Blacktop Musical crafts unmistakable sound

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On their debut full-length album, local folk-rockers, Blacktop Musical, combine a traditionally hushed folk sound with an intense and emotional vocal approach. It crafts a sound that is familiar but cannot be mistaken for any other band.

Consisting of 14 tracks and clocking in at just under an hour, Blacktop Musical’s self-titled album is quite a bit to take in.

While the band does a respectable job of maintaining a level of consistency, especially considering the relatively young ages of the band’s members, the album has its share of notable highs and frustrating lows.

“Masquerade Song,” the album’s second track, highlights the band’s strengths over its lengthy six minutes. The first half of the song is a rollicking folk-rock tune, utilizing shaking tambourines, up-tempo drumming and urgently strummed guitars.

The song’s second half takes a more stripped-down and emotional approach, with hushed acoustic guitars, a minimal bass drum thump and a tastefully simple piano melody providing a backdrop for vocalist Christopher Belanger’s raspy croon.

The band seems to function best when taking a more quiet, emotive approach.

“Amen,” one of the song’s standout tracks, finds the band stripping the arrangement down to guitars, vocals and piano. Vocalists Belanger and Jake Neher sing together, opting for a more complementary and less in-your-face vocal approach.

Part of what makes “Blacktop Musical” such a frustrating release is not so much the band’s lack of talent or consistency as much as it is the band’s inability to provide anything truly grabbing or memorable.

While Blacktop Musical can play their instruments well and can definitely mesh together stylistically, they seem to lack the bravery – and perhaps creativity – to really grab the listener’s attention.

“Blacktop Musical” is certainly a solid and cohesive release, especially for a band from Mount Pleasant. The album offers a handful of really excellent songs, a pocketful of pretty good songs and a few songs that are just alright.

“Blacktop Musical” is a must-listen for fans of Elliot Smith, Damien Rice, Bright Eyes and Brand New.

Listen to songs from “Blacktop Musical” at myspace.com/blacktopmusical and catch them at Rubble’s, 112 W. Michigan St., on March 5 at 8:30 p.m.

features@cm-life.com