Barrens, an 11 song mish mash of addictive melodies and compelling sounds that demand your attention. ‘Felt’ is a classic rock powerhouse right out of Led Zeppelin or Cream’s catalog, with a rhythm section that makes you feel like you were just dragged through the mud and you came up smiling. They touch on all of their genres on ‘Out Of The Rain’. Grunge guitars, soaring keyboards, repetitive trance educing vocals. After almost 6 minutes, you think you just listened to 5 different songs. ‘Better’ starts as a sweet song with Debbie Chou’s melodic vocals but she breaks out her Debbie Harry punk vocals to grab the listener by the throat before laying him down gently on the floor.

The rumors are that The Barrens put on a wild live show as well. I prepare on finding out when they hit Bowery Electric in Manhattan on July 27th. After listening to the full album I am prepared to have my mind officially blown. Get there and say hi before the show if you can, because afterwards I may be speechless. - Indie Band Guru

Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound.

Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, The Barrens draw on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows. They have been featured on the Deli Magazine, Indie Darkroom, and Glide Magazine.

In addition to being in rotation on over thirty college stations all over the US, they were also selected to play the CMJ Festival in New York City and NXNE Music Festival in Toronto. They consist of Jay Sharpe, Chris Gersebeck, Colin Fitzgerald, Debbie Chou, and Mike Koene.

Their self-titled album is amazing! I think "Leave of Absence" is one of my favorites. It really expresses how even minutes seem like forever when you love someone. I personally think that it's about how absence makes the heart grow for someone else. It's very simple, yet, it really touched me in a way that few songs ever have. Another song I like is "Never Knew". It has a very haunting, Hendrix-like quality that you don't hear much nowadays. There is a certain equilibrium in all of their songs that is very mellow and relaxing, yet powerful. - Technorati

Introduction: This is the debut self titled CD from 5 piece alternative Rock band The Barrens who hail from New York. The Barrens have been making a name for themselves regionally. They have received critical acclaim from many music critics and webzines around the globe thus far in their musical career and are known for their powerful live performances. Musical Genera: Trippy-Melodic-Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock, Fusion Rock.

Meet the Band: Colin Fitzgerald (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboard), Mike Koene (Guitar, Vocals) and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Vocals. Jay Sharp (Bass).

Social Networking Links: TWITTER – http://twitter.com/#!/thebarrens, FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/thebarrens

Review: I have to say I was extremely impressed with the opening 3 tracks “Claw Remains”, “Felt and “Bottom of the Well”. They made quite a first impression and each one possessed my full unadulterated attention. To be honest: I expected cheesy Alternative-Techno-Pop that was extremely predictable and shallow in nature – very compatible for the mass audience in todays world. What I discovered was quite the opposite. The whole CD is wonderfully conservative yet full of what I would call highly creative energy with music that appeals to so many different senses on so many different levels. It reminds me of Jonny Greenwood, Sigur Ros, Blur and even Mazzy Star. I can also hear the slight Pink Floyd influence in there as well. What I really like about The Barrens is they appeal to both advanced and novice listeners alike. Whatever kind of listening level your on – some will hear things while others will not. Like a three layered cake there are things you swear you didn’t notice the first go around. There are some emotionally charged moments on this CD that will lead you along via musical stepping stones. From top to bottom “The Barrens” deliver a thinking mans music via amazing sounds, top flight musicianship, and thought provoking lyrics. Above all it’s incredibly vivid music that will push your senses to the maximum level possible.

Bottom Line: “The Barrens” deliver a unique, highly entertaining collection of songs that shine with a brilliance compared to a priceless gem. - This is Vibes

What does a band like Radiohead have that The Barrens don’t have? Not much if you ask me save the multi million dollar promotional machines and major record label support. In this overly saturated genera/market a plethora of artists coming out of the woodwork, armed with nothing more than a PC, Microphone, a guitar and nothing special to offer. They manage push their music out to the world and much of it do I dare say is substandard to say the least. The Barrens are the perfect band name for these 5. It defiantly has an Indie-Rock swagger with a deep seeded suburban aftertaste. Musical overtones that will remind you of acts from The Xx, The Pixies and Irfan. On the other end of the sonic spectrum I can even hear influences like Pink Floyd, Arcana or This Mortal Coil. Musical styles presented: Punk elements with Alternative Rock. All in all a well rounded CD that has much to offer the listener.

Top 3 tracks “Out of the Rain” Claw Remains” and “Felt.”

Criticism: I can’t help but wonder what more guitar solos or solos in general would sound like in meshed into the sound.

