Musicians Chris “Roadie” Rodahoffer (guitars), Kyle Lawrence (bass), and Wes Medeiros (drums), met during their time at Boston’s Berklee School of Music. This three-piece band mixes in loosely-based jams, country and bluegrass flavors, and simplistic vocal parts very much akin to the likes of the Grateful Dead and Phish.
“Which is Your Way,” the full-length debut from Boston-based Hurl Soul Bridge, is a straightforward and improvisational album that should find favor with fans of the jam band genre. Fans of this un-exiting brand of music are sure to appreciate Hurl Soul Bridge.
Most of the songs on “Which is Your Way” are not very memorable, lack a sense of direction, and at times seem uninspired. While the musicianship for the most part is impressive, the music as a whole does not add up to much.
The album gets going with the upbeat “Mountain Song”, which features a fast-paced drum part, some very impressive lead guitar work, and a somewhat catchy chorus. During the next few tracks, the pace slows down a bit and becomes much more subdued in nature. While there are glimpses of strong melodies present, there is not enough here to keep the listener all that interested. While certain songs start off strong, many never seem to really go anywhere.
The song “Puppet Master” has a cool, moody quality that features some great echo guitar work, but fails to produce anything of substance.
The title cut “Which is Your Way” starts off a little funky and reggae like, but features very little change and drags on. The CD continues with some more mellow tunes that definitely have their moments, but leave the listener hoping for more. The last song on the disc “t.v,.” which is worth waiting to hear, demonstrates the band’s capability to rock and write good music that the mass public will enjoy.
One thing that leaves much to be desired is the lack of a strong vocal presence. The vocals are simply not up to par with the music. At times the vocal arrangements and harmonies are flat and mundane. Bands of this type often need a distinguishable front-person to separate them from the rest and take them to the next level. There is potential to be a pretty good band here, but it will take a little sound definition, a better sense of direction, and a little more flare and style. Check out the band’s Web site at www.hurlsoulbridge.com.