FUFKIN
http://www.fufkin.com/columns/sorensen/sorensen_02_04.htm
Eric Sorensen: February, 2004
"Poor Little Girl" - by Eric Marcos. This song features a nice acoustic lead-in
to a very Beatlesque tune.
NOT LAME.COM
http://www.notlame.com/index.htm?action=product&itemid=127819&parentid
The long awaited follow-up disc from Eric and his band features support from
most of the Boston music scene, including Bill Janovitz, Todd Thibaud, Mike
Gent (The Figgs) and many others. But all I can say is this one helluva power
parade of pumping pop with balls! A few of you may remember a band from LA called
Code Blue, a few songs on this fabulous debut remind me of that band, at the
their best. But, generally, what the Boston Globe says below is dead-on...they
sound like early Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. It`s just a tour-de-force
of rock `n roll spirit---what a blast this must have been to make? That energy
and vibe is on full display here, that`s for sure. Extremely Highly Recommended!
THE NOISE, March 2004
by Francis DiMenno
ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES
Sodapop Records
Disposable Friend
13 songs
This is largely Nick Lowe-like, blurting, brazen, high-speed pure power pop
with crunchy, Beatlesque overtones. Often merely generically peppy and repetitive,
but never a drag. And both the irresistibly hook-laden "(She's So) Dull" and
the harmony-vocal-redolent, AOR-friendly "Poor Little Girl" deserve to become
some sort of underground classics.
THE NOISE, April 2001 Issue
#210
by David Sirois
ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES
Kendall Cafe, 3.11.01 ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES Kendall Cafe
3/11/01 Pop. Some people cringe at the sound. Some straddle it, and milk every
last drop of happiness from its harmonies and hooks. Tonight, Eric Marcos and
his band are playing their garage pop as part of a series called Who Will Survive
the Funderdome? which Boston comedian Matt Jablow has been hosting at the Kendall
since February. It features stand-up comics, a test of wits pitting his Comic
Heroes against a local band, and lastly a set of live music. The comedy is grinworthy,
occasionally hilarious, but the real entertainment here is in the band's energetic
set and engaging stage antics... like lead guitarist Steve's arena-rock arm
flailing, guitar humping and stage jumping, or Eric's contagious playfulness
and vocal intensity. False starts and flubbed chords aside, pop song catchiness
is in abundance here. I still can't get "That Should Make You Happy" out of
my head. A hugely entertaining show!
THE NOISE, April 2001 Issue #210
by Rita & Lolita
*** ERIC MARCOS (...NORMAL NOISES) left lots of blood and chunks of skin
sticking to his 12-string Rickenbacker after his wild Pete Townshend move. He
told us that he even soiled the new shirt he got from Japan. Lolita:
Does that mean it hurt so bad he shat upward? Rita: Maybe he was standing
on his head.
WWW.YOURSOUND.COM, Monday, July
17th, 2000
by Chris Blackburn
Eric Marcos and Normal Noises
Demos - Six Song CD
The finger-painting and doodles that make up the artwork for this CD appropriately
prepare the listener for the music inside. Both the visual and musical works
are raw, fun, and light-hearted. The songs and the band sound a lot like what
the Heartbreakers might do without Tom Petty. Eric Marcos's vocals are quite
similar in register and delivery to those found on "Scars" by Witness U.K. The
disc proves that the band can write and record good pop songs, but it fails
to deliver the ripping leads and pedal-steel bends of Ed Lyons's lead guitar
playing. You'll have to see them live for that.
The CD's opener, "Girl", is the happiest break-up song
I've ever heard. Complete with "hey's" and "na-na-na's", this song is designed
to be a sing along. "Middle" brings the song writing up a notch with its pretty
vocal harmonies and audience-leading chord progressions. Although the major
hook is repeated numerous times during the song, I still couldn't help but play
it again and again. Later, when "My Fault" creeps in, it feels as though some
one has drawn the shades. This song is the most memorable on the disc and is
also the biggest rocker. With all the tension and release of a stubborn man
finally admitting he's wrong, this song stands alone among the primarily emotionally-conservative
songs on this disc. The beautiful "Slowed Down" follows: while it does not have
the energy of "My Fault", it continues its maturity. With generous knob-turns
of reverb and delay, this song lends a sense of expanding fields of vision and
elbowroom for your heart.
Visit www.normalnoises.com for more info.
Chris Blackburn, YourSound.com, Inc. (c) 2000 Chris Blackburn
BOSTON'S WEEKLY DIG, May 17-24, 2000
Volume 2 Issue 20
by Matthew S. Robinson
ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES
"As booker for the lost-but-not-forgotten Mama Kin and the wild and cozy Kendall Cafe and as a staffer at Fort Apache, Eric Marcos has seen and heard a lot of good bands and more than a few bad ones. It is this musical education that shines through on his own band's demo set.
