Their accessible pop sound stands above the pack for a few good reasons. The most immediately obvious is the prominent use of violin through many of the eleven tracks on their upcoming self-titled debut. Founding Article One member Matt Piche has been playing since age 5, and his nimble fingers fly through these well-constructed pop tunes. Brother Nathan does most of the writing, as well as singing lead and playing guitar, bass, and piano. The two siblings grew up with musical parents, and include the Beatles, classical music, and U2 among their strongest influences. It’s not difficult to spot the impact of these giants in the soaring melody lines (“Dream October”), tight harmonies (the album’s first single “Heaven Let Me Know”), and powerful lyrics (“Hold Onto Me”) on these eclectic tracks. And it’s not that the songs themselves are that radically dissimilar from standard radio fare: it’s Article One’s delivery: Nathan’s resonant baritone standing out from the thick harmonies, and the rich sonic touches sprinkled throughout.
But I’ll just feature one track to hold you over until it’s closer to the May release date. “So Many Ways to Say Goodbye” begins quietly, a poignant goodbye written at the time of a young friend’s death. Nathan’s piano is as expressive as his rich vocals, both soaring through the infectious chorus as the tempo picks up. The songwriting of Article One’s pop tunes is mature and focused; a very high percentage of these tracks contain standout hook-filled choruses and hugely melodic bridges. Matt’s violin accents all the right moments on “So Many Ways,” entering softly at the bridge, gaining strength through the hooky chorus, echoing Nathan’s guitars and Dave DeSmit’s drums with perfectly nuanced phrasing.
The skills and of Article One belie their youth. My prediction? The album’s release will cleave a path through the charts like a mad musical buzz-saw. Look for an upcoming interview and more on Article One’s debut as the release date draws near.
