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Oaks: Bravo!
Hard Rock/Stoner Rock
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Self-Released
www.myspace.com/oaksmusic
San Diego's Oaks is a simple three piece band that produces some very heavy stoner rock. The elements of this style of music are well known and self-explanatory for insiders. But I'm not one of them; this is not my favorite rock or metal genre. What Oaks seems to have on 'Bravo!' is some interesting ways to express their style. Generally, there's in undercurrent of melody supporting all those heavy riffs. This is preferable and found, for example, on 'Reeling' and 'River.' Additionally, there's a sense of psychedelia here and there, but most prevelant on 'Big Sta.' I liked that. Another interesting characteristic was their often hyperkinetic oubursts within their songs. Most times this was done as an ensemble, but on 'Spine' guitarist Gerard Lawther delivers a frenzy of his own. All this makes me wonder: if this music is by and for the stoned, how is possible for them to play this fast? I guess this is another one of life's great mysteries. Oaks' 'Bravo!' is definitely for the insiders of this genre.
In Short
Oaks 'Bravo!' is better than average stoner rock thanks to a little more ingenuity in their compositions.
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