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Artist: Band: Stone Marmot
Album: 'Babes of an Alien Persuasion'
CD Review: Label: Independent
Tracks: 12
Released: 2003
For Fans Of:: Talking Heads, B-52's, R.E.M., Thomas Dolby
Fav Track: Environmental Poser, The Choice, Cool Is For Posers.

Happy. Quirky. Up-beat. Positive, yet non-preachy.
Yes, pop music could use some of this. And so here is Stone Marmot to deliver.
Hooks galore and hummable melodies carry you along from catchy song to . . . Catchy song.
The lyrics are unabashedly positive and cheery, so much so that I would have loved to have seen some of these songs contained in one of my favourite, albeit uncritically acclaimed movies, 'Death To Smoochy'. I'm sure these Marmots feel the same.

Which brings me to this - even though I enjoyed the songs, I just don't know who exactly is going to listen even though I think that almost everybody needs to. Adults could certainly use a refresher course in the naive musings on the sunny side of life, while the younger set would be instantly connected to the simple melodies and fun vibe that these short, danceable, singable tunes project.
Anthem-like songs like 'Sensitivity', 'River', and 'The Choice' could easily be turned into jingles. Pro-environmental sentiment runs rampant on songs like 'Environmental Poser' and 'Cool is for Posers', inspiring us with good news and good attitude for a change.

I'm sure there are sunny times ahead for the Stone Marmots - whichever avenue their music takes them down. I highly recommend, though, that they think laterally - TV and Movie's, Live Shows, and maybe an outright children's CD would all work for them. And, of course, the adults can have all this, and the rest, including the songs with the big words.

The band's overall attitude - that of serious cartoon characters with serious and not-so-serious messages - is great, and could even be pushed and developed more. They know what they're doing with their instuments, they write a 'mean' song, and don't seem to compromise much along the way.
The only thing that I can see standing in their way to more success is focus, and an image to go with their current presentation. With their imaginations, I don't expect they'll disappoint.

Contact: band@stonemarmot.com
Website: Stone Marmot