Kept Secrets
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By
[]Sherene's Closet
"Kept Secrets"(Smack Records)Rating: *** 1/2
In the same vein: Radiohead, Ash, The Goo Goo Dolls.Sherene's Closet, comprising guitarist-vocalist Gerald Stahlmann, bassist Ivan Lee, and drummer Kamal Mahtani, has garnered quite a following -- thanks to a full-bodied rock sound dished out by this Singapore band whose influences include Radiohead, Monostar, Ash, and The Cure.On their highly-listenable debut album"Kept Secrets,"they combine soft acoustic tracks with energetic rock songs to create a collection of original songs that display their versatility and excellent musicianship. After a jerky start (a weak lo-fi opening track"Maddy About You"), the boys get serious with hard-rocking mosh-pit fodder,"Rollercoaster Ride"and"Carried Away."The jangly, hummable"Infatuation"grows on you, as does the bittersweet"Over"which isn't quite as saccharin as it initially sounds. The best tracks are the layered"Tian"and the biting"Rocket Man"(no relation to the Elton John song of the same name) -- both pounding rock tracks that show that the band is no lightweight when it comes to grinding out a groove. Also, watch out for the hidden track"Mensus,"a lively tongue-in-cheek number.Overall,"Kept Secrets"marks a very auspicious debut for this band that is just out to make good music. Displaying a surprising maturity and versatility for such a young band, Sherene's Closet shouldn't remain a secret for much longer. -- Dave Chua
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