Song Samples from the CD: Song samples from THE BARRENS debut album available on I-TUNES
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-barrens/id299729968

Conclusion: The Barrens stand out from other Indie-Alt Bands within this saturated market. Their answer to mundane music is to deliver something unique with a unique signature sound to call their own. The strong suit of The Barrens are their passion, solid musicianship and thought provoking melodies. One would be wise to keep a watchful eye on them over the years to come.

Rating: 10 star rating average – This CD gets 8.0 stars

Rory Richardson edited by Drew Blackwell - Rock n' Roll View

What does a band like Radiohead have that The Barrens don’t have? Not much if you ask me save the multi million dollar promotional machines and major record label support. In this overly saturated genera/market a plethora of artists coming out of the woodwork, armed with nothing more than a PC, Microphone, a guitar and nothing special to offer. They manage push their music out to the world and much of it do I dare say is substandard to say the least. The Barrens are the perfect band name for these 5. It defiantly has an Indie-Rock swagger with a deep seeded suburban aftertaste. Musical overtones that will remind you of acts from The Xx, The Pixies and Irfan. On the other end of the sonic spectrum I can even hear influences like Pink Floyd, Arcana or This Mortal Coil. Musical styles presented: Punk elements with Alternative Rock. All in all a well rounded CD that has much to offer the listener.

Top 3 tracks “Out of the Rain” Claw Remains” and “Felt.”

Criticism: I can’t help but wonder what more guitar solos or solos in general would sound like in meshed into the sound.

Song Samples from the CD: Song samples from THE BARRENS debut album available on I-TUNES
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-barrens/id299729968

Conclusion: The Barrens stand out from other Indie-Alt Bands within this saturated market. Their answer to mundane music is to deliver something unique with a unique signature sound to call their own. The strong suit of The Barrens are their passion, solid musicianship and thought provoking melodies. One would be wise to keep a watchful eye on them over the years to come.

Rating: 10 star rating average – This CD gets 8.0 stars

Rory Richardson edited by Drew Blackwell - Rock n' Roll View

“The Barrens” (2012) is their latest release and it has much to commend it. Admittedly, there is a whole lot of variety to these arrangements and performances. First: the impressive 5 piece line up featuring. Colin Fitzgerald (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboard), Mike Koene (Guitar, Vocals) and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Vocals. Jay Sharp (Bass). This unit hails from New York and ddeliver rock solid playing and impressive songwriting skills. This is testament to hundreds of hours of rehearsal time no doubt. Second: dual vocalist Colin Fitzgerald and Debbie Chou mix things up very well. Both have the typical attributes needed of an effective musical instrument front (visuals and vocals). Third: their sound is a amazing combination of modern rock yet with a slight Psychedelic-Alternative Rock aftertaste that will remind you of music popular in the late 80’s and 90’s. This band has the creativity and songwriting prowess to be extremely dangerous. There is also a unique quality to this catalogue that breaks the mold when compared to the mundane pop-rock that’s been filling the airwaves lately. The Barrens have a very unique sound and will remind you of Arcade Fire, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and MGMT. Not every square inch is filled with musical ambience delivered under duress – but musical space this allows the music to breathe on its own. My top tracks are “Bottom of the Well, “Yellow Cigarette”, and Leave of Absence.” Equally as impressive is how marketable this catalogue truly is. I always said if you can play it a party, then it’s marketable. The music is extremely mysterious with a fresh sound that is simply very suspenseful very much like the band itself. All 11 tracks will genuinely lift your spirits unlike most music you hear on the radio these days.

I’m not a fan of the 2 singer line-up. If I had my way I would let Chou handle all the vocals.

“The Barrens” have everything. It’s an endearing album limited by nothing. I would imagine in time we will hear more from this unit from New York as the year unfolds. Time will tell but I can honestly say this is one band set up for success down the road with their highly original musical personality and fresh sound that gives modern music a well needed wake up call.

