House of Contention

CD Cover Contention
Independent

Review by P. Freako



41-second excerpt from "Sacrifice" (various formats)


The House of Contention still needs quite a bit of renovation. Contention explores the freestyle jazz/folk universe without having a real purpose for being out there. Phishy at times, the band wanders off with rootsy bass grooves and guitar licks that don't seem to stick to the road. Now, this does work for bands like Phish -- but one has to remember that they are master musicians and have proven themselves to be free-form gurus.

Like any good house, House of Contention needs a foundation from which to wander, because the songs just become frivolous if they have nowhere to come back to. If Contention could tighten up the musicianship and work on the vocals, it would go a long way to pouring some concrete down and firming things up.

You know what they say, "you can never go home again." After listening to this CD a few times, I don't know that I'd want to. You'll have to visit yourself, though.


Artist Contact Info: P.O. Box 2774, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6B 3X2




First published in Drop-D Magazine on August 23, 1996

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