NYC by way of Poughkeepsie band Robbers On High Street are one of several bands, including The Sights and The Sounds to be signed to New Line Records – a label that was founded by a film studio for the purpose of releasing its own soundtracks (Snakes to the On to the A to the Plane). ROHS are founders and primary songwriters singer Ben Trokan (he first learned to write songs on piano – always a good sign) and guitarist Steve Mercado. Bassist Morgan King and keyboardist Matt Trowbridge (Sam Champion) complete the lineup for now. Drummer Tomer Danan left the band in late ‘06.
The Fatalist And Friends opens with “The Fatalist” - a jumpy, dare I say London Calling-era The Clash song with a little “Come Together” ‘Ka cha!’ thrown in is a fun way to start the extended play. The “Married Young” lyrics “Now what’s done is done/Started playing house/We’re too young/We peaked too soon” remind me of the season premier of The Hills when a post-breakup L.C. returns Jason’s crap that he left at her place (in Hefty bags, no less) and is later chastised for her “Summer Nights” by her imperious Teen Vogue boss lady Lisa Love spliced with a Master Card commercial. The look on Lauren’s face? Priceless.
No stylistic changes here, this is Robbers On High Street the way we like them. A fresh crop of Interpol and Strokes comparisons are soon to come and the Brandon Flower’s-ish identity issues and pretentiousness (Madonna-style English intonation) that go with it. While Trokan continues to sing like a young Greg Dulli – skanky smooth with white boy soul – (if he was on I’m From Rolling Stone he’d be Russell Morse) Robbers On High Street can’t help at times sounding as matured and polished as a grown-up Triple-A band like Train or the Goo Goo Dolls (“Major Minor”, “Monkberry Moon Delight”).
To some ROHS are best known as being the second song (“Love Underground”) on the Wedding Crashers Soundtrack. Others know them from their critically acclaimed 2005 album, Tree City. The Fatalist And Friends is pretty damn good – you almost believe Trokan & Mercado could have written the fourth track, Paul “Ba, ba, ba, ba, bum” McCartney’s post-Beatles pre-Wings “Monkberry Moon Delight”. The cute Beatle was an influence on the band (although I would’ve guessed them Lennon men) and judging by their album artwork so was A Flock Of Seagulls. But nobody does bird cover art like Earlimart, except maybe reassignment surgery candidates, Seth Cohen’s Favorite Band.
These songs are a tad one-note - just try telling where “Married Young” ends and “Major Minor” begins, (and sometimes unusual song structure + wordy lyrics = unmemorable) but that’s okay when it’s a good note. The four tracks of “The Fatalist And Friends” (all of which can currently be heard on the bands myspace page) are from Robbers forthcoming album Grand Animals. |