Reflector Where Has All the Melody Gone Status Recordings 2000

Reflector Where Has All the Melody Gone Status Recordings 2000 CAT # NINE

This is the only full length LP available on vinyl from Kansas City's Reflector.  Despite being the little guys in town, they do a solid job of filling out an entire LP.  I tend to enjoy their Prelude to Novelty album a bit more, but both full length albums are pretty interchangeable and represent the band well.

This one was recorded by Alex Brahl and it shows.  When the Shiner guys recorded the band, they may have overstepped the band's ability, I mean, they were just a three-piece and while they owed obvious influence to that band, they weren't writing math rock songs.  Brahl was able to calm the band down a bit and not lose that KC post-hardcore sound that the band was built around.  Previous efforts by the band felt tense and bottled up.  Brahl was able to soften some of the edges and even got the cello thrown in as a backdrop on a tune.

They even managed to get some soul into these tunes, not that it's dance-able, but the band was getting away from the discordant Slint-dynamics they previously relied on.  The first song, "Spell" is prime example, a midst the starts and stops, Jake Cardwell was able to catch a steady groove that moves the song.  They still got intense, the song "Alice" is a monster despite it's ballad-esque beginnings and ends with a slow moving segue into an actual ballad and the last song, "Flowers," which is one of my personal favorites from the band.

Spell
Flowers

Reflector Blue Skies/On the Table Paper Brigade 1999

Reflector Blue Skies/On the Table Paper Brigade 1999 CAT #PBR 003

"Blue Skies" is the best song this band did.  It played so well to the band's attributes.  Singer and guitarist, Jared Scholz has such a great voice.  He spent a lot of time in this band using it to scream, but when he actually sang, it came across so clear and distinct.  It's sounds innocent and truthful, you believe everything Scholz said when he sung it.  He intros the tune with that voice, just the faint words "Blue skies" with no accompaniment and he starts into his guitar.  The band also loved to bash around and really wanted to capture the 90's post-hardcore Kansas City sound, they did it best here.  Nothing too complex for their own good, just a solid drum bashing event which Jake Cardwell excelled at.  All bassist Harry Anderson had to do was find his place.  Of course, it didn't hurt that it was recorded by two members of Shiner, Paul Malinowski and Joel Hamilton.

Also recorded by the Shiner guys, the B-Side "On the Table" is solid as well.  I remember the guys in this band used to love the band, Kararte.  This is the first you hear a more subdued indie rock sound from this Reflector.  It's not a clear nod to bands like Karate, but you recognize the growth in the band.  It's really just in the intro, they quickly go back to start-stop dynamics, all systems go.  The only reason the tune isn't equal to "Blue Skies" is Scholz's voice crackles the quieter he gets.  Can't tell if he just couldn't handle the tune or if it was left in intentionally as it does create an effect making the song feel vulnerable for a brief moment until they tear off your face KC 90's style.

Blue Skies

Reflector Recess Theory Split 7" Arise Records 1998

Reflector & Recess Theory Split 7"
In Spite Of  b/w A Small Town in Smalltown, KS
Arise Records
NO CAT# 1998

This first Reflector release I talk about is going to be talked about a lot.

Back when I was a scenster, I was introduced to Jake Cardwell of Reflector through Matt Rubin.  Matt was a highschooler that first put out a 7" split with the Anniversary & Proudentall.  I can't remember how I got in touch with Matt...I think it was because I was writing for an eZine called Signal Drench and we were at a show, he said he was putting out a record on his Paper Brigade Label, I said I'd review it or what have you.  Anyway, Matt's second release was a 5 song EP by Reflector.  So, as I was hanging out with Matt, he introduced me to Reflector and therefore, Jake Cardwell.

Jake Cardwell...if you're into the local scene in Kansas City, you know Jake Cardwell.  He friggin' knows everybody.  Part of it being this band, most of it being that he and has dad run C & C Drums.  At the time of this release, I believe C&C Drums was just a shop (don't quote me, I'm not a drummer).  Now, C&C Drums makes incredible custom drums for worldwide acts.  The list of drummers that use C&C is phenomenal.  Just go to the website and check it out, they are doing KC super-proud.

Anyway, this time period and group of friends--is the local scene I remember most fondly.  I wasn't at  KU at this point and I was trying desperately to find myself or at least a hobby while at community college in Overland Park.  The group of people surrounding Reflector were some of the best people I've ever met.  One guy, Nathan Reusch is doing big things right now with a local labal, The Record Machine.  They've released great local albums by Capybara, the Soft Reeds, and Cowboy, Indian, Bear among others.  Another person I ran into hanging with this crowd was Aaron Pillar of the Appleseed Cast because that band moved to Lawrence right around the same time and were friends with Reflector (I guess both Reflector and Appleseed Cast were in the Christian Rock scene previously before going "emo", I wasn't there for any of that Christian stuff).  Obviously, I met the rest of the Cast guys too, but there's a good story about Aaron when I get to them. There's just so many people to name, but the point is, great people surrounded Reflector.  It's impossible for me not to put on one of these records and not remember that period of my life.

As for the music, Reflector was a decent 3 piece band.  I loved singer/guitarist Jared Scholz's voice on these records.  Jared is currently a preacher at a church in Olathe, KS.  Jake and bassist Harry Anderson backed Jared nicely, but always felt a little heavy when compared to Jared's high register voice.  The music, this song included, is angular indie-rock.  'In Spite Of' is one of their better outings.  Live it was a great number because it's easier to mask the short-comings, studio version feels a bit weighted and lacks energy, perhaps a bit too adventurous for it's own good with all the start-stop dynamics.

The flip side by Recess Theory deserves mention for it's subject matter--Kansas.  But, it should be noted the band was from Florida.  I did meet the band, the singer actually has ties to Kansas, I believe his grandparents lived in the state.  It's a play on Kansas weather, talks the joys of small towns, then just screams, "It's 20 degrees out, 20 below!  I hope it snows!"  I love the idea, and it's a good little indie-rock gem, just wish someone from Kansas had actually wrote it.