Red Umbrella is a Canadian Christian rock band that uses a more subtle approach with their music. Instead of filling their songs with Bible verses they choose to make their song’s messages more about dealing with life issues from a spiritual basis.
The band’s lineup includes the Michaelis’ brothers, Jeremy (lead vocals, guitar) and Dennis (lead guitar, keys), along with Kevin Swartwood (bass), and Jason Rosewell (drums).
Wishing For Boardwalk is the band’s debut, offering up thirteen tracks of music. The slightly unpolished production edge that’s found on this release comes in part from the fact that it was recorded in a studio that the Michaelis’ brothers had set up above the family’s garage. Personally I liked that slightly raw edge and felt that it only added to the charm of the release.
Musically the band mixes up-tempo and melodic rock songs, but they aren’t afraid to blend in other elements like, power pop and new wave in their songs.
Red Umbrella’s sound has been compared to a wide variety of artist including, Coldplay, Oasis, Semisonic, Fountains of Wayne and The Killers.
“Straitjacket,” was the first single from the album and features lively guitar parts along with a nice combination of lead and backing vocals. The song’s lyrics tackle the tough subject of what really is the true meaning of life.
Other highlight tracks include, “Home,” which is filled with big piano hooks that drive it and “Broken Heart,” an up tempo rock song that talks about the shame we should all feel for all of the bad things going on in this world that we just turn our backs on, instead on doing something about them.
Musically the things that stuck out to me were the lead vocals that really hit the mark, showing real emotion in them while not becoming sappy or overdone. I also liked the way the lead and backing vocals mixed together in a harmonies venture. The guitar and drum parts were rock solid and the key parts held their own in the songs, refusing to be pushed to the background.
This release has been out for a few years now (2006 release date), and the band has a newer album out entitled, Living And Surviving! If you want though to hear where it all got started for Red Umbrella then, Wishing For Boardwalk offers up some quality music for the listener.
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Track Names
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Storm Warming
Straitjacket
Already Won
Home
What About Me
Run
trade Your Dreams
Elevator
Wishing for Boardwalk
Slide
Broken Hearts
Saving Grace
To Night
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Artist: Album
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Red Umbrella: Wishing for Boardwalk
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More Information
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http://www.redumbrella.net
http://www.myspace.com/redumbrella
http://www.7spinmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/7spinmusic
http://www.quickartistagency.com/offer.php?artist=Red_Umbrella