Songs from “The Barrens” can be sampled @ @ MY SPACE
http://www.myspace.com/thebarrens

Written by Heather Savage edited by Rory Richardson - Skope

“The Barrens” (2012) is their latest release and it has much to commend it. Admittedly, there is a whole lot of variety to these arrangements and performances. First: the impressive 5 piece line up featuring. Colin Fitzgerald (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboard), Mike Koene (Guitar, Vocals) and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Vocals. Jay Sharp (Bass). This unit hails from New York and ddeliver rock solid playing and impressive songwriting skills. This is testament to hundreds of hours of rehearsal time no doubt. Second: dual vocalist Colin Fitzgerald and Debbie Chou mix things up very well. Both have the typical attributes needed of an effective musical instrument front (visuals and vocals). Third: their sound is a amazing combination of modern rock yet with a slight Psychedelic-Alternative Rock aftertaste that will remind you of music popular in the late 80’s and 90’s. This band has the creativity and songwriting prowess to be extremely dangerous. There is also a unique quality to this catalogue that breaks the mold when compared to the mundane pop-rock that’s been filling the airwaves lately. The Barrens have a very unique sound and will remind you of Arcade Fire, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and MGMT. Not every square inch is filled with musical ambience delivered under duress – but musical space this allows the music to breathe on its own. My top tracks are “Bottom of the Well, “Yellow Cigarette”, and Leave of Absence.” Equally as impressive is how marketable this catalogue truly is. I always said if you can play it a party, then it’s marketable. The music is extremely mysterious with a fresh sound that is simply very suspenseful very much like the band itself. All 11 tracks will genuinely lift your spirits unlike most music you hear on the radio these days.

I’m not a fan of the 2 singer line-up. If I had my way I would let Chou handle all the vocals.

“The Barrens” have everything. It’s an endearing album limited by nothing. I would imagine in time we will hear more from this unit from New York as the year unfolds. Time will tell but I can honestly say this is one band set up for success down the road with their highly original musical personality and fresh sound that gives modern music a well needed wake up call.

Songs from “The Barrens” can be sampled @ @ MY SPACE
http://www.myspace.com/thebarrens

Written by Heather Savage edited by Rory Richardson - Skope

New York 5 piece Alternative Rock band “The Barrens” release their first full length CD entitled The Barrens in 2012. Band members include: Colin Fitzgerald (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboard), Mike Koene (Guitar, Vocals) and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Vocals. Jay Sharp (Bass).



The CD methodically kicks things off with “Claw Remains” a psychedelic prologue that serves up infectious melody, hypnotic musical flow meshed against mesmerizing vocal delivery that flows and ebbs its way though to emotional fruition. Just when you think you have this band figured out track 2 “Felt” radically shifts gears with it's driving rock rhythm, blistering guitar attack and heartfelt vocals from Fitzgerald. This coupled with thought provoking lyrical content makes for a powerful follow-up statement. Track 3 “Bottom of a Well‘ serves up well placed vocal harmonies against melodic musical flow against a grand slam chorus. As the CD unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of classic Cocteau Twins, Soundgarden, Soundgarden and even Radiohead. I will add The Barrens music is extremely hard to pigeonhole but has elements of Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock and even Hard Rock. Right from the amazing songwriting virtuoso from Iris never comes into question. This sis one band that feels quite comfortable just letting it all hang out musically, not holding anything back. You will hear impressive soundscapes, a few sizzling solos, well placed percussive accents, and lush harmonies layered along the way. The overall musical vibe has a sound that is very melodic and highly original. Beware you never know what’s waiting for you around the next corner. Fitzgerald and Chou delivers rock solid vocal timber and much in the way of passion, emotion and recklessness abandon. The musicianship from everyone involved has everything you would expect from a standard 5 piece Alternative Rock band. As for the songs themselves - all are consistent musical experiences, each one possessing unique personality, flair and signature groove. From passionate “In and of Ice” to hooky “Leave of Absence” to psychedelic “Out of the Rain” to striking “Never Knew” to rocking Yellow Cigarette” this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with Track 11 "Face the Eighth” the perfect finale statement for an CD of this caliber.



It’s fair to say this is not the best mix I’ve ever heard. At the end of the day it sounds a bit muddy and lacks serious low end frequency and crystal clear high end clarity. It simply doesn’t stack-up to other Gold Standard CD’s within the genera when it comes to some of the finite engineering aspects (Recording, Mixing, Mastering). CD also suffers from a mild case of Genera Identity Crisis as well. From Soundgarden to Cocteau Twins this CD spreads itself way to thin across to many genera’s. It doesn’t even sound like the same band songs for song. All songs over 3.5 minutes in length tend to drag you to the finish line.



In close The Barrens is a fascinating snapshot of music from this 5 piece Alternative Rock band from New York. As time goes by they will no doubt refine and improve their overall production value. This is however a good start for them and and I will go on record and say The Barrens have an incredible amount of potential. All songs from this latest release are extremely melodic, passionate and highly original. The Barrens have a unique signature sound that will no doubt appeal to a strong cult fanbase within this region. Couple this with a slam dunk live presentation and you have yourself deadly combination. - Cyrus Rhodes

New York 5 piece Alternative Rock band “The Barrens” release their first full length CD entitled The Barrens in 2012. Band members include: Colin Fitzgerald (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboard), Mike Koene (Guitar, Vocals) and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Vocals. Jay Sharp (Bass).



