Descended Like Vultures

Rogue Wave's 2003 debut, Out of the Shadow, and 2005 sophomore album, Descended Like Vultures, are now back in print on colored vinyl. Both exemplify the best of early 2000s indie-rock: thoughtful, artful, catchy, and drawing on influences from Fleetwood Mac to Neil Young to My Bloody Valentine. Out of the Shadow was originally released in a limited quantity on the band's own Responsive recordings label in early 2003. It is a gentle, undeniable charmer full of the timeless sophistication and fierce, penetrating hooks that define a classic album. Band leader Zach Rogue speaks to the almost accidental creation of the band and album: There's an innocence and openness to Out of the Shadow, probably because I had literally no idea what I was doing. I made sketches of the songs on 4-track and by and large, the structure of the songs didn't change too much in the studio. While it felt like the most exciting thing that ever happened to me, I didn't think it would be heard by anyone except maybe my friends and family. When it was done, I used it as a way to recruit a band on Craigslist. I wish I could remember what I wrote in that posting. Despite the record's humble origins, it charmed the world on release. All Music gave it 4/5 and declared: "Not a weak link or bit of filler to be found anywhere... an indie dream come true." Alternative Press rated it 5/5 and said: "Think Doug Martsch fronting the Shins and playing the sweetest Carl Newman jams ever." The follow-up, Descended Like Vultures, was the first time Zach Rogue made a record with a whole group in the studio. Ten days with Bill Racine (who produced Out Of The Shadow with Rogue) at Supernatural Sound in Oregon City, OR spawned 11 tracks that journey through a dreamy landscape inspired by several decades of classic rock and pop. Rogue calls it "the sound of a road weary but energized band... we were obsessed with the Flaming Lips and hoped we could, through osmosis, absorb some of that Dave Fridmann magic. All we wanted to do was experiment in the studio." Entertainment Weekly gave Descended... an A-, saying "Rogue's high, gentle vocals and halcyon harmonies mask lyrics that are occasionally dark and cynical - but never mushy." And Under the Radar rated it 8/10, calling it "a perfect mix of tender melodies and rock and roll."