As someone who spends a significant amount of time seeking out local music, I’ll admit I’ve heard the name StoneRider before, but have never taken the opportunity to listen to their music. Before diving into their fantastic new album, Hologram, the only nugget of knowledge I had concerning them was that they rose from the ashes of Fight Paris. In the mid aughts, the Atlanta rockers provided me with endless amounts of party music and drunken sing alongs, and even now, from time to time, I give “Complete Heat” and “Fuck Me Stilettos” a spin. But let’s be real here: this is NOT the same band. At all.
Hologram opens with “Sleepwalking Awake,” a perfect track to set the scene for what’s to come: Matt Tanner’s monster riffs, rock solid basslines by John Pratt, Noah Pine’s wandering keys, and Jason Krutzky’s calculated drumbeats. The chorus is absolutely infectious and combats it’s furious verse counterpart with an intervening halftime jam. Appropriately, however, it’s the album’s title track that best embodies StoneRider’s mission statement, which is namely one of hazy vintage rock ruminations. As the organ, bass, and drums lock together to keep the listener grounded, Tanner’s mighty guitar and warm vocals seeps into all the surrounding empty space and work to lift you into the stratosphere. This is the predominant aesthetic on Hologram, and StoneRider stretch and pull it to great effect.
Elsewhere, “War, Traffic, and Blind Faith” is a ‘70s throwback, complete with funky keys and an atmospheric halftime guitar solo that glides through your speakers, before the keys and soaring riffs that make up the verse kick back in. The track leads into “Elevator Operator,” a mid-tempo stomper that has it all: sweeping acoustic guitar, a spacey groove interlude, delicate harmonies, and guitars battling thirds ands fifths together.
StoneRider takes all the elements you love about classic rock—big guitars intertwined with elements of funk, pop, and soul—and smashes them together with a subtle sledgehammer. Which is why Hologram fondly reminds me of the first time you discover your parent’s record collection: laying on the carpet, eyes closed, sailing amongst the stars as the crackle and pop of vinyl fills your ears. It’s a magical feeling that extends beyond mere nostalgia, and StoneRider capture it as well as anyone playing today.
More Info
Web: stoneriderband.com
Bandcamp: stonerider.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @stoneriderband
Instagram: @stoneriderband
Twitter: @stoneriderband