Zeus
(Arts & Crafts)
When a lead singer opts to forsake his band in order to go the solo route, most
fans will barely raise an eyebrow. But when a band breaks out on their own sans
their front man, it's likely to garner more than a little curiosity. Happily,
there's no bad blood between Zeus and their usual collaborator,
singer/songwriter Jason Collett. In
fact, there are plans for them to serve as his back-up band for his upcoming tour.
Still, Say Us provides a welcome
opportunity for Zeus to spin their own sound, proving they're equally adept at creating
tuneful melodies, soaking up retro references and taking an easily accessible
approach.
Even so, Say Us doesn't shy away from revealing some quirkier instincts, as evidenced by both its fidgety opener "How Does It Feel?" and the overt exuberance of "You Gotta Tell'er." Zeus coat their tunes with an effervescent sheen, resulting in a pervasive glow that immediately illuminates tunes like "The Renegade," "Marching Through Your Head" and "The Sound of You." Ultimately, Zeus' potential to reach Olympian heights remains to be seen, but even as mere mortals, they still manage to impress.
Standout Tracks: "You Gonna Tell'er," "The Sound of You" LEE ZIMMERMAN
