Music: Straight Line Press

STRAIGHT LINE PRESS

90's-influenced tri-state rockers putting finishes touches on long-awaited EP

Sometimes it pays to be patient, and that's certainly true in the case of Straight Line Press, the 90's-influenced rockers who first made waves in the tri-state music scene back in 2020. It wasn't the ideal time to start a new project with live performance opportunities at a minimum, but one listen to the material SLP had recorded with Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording put any such thoughts aside. Because, as early mixes of anthemic tracks like the Foo Fighters-inspired "Best Side" and wickedly grungy "Maybe" displayed, singer Jorell McIntosh possesses all the characteristics that make for a great frontman - charisma, swagger and a voice made for rock & roll; but he's also got a distinctive writing style on guitar that's a product of an odd tuning technique. It all added up to the promise of a truly exciting local release on the horizon.

But not so fast. Here we are many months, two COVID variants and one less band member later, and the Tyner-recorded EP is just now about to drop. But that's perfectly ok - great, even - because in addition to the four tracks N4U got a taste of back in the early days of SLP, there's a couple of fantastic additions in "Try" and "Glory to the Ghost." The former is an ebullient, fist-pumping pop-punk track that McIntosh delivers with conviction as he acknowledges there's no shame in failing: "Sometimes you gotta get back up and give it one more try!"; the latter is a groove-monster that sounds like Saliva and Living Colour joined forces. McIntosh's hip-hop past is apparent here and elsewhere on the EP, bringing extra flavor to his up-front vocals.

We'll "try" to bring you more on this hotly-anticipated new local release next month. Hang tight.

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