Everything Definitely Is

Nine Black Alps has done an amazing job of creating a cross between grunge and indie rock with their debut Everything Is. The successful result is an original record that is terribly hard to classify.Everything Is is a cocktail of Bush’s Sixteen Stone, Radiohead’s Pablo Honey, the explosive guitar tone of Weezer and an original flair that keeps it from sounding entirely rooted in the 90s. They have extremely hardcore moments on the record coupled with well-produced, catchy guitar solos and vocal melodies. The band toured with Weezer in August 2005 for obvious reasons. They have the same respect for a pop-structured song while holding onto a loud and dirty sound — the way Weezer’s “Hashpipe” sounds. The tracks on Everything Is that really embody this hard-pop quality are “Get your Guns,” “Cosmopolitan” and “Shot Down.” The feedback solo on “Everybody Is” and the intro on “Headlights” are also great examples of the band’s energy and talent.

For the follow up to Everything Is Nine Black Alps has been working with David Sardy, the producer for Jet and Oasis, two bands that Nine Black Alps is easily comparable to. And don’t worry, for all you Oasis fans the album does not lack in soft moments. “Behind your Eyes” has a bit of a Meat Puppets twang like that on Mirage and “Intermission” is very reminiscent of Oasis.

Like Weezer’s Blue album and the work of Oasis, it is very difficult to not enjoy Everything Is. The record is extremely catchy yet dirty and heavy in all the right spots. Everything Is comes 100% recommended as a solid debut release from a talented band whose follow up record deserves great anticipation.