Overstep - "The Bullring By
the Sea"
Anodyne Records
Overstep is one of those bands that have an undefinable quality about
them. They're too mellow to be considered a straight "rock" band, but
they're a little too angular and rocking to be "indie." These seemingly
divergent approaches make them one of those exceptionally rare acts
that manage to get me to listen to their album over and over again,
simply to try and get ahold of what makes them so enjoyable.
The Bullring By the Sea is one
of the best releases to come out of
Kansas City in ages. The album is one of those things that makes me
happy to live where I do. There are moments that approach Fugazi-like
perfection, where every note is played for maximum efficieny. Frankly,
it sounds as if Overstep has been listening to every local rock release
they could their hands on, distilling each disc down to what makes it
great, then taking those elements and using each one to make a sum
greater than the whole of its parts.
As you listen to the record, hints of TV Fifty, Kill Creek, and others
pop into your ears. There's also that mild country twang that every
great KC rock act has had. I don't know what it is about this area, but
it seems that the cowtown feel must seep into the music without anyopne
being consciously aware of it.
From start to finish, Overstep has crafted a record that far surpasses
anything I've heard in years. There have been outstanding recordings in
many fields- punk, country, rock, et al- but The Bullring By the Sea
manages to rise above any genre definitions and become that great
release I've always wanted to hear.