With the release of their 4th studio album, Electric Needle Room (brothers, Matt and Steven Beat) seem to be at the top of their game. Safe, Effective and Fun has a more evolved and focused sound than heard on previous records, adding more kooky keyboard and synth noise with “techy” electro drum beats, somewhat recalling the midi-gamer aspect of The Faint and Crystal Castles (One Good Friend, Here’s What I Have To Say About Tomatoes), combined with catchy, off-tuned guitar riffs and almost Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies (Oleaver’s Pub Won’t Let Us Play There Anymore, We might As Well Live A Little Bit Before We Die). There is also a new-found, slightly more aggressive and sped-up delivery to the songs than in the past, which is much more reminiscent of their actual live presence. The songs were all recorded over the course of a year or more, between the brothers’ homes in Nebraska and Kansas, and carefully picked to bring the listener into a whole new realm of sociopolitical-pop perfection.

-Daniel Lewis Diedrich, Homer’s Music  

On the beginning song; I was unsure of whether or not Electric Needle Room had made a good choice with the sit-com-esque piano. Persistent keys continually took turns at perforating my mental (non-adjective) block. The band is comprised of two brothers, making you envious that your brother is not an indie-pop alchemist.Vocalist Matt Beat’s voice is similar to Ben Folds’, except without the boring pseudo-emo element that makes you not like Ben Folds. Which really adds to, if not, makes for some very interesting tracks on this album, especially the love songs; that can easily slip under the radar.
“One Good Friend” negatively prepped me for one of those fashionable synth and a high-hat bands, which get played in places that people go to. Yet, the steady degree of integrity maintained throughout the album, still shone through, rare quality now-uh-days. Bryan Poole plays bass on the 4th track, I found his inclusion to be somewhat complementary to Matt’s fast vocals, not unbearably fast, more eloquent.

Electric Needle Room appear to take on different faces throughout, ranging from all steps of the proverbial indie-pop ladder. Their flirting with the synth side of pop, is more of an experiment as opposed to album filler. 

 -Joseph Tuesday, Even in the Future Nothing Works

Omaha’s Electric Needle Room has been compared to the legendary They Might Be Giants, and with good reason. Drawing influence from Sufjan Stevens, they just release and album filled with upbeat folk tunes called Safe, Effective and Fun. Released on Series Two Records in an edition of 300 copies, this album is a study in pop through the eyes of Matt Beat, Steven Beat, Bryan Poole, and Daniel Lewis Diedrich. It’s a light romp that just might make you smile. 

