Throwing Gravity is:
Nick James - Lead
Vocals / Rhythm Guitar
Jesse Triplett - Lead
Guitar / Background Vocals
Sam Hindmarsh - Bass
Guitar / Background Vocals
Chris Scott - Keys /
Programming
Tom DuPree III – Drums
Rock quintet Throwing
Gravity is a band based out of Nashville that undoubtedly will end up taking
the mainstream rock scene by storm. As a band that has already begun to rack up
and stellar stage presence by sharing stages with bands such as Second Hand
Serenade, Parachute, Chevelle and Evans Blue. It seems only fitting that these
Tennessee rockers would ultimately achieve the same level of acclaim as these
other major players that they’ve jammed with live.
After a tenuous first
few years with a fair share of ups and downs, (including a name change and
several album recording obstacles) Throwing Gravity has finally released the
new album, It’s Not The End. Though
I’ve drawn similarities to other favorite bands of mine, including Theory of a
Deadman, Adelitas Way, and Shinedown. I
also have noted that the band has a fresh and unique sound all its own, with an
album that is equal parts emotional ballads combined with energetic rock
anthems.
It’s Not The End
kicks off with the opening song, “Circles”. From the opening techno vibes, I
knew that the song had the energy fitting for an opening track. Instrumentally,
I personally noted that the overall sound of this song made me think of the
band Adelitas Way. What perhaps drew me into this song the most though, was the
chorus; particularly Nick James’ vocals and the satisfying guitar vibes.
The second song, “Given
Up On Giving Up On You” slowed down pace a
bit. Though this song had more of a slower, more emotional tone, one of the
things that struck me about it was that it was powerful and cutting edge with
its vocals, guitar and drums despite it being a ballad. This somewhat reminds
of the ballads from Shinedown’s The Sound
of Madness. Like those, the melodic ballads on this album, such as this
song, show that you don’t have to sacrifice energy to make an emotional love
song that flows well.
“Best Time” was an even
more memorable ballad than the previous song. Just like a 3 Doors Down single,
I can easily see this song playing across a number of modern rock radio
stations. Lyrically, I also found this song’s quintessential message of
“becoming a better person” to be poignant and inspiring. This was highlighted
by James’ vocals and the often clever and balanced use of vocals throughout.
The fourth song, “The
Inside”, was my personal favorite song on the album. Compared to the previous
two songs, this song picked up pace and energy. I personally loved listening to
this song just to hear the chorus over and over again. Nick James really varied
his vocal range with this song, which went well with the faster pace of the
track. Along with the notable addition of backing vocals and cohesive use of
guitar and pounding drum beats, this song was really tied off into a complete,
satisfying package. I believe that this radio-worthy song is one of the highest
points of the album.
“Missing You” is another
love song that, in my opinion, impacted me even more so than “Given Up On
Giving Up On You” and “Best Time.” This song gave me deeper admiration for
James’ vocals and the fact that they flowed so smoothly with the emotional
lyrics. This also made it clear to me that Throwing Gravity’s ballads may well
be their trump card because of how familiar yet unique and expressive they are.
“Here We Go Again” was
a slightly more aggressive and energetic song about a relationship not working
out. As much as I enjoyed the lighter songs on the album, it was nice to pick
up pace a bit with the adrenaline-pumping thrashes and vibes of this song.
“Wake Up” is another
slower-paced song with more inspirational tones to it. This song didn’t really
have as much of a lasting emotional effect on me as some of the other songs but
it was still smooth and easy-going, which fit well with the overall tone of the
album.
“What She Wants” starts
off slow but picks up pace over the course of the song. Though the lyrics
weren’t varied with this song, I still praise it for the talented use of vocals
and satisfying drum beats in particular, especially when the song picks up tempo
with the chorus toward the end.
“Stop” was one of my
favorites on the album for its contrasting aggressive, “spit in your face”
undertones. The song deals with having someone use, abuse and steal from you and
learning to just deal with them and move on. The unique opening, the overall
upbeat tempo of the song and the way the lyrics “say it how it is” made this
more aggressive anthem memorable for me as far as the album goes.
The album finally
culminated in the final song, “Lost In You”. Even with many songs on the album
being emotional, lighthearted ballads, this one was undoubtedly the softest and
most melodic. I think the fact that it was placed last was a perfect way to top
off the album on a passionate note.
From what I’ve listened
to with Throwing Gravity so far, I personally believe that their unique sound
is defined by their emotive ballads. These particular songs are instrumentally
balanced in a way that they are light enough to be radio friendly while still
being energetic and jarring enough so as not to bore the more adrenaline
junkies out there.
The only negative thing
I can say about the album is that, lyrically, I wasn’t left awestruck. These
were sometimes generic and there were only a few occasions when I was dazzled
by extraordinary or thought-provoking lyrics. But, this is only a minor thing
since the lyrics were composed well enough to get the job done and certainly
flowed well with the otherwise stellar instrumentals and vocals throughout the
album.
Overall, after
listening to It’s Not The End, I
think that Throwing Gravity definitely has good things waiting for them. They
have a sound that is unique in its way of creating emotional yet energetic
modern rock vibes, yet not so foreign that we can’t compare their sound to
other well-known rock bands. I look forward to what they have to offer in
future releases.
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