Reconsidering Consider the Source

At first, I was turned off by these guys. The music wasn't something I normally enjoyed. Their songs seemed unstructured. There were no choruses or verses that repeated, and they were too progressive for my then-pop rock comfort zone. Regardless, I was constantly catching one of their live shows, and they eventually grew on me.

Recently, friends and fans gathered at Red 7 on September 20 to listen to the four piece band's latest album "Fire Alarms." The band (vocalist/guitarist Seth Grueneberg, bassist Jason Bearden, guitarist Derek Dean and drummer/vocalist James Taylor) headlined the night, performing some of their old songs as well as a sneak peek of their most recent work.

On first listen I had a hard time registering what was coming out of my speakers. Instead of the orchestrated movements that I was used to, I heard easier to swallow, conventional songwriting including more lyrics.

So why did Consider The Source change their sound?

"When we started recording, I told Rory (Phillips, producer) I wanted to put more vocals on the songs," said Grueneberg. "He said 'You should sing over every part on the songs.' A lot of the lyrics were written in the studio while writing new vocal parts/melodies."

Normally when a band changes their sound, most people shrug them off as selling out. Consider the Source never crossed that line, because although their songs are arranged to be radio friendly, they still have a distinct and frantic sound that defines them.

Current fans will be able to appreciate the new additions and will grow to love them more while new fans will become enthusiastic immediately.