Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Red Hook, New York has had its share of homegrown famous personages which is impressive for a small town (population 11,000 odd). They include writer Gore Vidal, Catholic social activist Dorothy Day and sci-fi man Robert Sheckley. One day maybe the band Off Road Minivan will get added to that list. Whether or not they achieve fame and fortune, I can assert that these Red Hookians have released an exceptional debut EP through the always reliable Tooth & Nail Records. With a sound that at times resembles Jimmy Eats World, Thrice and Dashboard Confessional, Off Road Minivan artfully weave in elements of soaring emo, shoegaze and hard rock yet in the process create something invigorating. They are helped immeasurably by having in Ryan "Tuck" O'Leary a singer of impressive range while the dynamic drumming of Evan Garcia Renart manages to be both subtle and explosive. Killer cut is the slow and moody "Light Up The Room" while "Glow" sounds like a track you might hear on the Cross Rhythms playlist. If you're guilty of intoning the much heard mantra that in these modern worship obsessed times the Christian scene isn't producing great new bands like it used to, check out Off Road Minivan. They're very special.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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