Band Marino: The Sea And The Beas

Band Marino is a Florida quintet who craft some decent pop music. Although they use a potpourri of different instrumentation, the group makes some urgent, witty songs such as “American Patriot”, which sounds like a cross between Slobberbone and The Killers. But the band also adds strings to these straightforward, bouncy pop songs. This is an asset, especially on “I Have a Dream”, which oozes Beatles-esque pop. However, what makes so much of this album come to life is the unknown. How in the hell they can turn around after “I Have a Dream” with a slow, shuffling pop tune that could have been stolen from a Rufus Wainwright album? Such is the case with “Chasing Rainbows” which glides along and shines because it’s so darn carefree and freewheeling before closing with a brief but memorable hoedown/rave-up. Even when the band hits a rut, as is the case with the Americana-laced “Feel It in the Air”, they pull it off with the flair and verve of Ryan Adams circa Gold. Fans of singer-songwriter Tom Brousseau might also like the wistful waltz-y “Someday We All Must Die” and “Song for a Melody”. The ebb and flow of the album is quite refreshing, making for a very good record from top to bottom.