New Music Revue: Exit Verse’s debut proves life after Karate is possible

Arts Web Exclusive

artworks-000088164140-t2hw98-t200x200

Exit Verse
Exit Verse
(Ernest Jenning Record Co.)
4/5

Geoff Farina is truly one of the great musical minds of our time. He’s one of a kind: his work in indie-emo pioneers Karate flirted with jazz way before anyone else did… well, no one else ever really did. His solo material, his work with Secret Stars, Glorytellers… it all adds up to an amazing discography rich with reward, well worth spending time with. Trust me, I’ve spent decades with it already and look forward to a life exploring the man’s music.

Having said that, the debut from his new project, Exit Verse is, predictably, excellent. But fans of Karate’s later material will be surprised: there are no extended guitar jazz solos here; instead, the songs rock streamlined and smooth, concise and upbeat. The tunes themselves definitely evoke the classic rock of Thin Lizzy, but the delivery is much more laidback and less aggressive: this is the kind of thing that you’d hear old guys jamming down at the jazz club.

Except, it doesn’t suck. It rules. And, unlike almost every other musician who says this, Farina’s work truly is genreless. Exit Verse is simply the latest example of that, this album containing great song after great song, the grooves smooth, the beat impossible to ignore. You won’t hear a better indie album this year (check out the stunningly great tunes “Pull out the Nails” and “Seeds” for proof of that), even if this barely sounds like the indie you know.