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Album Details

• Artist: Stone Mountain Station
• EP:
Sundown At High Noon
• Label: Independent
• Year of Release: 2013
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: carlito on 2013-01-23

Self-described as an alt-country americana rock band, New York-based Stone Mountain Station has released their second EP effort, Sundown at High Noon.  The band was formed by Mark Ciani in 2011 with the goal of adding to the New York music scene some much-needed timeless-sounding rock tunes.

The EP opens up with "Kiss Me," a mid-tempo number that displays pretty much all the elements the band is made of:  steady rhythm, guitars and piano in the pocket, and harmonizing male and female vocals.  The formula suits them just well.  And the short piano solo was a nice touch.   "Tonight" is definitely the EP's catchiest song with Anna Murphy front and center on the vocals.  However, "Something Good" moved me more than the rest of them.  It opens up as a soft piano ballad.  Then the drums have this nice pick-up rhythm at around forty-four seconds in.  Beautiful song.  Lots of dynamics.

SMS's charm is in their grit.  They have a nice garage quality reminiscent of many of my favorite classic rock albums.  But this is no special effect they applied with software after the recording was finished--at least, not from what I can tell.  They're the real deal.  The music is rock; the vocals are country; this is pure americana in the vein of Neil Young, Wilco, and The Bottle Rockets.  Sometimes that classic sound comes full circle and is new all over again.  Stone Mountain Station has achieved such a feat with Sundown at High Noon.  Refreshing.   

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