Posted: November 16th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ Amazon.com Release Date: February 29, 2008 via Ten Star Records
	Streetside Symphony is: Jeremy Stanfill (Vocals / Piano / Guitar) Chris Mitchell (Guitar) Blake Rhea (Bass) John Emerson (Drums)

Overview: Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Streetside Symphony caught their break when Atlanta-based producer Rick Beato took an avid interest in the band. Shortly thereafter, Beato brought Streetside Symphony to his studio and the crew began working on a new record. The former Billionaire guitarist was so impressed that he chose the group to spearhead his new imprint label, Ten Star Records. ‘The Curse‘, Streetside Symphony’s debut album, became the first addition to the Ten Star Records catalog on February 29, 2008. You can purchase a copy of ‘The Curse‘ on Amazon, iTunes, or the band’s MySpace.

The Good: To simply use the word “good” to describe ‘The Curse‘ would be immoral. First track “Sundowner” proves this point, an atmospheric and whimsical journey through a cinema of dynamics that makes you feel as if you were traveling to another world. Title track “The Curse” is a sultry and sexy blues medley, with the slightest hint of grit and angst to add a whole new facet to the song. On “Cheers (Kiss Before You Go)”, front-man Jeremy Stanfill delivers hispoignant rhetoric with consistent, driving urgency, which is strewn across surging instrumentation to give the tune a neat personality; Eagles fans will surely take notice to “Cheers (Kiss Before You Go)”, as it sports an unmistakable and pleasing “Take It Easy” vibe. Aching with tell-all conviction and humble pride, “Lord You Know We Try” is a comforting and soulful hymn, a well mannered, thorough, and most of all eloquent piece of splendor. “Make It Out Alive” is certainly full of life, an upbeat, yet not poppy waltz that shines with colorful energy. The chorus of “Make It Out Alive” might be the hookiest part of ‘The Curse‘, with Stanfill’s voice drawing to mind Damien Starkey during his mellow moments. Streetside Symphony let the creative rains pour for “D.B. Cooper”, the band’s haunting, ethereal account of Cooper’s gutsy 1971 hi-jacking. Woven seamlessly together are narrative vocals and progressive movements for a never-know-what’s-coming-next allure, ingeniously recreating the ambiance of the aircraft. Better still, the song’s lyrics put you right in Cooper’s shoes, playing on direct quotes and thought processes to create imagery too vivid for any third person testimony to encapsulate. “Heartbreak Street” relies on a whole lot of yearning, a whole lot of dynamics, and a little bit of other emotionally descript feelings-doleful, purgative, charming, nostalgic-to make it whole. Stirring with flavor, “Shame” is a melting pot of eclectic guitar sounds, infusing blues, funk, jazz, and Arabian sensibilities with one of Jeremy Stanfill’s vocal high points for a taste so unadulterated and so pure. Closing out ‘The Curse‘ is the aptly titled “The Runaround”, a vibrant, invigorating jam that allows you to cut loose and frolic before the album retires, an extremely humble and mature way to wrap things up.

A song that deserves special recognition is “That Was Then”. By no means is it the most intricate, the most epic, or the most lyrically shattering piece on the album. But damnit does the song well up your emotions for some reason. After my first few listens of “That Was Then”, I literally had teardrops trickling down my face. This track is so, so beautiful.

The Bad: I honestly cannot find one thing I loathe about ‘The Curse‘. Not one single, solitary thing. Maybe, just maybe, ‘The Curse‘ might take you a listen or three to really appreciate. If it doesn’t stick the first time, please for the love of all that is sacred listen a few times more, because this is one piece of music you don’t want to leave behind.

Bottomline: Streetside Symphony are the best new band I’ve heard in years, and I anxiously await what their future holds. And I really don’t know what more I can tell you about ‘The Curse‘ until you hear it for yourself. ‘The Curse‘ is a masterpiece. I mean, that’s all there is to it.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10