CATALOG

NEWS

"...most easily falls under the blanket term of post-rock; however, this music feels much more...alive, perhaps, than that term usually implies, because whether they're experimenting with trip-hop, punk, and electronic, or letting their folksy overtones flourish, there's always a lot going on with this group; there is no lazing around with uninspired buildups and unsatisfying crescendos to be found here."
Watch The Tapes

"Sons of Boy packs a pretty significant punch in the relatively lean running time of 40 minutes. The eight tracks range from the twangy desolation of "Chuck Feeder Blues," to the acidic noise-wank of "Cherry Teeth (You Got)." It's actually pretty impressive how many genuinely good ideas Stationary Odyssey managed to fit into one record, and even more impressive how many influences they span. You've got latter-day indie rock, classic folk, caustic drone, and even a little grimy dance, all managing to create a dank, creaky, saloon-door-swinging environment."
Verbicide

"...these guys play songs with energy and style, most of the time winging it around a particular rhythmic imperative. Sometimes the guitar goes off the reservation, and sometimes the bass heads off to town. There's always a throb somewhere. And the sound is wonderfully dense. There's none of that "you can hear every single note" clarity. Rather, these sharply-produced songs often sound like a blender on puree."
Aiding & Abetting

"Remarkable instrumental hybrid... the guitars seem to constantly FIGHT between emotional melodic moves and a bit rockier tones. The rapid post-rock bits mixed into the habit of instrumental music. Sometimes it's good, sometimes interesting and sometimes just strange. Sometimes it's easy to think of instrumental music as a non-complete when the song is missing, but when you listen to the Stationary Odyssey thinking about what song we were made for the benefit of this (sometimes strange) hybrid of sounds, screeching guitars and other noises. For some, it is often strange, but sometimes very interesting."
Ikon 1931

"Stationary Odyssey consists of Indiana natives Aaron Tanner and Bret Siler who have been making their own unique brand of DIY infused indie rock since 2002. Their most recent release for Joyful Noise Recordings entitled Sons of Boy is an eight song sonic hodgepodge that is hard to really pin down, although one can distinctly hear elements of folk, punk and post-rock fused together with traces of ambient and progressive rock. Sons of Boy is an intriguing ride primarily due to the fact that it aims to keep the listener on their toes throughout, so that they're unable to predict what lies around the next corner. Slashing, jagged guitars explode with an alarming intensity on tracks like "Johnfriend" and "Chunk Feeder Blues", but are nicely offset with the more ambient, layered textures employed on "Ghost Moth" and "Brand of Shame". "
Sea Of Tranquility

"These guys are clearly virtuoso musicians; if there's one thing that may put some people off, it's the fact that the album is so schizophrenic and lacks the overall consistency of sound that characterises many classic post-rock albums. Sons of Boy is perhaps best viewed as a collection of (often fantastic) individual tracks and should definitely appeal to fans of epic instrumental rock and emo. Listening to it all in one go gives you a headache though."
Tasty Fanzine

"Stationary Odyssey are definitely interesting to listen to. They mix elements of Sonic Youth and Behold... The Arctopus into the soundtrack "Torticline". Even though instrumental prog bands are becoming commonplace, it's bands like Stationary Odyssey that add some refreshment within the genre. "
Slug Magazine

"Stationary Odyssey is growing better with each release. Their last album, 2006's Head! Foot! and the Pink Axe, was a spellbinding doozy of a record, and Sons of Boy quickly asserts itself as a worthy successor... With Sons of Boy, Tanner and Siler have secured their spot as purveyors of solid, approachable instrumental rock. Whereas many similar bands become lost in drawn-out climaxes and guitar convolutions, Stationary Odyssey construct their compositions with a respect for the listener. These songs vary in their influences, and none exceeds seven minutes, making for a consistently engaging result. In turn, few instrumental albums keep me hitting 'play' as often as I have with Sons of Boy."
Indieville

"Yes, it is unusual; yes it does major on instrumental post-rock; and there is a bit of grind there, too... those who like melody will want it to appear over the backing-track-feel of what is here; those who want ambient will find this too noisy; those who want purposeful direction will often be frustrated; and those that want mood will find it a little too schizophrenic in places. "
The Phantom Tollbooth

"Stationary Odyssey tell instrumental stories with weird, experimental guitar-backed rock."
Cincinnati City Beat

