MP3's..
USE THE MP3 PLAYER TO HEAR PREVIEWS FROM THE RAVINES
PRESS..
Listen to The Ravines and you’ll think of classic American country rockers (as inspired by Gram Parsons) like Poco and the Eagles. When you listen to The Ravines, you’ll also think of hard rockin’ New Jersey groups like The Smithereens. With clear, tight vocals, excellent guitar work (much of it a chimey Rickenbacker), and a little pedal steel thrown in, these guys are a great listen.
Now imagine that the group’s founding members, Chris Corney (Rick guitar and vocals) and Jim Crossley (drums) originally met in a British New Wave band, and that they and bandmates Nick Mailing (bass) and Guy Griffin (guitars) are British. Yeah, didn’t expect that, did you? Now consider that British Empire influence in terms of those tight vocals which are the quality level of Squeeze or Crowded House (just think Finn Brothers), and you’ll have a very good idea of what The Ravine is about.
Richard Telofski - RickRedux.com
I love this band, vocals are excellent, the lyrics are very intelligent, arrangement and production pretty much first class. I was really impressed with the harmony work, it reminded me of crowded house. Masterful musicianship, vocals are excellent, they’re guitarist is amazing, the songs they have up on they’re myspace site are all pretty much single based. To come across a band like this is really a rare find, I’m going to follow this band all the way, I’m certainly going to buy they’re album, and I’m going to look out for they’re gigs and go and see them and that’s absolutely genuine. As far as I am concerned this band are fantastic.
10 out of 10.
Greg Brimson - producer (Metallica, Eminem, Bush, Natalie Imbruglia)
'the ravines.. a small critique'
The best recipes mix different flavours together in an attempt to generate something new, exciting and ultimately palatable - the same doctrine applies to music. The Ravines have crafted an 11-track long player that should sate even the hungriest of palates. Drawing their sound from Americana, the Teenage Fanclub 'Bandwagonesque' era and a sprinking of early R.E.M they're ready to spread their harmonious songs of heartbreak to the unsuspecting public. The Ravines music has more punch than a town centre boozer at spilling-out time, the understated balladry of Badly Drawn Boy's 'About A Boy' soundtrack and some deeply insightful lyrics to boot. The pitch perfect blend of the Ravines gently lilting music to the smooth, harmonious comforts of Chris Corney's vocals work on many levels - there's a knowing worldly weariness as he sings, ready to accept whatever fate may bring - they appear ready to dust themselves down and continue to spread the message. 'Rubberneck' is the bands apex, a towering, gorgeous, melancholic strummed track where hope and despair battle it out, only to become bedfellows. This is a record for the inward-looking outsiders, the romantics at heart or just people who love a set of tunes that have no pretence or baggage. As Chris intones on 'Queen of England', "Seeking out all non-believers", you're in his sights, you will succumb.
A. Fishwax -'SFB fanzine'
