Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Unified Theory burns with the magic of musical rebirth. Drawing from Classic Rock, Alternative, and Middle-Eastern roots, the textural richness of the sound makes this album truly unique. The beautiful and versatile vocals, innovative drumbeats, otherworldly guitar solos, and flowing melodies leave you enchanted. Even though the music is beautiful, it still has an aggressive edge, which both lulls and invigorates the listener.
The band features guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith, both former members of Blind Melon; Dave Krusen , Pearl Jam’s former drummer; and lead singer/guitarist Chris Shinn, who was a member of a local Los Angeles band, Celia Green. The story of how they met inspires the harmony found within their music.
Yearning for the opportunity to work with another band, Thorn moved from Seattle to LA to find a lead singer. Upon discovering Chris Shinn, he knew his long and hard search was over. They moved back to Seattle in order to collaborate with Brad Smith. Upon first working with Shinn, Smith recalls "it was amazing; it just came together so fast. Chris was the key to making my writing sound more modern, none of that hippie retro tag that Blind Melon had."
Shinn adds "there is no weak link in this band. Every element is so strong. It’s exceptional. The focus in Unified Theory is amazing." Krusen, with a shared sense of enthusiasm, joined later on after he had completed his previous touring and recording commitments.
The subject matter of the songs remains universal. They touch on love, sorrow, disappointment, spirituality, hope, and the changing face of fortune. The music itself is a reflection of past and present influences. Some songs such as "Cessna," "Wither," "Full Flavor", and "Keep On" have a 70’s nostalgia to them reminiscent of Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. Others such as "California," "Instead of Running," and "Self Medicate" are distinctly modern, but still carry the same dramatic weight of the classic styles.
"Passive" is one of the most entrancing songs on the album. Middle Eastern guitar riffs and erratic rhythms create a sound that is both exotic and haunting. "Keep On" is an intense and moving song whose melody shifts from relaxed and soft to tumultuous and chaotic, driven from one extreme to another by the awesome vocal power of Shinn.
The truly wonderful aspect of this album is the diversity and unity of the sound. The music taps into every source: angst-filled ballads of the early 90’s, mellow rock tunes of the 70’s, indie rock, progressive, experimental, it’s pretty much all there… together… holding hands. A fan of Led Zeppelin can appreciate this album as much as a hard-core Radiohead fanatic.
I absolutely fell in love with this album for its beauty and originality. Unified Theory's talent and idealistic approach to their music is inspiring and thoroughly refreshing. Not to mention people of all ages can listen and appreciate this album since it draws from new and old influences alike. Dazed but not confused, I give Unified Theory five stars.