The CD methodically kicks things off with “Claw Remains” a psychedelic prologue that serves up infectious melody, hypnotic musical flow meshed against mesmerizing vocal delivery that flows and ebbs its way though to emotional fruition. Just when you think you have this band figured out track 2 “Felt” radically shifts gears with it's driving rock rhythm, blistering guitar attack and heartfelt vocals from Fitzgerald. This coupled with thought provoking lyrical content makes for a powerful follow-up statement. Track 3 “Bottom of a Well‘ serves up well placed vocal harmonies against melodic musical flow against a grand slam chorus. As the CD unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of classic Cocteau Twins, Soundgarden, Soundgarden and even Radiohead. I will add The Barrens music is extremely hard to pigeonhole but has elements of Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock and even Hard Rock. Right from the amazing songwriting virtuoso from Iris never comes into question. This sis one band that feels quite comfortable just letting it all hang out musically, not holding anything back. You will hear impressive soundscapes, a few sizzling solos, well placed percussive accents, and lush harmonies layered along the way. The overall musical vibe has a sound that is very melodic and highly original. Beware you never know what’s waiting for you around the next corner. Fitzgerald and Chou delivers rock solid vocal timber and much in the way of passion, emotion and recklessness abandon. The musicianship from everyone involved has everything you would expect from a standard 5 piece Alternative Rock band. As for the songs themselves - all are consistent musical experiences, each one possessing unique personality, flair and signature groove. From passionate “In and of Ice” to hooky “Leave of Absence” to psychedelic “Out of the Rain” to striking “Never Knew” to rocking Yellow Cigarette” this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with Track 11 "Face the Eighth” the perfect finale statement for an CD of this caliber.



It’s fair to say this is not the best mix I’ve ever heard. At the end of the day it sounds a bit muddy and lacks serious low end frequency and crystal clear high end clarity. It simply doesn’t stack-up to other Gold Standard CD’s within the genera when it comes to some of the finite engineering aspects (Recording, Mixing, Mastering). CD also suffers from a mild case of Genera Identity Crisis as well. From Soundgarden to Cocteau Twins this CD spreads itself way to thin across to many genera’s. It doesn’t even sound like the same band songs for song. All songs over 3.5 minutes in length tend to drag you to the finish line.



In close The Barrens is a fascinating snapshot of music from this 5 piece Alternative Rock band from New York. As time goes by they will no doubt refine and improve their overall production value. This is however a good start for them and and I will go on record and say The Barrens have an incredible amount of potential. All songs from this latest release are extremely melodic, passionate and highly original. The Barrens have a unique signature sound that will no doubt appeal to a strong cult fanbase within this region. Couple this with a slam dunk live presentation and you have yourself deadly combination. - Cyrus Rhodes

The Barrens - The Barrens (Psychedelic Rock, 2011)


Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound. Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, the group draws on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows.
This sparkling album moves the listener into forgotten places of clandestine mastery. The beautiful cover is a collage of Vancouver based artist Tracy Jager entilted "You'd Planned To Move with a Kind of Largeness". A stunning debut that contains all the psychological and textual depth you could wish for, backed up by limber, expressive music and arrangements that augment the lyrics' emotional impact. - Most-Def

The Barrens - The Barrens (Psychedelic Rock, 2011)


Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound. Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, the group draws on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows.
This sparkling album moves the listener into forgotten places of clandestine mastery. The beautiful cover is a collage of Vancouver based artist Tracy Jager entilted "You'd Planned To Move with a Kind of Largeness". A stunning debut that contains all the psychological and textual depth you could wish for, backed up by limber, expressive music and arrangements that augment the lyrics' emotional impact. - Most-Def

The Barrens are a bit like sonic shape shifters. The first song off their self titled album is like a lamp beneath a sheet, diffused and glowing diffuse. It shines in all the corners and the dark places, but not quite enough to see by. Other songs are heavy like Platinum, bassy and stomping through your ears. Still other songs are bright sunlight in blurry eyes. You really can’t go wrong with The Barrens. They are like children, discovering the world for the first time, and capturing it in a song. Check out their music here, or enjoy their video below.

sounds like the sour taste in lemons and crash cymbals in reverse - New Music Release

