Paper Rival
Artist of the Day
Who? Formerly known as Keating, this four-piece lays down cascading, dreamy guitar pop. Singer Jake Rolleston, bassist Cody McCall, and guitarists Patrick Damphier and Brent Coleman came together in late 2005 when their previous two bands split up (Damphier plays drums in the studio, though Dillon Napier's been handling the sticks most recently). The band's self-titled EP is out now via the Photo Finish label; a full-length recorded concurrently, One Not One, is due in early 2008.
What's the Deal? Paper Rival spins lush tunes that don't fall into the usual trappings of overacted melodrama. "Home Is Right Out Your Window" pushes stuttered emo-light guitars to stirring effect, while the lazy "Alabama" unfurls through a gentle swell into a release worthy of the most touching of movie scene soundtracks. Even when the balladry of "Pacing the Cage" paints fields of daisies and marigolds with its charming keyboards, handclap-only percussion and lulling cello, the effect is more blush-inducing than cringe-worthy.
Fun Fact: The Paper Rival name change took place after the band members toured through Edmonton, Alberta, Canada as 'Keating' and found themselves starting at a roomful of concertgoers expecting to see a completely different band playing live.
Now Hear This:
Paper Rival - "You're Right" DOWNLOAD MP3
On the Web:
Paper Rival at MySpace
paperrival.com
Talk: Can Paper Rival come off the page to be a real contender?
