I try to avoid clothing stores in the mall. Really, honestly I do. My philosophy is "If I can't find it at Goodwill (or similar thrift store) then it's not worth finding". Unfortunately, having one friend who practically lives in that kind of store makes it impossible to avoid them all the time.
In this one particular clothing/jewelry/everything-else-under-the-sun store, they had televisions scattered throughout the store. My friend ducked into the restroom and I, being uncomfortable with being in a clothing store at all (and especially about being alone in the female clothing section), leaned against a rack of clothing and glued my eyes to the nearest television screen while mentally screaming for my friend to come back.
On the TV they were running a loop of music videos. Of course, most of it was the typical Avril L. "punk" crap. However, while I was standing there a Loudermilk song came on. It started out sounding fairly typical. The beginning had a fairly "nu metal" feel to it, nothing to make it stand out. Some normally sung vocals. Ho hum.
Then the chorus made me pay attention. The guitars backed off and fuzzed out. Some sweet almost-emo-but-not-quite vocals soared, controlled and beautiful. Then it started rocking again. But after the chorus, it didn't give the impression of nu metal at all. It just felt like an all-out rock song.
Somehow I remembered the band name and looked up the CD the next time I was in a music store. No way was I going to pay full price for it after hearing only one song. But I committed the cover to memory and went on my merry way. Fast forward five months. I found a pre-release promotional copy of the cd for $3 and picked it up.
For the most part, each song is a rock song. The guitar tone buzzes and cuts through silence. There are two soft songs. One sounds like a bad Emo song, even using bad Emo clichés. Thankfully that song is followed up by a track that makes the previous song drift into a faded memory. Track 7, "Mai", is one of the highlights of the CD, combining a wicked chorus with sweet vocal verses. The introduction to the song is soft and beautifully layered. That is followed by the other completely soft song. This one is not a bad track, but it feels out of place.
Article comments
1 - dave jenitsream
Loudermilk used to rip off smashing pumpkins a full %100 but then they got dropped from American so they added a few cover tunes on the record and a musical rip off a guns n' roses song ( they just changed the lyrics around a bit). don't believe me well listen to elekt on this record and then listen to guns n roses "its so easy". hmmm. ok. sad well they have another song on this album that is an exact copy of a nirvana guitar riff. + they cover a bjork "california" song. now they are going to be dropped off of dreamworks. well they were a cover band before they got big and now that is what they have returned to, a lame cover band. davey, the lead singer has a mullet style hairdo and i think he refuses to talk to fans because he doesnt like most of them (he said in an interview.) what a jerk. well beyond the album i heard when they were on tour there manager paid some kiddies $50 each to go up to the loudermilk boys and ask for autographs. now that is cheesy . plus at a dashboard confessional show in North Carolina the dashboard guys were so fed up with loudermilk's rockstar shinanigans that they had there manager remove loudermilk from the tour that night after davey told the crowd how pissed he was that dashboard was headlining and getting paid big bucks and loudermilk wasn't even making enough to pay for sandwiches after the show.
2 - dave jenitsream
Loudermilk used to rip off smashing pumpkins a full %100 but then they got dropped from American so they added a few cover tunes on the record and a musical rip off a guns n' roses song ( they just changed the lyrics around a bit). don't believe me well listen to elekt on this record and then listen to guns n roses "its so easy". hmmm. ok. sad well they have another song on this album that is an exact copy of a nirvana guitar riff. + they cover a bjork "california" song. now they are going to be dropped off of dreamworks. well they were a cover band before they got big and now that is what they have returned to, a lame cover band. davey, the lead singer has a mullet style hairdo and i think he refuses to talk to fans because he doesnt like most of them (he said in an interview.) what a jerk. well beyond the album i heard when they were on tour there manager paid some kiddies $50 each to go up to the loudermilk boys and ask for autographs. now that is cheesy . plus at a dashboard confessional show in North Carolina the dashboard guys were so fed up with loudermilk's rockstar shinanigans that they had there manager remove loudermilk from the tour that night after davey told the crowd how pissed he was that dashboard was headlining and getting paid big bucks and loudermilk wasn't even making enough to pay for sandwiches after the show.