The Barrens are a bit like sonic shape shifters. The first song off their self titled album is like a lamp beneath a sheet, diffused and glowing diffuse. It shines in all the corners and the dark places, but not quite enough to see by. Other songs are heavy like Platinum, bassy and stomping through your ears. Still other songs are bright sunlight in blurry eyes. You really can’t go wrong with The Barrens. They are like children, discovering the world for the first time, and capturing it in a song. Check out their music here, or enjoy their video below.

sounds like the sour taste in lemons and crash cymbals in reverse - New Music Release

Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound.
Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, The Barrens draw on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows.
They have been featured on the Deli Magazine, Indie Darkroom, and Glide Magazine. In addition to being in rotation on over 30 college stations all over the US, they were also selected to play the CMJ Festival in New York City and NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.
Their 2008 EP "Worming" was engineered and recorded by Jim Bentley at the Fort Brooklyn and was the subject of a successful college radio campaign. Advanced Alternative Media described the success as "rare and exceptional for a self-released EP."

The Barrens are:
Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion)
Mike Koene (Lead Guitars, Vocals, Percussion)
Colin Fitz ( Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Bass, Percussion)
Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Guitars, Bass, Vocals)

"The NYC rockers crank out some ferocious riffs, thick bass lines and nice harmonies... Check out this Indie Darkroom favorite." -Indiedarkroom.com

Proof positive psychedelia lives and breathes.

No clues as to where they got the video, either a very well done recently made video, or else it's something from the fifties probably a commercial for telegrams. - Bearly Rambling

Formed in upstate New York and then transplanted to New York City, The Barrens are currently blazing their way through the underground scene with a raw and powerful sound.
Ranging from heavy, grungy rock to colorful, soaring psychedelia, The Barrens draw on a vast lexicon of addictive hooks and melodies to stun audiences at their explosive live shows.
They have been featured on the Deli Magazine, Indie Darkroom, and Glide Magazine. In addition to being in rotation on over 30 college stations all over the US, they were also selected to play the CMJ Festival in New York City and NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.
Their 2008 EP "Worming" was engineered and recorded by Jim Bentley at the Fort Brooklyn and was the subject of a successful college radio campaign. Advanced Alternative Media described the success as "rare and exceptional for a self-released EP."

The Barrens are:
Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion)
Mike Koene (Lead Guitars, Vocals, Percussion)
Colin Fitz ( Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Bass, Percussion)
Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Guitars, Bass, Vocals)

"The NYC rockers crank out some ferocious riffs, thick bass lines and nice harmonies... Check out this Indie Darkroom favorite." -Indiedarkroom.com

Proof positive psychedelia lives and breathes.

No clues as to where they got the video, either a very well done recently made video, or else it's something from the fifties probably a commercial for telegrams. - Bearly Rambling

The trippy and strung-out atmospheric indie music that begins The Barrens’ self-titled LP is much denser than listeners would think. The band has tied together a number of layers that yield different things each time that a listener begins the title. Far from being a single-oriented band, The Barrens make this title much more of a cogent thought than an exercise in episodes. Bottom of a Well has a higher energy opening, providing a clapping / tapping percussion that kicks the track into high gear. With the different instruments dropping away as the vocals tell their story, The Barrens is able to make an instantly memorable effort.

Out of the Rain recalls the days of the Thompson Twins and Spandau Ballet, updating the sound into something that fans of the Temper Trap and The Shins can immediately dig. Face the Eighth is the final track on this disc, and comes forth with a slinky opening that is reminiscent of The Tea Party or “Creep”. Little more is needed than guitars, drums, and the vocals to make for a track that resounds loudly, no matter how long ago the listener experienced it. This is one of the few albums that we have heard this year that is coherent, cogent, and provides listeners with substantially more as a unit than it would normally give parted out as a collection of singles.

I cannot wait to hear how the band continues to change and evolve. I have no idea where The Barrens will go in the next few years, but I believe that the resultant music will be amazing. Give their Bandcamp website (linked above) a spin.

Top Tracks: Claw Remains, Out of the Rain

Rating: 8.4/10

Read more: http://neufutur.com/?p=29399#ixzz1yvGWoEtj
- Neufutur Magazine

The trippy and strung-out atmospheric indie music that begins The Barrens’ self-titled LP is much denser than listeners would think. The band has tied together a number of layers that yield different things each time that a listener begins the title. Far from being a single-oriented band, The Barrens make this title much more of a cogent thought than an exercise in episodes. Bottom of a Well has a higher energy opening, providing a clapping / tapping percussion that kicks the track into high gear. With the different instruments dropping away as the vocals tell their story, The Barrens is able to make an instantly memorable effort.

