The Idea- Alter Ego Rehabilitation Centre

Artist: The Idea

CD Title: Alter Ego Rehabilitation Centre

Label: Self - Released

Review by: Robert Eaton

Those that recall the heady days of indie rock in the nineties might find something to enjoy in The Idea. “Alter Ego Rehabilitation Centre is noisy indie rock, with a seriously retro melodic sensibility. The music is upbeat, with a somewhat melancholy edge on most of the songs. If you remember a few years back, digging through discount bins for comps of indie bands, you’ll find something familiar here. The Idea has a very traditional approach to melody, very little, vocally, would sound terribly out-of-place in the rock/pop of the 50’s and sixties. This pop sensibility is thrown over garage-rock guitars, recognizable to anyone who dug deep into the minor labels during the nineties.

            The Idea is essentially Mitch Salisbury, and Nathan Shmye on guitars, with a rotating cast of other players, or, “honorary members” according to the band web-site. It’s guitar-oriented rock, with only sparse electronics, and once again, Salisbury’s echoey, melodic wail carries the songs.  As for some of the highlights of the album: “Time” starts off with some sequencing, nice and a little spacey. The vocals are somewhat plaintive, coming together in a sing-along chorus. “Peter the Frog” is satisfyingly in similar territory. On the other end of this band’s spectrum, the raucous “Sentimental” is a Ramones-like punk track. One wishes the song had a slightly harder edge, but it’s catchy and infectious nonetheless. “Nice Girls (Don’t Like Boys Like Me)” is a snotty pop-punk song, with a pop-vocal sensibility. The two songs open the album and pair nicely.

            The Idea calls itself “indie” and “pop-punk”, and is, at least, different from most of what falls under those labels today. These are guitar-drenched, well constructed songs. So, if you’re jonesing for the indie rock you knew from before indie rock was sold into mainstream credibility, you might enjoy this album. It also may send you digging back in time in your CD collection to see if you still have any of those old comps you bought out of the discount bins in the nineties.  

Check out the band: https://www.myspace.com/theideauk