You might not be aware of it, but California’s Rogue Wave is everywhere. Albeit the ripple on their 4th full-length output doesn’t go hand in hand with their moniker (a rogue wave i.e. brazen and spontaneous, of tsunami-like scope), Permalight is a happy twist for the tragic heroes. They’ve been hit. From dot com busts, to hapless death, to the destruction of disease, it’s been a steady swim against the current. Yet, through it all their jams though laced with somber and serious reflections are tweaked for a high-spirited throng. Solitary Gun exits stage right to a video game, yet the solemnity of depth to their lyrics rears its head at times; enter Fear in lingering repetition, “Can’t you feel the fear itself?” In that way, it’s multi-faceted rock for the masses, appropriately permeating anything from commercials, sitcoms to features on romantic comedies. Curiously, Zach Rogue and his bandmates don’t boast a whale of a following even with copious exposure and commercial appeal, not in Canada anyway. Backing into the tracklist, I would have liked to see Rogue Wave extend the terse chorus of All That Remains. Maybe it’s like someone told me (When I say someone, I do mean the gifted musician Jay Malinowski); no one really listens to the last song on an album? I’m not sure why that would be. An ending to an album for me (even the hidden track) determines the aftertaste I’m left with. Permalight almost seems incomplete with an adieu of one minute and five seconds. Heck, at least, the last few words were fierce, “And all that remains, Is all that reminds us of the sound, You’ve always known”.
Key Tracks: Fear, I’ll Never Leave You, Solitary Gun
Moods: Reflective, Gentle, Intimate, Innocent, Melancholy, Poignant
Buy: Permalight
related
- Wu-Tang Collaboration Album to Finally See Light of Day
- Jay Malinowski – Bright Lights & Bruises
- Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