Opening with the bouncy bass
rolls of "Girl," a poppy bopper which features throwback harmonies and truly
classic rock sounds, the album..."more
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WWW.LOCALMUSIC.COM, Wednesday, April 19th, 2000
by Sabrina
"The guitar and vocals weave catchy melodies with an undeniable charm and innocence..."
We were featured in localmusic.com. Read it all by clicking here.
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WWW.YOURSOUND.COM, Friday, March
10th, 2000
by YOURSOUND NEWS!
"Eric Marcos & Normal Noises wasn't noise at all, but a solid Boston
Rock sound with some great guitar work by Ed Lyons and great vocals by Eric..."
The Boston Globe, Friday, March 17th, 2000
by Steve Morse
"A versatile, ever-improving band featuring the hard-belting Marcos
and fluid guitarist Ed Lyons. The Normal Noises recall the psychedelic country-rock
of the Byrds and the straight-ahead punch of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
A fresh take on retro flavors - and endless fun. At the Abbey Lounge March 30."
THE NOISE, June 2000 Issue #202
by Joel Simches
ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES
Demos 6-song CD
"At first listen, this disc could easily be put in the pile with all the other jangly pop bands that have come down the pike over the last three decades. Infectious Byrds and Beatlesque harmonies abound, with chimey Rickenbacker guitars and rock solid Ringo drums. This collection of songs becomes a guilty pleasure with each successive listen. Eric Marcos wears his influences on his sleeve. You can hear every McGuinn inflection, the Tom Petty drawl, Marshall Crenshaw's relentless quest for the perfect melody, Matthew Sweet's penchant for bubblegum, and the grit of the first Translator record.
By the middle of the disc, things get a little dark and Dave Edmunds gets into the image with the downright brillant song "My Fault." This song represents Eric Marcos & Normal Noises at their best, where all their influences and elements combine flawlessly for the perfect pop song about heartbreak and revelation. I could listen to this song for days. The track that follows, "Slowed Down," is probably the best REM pop ballad that Michael Stipe never wrote. The closing track is a riotous rocker called "Beginning," which features a cool "Batman" riff, tempered with an early Peter Case/Plimsouls grunge and a ripping guitar duel a la "The End" by the Beatles. The feedback on the fade out of this song is more than worth the price of admission. This disc is a @#$%ing tease. Please make more. (Joel Simches)
TOPTHE NOISE, July 27, 1999
by Sam J. Volerricki
ERIC MARCOS & NORMAL NOISES
Middle East Corner
Wielding a twelve string Rickenbacher, the former Mama Kin booking agent showcased a number of his songs he has been working on with his new band, Normal Noises. Tonight, Eric had the guys in Goh fill in as his backing band and the crowd seemed to love it. His opening song had a hard, driving beat and a roadhouse feel that reminded me a little of early Tom Petty. The second song, "All My Fault," was a little more subdued, but was my favorite. It also sounded like it was slightly influenced by Petty but it just could have been that Eric shares the same thirst for classic Americana. Or maybe it was that they both play Rickenbacher guitars, who knows. I liked it and so did the crowd. It’s too bad Eric’s set flew by so fast, I would have liked to see more. TOP
BOSTON SOUNDCHECK, November
2000 Issue
Eric Marcos & Normal Noises - Demos - 6-song CD
Produced by Eric Marcos, Ed Lyons, David Rizzuti; Recorded by David Rizzuti
at Strong Recording, Arlington, MA; Mixed by Matthew Ellard at Fort Apache;
Mastered by Brian Dunton.
Oh pop - When whilst thou wear thin thy hold? Yup - it's poppy - -and good
poppy. Nothing like good poppy. [Don't take that the wrong way - I'm not booting
or anything.] Ok so six guys, six songs - easy enough you say - not so fast,
Sherlock. We've got to investigate. Let's see... good vocals, check - decent
hooks, check - memorable lyrics/melodies, check - strong band, check. Yup it
all checks out O.K.. I think you're gonna get some mileage out of this baby.
I'm liking "Slowed Down" with its melancholy take on things, I'm really
liking "Beginning." It's a girl story I think, but I'm loving the
raucous opener "Girl." I know that one's about a girl cause it says
so in the title. Oh and uh - thanks for the letter, but I like your notes better.
[Isn't that the most gawd awful humor?]
- L.A. Poppy
**3/4 Contact: (617) 864-3634 / www.ericmarcos.com / www.normalnoises.com
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