Dallas' "Red Monroe"
Dallas’ Red Monroe may seem like just another pretentious art-rock contrivance. The band has been compared to Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and probably whatever other successful rock outfit with anti-mainstream tendencies you can name. But don’t be scared. The quintet manages to crowd a handful of diverse sonic motifs — from gospel-ish unison singing to ethereal synth washes to psychedelic guitar-based funk — into nearly every tune and still come off as honest, not gratuitous. The band never forgets that without a solid foundation of melody and rhythm, even the “best” intellectualized music will bomb. Novices, please don’t try this at home. Red Monroe is rightfully getting noticed.
