Artist: Paper Tongues
Album: Paper Tongues
Year: 2010
Label: Catapult
Website: http://www.papertongues.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/papertongues
Twitter: @Paper_Tongues
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Earthsuit, Queen, The Beastie Boys, Eminem, MuteMath, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lyn, Conway Twitty, K’naan, Kings Of Leon, Wilco, The Roots, Jeff Buckley, Journey, James Brown, Talking Heads, Bloc Party, Red Hot Chili Pepper
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

A&M/Octone Records presents us a powerful debut which I believe it will be one of the best in this 2010. Paper Tongues formed by Answan North (vocals), Devin Forbes (guitar), Joey Signa (guitar), Daniel Santell (bass), Jordan Hardee (drums), Clayton Simon (keyboards) and Cody Blackler (rhodes) fused rock ‘n’ hot roll with touches of hip hop, rap, funk and soul. The album was produced by the acclaimed Brian West (Nelly Furtado, K’naan, Savage Garden) with John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Jon McLaughlin, Jimmy Eat World, Miley Cyrus, Switchfoot, Demi Lovato, Pink), Billy Hume and Mark Endert (Green River Ordinance, Madonna, Maroon 5, Plumb), so you can be no doubting about the magnitude of this record.

The invigorating “Trinity” mix soul and rock with electronic in an anthem of our generation to become aware of the pain of our society, trapped by disbelief and poverty: “I am reaching from the depths of my soul / Hear me pleading I’m a child I’m the poor I am needing / To the drum you better believe it / Turn it up don’t say goodbye / And you know that time after time we will survive / That’s why I’m still alive”. The fiery “For The People” and his eclectic electronic sounds make you dance wildly exploding in the instrumental that takes hold of the rhodes and guitars. This track could be the emblem of the band in their quest to convince his listeners that they have been created to be the voice of his people: “I’m the voice above the noise and we need to rock it, so bring in the boys”. Breaking down the silence, “Ride To California” (first single) combines hip-hop hooks, and crunchy pop rock that will make you shake, but also reflect. This song summarizes and graphs the history of the band, which being poor they got to pursue their dreams to reach this long-awaited debut release: ““I’ve been up but I ain’t down / I’ve been lost but now I’m found / I need a ticket for sure / If you got another seat on the plane would you let me go”. The passionate “Get Higher” is full of spiritual experiences, and connects you with the soul of his improvised lyric: “You provoque a man to bow down / and I get on my knees and cry out / Everything I have is yours now”. Moreover, “What If” is questioned about our mistakes and emotions. “Soul” is the divine voice that reaches out to those failures, fear, hurt and heartbroken people wandering around the city: “I know you’re lost and need to be found / Just take my hand”. The infectious melody on the bridge of “Everybody” will remain etched in your brain for many days; it stated that as humans we need each other. The strident piano of “Strongest Flame” talks about a past love and shows the best performance of vocalist Aswan North with a wide melodic registration. “Rich And Poor” once again draws us the reality of our society, and reminds me the forgotten Earthsuit, with a seasoned and a bohemian hip-hop/rock melody. “Love Like You” ends this masterpiece, with a passionate song that sings about the blessing of finding the love of God or that special someone. A love that gives you the strength to survive in our shattered world. Poetry in motion.

“If the Beastie Boys associate with Eminem and asked MuteMath to back them up, then you get Paper Tongues”. These seven individuals have created something I’ve never heard before. Their music can heal lives, our society, a perverted politics and the hopeless heart of our artists. Each song encourages you to make new beginnings, second chances.

A&M/Octone Records nos presenta un poderoso debut el cual estoy convencido será uno de los mejores de este 2010. Paper Tongues conformado por Answan North (vocalista), Devin Forbes (guitarra), Joey Signa (guitarra), Daniel Santell (bajo), Jordan Hardee (batería), Clayton Simon (sintetizadores) y Cody Blackler (rhodes) fusionan rock’n’roll con ardientes toques de hip hop, rap, funk y soul. El álbum fue producido por el aclamado Brian West (Nelly Furtado, K’naan, Savage Garden) junto a John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Jon McLaughlin, Jimmy Eat World, Miley Cyrus, Switchfoot, Demi Lovato, Pink), Billy Hume y Mark Endert (Green River Ordinance, Madonna, Maroon 5, Plumb); así que no te puede quedar duda de la magnitud de esta grabación.

La vigorizante “Trinity” mezcla soul y rock con electrónica en un himno de nuestra generación a tomar conciencia sobre el dolor de nuestra sociedad, atrapada por la incredulidad y la pobreza: “I am reaching from the depths of my soul / Hear me pleading I’m a child I’m the poor I am needing / To the drum you better believe it / Turn it up don’t say goodbye / And you know that time after time we will survive / That’s why I’m still alive”. La ardiente “For The People” y sus eclécticos sonidos electrónicos te llevan a bailar desenfrenadamente explosionando en el instrumental que se apodera de los rhodes y las guitarras. Este track podría ser el emblema de la banda en su afán por convencer a sus oyentes que ellos han sido creados para ser la voz de su pueblo, de su gente: “I’m the voice above the noise and we need to rock it, so bring in the boys”. Derrumbando el silencio y las etiquetas, “Ride To California” (primer sencillo) combina ganchos de hip-hop, rock y crujiente pop que te hará temblar, sacudirte, pero también reflexionar. Esta canción resume y grafica la historia de la banda, que al ser pobres consiguieron perseguir sus sueños hasta llegar a lanzar este ansiado debut: “I’ve been up but I ain’t down / I’ve been lost but now I’m found / I need a ticket for sure / If you got another seat on the plane would you let me go”. La apasionada “Get Higher” está llena de experiencias espirituales, y te conecta con el alma improvisada de su lírica: “You provoque a man to bow down / and I get on my knees and cry out / Everything I have is yours now”. Por otro lado, “What If” se cuestiona sobre nuestros errores y emociones. “Soul” es la voz divina que extiende su mano a aquellos fracasados, temerosos, heridos y acongojados que vagan por la ciudad: “I know you’re lost and need to be found / Just take my hand”. La contagiosa melodía en el puente de “Everybody” se quedará grabada en tu cerebro durante muchos días, que nos declara que como humanos nos necesitamos unos a otros. Los estridentes pianos de “Strongest Flame” hablan sobre un amor del pasado y nos muestra la mejor performance del vocalista Aswan North, con un amplio registro melódico. “Rich And Poor” una vez más nos dibuja la realidad de nuestra sociedad, y me hace recordar a los olvidados Earthsuit, con un avezado hip-hop/rock y una bohemia melodía. “Love Like You” culmina esta obra maestra, con una apasionada melodía que canta sobre la bendición de encontrar el amor de Dios o de aquella persona especial. Un amor que te da las fuerzas para sobrevivir en nuestro devastado mundo. Poesía en movimiento.

“Si los Beastie Boys se asociaran con Eminem y le preguntaran a MuteMath que los respalde, entonces obtendrás a Paper Tongues”. Estos siete individuos han creado algo que nunca antes he oído. Música que puede sanar vidas, una sociedad, una pervertida política y el corazón desesperanzado de nuestros artistas. Cada canción te anima a tomar nuevos comienzos, segundas oportunidades.