Stairwell - The Sounds Of Change

With the mainstream's newfound appetite for emotive pop-rock and hardcore, it's a wonder that Stairwell hasn't caught on yet. Well, I'll take part of that back; it's not fair to slap any of said labels on this band. All the same, their combination of pop-sensible rock and well-written, three-part harmonies would not only go head to head with that scene, but also put lesser acts, cavorting around in tight t-shirts and lobe plugs, to shame. Hailing from Orange County California, Stairwell shares their part of the underrated limelight with groups like Thrice, Avenged Sevenfold and Mêlée. While Stairwell sounds nothing like any of those bands, their sense of creativity and indisputable talent are what connects them to their labelmates. The first track, "Disaster", progresses through dramatic swells and settles into its melodic verses only to bounce back with a syncopated and undeniably catchy chorus ("I'm used to disaster knocking on the door / I'm used to disaster kicking me to the floor"). "What Happened To All The Romance" further showcases Stairwell's ability to pen a confident pop-rock tune, while continually keeping the structure of the song fresh and varied. For good measure, Stairwell includes a rocker, "Familiar Streets", towards the end of the album. Though, it's only a slight fake out, as it sports one of the most melodic, accessible choruses of the set. Yet, probably the best example of the Stairwell sound is the track "Boxcar", which is unquestionably a perfectly crafted pop song; every part of the song begs to be instantly remembered. For a professedly motley crew of musicians, Stairwell creates music with an immediate sense of collaboration. Though, of course, it's those differences between the members of the band that create their overall sound. While they have some room to grow, you'd probably be hard pressed to find a better alternative to the now over-saturated indie-pop scene. [www.stairwell.net]