Introducing Asono

Asono "Street Full Of Strangers"
Asono "One Man Army"
Asono "Someday"

A few intrepid readers have accused the Reverend of being “stuck in the ‘70s, man,” what with my concentration hereabouts on “classic rock” artists. Their point is well-taken but, well…ignored, really, ‘cause this is my spot where I get to jabber on endlessly about whatever bands I want, and I mostly want to talk about largely-forgotten older bands from my misspent youth. Every other blog and their brother obsesses with the latest-and-greatest-big-biz-buzz (what I am hereafter calling “hypnoblogging” due to the fact that the writers all seem to be mesmerized by some publicist’s hype), but that’s not the case here at Trademark Of Quality.

Well, I’m going to throw a bone to all you gentle readers thirsting for a bit of hypnoblogging from the Reverend. I have just one word for you: Asono. If all you hapless indie-rock types looking to latch onto the next big thing don’t grab onto this British rock foursome pronto, then you’re going to be left behind when the really major hype begins. Asono rocks the socks off of just about anything I’ve heard from the United Kingdom as of late, and that includes the Towers of London and Zodiac Mindwarp’s recent trip down memory lane.

Asono’s self-titled, six-song mini-album runs just shy of 24-minutes and crams more life, energy and passion into the space than most bands can muster up on CDs two-to-three-times the length. Vocalist/lead guitarist Jonny Ross wields a larger-than-life stadium-rock voice that is warm enough for stateside radio, accented enough to engage anglophile fans, and supple enough to run from a whisper to a scream in the turn of one of the band’s sharply-defined riffs.

Ross, along with fellow axeman Andrew Simmons, crank up the amps and deliver a delicious one-two-punch of six-string pugilism that would drop Mike Tyson to the canvas, curling up in the fetal position. Bassist Jason Denhart and drummer Oli King hold down a solid rhythm; King is especially impressive, an old-school big-beat blaster in the mold of Moonie and Bonzo. In fact, although a glimpse at the band’s web site shows that their self-professed influences (Led Zeppelin, Queen, U2, Aerosmith, etc) are right on the money, the truth is that Asono doesn’t really sound like any of ‘em. In fact, one of the nicest things about these tunes is that they sound familiar and yet unique; Asono sounds like every great rock band that you’ve ever heard, and yet they sound entirely like themselves. A good trick, if you can pull it off…and Asono does…pull it off, that is.

Most of all, the songs on Asono, the mini-album, are a lively batch of unassuming rockers, sounding more mature than the foursome’s young age would have you believe (three of the guys are still in their upper-teens). Ross’ vox are impressive, not in a technically-proficient, Simon-Cowell-will-be-pleased, American Idol bland sameness, but in a flawed, powerful, wring-every-ounce-of-emotion out of the lyrics way that REAL rock bands used to thrive on back in the day. The songs are good, Ross’ lyrics imaginative and literate, and I can only imagine him getting better as a wordsmith. “Street Full Of Strangers,” “One Man Army,” “Someday,” “Never Nothing Never,” “O.D.’d On Love” and “She Love’s L.A.” are all brimming over with street-tough melodies, soaring vocals, monster riffs, guitar solos, explosive rhythms and that elusive rock & roll spirit.

Asono are the real deal, and honest-to-god-rock-n-roll-band primed and ready to roll over the United States. Catch ‘em while they’re still cool….

www.myspace.com/asono