Between the years 2001 and 2002, four men from Southern California joined forces to create a band that we know today as Open Air Stereo. With Chase
Johnson (lead vocals), Nick Gross (drums), Scott Pounds (guitars), and Evan Smith (bass) this group has been able to create a following that has withstood an 11 year wait for their first album release, Primates (2013). The band’s first big break came in 2006 when they were signed to Epic Records and given airtime on MTV’s Laguna Beach as Chase Johnson starred as a lead character on the show. However, after a couple of years of success, the band found themselves hitting a wall. This caused a three-year break up for the foursome and a halt on all recording. In 2011, members of Open Air Stereo decided to get back together, work on their music, and the long-awaited album Primates was finally released in May 2013. Much like the title of their debut album, Open Air Stereo has evolved musically and as a band over the past 11 years since their inception. Even through this long journey, Open Air Stereo has been able to stay consistent and relevant to today’s music scene and grow from every setback. Primates truly could not have been released at a more perfect time.
The album begins with an intro track entitled, “Marauder” which steadily builds into a beat that flows easily into the first actual track, “The Right”. This song features a combination of heavy drumming and mesmerizing guitar chords. It is a strong and memorable track and a perfect way to begin the evolution of Primate. Following this is a track called “Love Is Blind”, which is the epitome of rock n’ roll. It is catchy, it is grungy, and it is loud. The raspy vocals of Chase Johnson only add to the strength of the song.
From here, Primate seems to evolve into a more radio-friendly sound. It is a little less classic rock n’ roll and a little more in with the times. “Give Me Everything”, is much less in your face than the opening songs. It starts quieter and even as the chorus builds, it continues to have a softer sound throughout to put more emphasis on the vocals and message. “Stuck On You” is the next track and first single off Primate. This track is definitely the most pop sounding and radio-friendly and comparable to something Maroon 5 would put out. It is extremely catchy, relevant, and shows Open Air Stereo is bold enough to try new sounds. “Damned” is another song that would do extremely well on radio. The music is enticing, the lyrics are relatable, and you just want to sing along when Johnson sings, “Do you ever feel like screaming until you break down these walls? / Do you ever feel like no one would catch you when you fall? / I just want to dance like I don’t give a damn / Whatever comes comes tomorrow”.
The next few tracks on the album start to exhibit a little more of a rock sound. “Where Do We Go” and “Hung Over You” are tracks that have the heavy, loud musicality that you would expect from a rock n’ roll track with the additions of heartfelt lyrics and the soulfulness that is Chase Johnson’s raspy voice. These additions give these Open Air Stereo tracks a sound that is comparable to Daughtry or Nickelback. The next track, “What You Want”, introduces a new sound altogether. It is more edgy and experimental and is reminiscent of early Incubus. Closing tracks “Living Proof” and “Your Way Is My Way” have a similar sound to the two opening tracks. They are classic rock n’ roll with a steady beat to tap along to and cool vocals for singing along. With the introduction of these two final songs, it is almost as if Primate has come full circle as it ends in the same way it began.
Overall, Primate is a solid debut album. Every song introduces a new sound and Open Air Stereo found a way to mesh multiple genres onto one compact disc, which is hard to do. Eleven years in the making certainly paid off for this band because the strength of this album is unbelievable. Each track off Primate helped the album to build and evolve into something completely new and unexpected. The risk taking and strength of this album helped Cryptic Rock to give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Written by Vanessa Carlucci
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