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Review: ‘Be Safe, Beware’ by Color Radio

January 5, 2010 By Ian Morales

Be Safe, Beware is the hazy indie rock EP of the Chicago group Color Radio. The four-piece outfit is made up of Mexico City brothers Tohm and Johnathan Ifergan, Joel Chasco and Matt Thomas. Sounding more like a European or American band, Color Radio is yet another example of indie rock’s heavy new influence on Latin Americans. Be Safe, Beware not only does us Latinos proud, but the entire indie rock world.

The opening track, “Newest News”, begins slowly with a spacey pluck of the electric guitar. It has that sophisticated sound, like a song that would roll at the beginning of an indie-hipster movie. With a bouncy little groove with the quintessential backing “ooos” sung by the rest of the band, the indie hit formula is complete.

The title track, simply put, is just a beautifully put-together song. What begins with hazy build up ends up being a somber listen about a relationship that came to an end. If you listen carefully to the track, you will hear both glockenspiel and ringing bell sounds that serve as a great backdrop for the vocals.

“Plateau” is clearly the EP’s best track lyrically and musically. It is the single that should represent what direction Color Radio plans to take in the future with a full album. “Plateau” sounds just like early Coldplay which makes it the most radio ready, no pun intended, song on the EP.

“Curds and Whey” takes a bit to develop and may lack anything that can pull the listener in long enough to get to the meat of the track. At the song’s beginning, it appears to be an acoustic song with just a guitar and Johnathan Ifergan’s vocals. If you make it to the end of the song, it does get better. Xylophone sounds emulate the rain drop effect and the other instruments come in and save the song.

While the airy and at times orchestral EP is too short to declare an overall verdict on Color Radio, it is a sign of good things to come. If you like Death Cab For Cutie, Coldplay or Cold War Kids, you will like Color Radio. Purchasing the digital downloads of Be Safe, Beware could be one the best uses of the four dollars in your wallet.

More on Color Radio: www.colorradioband.com

Ian Morales

Editor in Chief - Ian is a product of Round Rock High School and St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. He is an alumnus of the National Hispanic Institute and learned to dance at a young age with the Round Rock Ballet Folklórico. Ian also serves as the Editor-in-Chief for Austin Vida's sister site, Red River Noise.

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