March 17, 2014

Ravens Ballroom: Rain Dance

Swagger and hooks. Ravens Ballroom, a progressive rock trio from Livingston, NJ, have plenty of both. The band's debut EP Rain Dance channels Steve Winwood, Big Star and even a bit of The Bangles. The husband and wife songwriting unit Matthew and Simi Ravens is completed by drummer Jon Rosenbaum.

They like to change pace mid-song, with the vocals keeping it together. Fat Cat Sinner is pushed forward by a tugging guitar, Simi Ravens throws in a B52's backing vocal, and there's a snippet of slide lifted from Chris Isaac. The radio edit of standout track L'Anima lost it menacing boogie (or is it bogey) part with double-tracked guitar. Let's hope that there are DJs out there who have the balls to play album cuts.

Ravens Ballroom:
Matthew Ravens: vocals, guitar, keys
Simi Ravens: vocals, bass, percussion
Jon Rosenbaum: drums

Rain Dance is a self-released EP. Buy it from the band's website.

Tracks:
  1. Riptide
  2. Fat Cat Sinner
  3. L'Anima
  4. Paper Doll Lou
  5. Hold Me Down
  6. Space Time Wave
  7. L'Anima (radio edit)

» ravensballroom.com

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