ARTIST: The American Dollar
TITLE: A Memory Stream
LABEL: Yesh Music
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 195kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 50m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-08-19
RIP DATE: 2008-10-30
Track List
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1. The Slow Wait (1) 5:21
2. The Slow Wait (2) 3:50
3. Call 5:25
4. Bump 3:17
5. Intermission 0:33
6. Lights Dim 4:02
7. Transcendence 3:31
8. Our Hearts Are Read 3:55
9. Anything You Synthesize 4:41
10. We're Hitting Everything 3:49
11. Starscapes 12:18
Release Notes:
http://www.myspace.com/americandollarband
On the continuum of popular instrumental music, The American Dollar have created
an outpost somewhere between MobyÆs catchy pop/soul-influenced songcraft and the
expansive, emotional yet equally melodic rock of Explosions in the Sky. Richard
Cupolo and John Emanuele play each and every instrument on this, their third
album in just three short years or recording; the pair exhibit tremendous
versatility and dexterity in using a variety of styles as the skeleton to which
they attach flesh and bloodùglorious melodies, vibrant musical colors and
wonderfully moody arrangements. While the groupÆs music is certainly
atmospheric, it is usually so in a way that suggests the abundant, fertile
ground traditional rock acts tread, not the ambient frame often associated with
instrumental music.
The album does, however, begin with two plus minutes of beautiful, ambient
keyboard figures that repeat and form a pattern before ôThe Slow Wait (1)ö is
greeted with the first appearance of electronic beats and acoustic guitars;
heading seamlessly into its counterpart, ôThe Slow Wait (2)ö, the opening
couplet is typical of the entire record: melodic, polished, dynamic, intriguing.
Other inviting tracks include ôIntermission,ö with its opening interplay between
pop piano and rock guitar, its sense of dynamics and swirling crescendo and its
driving rhythms. Tracks like ôLights Dimö and ôOur Hearts are Readö also
highlight the wide spectrum which the duo embrace: the former is more ambient in
nature, marrying piano ostinatos with subdued electric guitar, gently insistent
beats and soft strings; the latter begins just as gently before turning into a
vehicle for guitar solos that are arena-worthy.