Dad-Approved Prog Rock

There is something very classic about Once & Future Band’s sound; yet their genre would be better described as “progressive.” The self-titled album opens with “How Does it Make You Feel,” which is upbeat, driving and Beatles-esque. “I’ll Be Fine” slows down a bit but doesn’t defer from that ’70s classic rock style. This song has a beautiful closing moment, in which vocalist, Joel Robinow sings, “love is in the air,” which dreamily takes this tune home. “Hide & Seek” slows it down even more, alternating vocal styles to to a more straight-cut, unhindered feel which provides some relief from the ’70s rock vibe. This track brings the album into the present with beautiful melodies, soulful instrumentation and captivating syncopation. “Nothing cuts as deeply as your smile,” he sings in the chorus, keeping the love-inspired theme of the album intact. Along with the soulfully stunning “Magnetic Memory,” it is a winning standout amongst the mostly happy-go-lucky tunes.

“Rolando” brings out more funk and jazz, driving the pace back up with upbeat drums and moving imitation brass; but then the chorus of vocal “ahs” could be right out of a Morrissey album. The ending of the song ascends dreamily into “Tell Me Those Are Tears of Joy,” which is probably the darkest track of them all. Finally, the album closes with “Standing in the Wake of Violence,” which is heavily prog-influenced, as it meanders around for about five minutes before abruptly ending the album.

What sets Once & Future Band’s tracks apart is the lovely instrumental bridges present in just about every song. These bridges are very Doors-inspired, with plenty of jazz influence thrown in for good measure.”Dad Rock” would be another great way to sum up Once & Future Band’s self-titled album – it’s the ’70s across the decades, and brings the listener on a time-traveling journey. Each track runs at an epic length – most being, at the very least, five minutes long. And while it’s likely to sound familiar at first, when listening to Once & Future Band in its entirety, this album is sure to be unlike anything that you’ve heard before.