The Metapuffs- Dimensional Maze Review

Artist: The Metapuffs
Title: Dimensional Maze
Website: http://www.metapuffs.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/themetapuffs
Style: Alternative/Retro Rock
Label: Interplanetary Records
Band Members Tris Lucas (guitar,vocals) Candy Lane (drums, vocals) Jon Collins (bass, backing vocals)
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

The Metapuffs got started when Tris Lucas and Candy Lane met at a local Chicago hangout. From there they performed with a couple of different bass players until they met bassist Jon Collins and the final piece of the puzzle was in place.

 

The band was originally known as Lost Monkey but they changed that because they didn't want to get confused with the band the Artic Monkeys due to their growing popularity.

 

If you're like me, and thought Metapuff sounded like it had something to do with a marshmallow, then here's the band's definition of just what it means, "Metapuff is the smallest conceivable unit of matter. It exists outside of time and space as pure potential, and makes up the things that make up the things that make up other particles we are able to observe."

 

The band says that they want to bring the glitz and the glam back to an art form that they say, "...has grown increasingly stale and cookie-cutter."  From seeing the band's picture, listening to their music, and reading their press information I would put them in the category of Prince or David Bowie in regards to their show presence.

 

Their debut release Dimensional Maze features 12 original songs, although Tris Lucas did use the song, "I'd Get Arrested for You," on a solo album he put out in 2004.  Tris is the main songwriter for the band. He says that he churns out on average five songs a week and has written over a thousand songs. So the band should be set for new material for many, many, years to come.

 

The band likes to call their style of music, 'retro-futro,' because of its mixture of both classic and futuristic styles. I could feel both of them in the songs. At times the music felt like a throwback to 60's pop/rock while other times the songs had a space adventure feel.

 

The vocals duties are shared with both male and female lead parts along with the mixing of them in vocal harmonies in the songs.

 

The band's songs deal with a wide variety of emotions. Some song lyrics are joyful while others deal with the more depressing side of life.

 

One of my favorite songs was, "Keep Your Hair Long," a song that had a very deep rock vibe that reminded me a lot of an early Black Sabbath's sound. I also liked the song "2025," with its White Stripes like steady rhythmic beats.

 

While the music found on Dimensional Maze is good I get the feeling that The Metapuffs are the kind of band you need to see live to get the full experience.  And when you do they'll knock your socks off!

 

If you can't catch them live then getting Dimensional Maze is the next best thing.