Bos Taurus
Wilmington, Delaware, United States | SELF
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Bos Taurus - "It's Plain"
Delaware native Steve Chesser has put together a group of songs he describes as "anatomically correct indie pop." It started as a group of home-grown demos and they are gathered here. The album starts out exceptionally strong with "Anyway, Anyhow" and one can compare the skilled melodies with multi-part guitars to Jeff Murphy or Todd Rundgren. The song tempo speeds up for the excellent "Dead Inside" which is the catchiest song about nihilism I've heard since Nillson's "One" that isn't a ballad. The guitar work and harmonies are beautifully composed and performed. "Fool" adds a slightly harder edge, and the juxtaposed guitar and vocals on "What Comes Around" are incredible, kind of like if Dave Grohl joined Sugar Ray, instead of Foo Fighters. The mid tempo ballad "The Day You Left" is another standout (although the metronome beat is annoying).
Towards the latter end of the album the tone starts to change to more conventional jangle pop, this starts on "Evermore" and continues through "Some Say" where REM and Sebadoh's DIY feel start to dominate the sound. Chesser also did everything here, all the instruments, recording and engineering. And that is my only pet peeve here, this album would be truly great if a top notch pop producer, like Jason Falkner got a hold of these tracks. The songs are too good for the lo-fi auteur approach. Don't let that prevent you from hearing this though. Fans of REM, Shoes, and Smog will love this." - Powerpopaholic.com, Aaron Kupferberg
Discography
Album: It's Plain, released in summer 2008.
Album: In the Sun, released April 1, 2012.
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Bio
Joining lyrics dealing with loss, disappointment and regret with anatomically correct indie pop/rock melodies, Delaware’s Bos Taurus reflects the music of some of the band's influences, including Pixies, the Beach Boys, the Shins, Yo La Tengo and others. The band’s 2008 debut, It's Plain, received rave reviews upon its release ("...The guitar work and harmonies are beautifully composed and performed..." – Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic.com), and along with some strong live regional performances, helped earn the band a Spark award for the Best Pop Band at the 2009 DMAs.
Now fresh off the release of its second full-length album, In the Sun (April, 2012), Bos Taurus has evolved both in terms of songwriting and the sound of the band ("...when Steve Chesser is able to get his guitar at the forefront of a melody, like on the Joe Jackson-ish "Must Be the Light," it's pure magic..." – Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic.com). Band members Shawn O'Neill (lead guitar), Phil Young (multiple instruments and vocals), Sam Musumeci (bass and vocals), Pete Romano (drums), and Heather Plank (vocals) add their collective experience and well-honed skills to the core that defines bandleader Steve Chesser's (guitar, vocals) lush pop song structures.
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