Oleander
"February Son"
Rating: 3 out of 5 Meerkats
By Todd Dierking
In the beginning of the 90's, critics raved that Seattle would be the base of the new "alternative" sound that would be the next big wave to hit the music scene. With the emergence of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, SoundGarden, Alice in Chains, etc. etc., they were proved right. Now some critics have pointed to Sacramento as the spot of the next big wave of music. With local bands like the Deftones hitting the big time, they could be right again. And a prime contender for stardom is Oleander. After touring the Sacramento music scene vigorously for years, the band has finally released it's first full length album, February Son. And with a world tour opening for Creed ahead for them, the sky could be the limit.
Aside from the cheesy art work on the CD cover, the band has put out a more polished product than it's previous EP. The first four songs, Sooner or Later, Stupid, Down when I'm Loaded, and Why I'm Here all come off the EP. They are slightly different, losing some of the raw edge of the EP's versions. The tunes still rock, though. The album features newer tunes, like the radio favorite I Walk Alone, as well as hard rocker Shrinking the Blob and the ballad How Could I. Although guitarist Rick Ivanisevich, Bassist Doug Eldridge, and Drummer Fred Nelson Jr. do a fine (although not earth-shattering) job, it is guitarist and vocalist Thomas Flowers who dominates the band's energy. His passionate vocals and bizarre on-stage presence will draw countless analogies to Kurt Cobain, but no doubt he carries the band on record and on stage.
While much of February Son differs little from the majority of the current alternative sound, it does have much to offer the rock music fan, especially those close to the Sacto area. This band could break out big------ if some other sound-alike band doesn't beat them to it!