The Anniversary

Item: Your Majesty
Author: Tom Bastian

Your Majesty

(2002)

Reviewed by Tom Bastian

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Label Heroes & Villains Records / Vagrant RecordsDecapolisFebruary 2002

indie rock psychedelic rock

The Anniversary is a 5 piece rock band currently based in Lawrence Kansas. Your Majesty is the band's sophomore release on Heroes & Villains/Vagrant Records and was recorded by Doug Boehm (Guided by Voices, Elliott Smith, Celine Dion) and produced by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith, Saves the Day) at Sonora Recorders in Los Feliz, CA.

After what I would consider a rather disappointing display on their split EP with Superdrag the Anniversary have released what will most likely shape up to be one of my favorite albums of the year. I know it's not really "cool" within certain indie circles to like any of the bands that mega-indie label Vagrant Records has been working with. Especially a band that owes a good deal of their early success to the Get Up Kids. But in my honest opinion Vagrant has been releasing some of the most impressive albums of late and this Anniversary album is no exception. It's too bad many critics and music fans alike will most likely write this album off without giving it much of a chance.

Definitely steps away and in a different direction than the other Vagrant bands the Anniversary have made what is probably one of the biggest style changes a band has gone through. But with this release it has only made them a much stronger band. Sure they aren't the first band to move onto what some would consider a more "classic rock" sound. But they are one that has definitely done a great job at it.

Filled with great melodies, more complex musical arrangements, and much less of those new-wave sounding keys that were so prevalent in their first full length, Your Majesty will quickly draw you in. If you're a fan of the more experimental sounding Beatles and Beach Boys material as well as many of the other pop based 70's rock bands then you will most likely enjoy the direction this album has gone. I know the catchy hooks and infectious melodies had me quickly singing along with this album.

B+