Smile Empty Soul
Hailing from Los Angeles, the reorganized Smile Empty Soul is essentially the effort of Sean Danielsen – vocals/guitar; Ryan Martin – Bass; Jake Kilmer – drums. Kilmer (formerly with The Flipper Babies) is the newest piece in the puzzle. The group is far from an infant in the music business, as it has been on the scene for more than three years. In fact, the 2004 song “Bottom of the Bottle” was a certified Gold Record.
But the group found that in-your-face challenges to the icons of U.S. society could be hazardous to your health. In essence, Smile Empty Soul lost support and a major label along the way. That’s the short version.
Smile Empty Soul is still a rock band, and in some ways, an alternative effort as well. “The Freaks Are Coming” from Vultures (2006) hits the listener immediately with some of the darkness that is in this empty soul. But in the same song, the band softens the sound to highlight clear vocals. The alternatives presented in most songs separates them just a bit from other hammering groups.
Smile Empty Soul’s musicianship is advanced enough to include some interesting percussion changes and guitar sounds. “Out To Sea” begins as a straight-out angst-filled ballad. This is not screamo, but something just short of that. The mellow guitar work that appears occasionally saves it from being pedal-to-the-metal from start to finish. That may be good for the fans, or it may not be. In any case, the seagull sounds are right!
Smile Empty Soul will play live shows in California, Nevada and other west coast venues during the fall of 2007. The current CD is on the Bieler Bros. label.
Tags: indie, smile empty soul, music, independent music, indie music
Smile Empty Soul sound like a reall yinteresting band, I haven’t found any of thier music to listen to but I would like to, I guess I need to go and check the guys out, is there any update on the dates and venues for this falls tour
I have heard of Ryan Martin before, and I have to say he is decently good. I hope they stay together instead of breaking up after the first record like every other band in this kind of genre.
I am always excited to hear about artists who are new on the scene or who have been around and just not out in the main stream world to everyone. I enjoy the fact they are hailing from LA which is known very well in the music industry to produce top selling artists that stick around for a long while.
Well I am usually up for trying out as many new bands as I can, besides rappers, I am will not be listening to this band if I have any say in it. Just judging by the picture next to their band name above, they are politically ignorant. Any band that tosses in politics into their music, especially negative politics like calling others warmongers and so on, will not be listened to by me.
The soul of Rock ‘N Roll, is what I hear Smile Empty Soul’s music embodying. Their sound pumps one full of energy. The music fills you with the kind of energy that inspires jumping around and releasing of any negative vibes that may have pledged your day. I can only imagine how lively this band would be in concert. Smile Empty Soul would certainly be someone I would want to see and enjoy.
Hmm, they aren’t too bad, but I’m afraid that the vocals leave much to be desired. I mean, I have to admit that Radio in a Hole is pretty rocking…but it’d be so much better without the guy who’s doing the vocals. It’s pretty close to screamo to me, and his voice is so grating…but I’ve heard worse!
First of all, that picture and their views on U.S. icons and their bashing of them left a bad taste in my mouth. That being said, I agree with Ausqtie that they do have some decent instrumentals that makes you want to get up, dance, and maybe bash a thing or two. However, aside from that I am not that impressed. “Bottom of a Bottle” a catchy tune, but the vocals are lacking and the lyrics are typical. Ryan Martin sounds the exact same on every song, and a bit too raspy for me as well, and in my book that equals “yawn”.