OBLIVION
THE GARDEN IN THE MACHINE
UNSIGNED

LINKS:
oblivionrockmusic.com

Oblivion is an outfit that's hard to peg, but very easy to like. Diversity is one of the strongest suits this Michigan-based quintet has in its vast arsenal, a device that allows the 12-track collection The Garden In The Machine to shine. Well versed in the school of rock, there's a ton of influences floating in this band's dominion, from U2 and Jeff Buckley to Radiohead and Soundgarden.
From the quasi-funky opener "Situation Six" to the organ-drenched "Dragonfly" to the unsappy, effective acoustic vibe of "The Virgin and the Dynamo", you get three very different musical slants back to back to back by the same band without losing the album's momentum. And, this flow continues throughout the disc, with stops between Dredg-esque spaciness, Tool-like swirls of rhythm, and the kind of sensitive piano baladeering that made Coldplay the rock darlings of the world. Providing smart rock without any pretense, Oblivion's handling of each song is unique, yet all fits into a bigger picture, making this release sound not only conceptual, but also definitive.

----Mike SOS