ARTIST: Madder Rose
TITLE: Panic On
YEAR RELEASED: 1994
CHART ACTION: #52 UK
SINGLES: Car Song
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Sleep Forever
LINEUP: Billy Cote, Mary Lorson, Matt Verta-Ray, Johnny Kick
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Second album from NYC alternatives builds on their strengths – Mary Lorson’s voice and Billy Cote’s songcraft.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: The second Madder Rose album got them noticed in alternative circuits here in the US, thanks to the combination of Mary Lorson’s voice (gentle yet powerful at times), and the songwriting and arrangements of Billy Cote, the guitarist.
Cote’s guitars wash all over the tracks, in some ways like the UK shoegazers, but Lorson’s vocals bring that back up, and Cote also adds in some interesting guitar flourishes above the noise. The band also has improved their chops at slower song (such as “Car Song”).
This album pointed Madder Rose to a path that was both pop-oriented and alternative, which was sorely needed at the time. This album still holds up as a good example of the variety found, but not noted by the press, in the 90’s.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: The band had 10 days to rehearse these tracks before heading into the studio after a long tour.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No
GRADE: A-: A good collection of pop melodies intermixed with guitar swirl that should have made more of an impact commercially.