Philadelphia band Circles, is quite hard to describe. Is it rock? Is it country? Is it free jazz? Or is it none of the above? The most apt comparison I can think of, is that of the former California based band Filibuster. Circles mixes a healthy portion of Country, Rock, Jazz, and altogether experimental craziness.
Their most recent album, Weighs A Ton, is loaded up with an eclectic and erratic mixture of all the elements they are known for using. Starting off with “Steal For The Lord”, a witty track from the point of view of a son who learned how to steal via his fathers example, the song has a very Tom Waits quality to it.
“Deacon”, an edgy up beat song about a man lamenting on his past indiscretions, is driven by a powerful drum beat and intermixed with gritty guitar solos. Like most songs on the album it clocks in under 3 minutes. The whole album is a bit of scattered brained series of awesome songs. If it’s possible for a band to collectively suffer from schizophrenia , then Circles is certainly in that category. Weighs A Ton is an album that challenges you to keep on your toes, and doesn’t let you rest for too long before assaulting you with some more sonic goodness.
It’s unknown to me if the band even knows of the work of Filibuster, but to me they seem to have picked up where they left off and ran with it. Regardless of if you get the reference or not, this is an album worth checking out, and maybe you can make your own comparisons.
Tour Dates:
Nov 01 – John and Peter’s / New Hope, Pa (w/ the Accident that Led Me to the World, Honeychurch)
Nov 20 – the Bunk / Henryville, Pa. (w/ Zevious)
Nov 21 – Oh the Moon! / Mansfield, Pa. (w/ Zevious)
Nov 23 – Goodbye Blue Monday / Brooklyn (w/ Zevious, Scurvy)
Dec 19 – Danger! Danger! Gallery / Philadelphia (w/ Upholstery)
Circles: myspace
