My Clever Android make their introduction as a trio with “Elevator”, a first single that gives us a good reason to keep an eye on them. We really liked what we heard here. There is a lot going on, but the song never loses its main hook.
Kirk Ross takes care of the singing and songwriting and his voice is rich and full of character. He delivers the lyrics with real presence, then brings the hook forward in a way that stays with you after the track has finished. The melody is another strong point. It is catchy without becoming too sweet and there is enough going on around it.
Steven Wolf handles the drums and programming while Jeff Thall brings the guitar work. Both have a place in the song. The drums give it a strong push and the guitar adds so much without getting in the way of the vocals. The production is good with a nice mix that gives the different parts room to work together. Nothing sounds lost in the background.
The song looks at the point where everyday life becomes too much, with its narrator looking up to the sky and asking the universe for a lift. There is a bit of dark humour in that idea, as if even getting through life now requires a helping hand from somewhere beyond us. It gives the track an interesting twist without making the subject too heavy.
What stands out to us is that this is a trio who write, play and shape their own material, and they already sound comfortable working together. We enjoyed the lyrics and melodies here and Ross’s voice is a big part of why the song works. “Elevator” is a strong first introduction and we’re glad we found them 🙂
ABOUT THE BAND:
My Clever Android brings together singer-songwriter Kirk Ross, drummer/programmer Steven Wolf, and guitarist Jeff Thall, three longtime friends whose collective musical histories span an extraordinary range of artists and projects.
Ross, a Berklee College of Music alumnus, landed an early gig playing bass for Seal following a chance encounter in a Hollywood coffee shop. He later recorded a solo album featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and contributed a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” to the closing credits of his brother Matt Ross’s acclaimed film Captain Fantastic. That recording also featured Wolf and Thall, laying the groundwork for their eventual collaboration.
Drummer/programmer Steven Wolf met Kirk at Berklee and the two remained close friends. After Berklee, Wolf moved to New York and immersed himself in the music scene, playing drums and programming for producers such as Max Martin and Dr. Luke, as well as artists including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and David Bowie, among many others. Wolf later met guitarist Jeff Thall when the two played in a band together. He introduced Jeff to Kirk when Kirk came to New York to record a demo, with Jeff playing guitar on the session.
Jeff Thall grew up in New York and was a fixture in the music scene has played with many artists, including Bryan Ferry, Ultravox, Nils Lofgren and John Cale.
