Album Review: Ride the Wave

Known Associates have had a successful 2019 opening for big acts like Living Colour, The Feelers and The Jordan Luck Band. Ride the Wave is their second full length outing, following Penny Love and the Rebound EP. It contains their classic twin guitar sound and combines it with a great bunch of new songs.

Standout track Rockstar has an infectious and beguiling bass line that I couldn’t help but follow throughout the song. I also really gravitated towards what sounded like a nice low cello outro.

Some of the solo work in Dream Baby is syrupy and attractive, doing something to my inner ear that feels like either being drunk or bathing in hot chocolate. Wear It is a light and tuneful gallivanting experience.

The attention grabbing progression and soap-box blues of Satin Love is like a finger click in an empty bar; you can’t help but follow the sound and see what’s going on. I have a hot-take on this one: I would have liked to see it open the album. I feel like it would have made a spicier first impression and an intriguing suggestion. Almost a flirtation. Terror Beach sounded great following Satin Love but it’s also an awesome album closer, so I’m conflicted about my earlier call on the track order. It has a super affecting chord change going into the chorus and a few twists and turns in the third act including a surprising switch to some classic punk smash sounds.

I get the sense that these guys are having a lot of fun playing the music they were born to play. If you’re into bands like The Rolling Stones or Guns n’ Roses you might enjoy giving these guys a listen. Songs like Paradise, Someone Still and Deep Sea Diver also bleed hints of a pastiche of influences from Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd to Boston, Kansas and Rush to Led Zeppelin and even Red Hot Chilli Peppers in the title track. There’s a moment in Wear It that’s almost reminiscent of girl group sensation B*witched.

Ride the Wave is a pretty damn appropriate album name. I can’t really sum it up without sounding like I’m basically saying the title. It’s a ride. And after everything I’ve been through I encourage you to have a listen. Like a drug peddling, trench coat wearing vagrant I invite you to experience the classic twin guitar shower that is Known Associates.