-Jason, The Music Minute 

Ahh, what a fortuitous choice it was. At the time I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’m not sure when it happened. It was cold, possibly October or November 2008. I went to the Pizza Shoppe in Benson mostly to see one of my favorite bands The Black Squirrels, always a good time. They were opening for the Electric Needle Room’s “Safe, Effective, and Fun” CD release party. I paid a small cover charge and received a free CD (from a guy I think is in the band)! I have to admit that I have a mixed feeling about free CDs. If it’s really worth listening too, shouldn’t you have to pay something for it? On the other hand, it’s free! Score!
I ordered a pizza and a beer, enjoyed Spiders of Love and Black Squirrels. By the time ENR took the stage, I was feeling a little sleepy, and they started off with a song that seemed like it was about politics, so I bailed. (Oh, how I regret my hastiness now!)
A few days later I put the CD in my stereo, and felt as if I’d received a much-needed, refreshing musical beverage from a cute girl. My first reaction was, “Wow, these guys are different and fun.” No false advertising on this CD title. These guys pump out some smart, thought-provoking, insightful, catchy music!
ENR has put together a well-crafted CD with consistently good lyrics, interesting instrumental sounds and fun melodies.
Later I became their friends on MySpace. (Yeah, we’re pretty tight) I read a review of the CD, and felt that it did not really delve deeply enough into the intriguing psyche of this bright, brave band of brothers and others. So, a week or so ago I decided I’d write my own review!
The disc begins with “Farther,” an enjoyable narrative about conflict and taunting. The energetic beat and skipping lyrics are engaging. The story of the many encounters with a nemesis offers something we can all relate to. It also reminds me of silly, junior high and high school-aged encounters with other people of that age and mentality (which I still, according to my wife Tree, retain).
Next is the beautifully moving, surrealistic ballad/rock anthem “Love is Not About Teeth.” A driving bass line and reverb-erating guitar solo add to this dream-inspired song of discovery.
Track 3 is “If it Makes You Feel Happy.” The catchy, staccato piano chords and bicycle-horn-like synthesizer sounds are standouts on this track. Tree said it reminds her of “Kabluey”- a movie featuring a man dressed up as a large-headed, eye and earless blue biped.
“Midwestern City” is probably my favorite song on this CD. A true anthem for living in a midwestern city is something the rock/pop world has been without for far too long! Of course there are songs like Kiss’s “Detroit Rock City” and Counting Crows’ “Omaha.” But these songs don’t seem to capture the true nature of midwest living as well as “Midwestern City.” Plus the unforgettable chorus includes a list of seven midwestern cities, so it’s alot more inclusive than the previously mentioned songs. The catchy chorus and unabashedly mid-range, persistent trumpet add to the reality-based lyrics of this geographically diverse anthem.
“Let’s Make Fun of Everybody” invokes memories of people getting made fun of in junior high and high school. I don’t think anyone ever made fun of me, or else I have blocked out most of these memories.
“O’Leaver’s Pub Won’t Let us Play There Anymore” is another standout on this CD. You will have added appreciation for this song if you have been to shows at this oh-so-hip venue. The low key smack talk and conversational pace of the song add to its appeal. Tree said it reminds her of They Might be Giants- it even has a circus music-like vibe. The triumphantly philosophical, rationalizing tone of the melody and trumpet solo will stay with you for as long as you let them.
The second half of the recording, in my opinion, is not quite as strong as the first half. Standouts include the obnoxiously catchy “You Should Floss!” and the deliberately nutritionally unconcerned “Here’s What I Have to Say About Tomatoes.” “We Might as Well Live a Little Bit Before we Die” is a dynamic, driving anthem/ballad that is plain-spoken, hopeful with lyrics worthy of some contemplation.
Each song has it’s own individual dynamics and unique sounds. I think I like these guys so much because they are much different from many of the other indie style bands I’ve seen lately. Their creative, often infused with tongue-in-cheek humor, lyrics and outward looking, wide-ranging, spirited compositions form a much-needed island in a sea of soul-searching, personal songs that seem to be so common in today’s music world. So I highly recommend you by this CD, if you don’t already have it. As for me, I still haven’t seen them live, but I hope to make it out to see them at one of their upcoming shows.

-Easy Steev, Myspace

 Electric Needle Room are brothers Matt and Steven Beat from Nebraska and this is their fourth studio album. Autobiographical details now over (there isn’t much more to tell anyway), let’s take a listen to “Safe, Effective and Fun”.

So they don’t have the budget of Phil Spector, but they throw enough curve balls to convince the listener that this album is more than just twee pop. The direct nature of the lyrics do indeed mirror the trivialities of the life that they comment upon and this is no better illustrated than in “Love Is Not About Teeth”. The aforementioned commentary on life’s trivialities – such as dental hygiene – is, of course, endemic to twee pop but here you get a directness that seems at odds with a truly artistic endeavour. I don’t really know why I thought of The Beach Boys but they did do more than their fair share of name checking cities and Electric Needle Room follow their lead in “Midwestern City” (only without the sand of course). The lot of the musician at the bottom of the food chain even gets addressed in “Oleaver’s Pub Won’t Let Us Play There Anymore”. Without even the vaguest attempt at poetry, either. It’s like a blog set to music .In fact, now that I’ve listened to the entire album, that’s the overall feeling. Observation set to music without even the slightest attempt at decoration. You can’t actually argue with that approach even if you might want to.

I bet that if these two brothers drank ten pints of Guinness (between them) they’d turn into a rock band. Perhaps that is what they really want to be? Happiness is a blonde rock chick (who really “gets” your music…). I know you didn’t ask but I thought I’d tell you anyway.

 –Bluesbunny Independent Music Reviews