Hailing from West London, England, "Symposium" is
a five-member outfit comprised of vocalist Ross Cummings, bassist/composer
Wojtek Godzisz, guitarists Hagop Tchaparian and William McGonagle,
and drummer Joe Birch. Founded in 1994, this young (very young
- the eldest member is a tender twenty-one) started out as a
cover band until the addition of the band's chief songwriter,
Godzisz, a couple of years later. Dubbed "London's answer
to "Green Day" by British Billboard Magazine (November,
1997), Symposium has since released a string of hit songs in
their native England which include "Drink the Sunshine,"
"Farewell to Twilight" and "Fairweather Friend."
Recently signed to Red Ant Entertainment in the U.S. (Infectious
Records in the U.K.), the band is currently putting finishing
touches on its first full-length CD, but has, in the meantime,
released a "mini-LP" entitled "One Day At A Time."
Eight songs occupy this pop/punk-influenced CD, including the
three charted singles mentioned above. "Drink the Sunshine"
is a mid-tempo, upbeat tune - guitar-heavy and lyrically uncomplicated.
"Farewell to Twilight" is similar in tone and mood.
Mid-tempo and unfrenzied, it deals with teen love lost - quickly
over and soon forgotten. "Fairweather Friend" opens
with a ska-flavored intro, then gives way to a drum-driven tune
laden with distorted guitars and bare, unenhanced vocals. Also
on the album is "Fear of Flying" and "Smiling,"
a predictably upbeat tune about young love. "Puddles"
is a faster-paced selection with a quirky and amusing little
mid-song break that nicely complements the song's Mad Hatter-esque
mood. Probably my favorite pick on the album, "Fizzy,"
is a delightful, walk-in-the-park sort of tune that is reminiscent
of, arguably, one of Britain's more innovative and entertaining
bands of the eighties, "Madness."
All in all, "One Day At A Time" is an entertaining,
decent offering that is the type of fare perfect for those who
are partial to their pop/punk based music, yet who require nothing
complicated or intense. No heavy-handed life lessons here; no
deep philosophical pondering about one's place in the universe;
no deep philosophical pondering about much of anything at all,
in fact, except maybe for one's place on the bus, or in line
in the supermarket. But sometimes, this is all that is required
to help one forget the stresses of daily life. I am curious,
however, to see how these young men progress as musicians and
songwriters in the coming years. Until then, "One Day At
A Time" is a good start for those devoted to the genre. |
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