Formed in Rockville during the summer of 2012, The Thiefs combine edgy riffs with punk rock energy, tight beats and a razor-sharp wit. Mike Eudy’s pounding drums, Matty Bryson’s frantic bass lines and Ben Wolfgang’s toneful guitar grinding with ear-popping vocals are underlined by something all three of these dudes have in common: A love for sticking it to the man, sending fans home happy and promoting the kind of rock ‘n’ roll havoc you thought was a thing of the past.
The Thiefs’ master plan continued in the fall of 2013, with the release of the group’s debut EP “It’s Not You, It’s Us.” The five-song disc (available online, via CD or download card) captures the band’s frantic rock n’ roll, signature melodies and live energy.
There is something absolutely perfect about this album. The entire selection of songs fits together perfectly, one flowing into the next in logically sonic order. Bands like The Thiefs keep my faith that rock has not died. It sounds a bit retro but with a fresh, modern slant.
Tunes like “Good For My Age” and “High Command” are both intricate and direct, drawing you in with booming percussion and thumping bass propping up irresistible melodies that become sweeter with every spin. The dynamic shifts in “Liquor Store” make it one of the Ep’s best tracks and it keeps you guessing right until the end, complete with its big jangling guitar riffs and crashing drums. “Cue Up The Band” is so heavy and yet so danceable. It’s a perfect example of the group’s continued willingness to channel their sound into diverse avenues.
It’s a tight, concise Ep, that avoids trying to make ‘artistic statements’ and instead focuses on rocking hard. There are no wasted notes or time on this Ep – none! “It’s Not You, It’s Us” is filled with razor sharp hooks, superb vocals, terrific musicianship, and some spectacular drumming by Mike Eudy. The recording, mixing, and producing deserve kudos as well – the sound just jumps out of the speakers!
The Thiefs has given a new edge to rock n’ roll. They’re retro enough to be familiar, but revolutionary enough to be completely new and interesting. With their irresistible rhythm, lyrics and sound they bring with them a vibe that catches the ear and quickens the pulse.
The hard riffs and unchained sense of rock that this album delivers, simply left me in awe the first time I listened to it. The Thiefs is simply a real rock band writing and playing real great songs. There’s not anything revolutionary going on here, they just really nail the back-to-basics rock sound. It’s so refreshing to hear this kind of good rock music from a current band.
“It’s Not You, It’s Us” is both retro and cutting-edge rock, all at the same time. To put it over the top, it’s a fantastic album for the car. Try not to crank the volume on “Good For My Age” it’s darn near impossible not to!
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