"Excellent instrumental indie rock that is able to flow between different styles without being jarring or floundering. Witness "Torticline," which is jazzy and atmospheric, yet has these moments of precision metal. Or "Johnfriend," which is indie rock yet seems right out of the Polysics' playbook. Or "Brand of Shame," which takes a space-age loungey, surfy guitar sound and envelopes it with hip, shuffling rhythms. Regardless of genre, I like when a progressive or avant-garde take on it is executed thoughtfully and with precision. Stationary Odyssey has that technical craftsmanship and, even better, the tunes are enjoyable and differentiating from each other... Stationary Odyssey, thankfully, doesn't seem to have anything to prove and largely offers up effortlessly interesting indie rock."
Read Junk

"Sound - or the oft-used word "soundscape" - offers the opportunity to wonder: What sound? Is it harsh? Pleasing? Melodic? Sensual? Abrasive? Gorgeous? In the case of Stationary Odyssey, the answer is and has been: Yes to all. With EPs such as Komondor in 2003 and the 2006 LP Head! Foot! And the Pink Axe as launching points for this, the collaborative effort of not only the heart and brains of SO - Aaron Tanner and Brett Siler - but of a cast of contributors new and old (Damon Dawson, Shawn Knight, Stephen Lang, Brint Powell, Scott Siler, Chris Schlard, Jackson Tanner and vocalist Veesugee)."
News4U

"Stationary Odyssey are not exactly a conventional folk band, they experiment with the genre to create a breed of grime-folk the like of which has hitherto been unheard to most. The duo have worked with a wide range of talented musicians in the past so expect to hear a few guest appearances on Sons Of Boy. "
Strangeglue

"Classical stance with regards to musical composition. At least we are safe in the knowledge that Brett hasn't got AIDS. "
Jersey Beat

"Like Stationary Odyssey's past releases, Sons of Boy is an interesting instrumental pastiche of confluences, melding ambiance, electronic programming, math-rock and post-rock into a colorful array of flowing sound... a musically accomplished effort."
PunkNews.Org

"Like MONO and Mogwai, Stationary Odyssey share a great secret... What this secret is, we really seriously, will never know... and that's what is so special about them... It is far too hectic, far too all over the shed and far to self indulgent to be truly likeable - yet, I really like it... If you fancy experiencing a psychotic delusional trippy freak out - then buy this album and sit back and enjoy the trip whatever it may be."
Subba Cultcha

"Stationary Odyssey throws us bits of blues, mathcore, noise, space, acid, and prog rock... This album of carefully crafted guitar exercises aren't so much an odyssey as a quick scenic tour... with interesting guitar figures treading noise and prog rock, then mathcore and, quickly, grind. "
Delusions Of Adequacy

"If genius rednecks built a trailer park on the moon, Stationary Odyssey's Sons of Boy would be to moon buggies what Skynyrd's self-titled is to Camaros here on Earth. In 2006 Stationary Odyssey changed the way I think about bands without singers. Prior to hearing Head! Foot! and the Pink Axe! I thought instrumental music was incomplete. The new album has brought me back to the notion that vocals are just dead weight. Sons of Boy is stripped and spacey in most part, however, the band doesn't ignore the nitty gritty. Chunk Feeder Blues is a burly tune that would have Robert Johnson rollin' over in his pine box."
Fracture Magazine / Prick Magazine

"Stationary Odyssey returns with their glitched out intergalactic rock and roll... Whether it's angular math rock or power blasts of sonic intensity, this band always keeps things fresh and moving."
ZapTown

"Their fourth album, Sons Of Boy [is] their first since Head! Foot! And The Pink Axe back in 2006. In between they released a split CD with Detroit rockers Child Bite. Shawn Knight of Child Bite has come back to help with the new record, along with Chris Schlarb (I Heart Lung) and a long list of various composers and rock musicians, joining forces with Stationary Odyssey's Aaron Tanner and Brett Siler. Sons Of Boys kicks into overdrive, powering the band into a new dimension coated in white noise and bubbling with the sound of guitars, screeching and squealing their way into microscopic sound waves. There's quite a lot of anticipation surrounding this release, so if you're a fan of avant-garde noise, shoegaze, prog or even grind-core, then get yourself over to Joyful Noise Recordings' website and check out the band's back catalogue."
Artrocker Magazine / Einstein Music Journal

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