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March 29, 2024


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Floater
Glyph (Elemental Records)

By: Alex Steininger

Floater, who officially formed in 1993, is a brick in the new wave of music classified as 'post grunge.' Floater consists of Rob at bass and vocals, Dave on guitar, and Pete on the drums. They are a heavily bass oriented trio from Eugene, Oregon. They currently have 2 albums out: Sink and Glyph.

Floater has obtained 'rock star' stardom in it's home town of Eugene, Oregon. Fans in Eugene flock to see Floater every time they have a show, with many people left out in the cold due to their enormous popularity! That popularity has also spread to such cities as Portland, and is beginning to break ground in places as far east as Austin, Texas.

Their latest release from Elemental Records, Glyph, is warming up the northwest top 20 charts. The album includes 15 well constructed songs. The album includes the stand-out tracks Cinema, Isolation, Clean Plastic Baby, and Pet. The CD is 69 minutes and 44 seconds of Floater. Fifteen tracks in all. Now on to the bad part of my review. Of that 69:44 of music, samples fill a good chunk of the music. Rob is probably one of the Northwest's most talented bass players, and he has a great supporting cast in Dave and Pete. Floater also has good lyric writing skills and vocals to back them up (courtesy of Rob), but talent like that will only get you so much, you need catchiness and a more creative mind. Also, the music itself and the constant samples at the beginning of all the songs get old after awhile. This new music trend they label as 'post grunge' is border line butt rock in the case of Floater (but don't get me wrong--Floater is still better than all the butt rock bands out there!) Out of the whole CD, Cinema and Isolation are the best songs! They are great songs! If you were judging Floater on these two songs...you would have to wonder why they were not in the MTV spotlight by now. But then reality sets in, and you realize there are thirteen other tracks. It wouldn't be that bad, but after one song you have to wait through all the samples before you get to the core of the music!

Floater is growing in popularity at a rapid pace for a local, independent label band, but the growth rate has to curve off somewhere. Floater, with all their talent, could do so much better. Rob is one hell of a bass player, song writer, and has good vocals, and his supporting cast is just as talented! Floater has one of the best stage shows and rocks in concert, but their music just does not translate onto CD. Overall I would have to give Glyph a B-.

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