Out of the Rain recalls the days of the Thompson Twins and Spandau Ballet, updating the sound into something that fans of the Temper Trap and The Shins can immediately dig. Face the Eighth is the final track on this disc, and comes forth with a slinky opening that is reminiscent of The Tea Party or “Creep”. Little more is needed than guitars, drums, and the vocals to make for a track that resounds loudly, no matter how long ago the listener experienced it. This is one of the few albums that we have heard this year that is coherent, cogent, and provides listeners with substantially more as a unit than it would normally give parted out as a collection of singles.

I cannot wait to hear how the band continues to change and evolve. I have no idea where The Barrens will go in the next few years, but I believe that the resultant music will be amazing. Give their Bandcamp website (linked above) a spin.

Top Tracks: Claw Remains, Out of the Rain

Rating: 8.4/10

Read more: http://neufutur.com/?p=29399#ixzz1yvGWoEtj
- Neufutur Magazine

If you ask me, grunge is well overdue a renaissance. There was a hint of a rebirth a few years ago when a clutch of new bands came out throwing their Nirvana influences around with encouraging abandon. Manchester’s Nine Black Alps probably came closest to bringing the deep, dark and melodic guitar riffs of grunge back into prominence, but they’ve pretty much been swallowed up by other, much more boring, musical trends.

New York band The Barrens are the latest exponents of dark, grungy but accessible rock – combining the angst and introspective melodies of grunge with a touch of psychedelia and some hefty pop sensibilities in their self-titled debut album. Check it out here and let me know what you think in the comments below. - All-Noise

If you ask me, grunge is well overdue a renaissance. There was a hint of a rebirth a few years ago when a clutch of new bands came out throwing their Nirvana influences around with encouraging abandon. Manchester’s Nine Black Alps probably came closest to bringing the deep, dark and melodic guitar riffs of grunge back into prominence, but they’ve pretty much been swallowed up by other, much more boring, musical trends.

New York band The Barrens are the latest exponents of dark, grungy but accessible rock – combining the angst and introspective melodies of grunge with a touch of psychedelia and some hefty pop sensibilities in their self-titled debut album. Check it out here and let me know what you think in the comments below. - All-Noise

If you want some feel good music check out The Barrens! They’re another one of those delicious bands that are patiently waiting for the right viewer to find them and be hooked for life! I recently stumbled upon this new hidden gem just as the Sonar Festival was wrapping up. It was a perfect sound for recovering after a long weekend in Barcelona!!

The Barrens are a psych-rock band from New York with a great melodic range and incredible dynamic between male and female tones. It’s as if Radiohead, Lotus and When Saints Go Machine got together and had a baby! Their music rocks because it’s everything you’ll every need - there’s literally something good for every ear!! I just had to take a call and instead of pressing mute, I had to pause it! I didn’t want to miss a beat or miss the seamless transition from one killer rhythm to another. Their music is wonderfully unexpected and takes you on a complete journey - to say the least.

Get a digital copy of their album here NOW!! Don’t hesitate, just do it! Hit play, sit back, and go for the ride!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the Vinyl!! Everything seems to sound even better on Vinyl. Follow them on Facebook to see what else they got for us! Definitely looking forward to their next album!! - Render Entertainment

If you want some feel good music check out The Barrens! They’re another one of those delicious bands that are patiently waiting for the right viewer to find them and be hooked for life! I recently stumbled upon this new hidden gem just as the Sonar Festival was wrapping up. It was a perfect sound for recovering after a long weekend in Barcelona!!

The Barrens are a psych-rock band from New York with a great melodic range and incredible dynamic between male and female tones. It’s as if Radiohead, Lotus and When Saints Go Machine got together and had a baby! Their music rocks because it’s everything you’ll every need - there’s literally something good for every ear!! I just had to take a call and instead of pressing mute, I had to pause it! I didn’t want to miss a beat or miss the seamless transition from one killer rhythm to another. Their music is wonderfully unexpected and takes you on a complete journey - to say the least.

