Rooks Encore Echoes CD

ENCORE ECHOES A great compilation that places the bulk of The Rooks' output onto one disc. Along with the band's debut album are the tracks from the out-of-print (and almost impossible to find) A DOUBLE DOSE OF POP and CHIMES releases. 21 songs including the original radio promotional mix (as a bonus track, not listed on artwork) of "Christmas." BAND BIO:Who are these Rooks? Do they sing? Have they ever written a power pop classic? Do they paint with sound? Do they believe that music is the universal bond? Do they drink beer? Are they happy in this ever-changing world? Do they dig Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, baseball and Nick Drake? Do they hate the straight-jacketed, close-mindedly thinking, cookie-cutter, creative stomping, shoot-themselves-in-the-foot, waiting for the other shoe to drop, take what you can and dash policies of the music industry? Do they love their fans? Are they from New York City? Should you check them out? The answers are yes, yes, and a shout from the rooftops yes!!! Now how much more positive can you get than that?

Released in late 2000, Encore Echoes is a reissue of the Rooks legendary and long out-of-print eponymous debut, with the Double Dose of Pop and Chimes EPs added, plus one more bonus track entitled "Christmas." Essentially, Not Lame records packaged all available material not available on A Wishing Well into one easy-to-find release. Listening to the music here, it's not hard to tell why the Rooks became one of the most revered -- but also most obscure -- pop bands of the 1990s. The tracks are lovingly crafted with minute detail, and often feature unusual flute, French horn, or string flourishes. The ringing guitars equally recall 1980s jangle pop like early R.E.M. and Let's Active as they do 1960s psychedelic pop. It's also not hard to see why the mainstream didn't bite: the Rooks can't be tied to a genre easily, and even though they're often considered power pop, their cerebral lyrics and unorthodox arrangements make these songs somewhat inaccessible. These songs are incessantly catchy little treasures, but they often take multiple listens to truly sink in. This isn't a bad thing at all -- many of the best albums are like this -- but it certainly makes for an album of music destined for cult popularity. Those with a little patience and a desire to hear charmingly adventurous pop music can't go wrong here. ~ Jason Damas