3 - dave jenitsream
Loudermilk used to rip off smashing pumpkins a full %100 but then they got dropped from American so they added a few cover tunes on the record and a musical rip off a guns n' roses song ( they just changed the lyrics around a bit). don't believe me well listen to elekt on this record and then listen to guns n roses "its so easy". hmmm. ok. sad well they have another song on this album that is an exact copy of a nirvana guitar riff. + they cover a bjork "california" song. now they are going to be dropped off of dreamworks. well they were a cover band before they got big and now that is what they have returned to, a lame cover band. davey, the lead singer has a mullet style hairdo and i think he refuses to talk to fans because he doesnt like most of them (he said in an interview.) what a jerk. well beyond the album i heard when they were on tour there manager paid some kiddies $50 each to go up to the loudermilk boys and ask for autographs. now that is cheesy . plus at a dashboard confessional show in North Carolina the dashboard guys were so fed up with loudermilk's rockstar shinanigans that they had there manager remove loudermilk from the tour that night after davey told the crowd how pissed he was that dashboard was headlining and getting paid big bucks and loudermilk wasn't even making enough to pay for sandwiches after the show.
4 - shinetr
eh shut up and get off a loudermilk site if you hate them so much.
they have good music..so they covered/borrowed a bit of others music..who the hell cares?? it's not like any single band is TOTALLY original. each and every band, no matter what the say, has ripped off another band. they would like to call it "influence." it's not a bad thing at all.
maybe they don't like their fans because their fans are assholes? who knows..it's not like you're going to get all personal with the band anyway. listen to the music, or don't like to the music. whatever.
5 - the truth
Dear, Dave...your an idiot. the BS that you are spreading is all untrue. Well, let me say that you have the right to your opinion, thats all good. The rest of your post is just a fine example of a low IQ. Paying kids to ask for autographs? Lie.
Getting kick off the Dashboard tour? Lie.(as a matter of fact it is one of Chris's favorite bands in his life and they are all great friends and will be touring together later this year.) Not enough money to buy a sandwich?Lie...how do I know this Dave? Im their manager and you are a frustrated person.....must be a "small" guy dave...nothin better to do than spead vicious rumors...get a life......see ya at the next show.
6 - the truth
Im so sorry everyone, I almost left with out addressing Dave's other two lies.
Getting dropped by American? Lie.
We left and had to fight to get out of the deal when American left Columbia and was in limbo before they were aquriered by Island/ Def Jam.
Now they are getting dropped by DreamWorks? Lie. The band starts production on their new album this fall to be released by DreamWorks in Spring of next year. Take care everyone, yes you too Dave.
7 - Truth?
I can hardly believe it when people post "your an idiot". Before you call someone an idiot, double check your grammar.
You addressed the lies, but what about the truths? A few of the songs on the record sound a lot like specific songs from Bjork, Stone Temple Pilots and Guns n' Roses. Was anyone ever paid to ask for autographs? Does the band know that you're posting on boards representing them by calling people idiots? P.S. Your email address is very classy.
8 - Micheal
Dave
loudermilk is a great band. all members are really nice and hold up conversations with all of the fans. id like to hear a song that you come up with and ten bucks says that you got "inspiration" from someone else. Not that you could even play or anything......you just make fun of people you dont even no them. unlike you they have talent and your just jealous. good bye Dave.
9 - The Theory
i love it when my super old reviews get bumped up by new comments...
10 - Yoda
I think (notice opinion) that Loudermilk has a good sound. I like what I'm hearing on the Red Album. So much so that I went out and bought it and would pay to see them live. I've also recommended them to other musicians. Of course they have a lot of heavy influences! Who doesn't? There isn't a POP song out there that uses an "original" chord progression anyway. Everything has already been done; and most of the chord structures in pop music have their roots at least 500+ years in the past with people like Mozart and Haydn not to mention thousands of other composers. All you can ask for is a bit of new arranging. Different lyrics, voices, sounds etc.
I'm not trying to defend Loudermilk just for the sake of defending them. I was actually hoping to see them live sometime because I would like to get a better idea of what they are all about.
Are they still around? The NEWS section on the Website only lists the release of their Dreamworks album two years ago. I hope that this is not the last of the band. They obviously have some talent. With all of the Pop crap that we are fed I like to hear something a little different even if it is covers!
Don't be so hard on people!
pass the joint!
