You Were Robbed - Athenaeum

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

Athenaeum. Say what? ATH-A-NEE-UM. In Latin, it is a school in ancient Rome for the study of arts. The strange name is probably one reason this fantastic band never took off...DJs were too embarrassed they would mispronounce it!

Athenaeum formed in Greensboro, North Carolina about 20 years ago, pulling off their first EP in 1995, known simply as the "Green Album". Some of these songs made their way to the band's first major label release, 1998's "Radiance". They had immediate success with the radio-friendly tune "What I Didn't Know", but never matched it despite the record being full of additional melodic rock gems. Their self-titled follow up was an even bigger disappointment at radio. "Hourglass" was their final album, released in 2002 - while a compilation of rare and unreleased material, it plays like another ace studio album.

The band uses intricate harmonies and sophisticated songwriting to decorate the intelligent lyrics, and their melodies stick with you for days on end. They should have been huge. Maybe it was the name. Maybe some people couldn't get used to the deep vocal tone of Mark Kano, or maybe the second record being released the week after 9/11 had something to do with it. Whatever the reasons, it isn't too late to discover Athenaeum's wonderful brand of powerful pop rock.

Mark Kano has recently teamed up with Gavin MacKillop (who produced "Radiance") once again, and the result was a stunning solo EP called "Walking on Broadway". Check out our review of it here. Don't allow Mark Kano to be robbed again!

Fans of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, and Crash Test Dummies - if you've overlooked Athenaeum, you are missing out on a new favorite.

Mark Kano on MySpace. Official site.

Athenaeum

Check out this brilliant acoustic version of their one and only hit, "What I Didn't Know":

Review: Mark Kano "Walking on Broadway" [EP]

Mark Kano is the powerful voice behind the 90s alternative rock band called Athenaeum - remember their 1998 hit "What I Didn't Know" off "Radiance"? See our reviews of Athenaeum here. Fans like me who have missed this band and lead singer Mark Kano's distinctive vocals have reason to celebrate with the release of his first solo CD, "Walking on Broadway".

The 8 tracks on this release will take you back to the late 90s when post-grunge bands like Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, and Better Than Ezra were dominating the charts. As Kano's deep and rich voice pretty much defined the sound of Athenaeum, it is no surprise that "Walking on Broadway" sounds very much like his old band. For me, it is a familiar sound that triggers nostalgia for the past.

But for those who do not have memories of Athenaeum, Mark Kano is still going to impress you with his brand of melodic rock. Add to the mix the skilled hand of Gavin MacKillop (Toad The Wet Sprocket, Goo Goo Dolls, Athenaeum) and you have an unbeatable collection of sonically brilliant pop rock tunes. There is a 50/50 mix of ballads and mid-tempo rockers; lyrically, Kano keeps things simple and sincere. The title track is an obvious standout, with Mark Kano's love for Big Wreck shining through. My other favorites include the slow burner, "I'm Still Waiting", and the swirling and soaring, "Where Were You Last Night", which may be one of Kano's most creative vocal performances to date.

It is great to hear Mark Kano sing his music once again. I am eager to hear more!

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Mark Kano on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Collapsis "Dirty Wake"

My recent rediscovery of Atheneum (see post) prompted me to check out Collapsis. The latter is a very similar band that used to be led by Mike Garrigan, who joined Atheneum in 2003. The only full-length release from Collapsis, "Dirty Wake" (2000) has some outstanding tracks and it baffles me that these guys did not make it bigger. Maybe the late-90s was just swimming with post-grunge bands trying to re-establish melodic rock.

"Dirty Wake" is filled with smart hooks, well-placed harmonies, and decent lyrics. The production is great and still sounds fresh. Mike has a beautiful falsetto that he does not overuse, making it sound even sweeter then it appears. Fans of Atheneum will certainly like Collapsis, as would people who enjoyed Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, or any number of late 90s pop rock bands of similar sound. Best of all, you can score this CD for less than a quarter at Amazon - don't let the price fool you...it is not indicative of the quality of the music.

On their myspace page, you can also hear some cover tunes of 80s classics like Til' Tuesday's "Voices Carry."

You can also check out what Mike Garrigan is up to these days at his own myspace page.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Review: Athenaeum "Radiance" and "Athenaeum"

Athenaeum. What? Say it...ATH-A-NEE-UM. In Latin, it is a school in ancient Rome for the study of arts. The strange name is probably one reason this fantastic band never took off...DJs were too embarrassed they would mispronounce their name!

"Radiance" (1998). If you are going to recognize anything from this band, it would probably be the minor hit from this record called, "What I Didn't Know." An excellent tune, but my favorite cut is "Flat Tire." In fact, "Flat Tire" is worthy of 5-star ranking on the ol' iPOD. "Radiance" is a fantastic record. I admit I only instantly liked a handful of tracks first, but the others grew on me fast with repeated listens, as did the baritone quality of the lead singer's voice. These guys have very intricate harmonies and sophisticated songwriting - things probably not appreciated by most folks with the initial listen. The production is exquisite...and when I checked who was responsible it all made sense: Gavin MacKillop. If I were to make another record one day, my dream would be to have Gavin at the helm.

iPOD-worthy: all tracks!

"Athenaeum" (2001). A very respectable follow-up to the debut CD, continuing in the same vein with great melodies and harmonies. Highlights include the track "Comfort," which unfortunately flopped as a single, and "Waiting For You." Once again, the production is top-notch and the CD is sonically awesome.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Visit Athenaeum at myspace. They put out another CD upon their demise called "Hourglass," which is a collection of rarities and demo stuff. It is quite rare, last going for over $50 on Amazon. I've not heard it, so can't comment on how good it is relative to the other releases.

I'll close with video for "Flat Tire"...