Quarashi blends genres for a unique sound

Kelly Junker

Contributing writer

Quarashi is not only geographically unique, but musically unique as well.

This four piece group, originally from Reykjavik, Iceland, combines so many different styles in their music that you’d think they waited for every other mainstream musician to release a CD and get it out of their systems.

Their new CD, Jinx, combines rap, hard rock and punk to make people consistently curious about how the next song on the album will sound.

The first song on the album is “Stick ‘Em Up,” which is featured on the soundtrack to the movie “Orange County.”  It has great guitar riffs and is radio-friendly, but it might be a little over-manufactured. The lyrics might just be a bit too bold.

“Mr. Jinx” starts out with music that sounds like an introduction to a 1960s sitcom.

“Son of a Gun” features distinctly powerful vocals from Stoney, Hossi (guitar) and Omar Swarez. The fourth member is Solvi, the instrumental mastermind, credited for the CD’s sampling, programming, drums, percussion and keyboard.

“Malone Lives” is the standout track for its slow groove and sound that has a touch of Nelly. It also comes with a message. “It’s a damn crime how many we’re killing in the meantime.” “Tarfur” refreshingly uses female vocals on the chorus, but just as the song starts to grow on you it ends too quickly.       

The road gets somewhat rocky from this point on. “Copycat” is a typical angry white guy song, or a bad WWF entrance theme. On “Transparent Parents,” they’re frustrated with family life and growing up, but they find therapy in talking about it through music. The guitar progression on “Weirdo” makes it worth another listen.

“Xeneizes” involves the soulful voice of a female on background vocals for the chorus and reveals the frustrations of the music business. It blends hard-hitting lyrics with a catchy chorus. “F*** You Pluto” did nothing for this listener. Not with that title.

The disk ends with “Dive In,” a slow song that talks about existence and mortality, followed by a trance song titled “Bless.” One must wonder how a CD that begins with an energetic hard rock song like “Stick ‘Em Up” could end with something so techno as “Bless.” 

The order of the songs on “Mr. Jinx” allows listeners to go on a roller coaster of styles, but what’s wrong with finishing an album with as much energy as when it started?  Although I’m a folk music and pop/rock fan, I would definitely give Quarashi’s latest offer another listen.