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10,759 posts since 1/4/2000
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Posted on 11/26/2001 at 10:32:00 PM
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Marshan - Kings Thursday on the Friday Street Review by: Rob Wrong (StonerRock.com) Release date: available now Sounds of MC5 mixed with stonerriffic sounds of the 70's. Good grooves and good times...reminds me sometimes of Monster Magnet, sometimes of random 70's influenced bands, but for the most part it is 100% Stoner Rock friendly heavy straight ahead party rock sort of like Daredevil... On top of being of the straight ahead rock and roll stuff with southern blues influences, guitar rock in general plays a huge part of the influences as well. Thick riffs and blues guitar leads pretty much says it all. A little bit of double bass mixed in and over the top front man vocals. Good stuff, more of the middle of the road stoner rock stuff though. Although this isn't something I would listen to every day because mainly sounds too fresh and young, Marshan might just develop into one of the more rocking bands around. Keep your eyes on these guys, and remember that there is some room for improvement, but a very solid rock and roll foundation for sure. File this CD next to Monster Magnet/Atomic Bitchwax and the MC5.
URL: http://www.burieddreams.com/marshan/
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 11/27/2001 at 4:05:00 PM
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Cheers for the review Rob!
Just to bore you people I thought I'd stick some other reviews here, starting with Custom Heavy's Chris Barnes.
Marshan is from Glasgow, Scotland. One of my friends from New Jersey went to Glasgow recently. I asked him what Glasgow was like. He said it was like New Jersey. I thought that was kind of funny.
Marshan melds the wonderful production of Dave Chang (To me, Dave is the man every band should hire as producer) with sonics reminiscent of Welsh pot-princes Acrimony. In fact vocalist ...or in this case one of the vocalists, there seems to be two....sounds eerily like Acrimony's Dorian Walters with maybe a little of the late Shannon Hoon in the mix. Crazy.
Where I found Acrimony a little stale with a one-size-fits-all approach, Marshan liven things up with toe tappers, head bangers and a cool, little hypnotic ballad. In fact the sparse, mostly acoustic driven "Deep and Meaningless" is one of my favorite cuts off of the album. It starts off slow and builds into a jumbilia of bass, drums, guitar and vocals. Kind of like if the Grateful Dead got a kick in the ass during the last part of a "I Know you Ryder/China Cat Sunflower" jam. I'll also say that if you juxtapose "Deep and Meaningless" with the happy little butt-shaker that is "Mutton Chop Hop" you'll get the full Marshan vibe. This is one band that knows how to write a song and sound like they are having a good time doing it.
They kept this album tight, no filler added, with six tracks clocking in at just over a half-hour. Despite the tough subject matter of songs like "Needle Eye" (which grooves like an electric router!) it's a half-hour of feeling like you've landed in Marshan happy land, where the drinking fountains serve Schnapps, the trees are made of Godiva, the flowers are lollipops and the sun never sets. You just don't want to leave.
9/10
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 12/1/2001 at 3:02:00 PM
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Here's two more reviews, the first from Daredevil magazine and the second from Rocksound.
Scotland, yes you heard right, Scotland the home of Marshan, I must say these guys rock. The music is pretty simple and easy to consume and you hear that the guys come from the island, cause there´s a lot of punk in it, but also a lot of athmosphere and feelings. I mean the punk comes a lot from the voices of Graeme and Scott, the music is dominated by fat guitars, but as I said their stuff is really easily to consume, they´ve got a lot of singalong parts and melodies in it. Damn, sometimes they even have things in I only heard by the Screemin´ Trees, I mean a bit Alternative, but that´s cool, that brings fun and makes you run around naked on a green field, haha, no, but it´s cool. Ok, mix alternative with Heavy-Rock and you end with Marshan.
Just when you thought there couldn't be another stoner rock band to hit the bong, plug in and kick out the jams, out pops Glasgow's Marshan! Just like Stoke stoners Shallow (on Rise Above) Marshan have definitely been taking big hits on their pipes to come up with their ludicrous song titles - just check out 'Purple Demon Blues', 'Mutton Chop Hop' and 'Funky Fork Song' and you kinda understand!
Musically Marshan have taken the best bits of Orange Goblin, Hangnail and hints of Karma To Burn to produce a promising six-tracker. No, it's not original, but hell, there's a swirling mass of clomping grooves and headbanging rhythms which means you can't help but like this lot.
