You know that Keanu Reeves movie with all the crazy special effects? No, not The Matrix, I'm talking about Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure! In the film we not only got to see Reeves in his best role, but we also got to learn how figures of the past would react if let loose in modern times (aka 1989) through the crazy hi jinks that occurred in the mall. Now this little nostalgia trip would not have much relevance were it not for one man, Ludwig Van Beethoven. While Genghis Khan ripped up a sporting goods store and Joan of Arc sweated to the oldies, Beethoven marvelled at the possibilities of composing in the modern age.
Unfortunately, Bill & Ted had to return all the historical figures and we will never know what could have been. If Beethoven, through some sort of extended high school history assignment or something, had stayed longer in San Dimas and formed a band — not with Bill & Ted, they sucked at this point — the results could have been amazing. Since that didn't happen, we can either sit daydreaming of the possibilities or simply listen to the.story.of.
On Trust in Amanita, the.story.of go beyond just having a keyboard when realizing my dreams of Beethoven in San Dimas. One listen is enough to reveal that all members of this Athens, OH quintet are quite technically able when it comes to the playing of their instruments and it doesn't stop here; the group takes this ability and transforms it into something new. With enough practice even I could successfully pull off the most amazing guitar solo known to the world of butt rock, however, I probably wouldn't be able to translate that into something original.
The eight tracks on Trust in Amanita aren't just rock songs; they are dynamic pieces continuously evolving and skirting the typical verse/chorus/verse song structure. The songs maintain that a somewhat otherworldly feel to them where feelings of desolation and elation become eerily similar and the meaning of a song can change in a heartbeat.
While most bands creating grandiose compositions invoking feelings of a darkened landscape would likely suck your soul into a semi-vegitative state, the.story.of manage to inject some adrenaline at the appropriate moments to keep you alive and on your feet. It's this amazing balancing act that really makes the.story.of original, interesting, and worth a listen.