Son of Adam: Waiting for the Radio

WBS Records, CD-Rom

The next time you long for fresh music, pick up the sophomore release of Detroit-based alternative rock band Son of Adam. It’ll leave you wondering why you never heard of these guys before. Waiting for the Radio showcases the band’s new sound, a mature, radio-friendly mix that takes more inspiration from Jimmy Eat World (perhaps a little too much Jimmy, actually — the end of the eight-minute “It’s Over” sounds scarily similar to the last track on Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity album) than the Counting Crows (a major influence on Son of Adam’s last release). The energetic pop/rock blend recently earned the band placement of a single on an episode of WB’s Smallville. Extra props to the guys, because with just a little help they produced, mixed and engineered the album themselves, in addition to doing photography for the booklet and designing their Web site. Welcome to the life of an independent musician at its best.

Each track on the CD offers snapshots of life and love. “Everyone” reassures a friend that hope still exists even in hard times. “Crush” captures the beginning of a reluctant infatuation. Probably the most intriguing ideas present themselves in “Ashley,” who jokingly asks the singer to marry her — a joke that turns serious after three years: “And all of this time/ I haven’t found anyone like you at all/ and I can’t believe/ that I am thinking/ that I might be waiting for you.”

Throughout the album, vibrant lyrical imagery finds support in melodic guitar work and fun riffs reminiscent of emo bands like the Get-Up Kids. With Waiting for the Radio, Son of Adam creates a distinctive style. The album possesses some cohesion but each track finds its own path. My major critique, however, concerns front man Chad Terrill’s husky, rasping vocals, which sometimes seem out of place with the band’s smooth musicality. But the originality lacking on the radio discovers a home here, one much appreciated from this reviewer.

With their skills and determination, these boys next door deserve attention. They prove the Detroit rock scene lives.

Dawn Xiana Moon

Dawn Xiana Moon currently resides in Michigan where she spends her free time quoting lines from Lord of the Rings, acting, singing, playing four instruments, and writing. Watch for First Verse, her debut EP of alternative folk pop, coming soon.