Maybe it's a little too short, being only six-tracks - so here's to a full-lengther very soon, eh? It's a cliché, but get rolling now!
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 12/11/2001 at 2:30:00 PM
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Here's another review from Roadburn.
Scottish stoners Marshan have a pleasant Acrimony-like vibe on their 6-song EP's opener, "Purple Demon Blues". Happy stonerrock is definitely a good thing. More joy comes in the form of track two -- a hoarse vocal line stands next to a high pitched melodic line to give "Mutton Chop Hop" a unique signature. "Deep & Meaningless" is a hilarious title since it refers to a Grateful Deadish (with distorted guitar) instrumental number.
The production by Dave Chang does a great job of keeping the space and lightness in the music rather than overburdening it with generic stonerrock uber-low-end. In fact, the whole of this disc is rife with the atmosphere of a sunny day out with your best mates, just having a great old time. Surely the perfect antidote to a dreary Scottish winter.
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 12/24/2001 at 8:00:00 AM
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Another review in, this one from stonerrockchick.com
Hell ya!!! Outta sight, outta sight.... This is one great album by Marshan produced by Dave Chang so what more do you want or expect?
This great band from Scotland decided to grace our ears with some of the best, catchiest, grooving sounds around. So let's begin our trip shall we?
What a strong kicking intro to "Purple Demon Blues". This is one catchy tune!!! A definite stoner song with some speedier passages. My head bobbing in unison with the beats and shoot, I just want to party now! Some Fu Manchu type vocals in Purple Demon that sound really great. "Mutton Chop Hop" kicks in next with deeper, fatter vocals. Again another catchy as hell, lets get down and party song! A really fun tune to listen to.
"Deep and Meaningless" takes you on a completely different trip, with much airier vocals, much lighter, the kind of music that tingles the psyche. This is my favorite song on the album. Really reminiscent of Blind Melon's vocals and s t y l e as well as Hater. If you are into music that grooves you, Marshan fits the bill. Check out "Funky Fork Song" and you'll see what I mean. For beautiful guitar listen to the intro to "Summer Hill Song". Absolutely beautiful! Mesmerizing and on par with Orange Goblin's 'Lothlorian'. This song that starts out so beautiful takes you by surprise and takes over your mind/soul with its good feeling vibes and grooves! Can't miss that southern vibe showing through every once in a while. I dig the deep vocals in this tune. And the guitar playing? Amazing!!
This whole album is a tribute to being stoned and having a good time. Play this album and you can't help but slip into a good mood. You want to groove? Come on I know you do. "Needle Eye" will take you down that path. I cannot possibly make any words do this song justice. Nice up tempo start with a real quiet like ending where the singer whispers "can you feel this?" - it's just killer! And just when you think the song is over.....
All in all this is one great album from Marshan. Look for an interview with them coming up soon.
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 1/10/2002 at 11:14:00 AM
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Two more people, first from Kerrang!
Glasgow is not viewed as a hotbed of new stoner
talent - a fact that makes this debut from bearded bravehearts Marshan all the more impressive. From the outset, Marshan impress with their mesmeric, swirling heaviness and the confident way in which their guitars lock together to make 'Purple Demon Blues' and 'Funky Fork Song' an absolute blast.
Clearly, production values are not a priority, and the band suffer when they slow things down, but for a first step, the Marshans have most definitely landed.
This next ones from Renaud at Zoopa Loopa, cheers man!
Marshan is a Scottish band coming from Glasgow, and these four guys like to rock'n'roll. The proof of what i say is titled "Kings Thursday on the Friday Street ", their debut mini album.
Their music is groove induced rock, something that people can call "Stoner Rock" but i prefer the well known words : rock'n'roll. Rock'n'roll because Marshan have a clearer sound than the thousand stoner rock bands around the world. It creates their own particularity, the work of Dave Chang on the production of this record is very good, you can hear all the instruments and that's a very good point.
Musically, The band got some sensibilities close to Orange Goblin and Nebula ( "Purple demon blues", "Mutton chop hop", "Needle eye" ). Their tracks enter easily into your brain for several days. There are two singers in the band, so with a different singer on each track or both on the same, it brings to their music some differents colours ( "Deep and Meaningless" ). "Kings Thursday on the Friday Street " got almost very good songs, for me only the psychedelic interlude "Summer Hill Song" should have been a bit longer .
