Wonderground – Become Water / 2006 Snow Day Records / 5 Tracks / http://www.wonderground.net / Reviewed 02 August 2006

The first minute of so of Wonderground’s introduction to their listeners on “Become Water” is pretty tame compared to the rest of the music that is on “Become Water”. After this first music, what individuals hear on “Marionettes” is something that is very diverse and interesting. There is a shambling mass of different instruments and sounds that will lift listeners off their feet and impress them at each turn. Of the most interest on “Marionettes” has to be the rapid shifts in the time signatures conducted by the band.

In a sense, this shows that Wonderground is an act that is tremendously influenced by bands like “Lifted”-era Bright Eyes. The production level between the two acts (Bright Eyes and Wonderground) are miles apart; where Bright Eyes were striving for a very raw type of style for their “Lifted”, the sound of Wonderground during this track is polished to a degree that individuals can see themselves in the reflection. Even though “Become Water” is an EP, individuals are able to get a great idea about what Wonderground sounds like and what they are trying to do with this album. This is intelligent indie-pop that is a descendent of Proteus; each song on this disc shows a different appreciation of the indie styles that influenced the band. Where “Marionettes” was pushing on the emo-indie style, “The Bells” is a pure bit of Weezer meets Matthew Sweet, with a little bit of The Appleseed Cast. Throwing in a little bit of classic rock with the instrumental interlude during “The Bells”, Wonderground shows that there is no limit to the type and number of styles that can be on their tracks.

The extended instrumental opening to “Tongues and Codes” allows the band to make a track that is much more experimental than anything else that is on “Become Water”. However disjointed that the track may sound, the band is capable enough to keep things together for the entirety of the track without once backsliding. The disc may be over before it hits twenty minutes, but the fullness and rich sound of “Become Water” is enough that individuals will feel as if they have been friends with the band for years after sticking this into their player a few times. I want Wonder Ground to have a full length out soon; the EP is great, but there is a limit to the number of times that one can play it before things get too tedious.

Top Track: Marionettes

Rating: 6.8/10

[JMcQ]