The Aviation Orange/Eric Scholz – Untitled [Split]


Band: The Aviation Orange/Eric Scholz
Album: Untitled [Split]
Genre: Indie/Folk
Label: Feels Like Home Records

Tracks:
The Aviation Orange
1. CCSS
2. Hips and Maladies
3. Malloriegh
4. Seattle Slide
5. Fade Away

Eric Scholz
6. White Fence
7. Lonesome Dan
8. Sure Thing
9. Every Shade of Blue
10. In Your Hands
11. Saturday Sun

With the economy in shambles and even major labels scrambling to figure out how to profit in the industry, launching your own label may seem like a crazy idea. However, this is a world where those with passion and persistence prevail and the folks at Feels Like Home Records have more than enough of both of those to make it. This split cd, the initial release for Feels Like Home, is limited to a run of 1000 copies and pairs indie rocks The Aviation Orange with singer/songwriter Eric Scholz. The results, albeit a bit mixed, plants the roots for not only the artists, but Feels Like Home Records to have a lasting career in the industry.

The 1st five songs on the disc belong to The Aviation Orange, a Brooklyn based group who is sure to fill the gap that the now defunct Moros Eros use to fill in indie kid’s hearts. Their music is a lot of indie rock mixed with catchy synth lines, which may not be the newest idea on the market, but it’s definitely done well. The opener, “CCSS,” is a laid back rocker with heavy synth lines in the chorus and really puts you into a groove for listening to this half of the record. The follow up, “Hips and Maladies,” is where the gold is truly at for this band. Mixing sounds of The Cure and your favorite garage rock indie band, The Aviation Orange have a hit in the making here. Everything comes together to create a very atmospheric sound that’s tight and engaging. Though, I will admit, this isn’t my genre of taste normally, I found myself bopping right along through this track and hoping whatever followed would be just as great. Unfortunately, the next track, “Malloriegh, doesn’t match up quite as well as I’d hoped. The band is surely experimental, but that doesn’t always equal a good thing. I found myself a bit bored throughout the track and equally uninspired by, “Seattle Slide,” the very next track. I don’t know if it’s a lack of focus as a band or just trying to have too many elements in their music, but The Aviation Orange don’t keep things very consistent. “Fade Away,” however, the final track on their half of the disc, is near flawless. It’s got the right amounts of experimental, indie, and synth put together to form a really enticing track. It leaves you hoping the band finds themselves, but not too let down or disinterested.

The next half of the disc is all about Eric Scholz. There’s a line in a Brand New song about someone being a, “sucker,” for anything acoustic and that applies to me and most of us here at UTG ten fold. From the first minute of, “White Fence,” Eric’s lead track, I was pulled into the aura his music created. His voice is much like Dustin Kensrue of Thrice meets a bit of early Dylan. Therefore, he covers the canvas of folk songs with his voice alone. The track itself is solid, nothing too stunning in terms of catchiness, but well crafted nonetheless. Though, “Lonesome Dan” the second of Scholz’ six track, is single ready. It’s got a very catchy guitar part with simple, yet deep lyrics. Everyone has some part of them that connects with a guy spilling his heart in a song, and this is a pivotal example of just that. Scholz manages to play the part of the down and out guy without becoming to cheesy or whiny and that’s a skill not found to often in young songwriter’s these day. “Lonesome Dan,” is a good example of this, but so are, “Sure Thing,” and, “Every Shade of Blue.” They’re both great tracks that show Scholz’ classic sound and great songwriting ability. However, these songs all fall short when compared to, “In Your Hands,” the last real song on the disc [“Saturday Sun,” is just an outro], has a near Bruce Springsteen feel to it. If songs screams blue collar, all american, worker with a lot of pent up thoughts. Eric sounds years ahead of his age and his insight is that of someone who’s been in the industry for decades, not a few years. I was left hitting repeat on this one for quite awhile because I can’t think of the last time I heard something as beautifully done in the folk world as this song. It’s not only a great closing song, but the kind of song you wish every song by every band could resemble in someway.

Feels Like Home Records has started things off on the right foot with this 11 track split. Both bands bring something unique to the table and though it’s not all amazing material, as a whole it fits together quite wonderfully. I think The Aviation Orange needs to work more on their direction, but with a little more crafting, I think they could really start to rise through the indie ranks. As far as Eric Scholz is concerned, he simply needs to work at getting his name out there. Every kid with a computer and a guitar can have songs on Myspace, but Eric Scholz needs be touring the world and setting new standards for upcoming singer/songwriters as his sound is already amazingly crafted. Let me close by saying this: Both of these bands have the right base to launch them into fame in their different genres, so if I were you, I’d hurry and order a copy of this limited release because next thing you know, everyone is going to want one.

*Written By: James Shotwell*
Overall GRADE: 7.5/10

James Shotwell
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One Response to “The Aviation Orange/Eric Scholz – Untitled [Split]”

  1. Finally a smart blogger…I love how you’re thinking and writing!