Opening Line
Meet You At The Monolith
Cities where we have played out
Austin TX, Los Angeles CA, San Francisco CA, Portland OR, Seattle WA, Eugene OR, Petaluma CA, Norman OK
First name
Bill
Last name
Rousseau
Genre
Website
The Monolith was nominated for Best SF Pop Band of 2004 by SFWeekly, along with Rogue Wave and Citizens Here and Abroad.
"The Monolith created one of the catchiest indie-pop records to come out of San Francisco in 2004, Here Comes the Monolith... The record covers a grand range of tempos, styles, and emotions. On songs like the opener, "43," the Monolith is all upbeat '70s rock. Elsewhere, as on "Heart Like a Diamond," the band spruces up Sgt. Peppers ' '60s psychedelia with a dash of Elton John's lounge tinkling. And on "Never Mind What You Heard," the Monolith pays homage to Simon & Garfunkel's introspective folk. Regardless of the style employed, these musicians always seem to find the perfect melody and arrangement. It's no surprise that everybody loves them."
- SF Weekly
Drawing on the Beatles, the Rentals, and Blondie, San Francisco's the Monolith are more than just some easily digested underground pop group. Synth purveyor Dahlia Gallin Ramirez gives the band the same kind of vocal power that Neko Case lends to the New Pornographers during her turns at the mic, with tunes like the set opener "43" and the irresistibly upbeat "Dandelion Storm." But the group's other vocalist, guitarist Bill Rousseau, is caught by the same new wave bug on the hook-drenched "10 X Infinity." Still, other influences diversify the album, keeping these nine tracks from ever feeling redundant as Rousseau contributes the fabulous, Lennon-esque "Ruby" and the lilting, tech-trickled "Alpha," the latter one of so many songs here that find his pipes blending effortlessly with Ramirez's. By the time the disc wraps with the adventurous "Trilogy" — which glues three tunes into one — it becomes apparent just how well conceived Here Comes the Monolith actually is. With the advent of this indie pop troop, enthusiasts of the style have one more reason to be cheerful. Rating = ****