Reviews n' Stuff
“Eleven Space Age Melodies” Leave proclaims on the cover their debut album Don’t Go… there’s nothing futuristic about their tight harmonies, driving rhythms and thoroughly satisfying power-pop, … catchy tunes never go out of style.”
Jim Derogatis—CHICAGO SUN–TIMES
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“On A Happy Note… as the name suggests, is here to celebrate the result of the union and effort of four friends; to celebrate music that offers nothing but good feelings; to celebrate the talent of a young artist, recorded here for eternity; to be and remain a happy moment of a band that has given the world magnificent pop gems… I always avoid using the word masterpiece, so as not to trivialize it… so I define “On a Happy Note…” as a fantastic album, and Leave couldn’t find a corner of the swan better…”
Paolo Milea- BRAZIL POWERPOP STATION
“Leave’s debut CD, “Don’t Go,” is hands-down one of the best indie pop-rock albums to come out of the Midwest in 2003. The song stylers range from melancholy to upbeat, but each track supplies well-written melodies and tight, layered harmonies in abundance. The bass/drums are surprisingly deep for this style of music – lots of cool fills and rhythms – but it all blends in perfectly with the strong guitar work.”
Nelson Taruc – CD BABY
“… on the day of your Drummers wedding, … and may their first child, be a masculine child…”
Joe was originally under the impression that Leave was a B 52’s Cover Band.
“Leave makes good on the promise of its previous three song EP with Don’t Go, a full length collection of melodic music… Harmony vocals and ringing guitars from Mike Murphy and Jim Latsis enable the band to create tunes that call to mind Revolver era Beatles.”
Terrence Flamm – ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER
“As soon as I popped the CD “Don’t Go” by Leave, found myself bopping my head, and moving my arms around in a very strange way. Then I turned around, and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Immediately, I stopped myself – only to find myself 2 minutes later bopping around again. All of the 11 songs meld well together, and make for a great album. It’s obvious from this album that the men of Leave make for one hell of a team… If you like the sound of the Foo Fighters with a twist of vulnerability and spaciness, Leave’s “Don’t Go” is sure to make you bop your head too. Note: Avoid the mirror!
INDIE-MUSIC.COM
“Don’t come near me with all that gear!
I’ll load up this stand…”
“… and it’s tangled up… the way they make this sh*t… ah, geez!”
“On A Happy Note” is the Chicago band Leave’s final album due the passing of lead singer and guitarist Mike Murphy. On A Happy Note is a fitting tribute…The band could’ve packed it in, but to their credit, they soldiered on. No duds or fillers on this album, it is highly recommended. May the legend of Murph continue, get it today!”
POWERPOPAHOLIC ON THE WEB
Offering a refreshing pop/rock sound in this day and age of rap/rock and corporate processed rock, Leave posseses the one thing many artists in the aforementioned genres sorely lack; integrity. If Leave doesn’t make it places big, there’s something sorely wrong with the music industry.
“uh, sounds uh, interesting Jim but, …”
“Leave was the sort of hard-working, extremely talented but never flashy, meat-and-potatoes Midwestern power-pop band that can be heard in two or three venues around town on any given night, and which always prompts a smile. It’s the kind of group that’s all too easy to take for granted–until it’s gone.
I last celebrated the effervescent grooves, tight harmonies and chiming guitars of bandleader Mike Murphy, guitarist Jim Latsis, drummer Terry Keating and bassist Joe Herrmann in one of the periodic roundups of local demos and D.I.Y. releases that were the precursor to this column in 2003. I kept an eye on their doings in the years that followed, but didn’t get around to writing about them again until now, as their latest self-released album “On a Happy Note” arrives with both the best music and the saddest news they’ve given us.”
Jim Derogatis—CHICAGO SUN–TIMES
