Best Kept Secret

The Secret Machines

Secret Machines

Self-Released

Action Rating: 6.5/10

The Dallas three-piece is back with their third release, self titled, Secret Machines. The band has made a few big changes for this album: the independence from their label, Warner Bros. (they chose to self-release the album in collaboration with World’s Fair Label Group), and the departure of vocalist/guitarist/co-founder Benjamin Curtis. He left the band early last year to focus on his new project, School of Seven Bells. He was replaced with Phil Karnats, his former band mate from Tripping Daisy.

The record blasts off immediately into the infectiously electronic “Atomic Heels” sounding like a child of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. This song is the most notable example of the change in the band’s sound as it is upbeat and catchy and for them, as well as a rather short song. It’s definitely one of the albums highlights and one of the band's best songs yet.

"Last Believer Drop Dead" is a heavy song with spacey guitar riffs all over the atmosphere. "Underneath the Concrete" never seems to go anywhere but is not a bad song. “Now You’re Gone” and “I Never Thought to Ask” are somewhat familiar as they could each easily fit well on either of their last albums. While "Now You're Gone" is another standout with great use of studio overdubbing near the end.

Fans of the bands are no strangers to the drawn-out long winded jams the band throws in. “The Walls are starting to Crack”, which oozes with a Pink Floyd influence (think of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond). The song starts as a slow burner then breaks down into just acoustic guitar and suddenly in the middle there are random odd noises. Then rips in a guitar solo and the song is back in full swing. Curtis really paints a picture of the lyrics, “The walls are starting to crack/ How could they hold back/ The waves have always broken through.” The music continues in relatively epic fashion and it concludes. Pink Floyd would be proud.

“The Fire is Waiting” is really heavy and filled with huge riffs but clocks in over eleven minutes. It almost feels like they couldn’t decide when to end it and it drags. Aside from the last track, this is a near perfect album for the band.

This is a great album; it immediately starts rocking at the first track. Although they didn’t completely transform their sound, this album is not predictable and was the next logical step for the band. The change in the line-up seems nearly seamless as Secret Machines continue the journey began by the last two albums: Now Here is Nowhere and Ten Silver Drops.

Standout Tracks: Atomic Heels, Last Believer Drop Dead, Now You're Gone, The Walls Are Starting To Crack.