Protein – Songs About Cowboys

Protein
Artist: Protein
Title: Songs About Cowboys
Label: Work
Rating: 6/10

From the sounds of it, Protein is taking their music to the roots. Not country, but down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll. “From Mercury To Texas” gives you a quick taste of Josh Zee’s cutting guitar riffs and his odd singing. He loves to push his voice to notes that he seemingly can’t hit. His squelching vocals that sound like Richie Cunningham when embarrassed are the most appealing thing about Protein’s sound, a sound that is something you’ll want more of.

“Lemonade” has a bridge that sounds like that of early Green Day, but I’ll forgive them. The song that turned this disc around for me was “Over My Dead Body”. The sound is very familiar, something that I can’t quite put my finger on. It is a slower version of the non-carb punch that Protein gives. “Passing By” is a short but sweet song that leads into the super quirky “Sleeping On The Roof Of A Mexican Restaurant”. So what is the deal with that? Not a clue, but the arrangement is just as unique. Enjoy.

“40 Days and Nights” has the charm of songs passed but includes a solo. The bouncy unbuttoned feel reminds me a bit of Blur’s earlier material, but don’t confuse Protein with any others. Their sound is a mix of all things musical. I certainly must note that Protein does owe a lot to their producer, GGGarth. Then there is the funky cowpoke intermission that sounds like the fadeout from Hee-Haw. Yee-ha.

“Maybe The World Isn’t Round” sounds a bit like that cute boy from Silverchair going through puberty, but it is honestly as serious as Protein gets. I’m conflicted over the fact that I’m not sure whether I like their oddball sound as well as I do their serious side. With two discs under their belt, these guys will have plenty of time to work on being serious, but I hope they don’t lose their oddball sense of humor. That is their sweetest asset.

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