This easy-going quartet from North Carolina has built a regional following with its improv-heavy mix of progressive rock, jazz and jam-band music. With its third album, Curtains, MarsupiaL – the kind of band that opens for the likes of Gov’t Mule and Ulu and gets press in Relix magazine – proves that jam music needn’t be self-absorbed noodling. Sure, some of the songs here surpass the seven-minute mark. But with songwriting duties split between three of the band’s four members, there’s plenty of diversity, and much of the improvisation appears to have been left on the stage.
Vocalists Ian Reardon (who also plays guitar) and Chris Carter (the drummer, too) wander into Dave Matthews territory a few times and occasionally rely on a slightly off-putting falsetto, but nether offense is enough to diminish MarsupiaL’s overall chops. Just listen to “The Chameleon,” a dreamy acoustic piece that evolves into what could become a soaring festival anthem. The two singers harmonize smoothly on “So Far Away,” and the too-short instrumental workout “Swamp Cats” reveals MarsupiaL’s aggressive edge.
It’s worth noting that MarsupiaL includes “live and studio engineer” J. Ferris in the band’s lineup list and group photos – an admirable gesture, considering Ferris makes this independently released album sound better than some major-label titles.
Track Listing:
1) We’re Paralyzed
2) Feet on the Wire
3) Curtains
4) Surrender to the World
5) Swamp Cats
6) The Chameleon
7) The Truth Is A Lighthouse
So Far Away
9) Ticking Away
10) Jackalope
11) You’ll see the Light
