Computer vs. Banjo - Computer vs. Banjo

Genre folk Publisher Diagram Records External Links Computer vs. Banjo Website Computer vs. Banjo MySpace

And the award for most unambiguous choice of band name goes to…. Computer Vs. Banjo. Their self-titled debut, released June 17th, is quite literally what the name would imply: folk music infused with an undertone of synth beats and various computer effects. Normally one would expect this to come off as gimmicky or trite, but on whole it serves to differentiate the band from many other indie acts on the scene today. Comprised of Johnny Mann of Gran Torino and Beau Stapleton of Blue Merle, Computer Vs. Banjo brings to mind the similar effort of blending a singer-song writer vibe with an edge of the electronic by Postal Service on Give Up. In much the same manner, Computer Vs. Banjo has crafted a collection of introspective and haunting songs that have been made to sound more full and orchestrated due to the digital beats and additional instrumentation (the band does occasionally veer away from the duality of their name to include upright bass, physical drums, and a mandolin).

Throughout the album, Computer Vs. Banjo plays with the dichotomy of old-school folk and technology. Depending on the track, either side of the equation can take the forefront, but will often switch midway through. "Guitars Need A Sinner's Touch" carries most of four plus minutes with melodic vocals over a synth track, with the most subtle touch of guitar in the background, only to close with the banjo in the lead. Following the opposite tack is "San Joaquin." The song leads with a blues guitar riff and lo-fi, gravelly vocals, slowly building to include a pounding beat and the previously mentioned bass. All this plays perfectly to enhance the sense of desperation and desolation painted by lyrics such as "I could live a life better than my own/ I will surely die, never to find a home/ If you don't get me out of San Joaquin."

Occasionally, the band does lighten things up a tad. On "Concealed," sunny, up-beat vocals are transposed on a background of quirky digital beats, including some effects that would feel most at home in a 1980s arcade. Additionally, "Magazine Queen" is an optimistic ode to a girl who seems more a force of nature than a personality (I'm sure we all know the type). Fluctuating between full guitars and drums to a minimalist aesthetic as the mood suits, the music famously compliments lyrics like "She's a town at midnight/ Just before it rains/ She's the calm at dusk/ The eye of a hurricane/ Everything around her screams her name."

It is hard to find fault in Computer Vs. Banjo's self-titled debut. Herein the listener will find a collection of tracks that are both familiar in concept but largely unique in execution. And it is that execution that makes this such a compelling album, a breath of fresh air in a sometimes tired genre. Anyone looking for something a little eclectic and thoughtful could do much worse than pick up this excellent album and hope that they choose to revisit this side project in the future.