Speak Easy was reviewed on Littleradio.com. 4 out of 5 stars!



I wanted to somehow work the phrase “Easy like Sunday morning” in here, not because I’m reviewing the Commodores, but because it’s a great way to sum up the first full length release, Speak Easy, from Los Angeles based Amateurs. It’s a laid back, mellow album that meanders through several styles without getting lost in the woods. Drawing on influences such as T-Rex, Fleetwood Mac and David Bowie, they produce a style that is reminiscent of happy 70’s rock, without sounding derivative and clichéd. And then they throw in some country layers, dark soundscapes, dual guitars, a violin and a bucket load of emotional vocals. When you think you got their sound pinpointed down, the album morphs from poppy to dream-like. This is especially so with the track “Submariners” where the instruments take on a floating, underwater quality. Speak Easy successfully translates emotion in their instrumental tracks as well, slowly rising and building the structure until the whole track sweeps you off your feet. I recommend “Omaha Nights”, “Spectacular Fall”, and “Submariners”.

-Elana Rintala

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