The Zolas are a duo consisting of singer/guitarist Zachary Gray and pianist Tom Dobrzanski. This is the same songwriting team that made up the core of the now-defunct piano pop band Lotus Child, who released an EP and album earlier this decade. Considering that Gray and Dobrzanski chose to disband their former group and reform under a new name, it might be fair to expect them to change their sound; after all, why bother restarting from scratch if not in search of artistic transformation?
It’s therefore a little surprising that the Zolas’ debut album, Tic Toc Tic, isn’t a huge departure from the bouncy piano rock that Lotus Child was once known for. Not to say that Gray and Dobrzanski have stagnated—rather, Tic Toc Tic sounds like a logical follow-up to Lotus Child’s Gossip Diet. “The Great Collapse” is a straight-forward rocker, its upbeat verses giving way to a quiet, fatalistic refrain of “Free what you love ’cause it’s gonna die anyway.” “These Days” is a bittersweet serenade, its swaying groove laying the foundation for a stunning chorus that sounds like it was made for audience clap-alongs.
As well as offering these easily-digestible pleasures, the Zolas have a knack for eclectic song structures, frequently making sudden changes in tone and style. “Cab Driver” starts as a dark, looming pulse before exploding into a manic barroom outro, a honky tonk hoedown that gives Dobrzanski a chance to show off his piano chops. “You’re Too Cool” is a shapeshifting epic, beginning with spiky, angular verses before giving way to a gentle R&B refrain, later followed by a pounding, arena-sized breakdown.
mp3: “You’re Too Cool”
It’s a hell of an achievement for a debut record, but, then again, maybe it shouldn’t really be considered a debut record after all. Whatever the case, Tic Toc Tic is well worth your time (pun!).
The album is out tomorrow via Lotus Child Music Inc./Universal.
It’s therefore a little surprising that the Zolas’ debut album, Tic Toc Tic, isn’t a huge departure from the bouncy piano rock that Lotus Child was once known for. Not to say that Gray and Dobrzanski have stagnated—rather, Tic Toc Tic sounds like a logical follow-up to Lotus Child’s Gossip Diet. “The Great Collapse” is a straight-forward rocker, its upbeat verses giving way to a quiet, fatalistic refrain of “Free what you love ’cause it’s gonna die anyway.” “These Days” is a bittersweet serenade, its swaying groove laying the foundation for a stunning chorus that sounds like it was made for audience clap-alongs.
As well as offering these easily-digestible pleasures, the Zolas have a knack for eclectic song structures, frequently making sudden changes in tone and style. “Cab Driver” starts as a dark, looming pulse before exploding into a manic barroom outro, a honky tonk hoedown that gives Dobrzanski a chance to show off his piano chops. “You’re Too Cool” is a shapeshifting epic, beginning with spiky, angular verses before giving way to a gentle R&B refrain, later followed by a pounding, arena-sized breakdown.
mp3: “You’re Too Cool”
It’s a hell of an achievement for a debut record, but, then again, maybe it shouldn’t really be considered a debut record after all. Whatever the case, Tic Toc Tic is well worth your time (pun!).
The album is out tomorrow via Lotus Child Music Inc./Universal.
2 Comments
nice post. thanks.
love this song
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[...] 11, 2009 Last week, the Zolas released their debut album Tic Toc Tic, a twelve-song collection of bouncy piano rock that’s equal parts catchy and heartbroken, [...]