Get a digital copy of their album here NOW!! Don’t hesitate, just do it! Hit play, sit back, and go for the ride!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the Vinyl!! Everything seems to sound even better on Vinyl. Follow them on Facebook to see what else they got for us! Definitely looking forward to their next album!! - Render Entertainment

From the “Big Apple” comes a sound that has been years in the making. The Barrens self-title debut album is not for the faint of heart. For those of you psychedelic rock fans that yearn for Black Sabbath riffs, look no further than track #2 “Felt”. This song explodes right out of the gates of hell, with a powerful riff complimented by some stylish guitar solos. The true Barren sound that we all have grown to love comes out on the tracks “Never Knew” and “Yellow Cigarette”. In the song “Yellow Cigarette”, the band starts with a mystical jam, which makes one feel as if they are flying directly over NYC. Then the song builds into a truly original sound of psychedelic rock and alternative, one that I believe only The Barrens can pull off. Another wonderful track is the last one, “Face the Eighth”, which reminds me of the epic ending to Dark Side of the Moon, Eclipse. And I think all of us rock enthusiasts can agree that there is really no better way to end an album than on an epic note. This band consists of musicians Debbie Chou (Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion). Mike Koene (Lead Guitars, Vocals, Percussion), Colin Fitz ( Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Bass, Percussion), and Chris Gersbeck (Drums, Guitars, Bass, Vocals). I applaud, no, I salute the musicians of The Barrens for not being afraid to try new and different sounds. It can be a scary thing to try different directions, but I believe that is the only way to grow as an artist. And then again, that free spirit and determination is probably what makes
the band so interesting, because one never knows what to expect. - Bearcast Music Reviews

This Friday, July 1st, NYC psych-rock band The Barrens will release their first full-length, self-titled album at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg. From what we can tell from the few songs available online the band in the new record keeps faith to its multifaceted sound: often aggressive and always eclectic, these guys alternate male and female vocals, plucked guitar and full-on distorted chords, and enjoy to follow sparse textural moment with sudden explosion of rock "evil". - The Deli Magazine

This Friday, July 1st, NYC psych-rock band The Barrens will release their first full-length, self-titled album at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg. From what we can tell from the few songs available online the band in the new record keeps faith to its multifaceted sound: often aggressive and always eclectic, these guys alternate male and female vocals, plucked guitar and full-on distorted chords, and enjoy to follow sparse textural moment with sudden explosion of rock "evil". - The Deli Magazine

The NYC rockers crank out some ferocious riffs, a thick bass line and nice harmonies on the chorus. Check out this Indie Darkroom favorite. By the way, The Barrens are in the last weeks of raising funds for their upcoming record, be a champ and help them out, so we can all hear the new tracks.

Also, check out The Barrens new video for “Bottom of a Well” - Indie Darkroom (www.indiedarkroom.com)

The beauty of The Barrens' music lies in the little details: the piano accents that hit throughout “12 Petals,” propping up the tune’s winding lead guitar riff; the unexpected, disorienting chord wedged in the middle of the “Ezekiel Saw a Shape” chorus; and the way singer Colin Fitzgerald screams toward the end of “The Green Room,” right before guitarist Mike Koene takes a solo and the already-epic tune spirals further into Doors-esque psychedelic bar-band territory. “Worming,” a bruising track reminiscent of the Who’s “Quadrophenia” gem “I’ve Had Enough,” is the best tune on the band’s MySpace page. Its mean fuzz and memorable hook—“I keep worming/ your love is in the dirt”—combine to form the type of weirdly accessible pop song that is the Barrens’ specialty. The band recently released a new single called “Scoliosis”, another sonic attack that somehow manages to blend punky guitars a la’ Ramones and frozen melodies reminiscent of Clinic with vocal harmonies that would make Kim Deal proud, and “philosophical” melodic openings a la’ early Pink Floyd. Yes, that’s a crazy ride indeed! Don't miss their show at Arlene's Grocery on 11.07. — Kenneth Partridge - The Deli Magazine

It is almost ironic that The Barrens are from the Big Apple, because if you close your eyes and listen to the last track “The 3rd Gift” you can feel the taxis flying by you. “Worming” is The Barrens’ self-released first attempt at an album, so I cannot wait to hear what they come up with after having some experience. In the this band of five, four men and one woman named Debbie Chou, have created such an original and refreshing sound it gives me a sugar high. When comparing them to other bands I would say they are a mix of The Black Angels and Oasis, which is really good company.

“Death 2 Me” the first track on the EP is so explosive, I love the mix of grunge, punk, and psychedelic rock. Which out of the five tracks is the best, who knows and who cares, there all amazing. I’m still hooked on the last track “The 3rd Gift”, it reminds me so much of Oasis. I give this album a 7 out of 10, and I can’t stress it enough how excited I am about this group. As of right now The Barrens are only having shows in and around New York City, so hopefully they will branch out and share with the rest of the country. Now, I will be the first to admit that have high standards when it comes to music, but “Worming” blew me away. - Bearcast Music Reviews

Something is remarkable about The Barrens today. These four friends from Astoria, Queens, whose lives have crossed like an artistic weaving done with outrageous colors and patterns, are more aware, more mature and more confident than ever before. More importantly, their sound has evolved dramatically.

