Rock Bands & Pop Stars
Rogue Wave Pictures
Band:
Rogue Wave
Origin:
United States, Oakland - CaliforniaUnited States
Band Members:
Zach Rogue (vocals, guitar), Patrick Abernethy (bass guitar, piano, keyboards), Dominic East (guitar), Gram LeBron (guitar, keyboards), and Pat Spurgeon (drums, keyboards)
Rogue Wave Album: «Asleep at Heaven's Gate»
Rogue Wave Album: «Asleep at Heaven's Gate» (Front side)
    Album information
  • Customers rating: (4.4 of 5)
  • Title:Asleep at Heaven's Gate
  • Release date:
  • Type:Audio CD
  • Label:
  • UPC:
Customers rating
Track listing
Review - Product Description
Emerson once wrote, When it is darkest, men see the stars and he might as well have been penning a poem for Rogue Wave. Last year was a rollercoaster ride for the foursome drummer Pat Spurgeon had a kidney transplant, keyboardist Gram LeBron lost his father, singer Zach Rogue had a daughter and the band recruited a new bass player (Patrick Abernethy, formerly of Beulah). But instead of falling apart, they converted all their heartbreak, love, hurt, pain, elation and insight into a most affecting and beguiling record, Asleep At Heaven's Gate. Produced by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo, Sleater Kinney, Elvis Costello) with Zach Rogue and recorded in Forestville, California, Asleep At Heaven's Gate was derailed two weeks into the sessions after technical problems mis-pitched a majority of the early tracks. Refusing to be defeated, the foursome decamped to their studio in Oakland, CA where they spent days salvaging what they could, rerecorded some tunes and laid down overdubs. The results are worth it, because Asleep At Heaven's Gate finds the band at their most accomplished.
Review - Amazon.com
For indie musicians, success--even the modest variety that Rogue Wave has experienced--can be disastrous. A band that once spent years squeezing quality tunes out of 4-tracks and cheap gear suddenly has extra resources, and the more polished product misses the charm of the ramshackle original. On Asleep at Heaven's Gate, band leader Zach Rogue and his mates are in jeopardy of going down this familiar path, having spread a layer of amped-up, rock-god oomph over the top of their once understated approach. Rogue has grand ambitions, as RW's soaring previous effort, Descended Like Vultures, made clear, and he can write fat, gorgeous hooks that partner well with an increasingly strident sound. And so, for much of Asleep, his melodicism throws enough of a charge into the music that you don't notice how overstuffed it often is. The quieter, more humble tactics of their brisk and beautiful debut, Out of the Shadow, make the occasional cameo appearance; "Christians in Black," for instance, floats a buttery Rogue vocal over a simple and lovely acoustic riff. But songs like "Harmonium" and "Lake Michigan" are the real templates here, shoegazer-level dreamy and cranked to 11. Accordingly, a certain bloat creeps in as the record goes on. A simple ditty like "Ghost" becomes an unnecessarily puffed-up epic, while half-formed songs like "Phonytown" turn into empty filler. But even though it runs out of gas, Asleep probably creates enough momentum to propel Rogue's band closer to their stadium-filling ambitions. That won't be of any consolation to those who miss the ragged edges of their earlier work, but it makes the record vital enough to satisfy the rest of us. --Matthew Cooke
Customer review
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
- Give them a break, it's a good album!

I hate how people write off a band because they're different from their "indie roots" and "not as rough-around-the-edges as they used to be" -- yes, their old albums were great, and "Descended like Vultures" was a beautiful record, but this one stands on its own. Give it a chance and keep your thoughtless nostalgic expectations in check.

Because it actually is a great album, if you listen to it! It's got a different feel from their previous work, but for God's sake that's a good thing! It also *still* keeps Rogue Wave's signature sound with masterful turns of chords and play of major and minor key. *That* is what I love about this band - it's real skillful music when you listen closely.

There are some great tracks, Lake Michigan is probably my favorite (and no, not because of the Zune commercials), Chicago x 12 is great, Missed and Christians in Black throw back to their old material, Cheaper than Therapy is classic and a good finish with the sentiment that "Music is cheaper than therapy."

I just don't understand how one can look at the increased "production" and "complexity" of this album and frown upon it -- of all the bands who get that privilege, Rogue Wave handles it better than any I've heard. It comes together to form a cohesive album without a single bad track and with many that leave me wanting to hit the Repeat button.

It's not Descended Like Vultures, but if you expected that then it's you who's made the mistake, not Rogue Wave. Give them a break and listen to this album.

Customer review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
- Another Excellent Rogue Wave Disc

So glad to have another excellent Rogue Wave CD in the collection. Following in the mold of Descended Like Vultures, this is once again an example of songwriting at its best. Favorite tracks are Harmonium, Lake Michigan, Own Your Own Home and Phoneytown. Highly recommended.

Customer review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
- Apothecary Delaindrum (Best Rogue Wave album yet)

I heard "Chicago X 12" on an NPR music show and that was it. I stopped dead in my tracks and hit record on my cd recorder. "Who is this?" I wondered. Went out and bought the cd the next day. It's a great record. To my mind, this does not disappoint at all. I don't find a dull moment on this recording and I certainly do not think it is too long. It is recorded and produced excellently and sounds like a band that is on a creative roll and is really enjoying it. Yeah, I love it. I checked out their website and found a recording (video and audio) of an unplugged show they did for KCRW. They did a few songs from this album and some interesting covers. (the Split Enz song

"I Got You" was amazing.) I think the last song was a Morrissey cover but I'm not sure. The style on the show was soft and acoustic and quite nice. (I wish they would release an album of stuff like this) Zach has a fine voice and the rest of the guys in the band seem very happy to be there. It's a great combination and hopefully there will be more coming from these fellows. I liked this album much better than the first two. It is also a delectable album with headphones. Lots of detail and nuance that really comes through with phones.

Customer review
- Like I needed!

Some in the indie scene would say this album is too catchy, but that's it's real genius. It manages to have quirky lyrics, an awkward sound, and offbeat rhythm, yet it still comes off as upbeat and catchy. It is very geeky, yet it gets featured in movies, tv, and commercials. It is rare when a band can maintain it's awkwardness in the face of success.

When I play this album, it is very well received. People are always asking me who it is and going off to buy the album themselves. I think you will find that it fits well in your collection as well. Whether you are pop or indie, this really is just a testament to GOOD!

Customer review
- buy it

I know this is not a new album, but as I listen to it yet again I wonder why this group isn't more appreciated. This album is along the lines of CSNY - Deju Vu, in my opinion. In other words, a must own. More modern, of course, but just completely awesome. It's great song after awesome song, all solid.