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Shiner - Making Love E.P. |
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ALBUM REVIEWSPick of the Chick: Our Favorite Releases, 1999-Present |
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One of Shiner's strengths has always been translating the muscle and tightness of their records to their live shows, even through the band's many lineup changes over the years. Most recently, Shiner added a second guitar player--first Joel Hamilton of Glazed Baby and now Josh Newton. Then, original drummer Tim Dow left the band and was replaced by Jason Gerken, formerly of Molly McGuire. The Making Love E.P. features live recordings of "Fetch A Switch" and "He/She," both from Shiner's first record, Splay, and "Third Gear Scratch" and "Cake," from Lula Divinia. In these versions, Gerken flawlessly executes Dow's drum parts almost note for note. The harmonized vocals of guitarist/lead singer Allen Epley and bassist Paul Malinowski are right on--a feature often uncommon among live recordings. Fans of this Kansas City band who have seen them live will find the E.P. very faithful to the band's live sound. The huge walls of guitar are here, as well as the full and rounded low end of the bass. The big curve ball on the E.P., though, is the last track, a new studio recording of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love." This version recasts the classic rock staple in an unmistakably Shiner mold, with blankets of tight, precise guitars, powerful drums, and Malinowski's ever-present deep bass. The band makes the song so much their own that the first time I saw them play it live, I didn't even recognize the song until halfway through it. It would have been nice if this record had been a little longer, perhaps including other Shiner gems like "The Situationist" or "Christ Size Shoes." But two and a half years after Shiner's most recent record, Lula Divinia, their fans are probably happy to get whatever new stuff they can. PIGEONHOLE: Shiner perform live versions of their trademark melodic, heavy, intense
pop songs and a definitive reworking of a classic rock mainstay.
Che Arthur
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SHINER
