A. REX: Moving Backwards

A. Rex

Moving Backwards

© 2007 Andrew Espinola (634479541131) (format: CD-R)

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Melodic piano-driven rock that is: "pop without being slick, and artistic without being over the top."

notes

Copyright 2007 - Andrew Espinola
Produced and mixed by Andrew Espinola and Mark Addison
Engineered by Mark Addison
Recorded at Aerie Studios, 2007
All music written and performed by Andrew Espinola, Andrew Jones, and Nick Kirbo
All lyrics by Andrew Espinola

Dedicated to Linda Kay Jones

Andrew Espinola: vocals, piano, organ, synths, electric and acoustic guitars, glockenspiel

Andrew Jones: drums and percussion

Nick Kirbo: bass

Thanks to: Amy Burchette, Robert Adams, Eric Espinola, and Charles Roberts

reviews

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  • EVERYTHING ON HERE
    author: Carl Gilpin

    NICE VARIETY OF STUFF ALL GOOD FOR LISTENING SAD BUT NOT TOO SAD CUZ IN A UPBEAT WAY CAN LISTEN TO OVER AND OVER MORE THAN MOST CDS

  • You got me
    author: Dana Reinhart

    so after hearing 'who said i was running?' i've been hooked on your stuff moving backwards is just amaing there was one thing i didn't like about it though and that is that it doesn't sound exactly right when listening to it all the way through all the songs are very good but there are too many stylistic differences to make the album listen as good as it could be some of the songs on here are so sad i cry when i listen to them that is a compliment by the way most music cannot make me do that the best track on the album is 'moving backwards'

  • Its got everything
    author: Mark Brown

    Man this album has got everything. There are great rock songs, mellow songs, and smooth piano.

  • Top drawer
    author: Russell Barker

    A.Rex are a band from Austin, Texas populated entirely by Andrews. The band that is, not Austin. This is their second album. A cracker it is too. While there's the odd MOR moment (the title track and 'Old Enough'), the rest is top drawer. It kicks off with the Grandaddy/eels style weariness and vocals through a broken radio of 'Determined', with it's defeated lyrics of "what's the point in starting, if it's just gonna end". Following that we get a leaden piano to give us a tale of how he can't live without the girl ('Hold My Hand'), then Mary Chain fuzzy guitar coupled with a maudlin Death Cab quality of 'I'm Not The Only One'. 'Lower Than Low' is a lovely piano ballad, just like Coldplay used to make before they blanded out. 'Rock n Roll' is delightful Pavement style slacker pop and there are great melodies in the warm country-ish 'So Hard'.

  • It is all rather good
    author: Stuart A. Hamilton

    Now see, that's just wrong. I only have one rule regarding employment in my places of work, and that is 'Do Not Employ Anyone With The Same First Name As An Existing Member Of Staff'. That's it, nothing racist, sexist, speciesist, just nameist. So how much do you think that a band where everyone is called Andrew offends me. That's right. Thaaaaaaaaaaaaat much. But so it is with A.Rex, the indie folk-pop outfit which is the brainchild of math major Andrew Espinola. I wasn't aware that maths had military ranks, but then I never even sat my O Grade, so it's understandable. But I'm working on the principle that Major Espinola must be shit hot at sums. This is album number two for the singing mathematician and his Andrew shaped chums, and it's the kind of thing that students over in the colonies go ever so slightly crazy for. At least the ones that aren't there on sports scholarships. It's that whole Grandaddy, Wilco type sound, whereby everything sounds a little bit miserable despite the presence of chipper melodies, and where a song called 'Rock n Roll' seems to find the whole notion a bit too tiring, in a Tom Petty kind of way. It's all rather good and should be coming to whatever has replaced The O.C as the televisual programme of choice for the white, middle class American youth of today who aren't pretending to be black.

  • Brings you back again and again
    author: Owen McKeon

    A band consisting of Andrew Espinola and Andrew Jones and featuring other rotating musicians with the name of Andrew. This could quite easily have gone horribly disastrous. Thank Christ it doesn’t. There’s fuzzy, crackly vocals all over opener ‘Determined’ that make it sound like some kid in his bedroom finally recording tracks he wrote ten years ago. It’s the best thing on here and its got the same kind of Grandaddy/ Eels sound of just coming so damn easy. It’s brilliantly lazy, instantly fantastic and like Liam Frost and Sam Isaac it somehow immediately feels like it’s always been on your mp3. While that’s the standout track, the whole album’s consistent. If Cameron Crowe ever made a sequel to Almost Famous set in 2007 (horrible idea, not sure why I’ve even suggested it) he’d be sure to use an A.Rex track. The title track, ‘Old Enough’, ‘So Hard’ ‘Still Can’t Accept’ and, geez, pretty much any other tune on here are great but it’s still ‘Determined’ that’s gonna bring you back to listen to this again and again.

