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Ultrapull’s From All Directions: Guitar Pop Without The Cheese
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Thursday, February 14, 2002
Power-pop still lives—and not just on the WB Thursday night lineup. Most guitar pop acts find their biggest success through primetime teen shows like Dawson’s Creek and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but it seems that Ultrapull is destined for better.
The group’s debut From All Directions is a catchy mix of songs that reflect southern California in their musical landscape without the cheesy aftertaste of guitar pop acts that corrode the aforementioned TV programs.
Singer-songwriter Dale Everett, guitarist Gerard Garcia, bassist Pete Griffin and drummer Harry Meguerdichian have crafted an impressive debut that leaves the listener with the impression that these guys may have the goods to become a very good power-pop band. Subsequent efforts will be interesting to hear because it seems like the group has excellent potential in a diluted guitar pop market.
Lead track “Out For Me” has the guitar chords of old Third Eye Blind material with less “San Francisco” vocals. Synth-fills and smooth guitars complement Everett’s melodic vocals, which propel the album from start to finish. The subject matter includes the standard breakups, betrayals and relationships, but the upbeat nature in which the material is portrayed make it appear less cliché and more optimistic.
“Lose It” combines everything the group represents in its bright three-minute soundscape. It should only be a matter of time before Carson Daly is paid a visit from the rockers of Ultrapull, on either TRL or his puke-worthy night program.
Tracks like “Boomerang” and “Sedative” bounce disjointed guitar chords against simple drums and Everett’s vocals before opening into choruses that are heavier and more engaging than most bands Ultrapull would be competing against. This puts the group in a totally different category—and this is what the band is hoping will propel it to stardom.
“Breathe” is another track that has guitar pop written all over it, but it’s packaged in a sleeker, more rocking parcel that reduces the cheesy sing-along factor and increases the listener’s enjoyment of the disc.
Ultrapull’s debut is impressive. With constant touring and material that expands on the strengths of From All Directions, Ultrapull could fill the void left by bands like Third Eye Blind. Ultrapull’s stop-and-start guitars, solid drumming, knack for good choruses and melodic vocals make the band’s debut a disc worthy of investigation.
