We've been very fortunate to have already received some great press for the new record - here's a sampling of the recent reviews!
"A couple of lineup shifts haven’t shaken the Rationales’ approach in crafting what they’ve come to do so well: finely wrought, lushly layered pop that sounds effortless in its execution. On the band’s breezy yet burnished full-length follow-up to ’08’s “The Going and the Gone’’ EP, singer-guitarist David Mirabella drives the quintet — which now includes brother Mike (Scamper) on drums, Sean Black (the Eines) on bass, new addition Pete Zeigler (Hey Now, Morris Fader) on guitar, and founding keyboardist Matt Goldfield — through 10 tracks that tackle what the title promises. Winning tracks like “Tongue Tied’’ and “Burned Again’’ explore the emotional as well as physical spaces that mark the distance between getting from here to there (whatever your emotional “there’’ may be), while others (“Another Moon,’’ featuring Buffalo Tom’s Bill Janovitz on backing vocals) take stock of the places you end up. “Real Life,’’ which opens the album on a strong note, examines both sides of the equation with a power pop flair fringed with alt-country detail."
-Jonathan Perry, The Boston Globe, May 13, 2011
A fine hooks-and-harmonies power-pop band...
-Brett Milano, Boston Herald, May 13, 2011
Swirling pop, empathetic vocals in front of strong Americana-influenced rock; that's the creative footprint on this new record. And then there's the songwriting! Who hasn't lived out a heartache or asked questions of a starry sky? Behind these thoughts; building bass, guitar and drums drive us home... The Distance In Between is the new creative flag in the sand for Boston songwriter David Mirabella and his band, The Rationales.
Listening to the record this morning, once again - in anticipation of their near capacity album release tonight at the Lizard Lounge, I realize this is one of the best songwriting outfits in New England music today. The Rationales’ previous release, the EP “The Going and the Gone,” was described by the Boston Globe as one of the finest local releases of the year in 2009. Mirabella has a way with words - carefully crafting the language of his soul. That transference works very well with the help of the band; founding member Matt Goldfield (keys), Kevin McMahon (guitar), Sean Black (bass), Mike Mirabella (drums) and Pete Zeigler (guitar).
The Distance In Between was recorded and produced by David Mirabella and Q Division maestro Ed Valauskas (Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, Juliana Hatfield, Graham Parker, Jenny Dee). The album notably contains a special appearance by Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz - singing on "Another Moon." This new effort, from start to finish is one that belongs in your record collection. Highly Recommended.
- Ryan's Smashing Life, May 14, 2011
The Rationales singer/songwriter David Mirabella may be in a permanently depressed state, but fortunately he's managed to keep it a secret from his band, who prop up his introspective songs with the sturdy Americana of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and the chiming jangle of early REM. The resulting hybrid - a rootsy, melancholic power pop - sounds so immediately familiar that it could be easy for some listeners to overlook if they don't take the time to appreciate the finer details in the band's arrangements. Whether it's a contrapuntal keyboard figure in opening track "Real Life" or the arpeggiated lead in the pop perfection of "Jaded", the Rationales aren't afraid to disrupt their own smooth surfaces by forcing the instruments to spar for attention, and it's exactly that aspect that sets this Boston band apart and above from so many like-minded ultra-melodic moody popsters, from the Gin Blossoms to Teenage Fanclub. Give The Distance In Between some time to sink in, and you'll be rewarded with a magic beyond its obvious hooks - and hey, those hooks by themselves should be strong enough for an army of positive reviews, it's just that there's much more going on here than a casual first listen might suggest. This is the very definition of a grower.
- Un-Herd Music
Led by lead singer-songwriter/guitarist David Mirabella, The Rationales have become a local favorite in the Boston music scene. Having settled into a more complete lineup, Mirabella and co. are excited to celebrate the release of the local rockers’ new album, The Distance In Between, this Saturday at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. With that in mind, we thought we’d catch up with Mirabella to discuss the new album, the show and the state of The Rationales. Click below for Interview...
- Boston Music Spotlight
The Rationales have taken their Wilco, Tom Petty and Big Star influenced sound and injected it with a hefty dose of late ’90s indie rock in the vein of Buffalo Tom, Teenage Fanclub and Matthew Sweet. What do all of those acts have in common? Great songs. So it is with Dave Mirabella and his bandmates. The Distance In Between is a damn fine record. “Tongue Tied” and “Another Moon” both have a nice mid-tempo feel. “Braedon” and “Jaded” ratchet the energy up a level. “Still We Believe” is anthemic. Spot on backing vocals and melodic guitar lines compliment every track. The production is excellent. Like I said, a damn fine record. Guitarist Kevin McMahon takes over lead vocal duties on one of my favorite tracks, “Try To Tell Me”. This song was driving me crazy. The overall sound reminded me of another record I couldn’t place. Finally I realize that the song sounds like it could have come from John P. Strohm’s criminally overlooked Vestavia album. That’s good company to keep. I’ll leave you with this snazzy lyric from “Slower-Faster”: Cut it live or multi-track it, Either way it’s made of plastic. I love that.
- DayKamp Music
"Somewhere between roots-rock and power pop, with some swell vocal harmonies. Veteran producer Ed Valausksas stitches it all together nicely. If I were in a quibbling mood I’d say some of these songs are stretched out a tiny bit more than might be optimal, but the under-two-minute “Braedon” certainly isn’t; it’s my fave. Other highlights include the very solidly catchy “Another Moon” and “Tongue Tied,” which feels like a classic AOR summertime radio hit that I somehow never heard before. Overall this is a consistently solid effort."
- i hate the sound of guitars, 2011
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