SQUEEZE ME AHEAD OF LINE

This album is so tricky! I don't know any other one which can be compared with 'Squeeze Me Ahead Of Line' in some way. As for that the band has opened a new chapter in the history of prog rock. Overstatement ...? I read some comments that they even don't agree about being prog ... it doesn't matter - this is only my personal point of view anyway. Can't remember how I came across - wasn't convinced at all when I listened to the album samples first. It sounded very unusual to me - but also kinda fascinating! Some time later I took a second chance and was astonished about something like a deja-vu effect. I could remember some catchy parts immediately and they later were meandering through my brain over and over in day-to-day life. Breakthrough - I was infected!

In the meanwhile 'Squeeze Me Ahead Of Line' belongs to my mostly frequented albums of the last months. It was produced by Markus Reuter who is known first of all because of his collaboration with Pat Mastelotto for the project TUNER. The band started with a strong nu-metal, hardcore and weirdo-funk orientation but evolved when integrating keyboard and diverse other stylistical elements. One of the album's most significant ingredients is the drummer's way-out nervous playing which often cares for a drum&base/nujazz feeling. When you are acquiring a taste for Simon Beyer's style nothing can stop a new friendship furthermore. And then there is Mathias Jähnig's falsetto voice where you're probably thinking of a female singer first.

No - you're not on the wrong party - this album is definetely rocking too. When writing on the review I tried to describe some of the songs for a few times - and failed! An irresistible pulsative sound with turns and breaks en masse blending weirdness and melody, the heaviness and trickiness of The Mars Volta, jazz rocking and psychedelic guitars, funky but also ambient interludes, keyboards and drums organizing the nujazz vibe ... THE SEASON STANDARD are even able to offer something like a ballad with Tisa - this time supported by Trey Gunn with his touch guitar. The songs A Seadog Grotesque and Super Push are representing my favourites - probably because they are the most accessible ones provided with a jazz rock similar style (in parts at least). No surprise for me if other reviewers are working out quite different impressions.

Interestingly enough I'm not getting tired listening to this spectacular album. I was torn between giving 'Squeeze Me Ahead Of Line' a masterpiece status or not. From a technical, stylistical and compositional point of view this is well deserved. On the other hand not every song meets my musical taste completely. And not to forget - hopefully this is not the last output of this band. They have so much potential. Keep it up! Recommended to everybody who is searching for a new musical challenge - 4.5 stars.

This album is weird. Its source of inspiration actually is weirdness. For example it's like something in between good old "Inca Roads" by Zappa and good new "Abigail's Questions" by Beardfish. Together with a lot of other sounds - mostly disharmonic ones, noise (rarely) and really weird (again) stuff. It's jazz as far as I hear, funky, more rocking one with addition of vocals that reminds me nice (but mostly unknown) USA band "The Source".

3(-), because I don't feel so good about this. Of course, experimentations are good, but there should be limits. It's thin line between being pleasant to listen (melodic/brutal, depending on your taste) and total nonsense (OK, Monty Pythons are nonsensical, but they do it very well, hehe).