Artist Review: Split Single, Fragmented World
Artist: Split Single
Album: Fragmented World
Genre: Rock
RIYL: Bob Mould, Spoon, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age
Split Single is the solo project of Jason Narducy. If you don’t already know Narducy’s work (there’s a GREAT chance you do whether you know it or not), for the past decade he’s been slamming out amazing bass lines and memorable backing vocals for indie icons Bob Mould, Robert Pollard and Superchunk. If you’ve had the pleasure of hearing and watching him play with any of those acts, you won’t soon forget him; he’s the one making everyone sound great and lifting the energy level of every performance. Now Narducy steps out front and center with Fragmented World, and brings along Britt Daniel (Spoon, Divine Fits) on bass and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Mountain Goats) to support and contribute to the collective creativity flowing through this record.
The title track is such a wonderfully crafted nugget of songwriting and execution that even though it’s the shortest track at 1:58, it’s an easy standout. Opener “Waiting For The Sun” also sets a strong, confident tone that perfectly illustrates what Narducy’s aim is: simple, interesting, creative use of melody that sounds clean and doesn’t hesitate for one second in its execution. “Monolith,” “Last Goodbye” and “Love Is You” are three other stunners, cutting with a harder edge and weaving in and out of super clean percussion and guitar lines.
It’s not hard to hear some of the Daniel and Wurster influence in songs like “Never Look Back” and “My Eyes,” both tunes incredibly catchy, melodic and somewhat hypnotizing. Narducy’s ability to bridge the gap between creating accessible songs that don’t follow formula and celebrate musical detours is something special. That’s even more evident on a track like “Made For Breaking,” a song that could easily fall apart at the seams if left in less capable hands but the men of Split Single make it sound so damn easy it’s ridiculous.
What’s entirely satisfying about all of the tracks on Fragmented World, however, is Narducy’s own performance, a vocal showcase that finds him using all sorts of colors and tones that highlights his ability to deliver a pitch-perfect, charismatic vocal time after time. He’s long been considered “indie-rock’s secret weapon” and with good reason. Jason Narducy is simply one of those musicians who thrives in cultivating a musical atmosphere that is collaborative, dynamic and different, which is why so many artists want to work with him. But it feels and sounds so good to hear him stepping out with Split Single and exploring the depth of his own musical well on Fragmented World.
Split Single website: http://www.splitsinglemusic.com/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_split_single_fragmented_world)
Album: Fragmented World
Genre: Rock
RIYL: Bob Mould, Spoon, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age
Split Single is the solo project of Jason Narducy. If you don’t already know Narducy’s work (there’s a GREAT chance you do whether you know it or not), for the past decade he’s been slamming out amazing bass lines and memorable backing vocals for indie icons Bob Mould, Robert Pollard and Superchunk. If you’ve had the pleasure of hearing and watching him play with any of those acts, you won’t soon forget him; he’s the one making everyone sound great and lifting the energy level of every performance. Now Narducy steps out front and center with Fragmented World, and brings along Britt Daniel (Spoon, Divine Fits) on bass and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Mountain Goats) to support and contribute to the collective creativity flowing through this record.
The title track is such a wonderfully crafted nugget of songwriting and execution that even though it’s the shortest track at 1:58, it’s an easy standout. Opener “Waiting For The Sun” also sets a strong, confident tone that perfectly illustrates what Narducy’s aim is: simple, interesting, creative use of melody that sounds clean and doesn’t hesitate for one second in its execution. “Monolith,” “Last Goodbye” and “Love Is You” are three other stunners, cutting with a harder edge and weaving in and out of super clean percussion and guitar lines.
It’s not hard to hear some of the Daniel and Wurster influence in songs like “Never Look Back” and “My Eyes,” both tunes incredibly catchy, melodic and somewhat hypnotizing. Narducy’s ability to bridge the gap between creating accessible songs that don’t follow formula and celebrate musical detours is something special. That’s even more evident on a track like “Made For Breaking,” a song that could easily fall apart at the seams if left in less capable hands but the men of Split Single make it sound so damn easy it’s ridiculous.
What’s entirely satisfying about all of the tracks on Fragmented World, however, is Narducy’s own performance, a vocal showcase that finds him using all sorts of colors and tones that highlights his ability to deliver a pitch-perfect, charismatic vocal time after time. He’s long been considered “indie-rock’s secret weapon” and with good reason. Jason Narducy is simply one of those musicians who thrives in cultivating a musical atmosphere that is collaborative, dynamic and different, which is why so many artists want to work with him. But it feels and sounds so good to hear him stepping out with Split Single and exploring the depth of his own musical well on Fragmented World.
Split Single website: http://www.splitsinglemusic.com/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_split_single_fragmented_world)
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