"O.K., but only if it rocks."

By Jaye Drew, freelance writer
Friday, November 14, 2008
Back in the day when Rock and Roll was young, kids would walk a few blocks to get to a record store. They would lock their bedroom doors, slip that vinyl disc out of the cardboard sleeve and sit back with the insert in hand. Those were the days when a Rock and Roll album wasn't just a collection of songs--it was an experience and a work of art, crafted to have a cohesive theme. It has since been said that rock and roll is dead.

In September of 2008 Portland rock group, 'Loverless', posted a free digital download of their third album 'Nothing Under the Sun' at an exclusive address that was disseminated by the band and their compadres.Ê It is available for free for a limited time in two parts, Side A and Side B, before being released for digital download on iTunes. This latest masterpiece will be available in another format for those of you who are just a little more 'rock 'n roll'. In the coming weeks you will be able to walk into a Bull Moose Music and stroll out with a shrink wrapped cardboard sleeve that contains something that is somewhat of a rarity to modern music. Fans will have the opportunity to experience Loverless in full-fledged vintage fashion. And if you are anything like me (an unlikely occurrence) you will light a few candles, pour yourself a glass of wine, put your cell phone on silent and listen uninterrupted all the way through.

Such rock and roll style befits a band that was created under the one creed,

"O.K., but only if it rocks."

Those were the words of one Michael Anderson (drums) in response to Elijia Ocean (guitar, lead vocals)Ê and Dan Macleod (bass) when they pitched their plan for a new rock and roll alliance in 2004. The trio whipped up a few tunes and recorded a demo. They released their debut self-titled album a year later and their second, 'Fighter', a year after the first.

Ê This latest, 'Nothing Under The Sun', narrates the story of Roy C. Sullivan, a man who survived having been struck by lightening seven times only to commit suicide at the age of 83 after a failed romance ended in heartbreak. Both sides of the album open with the same haunting melody accompanied by the soundtrack of a thunder storm and the rhythm of a heart monitor. Scathing and melodic rock numbers illustrating the pitfalls of unrequited love and staggering bad luck fill sides A and B of 'Nothing Under The Sun'.

It's a story and at the same time it is a compilation of individually great rock numbers--'Nothing Under The Sun' brings you to the forest and points out the trees. Loverless has accomplished an album in the true sense of the word without losing sight of crafting individual tunes that can stand all by themselves. All in all, it's a true rock album and another reason to believe that perhaps the toe of rock and roll has yet to be tagged.

These three somewhat soft-spoken lads will kill a live show and help little old ladies across the street at the same time. Well, at least it seems that way with the amount of energy and sound emanating from the stage when they deliver. If you want to witness them in the flesh they will be at Space Gallery with Dominic and The Lucid at 9pm on December 13th. In the meantime, I suggest you price out record players because once you get a taste of the free download you may get a hankering for vinyl. Get the free download here: http://www.loverless.com/10/15/11/27/42