Artist: Antigone Rising
Album: From the Ground Up
Label: Lava Records /Hear Music
Tracks: 14
Length: 59:36
Review By: Mark Fisher

 

 

How many bands can you name that have gotten the nod of approval from artists like Sheryl Crow, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), and Little Steven (The E-Street Band) before they were even signed to a record label? I can name one, Greenwich Village’s Antigone Rising, who are making their mainstream debut with From the Ground Up.

 

From the Ground Up not only marks the bands first album for Lava Records (home to Kid Rock, Blue Man Group, Unwritten Law, and more); it is also the first in a music partnership between emerging artists and Starbucks. Antigone Rising are the first artists to be featured on Starbuck’s own Hear Music label, who partnered with Lava Records for this release.

 

This is rock and roll stripped down to its soul and it sounds great. Starbuck’s and VH1 have both declared that Antigone Rising is band that “just won’t let go” when you hear them and I couldn’t agree more. What’s most surprising is that I doubt I have ever agreed as wholeheartedly with “the man” as I do this time. Scary!

 

The album opens with an intro song called “Hello.” Normally this would be something I would completely ignore but the power of sisters Cathy and Kristen Henderson’s guitar work combined with the passionate and welcoming vocals of the singer known simply as Cassidy is to great to be ignored, even when all they do is sing “Hello…It’s good to see you my friend.” Cassidy’s voice rolls through the studio with a flare heard very little these days.

 

The album’s first single “Don’t Look Back” has the all the grace of a Bruce Springsteen song and all the power of a Janis Joplin or Carole King song roiled into one tight package. The bluesy “She Lived Here” and “You’re The Reason” come back to back and provide a bit of diversity on the album. While bluesy, they are still catchy as all get out and highlight the fact that this is not your average band. The album’s best moment though comes in the form of “She’s Not Beautiful.” The song brings forth equal doses of beautiful and bold in its musical and lyrical explorations. Lead vocalist Cassidy says the song is about what it’s like to love someone who “…doesn’t need anyone. A survivor…”

 

This is an excellent album from a band that is bursting with passion and talent. From the Ground Up’s appeal is almost universal. You can hear influences here from Sarah McClaughlin to Lynyrd Skynyrd to U2 to Tom Petty to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin. The only down side is the fact that I have seen these ladies live. This album sounds great and represents them well but they never completely let go like they do when they are full on electric. It is truly an experience to see Cassidy “let go.”  I recommend checking Antigone Rising out live as well as picking up the album if you like any artist I have mentioned above or if you are just looking for something worth your hard earned money.