My first impression of the Pagan States before putting them in my CD player was the thought that I was about to be treated to something that was vaguely metal, or failing that, gothic. But as the music began I realized that I was off the mark, which is further reason why you should never judge a band by its cover or the name it chooses.



The music of the Pagan States is the kind of sound that immediately strikes one as kind of familiar, you're just not sure exactly from where. The band lists numerous musical influences from the last 40 years on their website, everyone from The Beatles to The Caesars. Almost like a giant musical computer, the group extrapolates from various sources and builds a unique sound from the source material. Another Seattle band trying to be different, I guess.



The first two tracks "Skeleton" and "Million Shades of Curious" are so mellow you can barely even sway to it. Things pick up with the band's main single "Pipe Dreams", which in contrast to the first two songs takes the rock influence up by about a million per cent. Randal Prater really gets a chance to stretch his bass, with a chord that sounds as if it was ripped out of The Lovin' Spoonfuls "Summer In The City". His voice and back beat almost make this track sound like it should have been on Dark Side of the Moon.



The lyrics when read on their own are a bit of a downer, sometimes sounding like high school poetry put to music. You get the impression that maybe the Pagan States had more to say, or otherwise they were being way to subtle for me. Further, I think that they have some kind of rock opera somewhere inside themselves, and that album I wouldn't mind hearing.



This effort though is a laid back, jazz fusion, 70s influenced rock album. I can't say that it bowled me over, but I was intrigued by it.



Track Listing

1 Skeleton

2 Million Shades of Curious

3 Pipe Dreams

4 Bellwether

5 Silly Season

6 Wings of Wax

7 Harshmellow

8 Snowflake Obsidian

9 Resisterville