Glean * by EchoBrain (CD, Apr-2004, Surfdog Records)

Album Features
UPC:	640424402327
Artist:	EchoBrain
Format:	CD
Release Year:	2004
Record Label:	Surfdog Records
Genre:	Heavy Metal

Track Listing
1. Jellyneck
2. Knock 'Em Out
3. You're Sold
4. Heroic Dose
5. Out of Reach
6. Seven Seconds
7. Arsenic of Love
8. Beat as We Go
9. Modern Science
10. Hardheaded Woman
11. Nowhere Too Long
12. Nobody

Details
Playing Time:	54 min.
Distributor:	Alternative Dis. Alliance
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
Echobrain: Dylan Donkin (vocals, guitar, piano, Wurlitzer piano, organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, bass); Andrew Gomez (guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, bass); Brian Sagrafena (guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion); Adam Donkin (Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, bass).Producers: Echobrain, Dave Darling, Adam Donkin.Recorded at Brian's, Millbrae, California; The Plant, Sauaslito, California and Aviary Studios, Montara, California.Personnel: Dylan Donkin (vocals, guitar, charango, piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer); Nathan Paine (vocals); Andrew Gomez (guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Brian Sagrafena (guitar, drums, percussion); Brian Belluomini (flute).Audio Mixers: Chris Manning; Brian Sagrafena; Tom Weir.Recording information: Brian's House, Millbrae, CA; Plant, Sausalito, CA; The Aviary, Montara, CA.Photographer: J. D. Crayne.Jason Newsted isn't EchoBrain's bass player anymore, and that's probably a good thing. While notices for the band's 2002 debut were generally strong, the famously angry-faced rock vet's involvement tended to hog the spotlight, overshadowing what was some solid songwriting from youngsters Dylan Donkin (vocals/guitar) and Brian Sagrafena (drums). For Glean, Newsted has exited, replaced by Dylan's brother Adam Donkin. Guitarist/keyboardist Adam Garcia has joined up, too, and together the quartet spins a sunny, slightly psychedelic, post-grunge web. Sometimes, like during the brief, acoustic-based shuffle of "Knock 'Em Out," EchoBrain sounds like Soundgarden covering Donovan. Part of that is due to Donkin's vocals. He has the throaty bellow down pat; however, he brings a soulful mellowing to the proceedings, ensuring that harder-edged material like "Jellyneck," "Your Sold," and "Hardheaded Woman" (there's that Donovan phrasing again) don't become exercises in whose biceps are bigger. So it's true the band can rock, but Glean is much more comfortable in the hazy sunshine. "Heroic Dose" follows meandering lines of watery slide guitar over magical mystery synthesizers and stoned percussion. "I think I touched the source today," Donkin slurs, and as clichéd as the lyric is, you believe him. "Seven Seconds" drops chattering child samples into an airy post-Alice in Chains meditation, and standout "Beat as We Go" returns to warm positivity. "It shines like love as we burn," EchoBrain sings over fuzzy Love guitar, and vintage San Francisco scents fill the air like incense. Other highlights include the distorted thump of "Out of Reach" and "Modern Science"'s lilting acoustic breeze. Ghosts of varying reference certainly inhabit Glean, but they're like pleasantly aimless granola kids who stay on for the summer -- you can't stay mad at their presence because they smile and make great hummus. ~ Johnny Loftus

Editorial Reviews
3 stars out of 5 - [I]t combines classic and post-grunge rock with folk-pop and psychedelia, by turns evoking Pearl Jam, Jeff Buckley, Cream and Alice in Chains. Cult hero status beckons.
Q