This mini album is made of fun and rock'n'roll, this band deserves your support
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135 posts since 8/9/2001
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Posted on 1/25/2002 at 6:54:00 AM
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This CD rocks! The vibe just kind of sucks you in keeps your feet tapping. I hear that UK stoner groove through out the CD ala Orange Goblin but more psychadelic....which is great if like toking. Looking forward to touring with these cats soon and hearing their whole set live!
URL: http://www.seaofgreenrocks.com
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2,494 posts since 10/12/2000
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Posted on 1/28/2002 at 1:26:00 PM
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The more I listen to this album, the more I love it! I can't wait to see what would happen if you guys actually had some money behind you! It's the perfect album for cruising in your car on a sunny day, lots of groove :)
..songs about sideburns are \m/
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Fast, Cheap, and Good… pick two.
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 2/3/2002 at 5:55:00 AM
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Thanks Guys!
Here's another couple of reviews, first from Pooterland.
I don't know too much about Marshan, other than that they have apparently been touring heavily with Orange Goblin, they come from Scotland and this their debut(?) album was released in June 2001. I hear also that they have managed to get some airplay on various radio stations, including Radio 1 which is impressive. I guess this is good as my opinions have not been influenced by anything other than this promo. Musically Marshan are very much in the Stoner/Hard Rock vein but of their own refreshing s t y l e that does not get bogged down like too many Sludgecore/Doomentia bands (which I hate..) and really rocks out in it's own way.
Kings Thursday On The Friday Street is a 6 track Mini LP (or 7 if you count the 'hidden' drunken blues jam tacked on the end of Needle Eye) and is full of Good 'Ol Ass Kickin Grooves that are much more individual than the likes of Orange Goblin. We look forward to much more from Marshan who have great potential.
Ok this one is from Godreah fanzine.
Stoner Doom in the vein of Orange Goblin and Fu Manchu yet distinctively underground in tone. This is feel good British Metal and a sure cure for stiff bones as this will have you moving to the hash mist groove before you can say ‘Where’s my chilum?’
Like Acrimony, this band have peculiar song titles. The opener ‘Purple Demon Blues’ is by far the most looser of the 6 tracks. Other highlights are ‘Mutton Chop Hop’ and ‘Needle Eye’. If you like your Metal honest and free from the complex pathos of modern day music then look no further than here.
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235 posts since 9/13/2001
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Posted on 3/1/2002 at 1:50:00 PM
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Another review, this one from Powerplay (UK)
It has been a lean few months on the stoner rock scene for me, but finally it is over. For ages I have survived on a diet of aggression, brutality, speed and precision. Marshan aim to change that by re-injecting some groove into my soul, man. They achieve this feet by way of six thundering, emotive rockers. Although the Scottish quartet have played with numerous bands such as Orange Goblin, Karma to Burn and Alabama Thunder Pussy, this is their first CD, and a right little beaut it is too.
Opening with your strongest track is always a good idea, as long as you back it up with songs that aren't lifeless pap compared to the initial rush. Marshan manage this effortlessly. Purple Demon Blues starts with some funky wah-wah before the scuzzy guitar riff takes over, it's nothing new but it's good anyway. The vocals seem a little weak, but that may be the mix, and the band manage to squeeze in not one, not two, but three short guitar solos, which in these days of the no-solo nu-metallers is refreshing to hear, Mutton Chop Hop keeps up the pace, but Deep and Meaningless lets the album down; it takes too long to get going. Funky Fork Song sees Marshan back on track, whilst Summer Hill Song is a floaty little guitar interlude. Needle Eye is a great closing number - a simple but pulsating, fuzzed up rocker. And there you have it, simple but effective.
And Copout magazine (UK)
Not many bands come out of Scotland oozing this much garagey, down tuned, doom laden intensity. The size of the guitar and bass riffs are the first thing that hits the listener. Both Graham and Scott keep things straight forward and simple, whilst travelling on a base line that encompasses the power of an out of control juggernaut. While this musical beast shunts along, the silky vocal talents of both the aforementioned players are used in such a way as to bring each song on this 6 track EP to life. And all the time they are pushing their lyrical ideas ever onward. Marshan have taken a look back to the 70's super groups such as Black Sabbath and Traffic and then give their ideas a 21st century twist that lifts them way above much of the stoner competition. This debut release should catapult this young band into the spotlight very quickly
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