11 - Maybe_Serenity
Ok, let me just say that i met Loudermilk at a Weezer concert about 2 years ago. They were opening the side stage and when i watched them i was blown away. I had heard a few downloaded tracks by them and was singing along and Mark, the guitarist asked me how i knew their songs. I told him and we talked for probably the next hour or so about music and what not. The rest of the band walked about and joined in the conversation. I met all of them and they are quite possibly the nicest band i have ever met. Davey is so cool to fans as is every other band member, I just happened to mention to Mark that i had been looking everywhere for a copy of their first album (Man with gun kills 3), a YEAR later, after they had finished the dashboard tour, i got a copy of the album sent to me from Mark himself. I don't think a band that hated their fans would do something like that, or even remember to care a year from when i met them. Loudermilk is one of my favorite bands, and they always will be.
12 - brandon
so. loudermilk rocks. they are one of the most original bands out right now, and they are finally putting out a new album on a different label with a different band name. they are some of the nicest guys in the industry, and i should know as i have met them and hung out with them in seattle. they are sick of the labels that are put on many bands, and they don't want to be labeled either. I encourage everyone to put prejudice aside and check out their sound, because it rocks!
13 - sef anaheim
my teacher is the brother of the bass player and he gave me a CD of them and it is reaaally good, i hope they keep on rocking ´cause they are really good, please put some more web pages I can go to search about loudermilk.
14 - Aaron
Where is Loudermilk!? I can't find them anywhere. I saw them at a Dashboard concert last year and now they've vanished off the face of the earth. Someone said their new album was released this spring, but I can't find any information about it at all. What happened?
15 - Ben
does anybody have a copy of man with gun kills 3? i emailed mark awhile ago and he said the only wy to get it is to find someone who already has it. If anyone can help me out e-mail me at sklarfowler@yahoo.com.
Thanks
16 - Brandon
I could hook you up with a copy. I have some other stuff from previous bands too.
17 - Brandon
Oh, and they are Gosling now. You're Welcome.
18 - Ben
brandon! i was just looking at this message board today and I saw your post. it would be EXTREMELY appreciated if i could get some copy of man with gun kills 3, and their other bands too. how can i contact you? you can email me at sklarfowler@yahoo.com.
thanks
19 - justme
Loudermilk is now Gosling - www.goslingmusic.com. They are also on my space. It's a departure from Loudermilk in many ways but just as good if not better.
I totally know how it is when a good looking, talented band comes along all fashioned out, hitting it big. You wanna be a hater and you wanna judge. The truth is these guys are the real deal. No corporate shmuck pulled them together. they have played together since they were kids. They effing rock on their instruments and davey's singer/songwriter abilities are as creative if not idiosyncratic as ever in the new band. check out "mr. skelleton wings" on MySpace.com. simply amazing.
that's all. good night.
20 - al's autobody
Gosling's EP has been out for a while now, and it's still not old.
It's musically intellectually, and there's always something new and interesting to be discovered.
The mixture and rhythms of different instruments...pretty cool
21 - TCRocker
I am from Loudermilk's hometown of the Tri-Cities. I used to go watch them play at the Hoedown at the Wye. They are a great bunch of guys. I was at their Tri-City farewell tour and got my shirt signed by all the members as well as the band that was opening for them (can't even remember who it was.)
Yes, they have had struggles, but so has nearly every band out there. Some labels are a pain in the rear, some are great. Some greedy, some generous. I think Loudermilk, er Gosling, has done a wonderful job and everyone here in the Tri-Cities music scene is very proud of them.
Keep on cranking out those albums guys, and we will keep buying them. :)
22 - cameron
Heh, I'm also from the Tri-Cities, and remember going to their shows at the Hoedown!
And yes...I admit...I got my shirt signed at the farewell show too, lol!
I agree, they're a great bunch of guys.
From Davey, they didn't like how
American was molding their sound. So they basicly took a blurb in their contract that basicly said "you can leave American, however, and previously produced tracks will remain property of American" and got the hell out before they were turned into something they didnt want to be.
From listening to Loudermilk for many years, I can attest to the fact that the Red Album sounds much different than Man w/ gun kills 3.
Blue Lucky Lusy should have made it on the new album.
23 - tayler
davey, isaac, and the guys produce some of the best music ive ever heard, and ive been in the biz for quite some time. peace...
24 - To To
I revisited the Red Record this week and it still blows me away. Amazing efforts, boys.