Artist: Atlas Genius
Title: When It Was Now
Rating: 4
Newcomer Atlas Genius is not your typical rock band. The Australian group’s debut album, When It Was Now, has more in common with its fellow countrymen Men At Work during their peak than with other, newer bands from the States. Mixing synth, pop and good old-fashioned rock and roll, When It Was Now produces a unique sound that appeals to a wide audience.
The band’s original sound can be attributed to their singular origin. According to their official website, atlasgenius.com, the group built a recording studio a full three years before it even played a live show. The band spent its nights playing The Police and the Rolling Stones at local pubs before signing with Warner Bros. Records in early 2012.
Atlas Genius may be the new kid on the block, but their music is at once both classic and original. When It Was Now is a stunning debut for the band and one that deserves to be heard. The band’s website sums it up best: “The debut captures Atlas Genius’s singular combination of sophisticated musicality and warm, wistful spirit. Infused with a classic sensibility, each of the songs would fit seamlessly if somehow slipped into a long-treasured mix-tape.”
Check out these tracks: “If So,” “Trojans,” “Through the Glass”
For Fans of: Coldplay, Men At Work, The Police
— Brett Bunge