  • Quality Songwriting
    author: Nick James and Tone E

    N: Ok, so the Eels take a holiday and crop up as Andrews Espinola and Jones on this well produced ten track affair. The album just slips down so easily it's hard to believe they're not signed; really there's little to be done here before releasing this on the streets, undoubtedly with a huge advance. T: I agree, this is an excellent release with quality songwriting shining through and a lovely summer day feel which makes it infinitely playable. Push "Repeat", kick off your shoes and lie back and relax. 9/10

  • pop thats pretty catchy without trying to be
    author: Tom Spinelli

    Now after reading the first line of this bands bio i was really intrigued. This Austin, TX Indie Pop 2 piece display great slower rock tunes with a lot of pop glee, but not radio pop, just the pop thats pretty catchy without actually trying to be. The singer reminds me of Tom Petty in a way. Great vocals and production. Great music to just put on and relax and chill out to. "Determined" is a very good slower tune that opens the album that sets the tones for the rest of the disc, so you kinda get the vibe from the first track. You can really notice the influences of The Perishers, Coldplay and Wilco stand out in this record. Great first offering form this independent artist. Hope to see good things happen with this group in the future.

  • There are a few very bright moments on here
    author: John Siwicki

    A.Rex is a folk pop duo from Austin, Texas. One look at these two guys and it seems like a bit of an odd couple. One of them looks like a kid who used to bully me and the other one looks like the kid who was always just a little bit cooler. Things get started with “Determined” a nice little ditty with a terribly sad vocal and a great complementary pit pat drums. “I'm Not The Only One” is another delightful slice of indie pop. The good thing about this track is that the band brought more elements in giving them a nice rich sound. “So Hard” has a country vibe to it with the slide guitar and lyrically it has that type of storytelling to it. A.Rex kept me very glued for the length of the album, there are a few very bright moments on here and a few iffy moments as well. But, for a young band this is a great start and shows a lot of promise.

  • Espinola has that story-telling skill few lyricists manage to perfect
    author: Christine Toner

    Folk-pop band A.Rex hails from Austin, Texas where they have apparently built up a strong fan base. Of course, most unsigned bands will tell you they have a 'strong fan-base’ and 75% of the time this will consist of family and friends and the odd drunken punter in the local dive where they play a weekly set. When it comes to A.Rex though I’m inclined to believe them, in fact I’m now a member of that fan base - these boys are good. Lead singer Andrew Espinola has the kind of voice that makes women go weak at the knees, raspy yet melodic, gentle yet intense. The songs have all the melody of a pop ballad without being cheesy and Espinola has that story-telling skill that few lyricists manage to perfect. With soaring pianos and perfect harmonies, Moving Backwards blends Southern folk with mainstream pop resulting in an album that will have appeal across genres. A.Rex’s 'strong fan-base’ looks set to get even stronger.

  • Despite its faults this release is pretty damn good
    author: Mike Mutant

    Despite its faults this release is pretty damn good. The piano-based tunes are catchy and the lyrics are good. The vocals are good as well. My problem is that they don't have much flavor to them. The singing is done in a hushed tone, even on the loud parts it sounds like the vocalist is whisper-singing loud. "Rock n Roll" is one of the exceptions where the singer does try something different with his voice. This also happens to be my favorite tune on this release. The production on the opening tune "Determined" could have been a bit better, it's not too bad on the overall release. And while I would say that the song also had a bit of Ben Folds quality to it, the rest of the release is has more of a folk alternative singer-songwriter groove to it. This is a band I feel is right on the cusp of doing great things, they just that little extra something to get them there.

  • A fantastic follow up
    author: Yuki Muraille

    A. Rex's debut album was absolutely magical and this follow-up record does not disappoint. His lyrics are so beautiful; set to a fantastic blend of folk and country music. A must buy for your CD collection.

  • Buy It!
    author: Shannon

    A.Rex is again amazing in Moving Backwards. You can tell he writes all of his songs from heart...so if you want an album that is actually about SOMETHING, go buy A.Rex.

  • I dare you not to want to dance....
    author: Charlie Theobalt

    GREAT music that makes you wanna get up and dance! Toe tapping, all round music that will make anybody purty!

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