RESISTOR

This is the debut album of the Rhode Island based quartet Resistor. The second album 'Rise' has a strong prog flavour, this one contains more classic rock with prog influences.

But that doesn't matter. Whether if it is the power rock of 'reincarnation', the Tull reincarnation of 'Jethro Fran', the funky 'as of yesterday', the soulfull 'fair to say' or the jammy '222' it doesn't matter; they convince. Not only because of the high quality of the material but most of all because of the fun and energy it is played. This band simply has the right chemistry between them.

Standout tracks for are the power-ballad 'restless Angel', with some outrageous heavy riffin', and the emotional closing ballad 'Waiting to believe'.

Recommended to all rock fans

Joost

As is usual with Resistor, the music roams on the edge of what we call here Heavy & Crossover Prog, it has heavier moments, but also a lot of jamming like structures (after all, as mentioned in "Rise", their second album, they are jam band in heart), spiced by these little twists, like changing of tempo, occasionally change of signature and other funny things.

It's charming music, even quite a lot similar to their following CD (more like otherwise, Rise is similar to Resistor) with the best is also the longest track, Restless Angel reminds a little bit Spirit of Open Sky. Not as Prog as their 2010 album, but similarly enjoyable, only not in the same way.

4(-), I suppose.

Enjoyable rock from 1970s, when Jethro Tull, Rush and Black Sabbath still sounded fresh and exiting. This one came 35 years later, but so what, for the old fart like me it sounds just right. Not too light and not too heavy. Among all those numerous other 70-s rock revival bands, Resistor stands as a rock. There is no secret to the success of this record I guess. There's great musical composing, radiating pleasure of the band members and very skilled and tasteful production. I am going to put this record right next to my Jethro Tull collection.

Resistor makes it quite clear what heritage they are drawing from. Check for example the song "Jethro Fran", where the band's leader and multi-instrumentalist Steve Unruh plays flute. That song could easily be penned by Ian Anderson during recording of "Aqualung". "Fair To Say" reminds me of Fleetwood Mac during Peter Green years, a fantastic instrumental "222" is really something for Santana and "Moondog" comes very much in the neighbourhood of Rush's "XYZ". The anthem of the album is the almost 12 minute long "Restless Angel". It begins quietly, with a melancholical tune and explodes a few minutes later in outrageous Black Sabbathian guitar riffs. Very inflammable, you just leave whatever you do and go air guitarring. The album finishes with a really great blues, "Waiting To Believe", I didn't enjoy blues like this for quite a time. This one just hits the right note in my sole!

This is how Resistor came to live, I quote their Myspace page: "Resistor was formed rather causally by original members Steve Unruh (Vocalist, Songwriter, and Multi-Instrumentalist), and Rob Winslow (Bass Guitar). As fellow employees, working for a major toy company, the guys spent many a lunch break practicing in a very small studio. Rob and Steve jammed with a few other musicians for a year or so, before meeting and auditioning Barry Farrands (Drums, Vocals). The chemistry was right from day one! Now could it possibly get any better? Well... the toy company hired another employee, who now sits next to Steve and Rob and happens to be a great guitarist and a great guy! Fran Turner became the player who completed the puzzle!"

Resistor is a less proggy record, comparing with the Steve Unruh's solo albums, which he has already made quite a few. But it is may be a little more enjoyable, since here you have a whole band, with it's perfect chemistry, when the arithmetic laws don't count and 2+2 is not 4 any more? I guess the funs of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush and Jethro Tull will love this record, highly recommended!

After a long and pretty prolific career as a solo artist, Steve Unruh decided to put together also a normal band around mid-00's.He gathered bassist Rob Winslow, drummer Barry Farrands and guitarist Fran Turner and so Resistor came in life.Unruh handles all lead vocals along with guitars, flutes and violins and in 2008 the band debuted with a self-released self-titled album.

Resistor play somekind of contemporary guitar-based Prog/Psych/Art Rock with many references to Unruh's solo works, even sounding like an Alternative Rock act at moments, but also taking huge inspirations from the 70's.The opening tracks are very good indeed, a mix of modern Prog Rock with light psychedelic influences with a bit of alternative elements, based on crunchy guitars, strong grooves and expressive vocals with a fair amount of breaks and a good dose of more emotional performances, while ''Jethro fran'', obvioulsy dedicated to JETHRO TULL, features the excellent flute interventions of Unruh.The middle part of the album is very average and less interesting, containing pieces with influences from Blues, Jazz and Classic Rock in a very inconsistent mix, which has nothing to do with the impressive openers.The two closing tracks though are on par with the good quality of the nice opening cuts.''Moondog'' is very decent instrumental Heavy Prog with lots and impressive guitar moves by Unruh and great changing climates, while ''Waiting to Believe'' is a good modern Art Rock piece with distorted psychedelic guitars, a lovely smooth atmosphere and Unruh's more emotional performance on vocals, akin to the music of PORCUPINE TREE.

Wish the album could have kept the great quality of the opening and closing tracks.Still ''Resistor'' comfortably shows the direction Prog Rock moved during the millenium with some nice, both atmospheric and energetic delivery.Recommended.