Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s (Epic Records)

by Gabriel Barrio in Musician Reviews, Reviews, bands to watch

Brooding guitar strings and loves lamentations as told through the expressions unique of Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s. The band hails from the ordinary land of Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana contributed to the music world with the musical stylings such as Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon and Axl Rose from Guns and Roses to name a couple. The band formed in 2005 when Richard Edwards and Chris Fry met in a pet store and became friends. What ensued would be musical releases that are a throwback to emotion in music and a rhythm unforgettable. They have released a number of noteworthy records to date, The Dust of Retreat released in 2006, The Daytrotter Sessions EP released in 2008, and Animal and Not Animal which were both released in late 2008. The band is on Epic Records which is home to other notable artists such as Fiona Apple and Modest Mouse. However, the latest and most awakening artist at the moment on the label has to be Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s.

The band is labeled as Indie, Folk, and Chamber Pop. Although many people would draw comparison to artists like Sufjan Stevens, or Arcade Fire, I would put Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s in a class all their own, even more so with the lengthy name. At first listen you can hear the tragic musings and prose coming over the microphone and into a recorded track that bleeds soul. Haunting melancholy littered with melodic and soft sensual vocal tones. The music is winding and definitely retains some pop elements. The band makes effective use of stringed instruments to emote the tragedy that is associated with love. The wide use of different instruments keeps the band sounding versatile, and mobile throughout the musical genres that attempt to contain their burgeoning sound. The production is infectious using soft synth with somber grace adding to their allure. The bands overall relevance in an over saturated music market is just that they are soulful and have a depth in their sound that is reminiscent to bands that made us want to sing along or dance in the room when no one is watching.

I must admit the first song I heard from Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s had me swooning and falling in love. An early release from The Dust of Retreat, Skeleton Key is spellbinding, simplistic and undisguised as it tugs at the heart. From the introduction of the hiss and crackle to the moment that the instruments and vocals creep in I could feel the prose resonate with every painful moment of star crossed love of my personal experience. The song is well written, poetic and a beautifully aching metaphor that anyone who has been in love can identify with. The band is definitely worth some of your precious listening time, and with their latest records on vinyl what could be better.