Tigeriss, Everybody Wins!
(2011, Independent)
Even though this collection of 12 eclectic, layered, danceable rock tunes was released in October, it sounds as though it was made to be the soundtrack to the summer of 2012. The New Paltz-Rosendale band, formerly known as Tiger Piss, has managed to execute a consistently exciting debut full length that is both steak and sizzle. The power trio plays off multiple sonic strengths while delivering music that grabs you off the couch while you shake your fists and hips. As she does with rockabilly quartet the Champtones and her myriad other projects, singer and bassist Lara Hope has an undeniable presence. The full range of her vocal talents are on display on Everybody Wins!—the menacing tommy gun delivery on the opener, “Full Moon,” and the R&B/country vulnerability of “Able to Sleep” are notable.
Danny Mark Asis’s guitars are razor sharp, with short, furious riffs that are by turns anthemic and angular. Drummer Rev Kev co-powers the constant motion of the attack. Special kudos to the joint production of Tigeriss and Paul Caraballo. The sound is clean and immediate while yielding plenty of nuances, like the multi-tracked vocals and echoes of “Murders Tango,” a particular standout. No one can accuse the band of relying on cliched material either, not when Tigeriss is charging through “The Battle of Anne Bonny,” about a colorful 18th-century Irish pirate. Tigeriss has spread the word on several DIY-style tours, and is hitting the Midwest this month. Facebook.com/TigerissRock.
This article appears in August 2012.
