Review of Sittin' Idol - Self Titled

If, by chance, you’ve already glanced at the release info at the top of this page, you’re no doubt wondering why we’re reviewing an album this old. Those lash fingers getting itchy? Here’s the deal–Sittin’ Idol submitted their (more) recently released album for review, and threw in this self titled effort to boot. The new album will be reviewed shortly. Meanwhile, I’ll catch you up on the band’s early days.

Sittin’ Idol’s first effort is a solid debut that shows some talent and class, as well as a few rough edges. The band’s sound is predominantly drawn from a blending and/or alternating between the southern fried metal of Corrosion of Conformity, the dark rock of Alice in Chains, but a handful of other disparate influences crop up in less consistent ways. The band does a lot of things right, and this is one of those albums that I’d never complain about someone putting in my cd player. Still, the album has a few kinks. You’re not going to find anything entirely objectionable, just a niggling notion that this band is still working to completely find their own voice.

The band’s Corrosion of Conformity influenced material is entirely satisfactory. Easy, soulful grooves and even Pepper-like vocals give song like “Turning Point” a convincing, if indebted, comfort. Tracks like “Conformist Wine” and “Mission” take a heavier approach that combines modern hard rock and metal in a way that keeps it FM friendly but still reasonably enjoyable. Some Godsmack comparisons aren’t unreasonable. “Redline” even has the barroom strut of vintage Aerosmith. You know, Aerosmith before the days of Alicia Silverstone. Not the days she was in the videos--before Alicia Silverstone–back when the band was more interested in quaaludes than Grammys. Most of the second half of the album sounds like it was substantially influenced by Alice in Chains, and especially their Jar of Flies type material. The personality of the first half of the album is still present, but there is a definite shift in presentation. Again, the band does most things well here. They do go back to the same well a little too often though on the final three songs. The first two of the three use a similar formula of acoustic to heavy to acoustic, while the closer is entirely mellow. The latter track is the only track on the album that just didn’t work for me. I found it to be too long and a bit dull, especially immediately following so much other acoustic/mellow material. The Mike McCready-like (Pearl Jam) noodling throughout the song is nice though. And in fact, the musicianship is solid throughout the album. “Suncatcher” is the best of the three closing tracks, but “Superhost” gains momentum after a slow start. The spacey, “Planet Caravan” styled stretch in the middle is especially nice.

I’d be interested to know if Sittin’ Idol spent any time as a cover band in its early days. If so, I’m sure they were a damn good one, but it seems like the band (as of 2001) hadn’t completely carved out a voice of their own. Despite that, Sittin’ Idol is a band that shows both some talent and potential, and I’d be interested to hear how the band has progressed in recent years.

Release Details

Sittin' Idol

Self Titled

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