3D Radio

Album Review

The Reveling's 3D Radio EP mixes no-frills rock & roll with the urgency and sweat of punk, a combination you can't really go wrong with (just ask the Loved Ones). And while things don't necessarily go wrong here, they really only go right in predictable ways. The four songs remain uptempo and pop-oriented throughout, and singer Sean Morris has the right amount of grit in his voice to keep things comfortably rough around the edges. Standout opener "Breadline" steams right along on tough, emotional vocals that are accented by punchy rhythms, and although the sincere "The Faces We Know" never quite becomes the anthem of solidarity that you want it to be, it's still good for more than a few spirited spins. The Brooklyn quartet seems to look to Springsteen for some of its blue-collar heart (something that bears mentioning with Jay Weinberg, son of E Street drummer and Conan O'Brien bandleader Max Weinberg, behind the kit), but unlike the similarly influenced Gaslight Anthem, the Reveling haven't yet reached the level of songwriting that made Gaslight's impassioned debut shine right from the get-go. However, that's probably asking for a lot, and in all fairness, 3D Radio is a promising start. Something more seems to be bubbling beneath the surface, and hopefully that something will reveal itself to be sharper hooks and more varied dynamics. But even as they stand now, the Reveling leave strong enough an impression that you can bet their eventual full-length will be one to keep an eye on.