Morning Theft - The News Says It's Raining in New York

It is the beginning stages of a group that sometimes determines their ultimate fate. Every band starts off sounding like someone else; starting with their influences they play covers to hone their craft and then try to take the sounds of the bands they grew up loving and craft them into something they can call their own. Sometimes the result is a copy cat sound that causes the band to fall in the muddled crowd of mediocrity, but, when it is successful, the result can signal the unique sound of a band truly making their own music, and not just playing the re-imaginings of their rock forefathers. With their second release, The News Says It’s Raining In New York, the New York based Morning Theft have come upon a pivotal point in their career. They are at the point where their influences should still be worn on their sleeves, but also where a distinct sound of their own should be brewing up to the forefront. Thankfully, the brew is a tasty one that shows no signs of going stale anytime soon. “Living With Your Ghost”, opens the album with the quite/loud Pixies influence that is consistent throughout the album and that is one of the bands stronger aspects. Showcasing some of their grittier influences, “Always A Bridesmaid” is reminiscent of the Toadies “Tyler”, with its overpowering desire for someone, layered on top of almost violent lyrics and guitar. “Weakness” is arguably the catchiest, most pop driven song on the disc, and leads nicely into one of the bands oldest tracks, “Horseshoes & Hand Grenades”. “Keep It Like A Secret” starts out nice and slow, lulling you to relaxation before knocking you into frenzy, and is followed up nicely by “Every Promise”. One of the stronger songs on the disc, with the most infectious melody, “Every Promise” grooves right along while building to a hard riffing end. Ninety some odd tracks of silence later comes a hidden track of goodness known as ”You’ve Failed Me As A Friend”. The track is notably influenced by English band Muse, with high pitched guitar layering the background and a building wall of sound, culminating in the end release. Bridging their influences towards their own unique sound, Morning Theft accomplishes exactly what they should on a young sophomore release. At moments it is easy to see where the band was influenced by their childhood heroes, but at others you realize the influence is theirs alone, as their songwriting and musicianship play host to their own collaboration. The News Says It’s Raining In New York is a solid album from start to finish, showcasing the bands love of layering strumming guitars with finger picking goodness, as well as their roller coaster ability to take you from quite whisper to distorted scream, while perhaps one of the strongest aspects of the album is the desire it leaves for more, and the promise it shows from a band coming into their own. [www.morningtheft.net]