3rd Secret – 3rd Secret
(Independent)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
A well-kept secret indeed, this is an album from a band that almost no one saw coming. Only upon 3rd Secret’s debut performance at the Museum of Popular Culture in Seattle in early April was it revealed that the band existed, and that they had just dropped an independent self-titled debut album.
The superfluous labels of ‘grunge’ and ‘supergroup’ were immediately bandied about, which is unsurprising given the musical careers of the respective band members. Yet don’t for a moment be fooled into thinking that 3rd Secret are in some way heralding a second coming of so-called ‘grunge’. Nor is this Soundgarden version 2.0 (or Nirvana for that matter). In fact, cast aside the defunct labels altogether, along with fruitless attempts to pigeonhole this band into a particular genre. Attempts to label 3rd Secret surely only serve to undermine their creative artistry. In fact, the best way to approach this album is without any pre-conceived notions of what it may, or may not, offer.
Suffice to say 3rd Secret have a wealth of experience behind them, which is immediately evident in their self-assured sound. Lead vocalists Jillian Raye and Jennifer Johnson (both of Giants In The Trees) are joined by Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana, Giants In The Trees), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Hater, Pearl Jam) and Jon Dupree (Hater, Void). Rounding out the team is renowned producer, engineer and musician Jack Endino (Skin Yard, Wellwater Conspiracy, MKB Ultra) who lent his considerable talents to the production of the album.
Opening track ‘Rhythm of the Ride’, which effectively sets the tone for much of the album, may be somewhat of a surprise for anyone expecting a gigantic wall of sound. At their heart, 3rd Secret are fundamentally a guitar-based rock band, although at times the acoustic guitars and vocals lean towards more folk-influenced stylings. If any comparison needs to be made, perhaps more likely candidates would be Nancy and Ann Wilson’s acoustic Led Zeppelin tribute band The Lovemongers, or The Breeders, given Raye and Johnson’s harmonising and craft for merging their voices to form a robust vocal experience. Needless to say it is treat for the ears to hear Novoselic back in fine action, and Thayil busting out the odd guitar solo again.
In a number of instances heavier guitar and bass moments are juxtaposed against the ethereal vocals. Upon announcing the release of the album, the band’s website recommends that listeners begin listening with second track ‘I Choose Me’, one of the album’s edgier offerings that is predominantly characterised by Thayil’s distinctive riffs and Novoselic’s heavy bass lines. Another of the album’s heavier tracks and highlights is ‘Lies Fade Away’, while softer moments such as ‘Winter Solstice’ and ‘Dead Sea’ could easily provide a formidable soundtrack for daydreaming. There are also some unexpected moments, including an accordion on ‘Right Stuff’, which has faint echoes of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band.
This is a varied album that defies stereotypical musical genre types. Yet paradoxically there is also a consistency to the sound that 3rd Secret have delivered on their first album. There is a certain element of confidence that permeates every track; a confidence that comes from decades of playing and performing. Yet I can’t help but hope that future releases will see 3rd Secret lift the proverbial lid and push the boundaries harder and without restraint.
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