Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Ra Ra Riot is a promising up-and-coming indie pop band with loads of talent and tons of potential. While you may infer from their name that their music is rude and raucous, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The band, at times sounds like a toned down version of Arcade Fire, a sound that would have fit in well amongst the indie pop scene of the mid 80s. Formed in early 2006 at Syracuse University in New York the group is quickly gathering a following and, from some, a label as the next big thing. 

Unfortunately, for drummer John Pike, this journey ended before it began. The band was in Fairhaven, Massachusetts when Pike disappeared from a party in the early morning of June 2. He was found dead in Buzzard’s Bay the following day. 

Faced with the loss of their drummer and most importantly their friend, the remaining band members decided to go on. Their debut self-titled EP is a very somber and melancholy affair. Songs such as Dying Is Fine take on added poignance. It should be noted that Pike co-wrote the lyrics with vocalist/keyboardist Wesley Miles. 

Even with the shadow hanging over the EP, it does have it’s upbeat moments. Each Year, the first track, showcases energetic beats from bassist Mathieu Santos and the distorted guitar of Milo Bonacci with the streamlined vocal style of Miles. The EP really does sound along the lines of an Arcade Fire album in that the energetic music contradicts the downer lyrics. Still, every once in awhile, hope and optimism do shine through. 

The last track Ghosts Under Rocks starts out quiet and then builds to a wall of sound including most prominently Alexandra Lawn’s Cello and Rebecca Zeller’s violin. Unfortunately, for the future of Ra Ra Riot, the driving force behind most of the tracks happens to be the drumming of John Pike. Fortunately, they have the musical talent and potential to overcome this horrible and devastating loss. Everyone should be pulling for them.