“There are no motives in The Barrens other than the simple joy of creating the best songs we can. In some ways that hurts us…other bands have great clothes and snappy beards, or are just more into their style than us, and of course that can get them noticed,” says lead singer Colin Fitzgerald, who also holds down rhythm guitar.

The band has come a long way since their move to New York. Today, the group has lost its inhibitions, connecting further with the audience. They seem to feel freer to roam around the stage.

With her sweet, sensual sound, Debbie Chou take turns on vocals with Fitzgerald while maintaining keyboards; Chris Gersbeck, a controlled, yet highly energetic drummer, remains powerful and observant; and Mike Koene, on lead guitar, is confident with his playing, as feral as his sound may be.

Koene, a man of many hats (literally and figuratively), explores the colors of music like the painter he is. His experimentation with guitar includes a search for organic-sounding arrangements. He wrote “Bottom of a Well,” a song about opposing relationships between things in a very broad sense and finding your place in the world. And of course, love.

“We want people to like our music, but I don't think any imagined outside perceptions inform the musical decisions we make,” Koene says, donning wide-rimmed sunglasses and a newsboy-style hat.

“For myself, I enjoy letting my musical, artistic and philosophical interests at a given time lead the way.”

The band strives for spontaneity during their live performances. There is a possibility Fitzgerald, in his Superman cape, will climb up on the speakers for a song or two. An innovative element is likely to be added like the live, trippy light show from friend Steve Pavlovsky (a k a Liquid Light Lab). Imagine a psychedelic painting brought to life with colored oils and dye, illuminating patches of soft purple, turquoise and orange. Silhouettes appear against the crimson scene.

When Debbie is not standing at her keyboards, she is dancing across the stage. Find her decked out in a ‘60s-inspired vintage dress with a simple strand of classic pearls, bright red lipstick and pin curls in that long black hair. On another night, this stunning beauty may get decked out in a mini-skirt, knee-highs and Drive Shaft T-shirt.

The Barrens perform about twice monthly at local dives and well-known rock venues throughout New York. Intimate crowds consist of loyal friends and curious strangers often in the East Village and Lower East Side. Additional audiences find them in Long Island City in Queens, Brooklyn and most recently nearby cities like Philadelphia, Rochester, N.Y., and Wilmington, Del.

The band is defying genres now. Debbie, with her charisma and vocal chops, brings poppier elements to the quartet. Chris and Mike’s love of dance and electronic music is showcased among the group’s recordings. Colin brings a love of heavier rock songs to the band. His gritty, powerful voice is full of emotion when he belts out lyrics. In the chorus for his new song “Felt,” Colin demands the audience’s attention as he pleads with them, “my hands are tied” about desperation, loneliness and internal struggle.

The Barrens are working on their first full-length LP in the first half of 2010, its first recording with the current lineup (their original bassist recently quit amid personal tensions). These songs highlight a newfound assurance.

With this album, they want to tighten up their sound. The goal is a more distinctive sound of polished guitar, stronger bass and propulsive drumming. The bass lines on the entire album are shared amongst the four members and session bassists. Putting the songs in the right order on the album will be tricky.

Fitzgerald says he is actively trying to play as little guitar as possible. “I love the Beatles albums where there is a rhythm guitar playing kind of in the background, keeping the songs moving along.” The singer is enthusiastic at the prospect of putting out music he feels is truer to the band, but also a lot bolder and daring—adjectives that he thinks The Barrens first official EP release in 2008, “Worming,” lacked. “It’s safe,” he declares.

The band has strengthened as a team. When The Barrens first stepped into the studio with producer Jim Bentley in Brooklyn, it was a new experience for Chou because she had never recorded in a studio with a band. She didn’t know what to expect.

“We rehearsed the songs over and over before we went in, but this time around we included songs that we only learned one week before,” she says of her experience at Bentley’s studio known as The Fort. “It’s a different attitude, beca - Glide Magazine

Astoria band The Barrens have just released their new E.P. "Worming." It features 6 songs and ranges from fuzzy propulsive rock to shimmering and ethereal psychedelia. Formed in college in 2005, the Barrens recently moved to NYC after amassing a modest but loyal following upstate. Perhaps best described as 'psychedelic grunge' the new E.P. "Worming" is available on CD Baby, Itunes, Digstation and barrensmusic.com. You can see them live at The Annex on February 5. - - The Deli Magazine