Album Review: "You and Your Lion" by The Delta Routine

The best part about writing a music blog is the research.

Maybe it's finding a hidden gem in the sea of jewel cases.

Then again, it could very well be that I no longer have to listen to terrestrial radio in order to hear new music. When people tell me that music is terrible in 2015, I say, no the media is terrible.

So...today I'm looking at a band from Milwaukee, WI who are on the cusp of releasing their fourth album.

They list off their influence as a whole lot of vintage punk rock, the Ramones, The Stooges, etc and oddly enough, Kings of Leon. Now, being as I'm not much of a fan of any of those bands, why in the world did I decide to listen to this?

Because influences do not necessarily determine your sound, but more importantly, I didn't notice till after I'd heard the whole record.

Delta Routine

Interesting factoid: I reviewed What Made Milwaukee Famous, who are not from Milwaukee and now I've reviewed Delta Routine, who are from Milwaukee but named themselves after a delta....

Moving on.

This album is a good time. The guitars are crunchy, varied, and played with abandon, but within reason.

Subtle arpeggios and distorted chords intermingle and create lush landscapes full of harmony and angst.

The vocals lack the beauty of the guitars. They are strained, angry, and depressed.

The dichotomy between the two guitars and the vocals create a band that really sounds like no other. It almost feels as though the band is fighting a bit and this creates a wonderful dynamic.

The music is powerful, but with the light touch of the Galadriel. It's airy, but it still rocks.

In a world of straight ahead music, don't pass on the walking contradiction.

Release: 2/17/15
Genre: Rock
Label: DIY
Facebook Link