REVIEW: 12Rods, Split Personalities (V2)
- Linda Scott
12Rods is a popular trio in Minneapolis where they were named Best New Band of 1996. Their self-produced EP, gay?, and their live shows led to their V2 Records contract. and their full-length album, Split Personalities. 12Rods is a tight trio with two brothers, Ryan (vocals, guitars, bass, synths) and Ev (synths, guitars, vocals) Olcott along with childhood friend Christopher McGuire on drums.
The tracks in Split Personalities are rich and full, and the 12Rods trio pulls this off with the aid of synthesizers. The band marries guitar rock with musical electronics and does it so skillfully that listeners in either camp can enjoy the mix. Full bore drum/guitar attacks are joined by augmentary, not competing synths.
If Split Personalities reminds the listener of Radiohead, note that the majority of the album tracks were mixed by Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade who did the honors for Radiohead, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Cure and others. Also worthy of mention are the lyrics which touch on issues of emotional conflict in the post-adolescent life. "I Wish You Were A Girl" is about the barrier between gays and straights while "Make Out Music" is for all those outcasts who fantasize revenge on bullies. Not all the tracks are this heavy; there are songs about love and sexuality while "Split Personality" leads off the album with a look at the philosophies of digital and analog recording.
The music fits the lyrics, the vocals are mixed so that you can hear them, and the trio knows what it wants to do with its music. High marks to McGuire for his drum work. These guys are good, so go out and find the art-rock meets guitar-rock world of Split Personalities.
