Aaron Bruno, formerly of Under The Influence Of Giants, responsible for the disco-funk flavored "Mama's Room," a sizable hit on alternative rock radio in 2006, returns to re-invent white r&b again as Awolnation with debut EP Back From Earth. However, this time Bruno steps out of the '70s and into the future with thick electronic beats.
"Burn It Down" is part Little Richard, complete with "Woooo!," part breakneck techno and maybe even a little Michael Jackson. For most of the song, animated live drums throttle underneath quickened electronic blips. This song is like a bus with cut break-lines speeding towards a brick wall.
Muted but distorted guitar, thumping bass and clean organ make "Guilty Filthy Soul" more of a traditional soul-rock song. Bruno's vocals here are mostly unadorned and his emoting would do James Brown and Freddie Mercury both proud. Bernie Worrell-style funkified synth sounds add a touch of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic.
"Sail" may be the most provocative on the EP, a layered minor key dirge-like song. Electronic violins provide most of the melody while heavy slabs of electronic fuzz fall between them and a mix of live drums and drum machine. The bridge of the song does feature a smattering of guitar and piano too. Bruno's vocals here are layered and given a scratchy quality that enhances the anguish in his delivery and lyrics. Overall, the song, with its fade-in and fade-out, seems like it could go forever and what is heard is just a snippet of the whole.
The final track, "MF" is where the album loses some focus. It feels less like an actual song than dance club fodder. Bruno seems to be screaming himself hoarse in a quasi-rap style that becomes grating before the song is half-way through. The music here is entirely electronic, and while full of heavy beats like the rest, it feels overly repetitive.
Awolnation, while taking some cues from classic r&b, 1970s rock and heavy electronica like The Prodigy, mixes these disparate sounds into a stew that is unique and enjoyable. Bruno's impassioned, energetic vocal style is infectious. The live instruments and studio electronic wizardry find a compatible place when most of the time they don't in other music. These days, specific genre labeling in music is meaning less and less and Awolnation is definitely a positive outcome of this trend.
