MUSIC REVIEW: THE YAGAS – Midnight Minuet

Label: Independent

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Rating: 96%

Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

While I formed all of my musical opinions cutting my teeth on KISS and Cheap Trick in the late 70’s and then all of the Sunset Strip / glam rock bands of the 80’s, there was something to be said about the alternative rock that stood out in the late 80’s… think The Cure’s Disintegration.  The debut release from The Yagas takes everything I loved about that album, swirls in attitude, a huge rock quotient, and modern rock flair delivering an amazing album that helped get me through another busy tax season.  Disc opener “The Crying Room” unfolds beautifully with a cool guitar and keyboard driven interlude that allows the rhythm section to join in as well before the vocals drop in.  This one took me immediately to The Cure and it hooked me and once I heard Vera Farmiga’s vocals swirled into the sonic mix, enhancing the depth of the sound.  “I Am” kicks off with a riff that crawls inside you thanks to its twist of familiarity and difference.  The chugging guitar and bass in the mix are lifted thanks to drums from Jason Bowman.  Farmiga’s vocals cry out with emotion that drive the lyric home while the guitars punch the chorus and bridge.  “Anhedonia” has a lighter feel than the opening tracks, but it adds to the overall vibe of the disc without derailing the collective sound and feel.  The real start on this one is the tandem of Mark Visconti’s guitar and the rhythm sections anchoring of the track without weighing the tracks sound down.  “Charade” is a cool rocker that delivers another solid performance from Farmiga allowing her to drape a lush vocal over the band’s performance in a flawless marriage of sounds.  The straightforward rock vibe is great and gives the band another musical weapon in its arsenal.  The anthemic tones buried in the track beg to be played live.  “Pullover” has a guitar opening from Visconti that I am drawn to every time the song plays through.  Vera’s vocal is layered perfectly on the chorus and adds to the overall feel of the track as does Davis’ bass lines.  This song grows on you and begs you to play it repeatedly.

“Life Of A Widow” opening droning bass from Mike Davis that combines with a cool keyboard piece and the guitars and drums gets the foot tapping before you realize there aren’t any vocals.  Then Vera kicks in and once the song hits its stride at the chorus, we are all off and running on a rock and roll ride that is full speed ahead.  I dig how the different textures within the track’s music enhance each other without drowning anything out.  “Pendulum” is a solid track that proves to be a great pivot point for the disc.  The song takes its time getting through the interlude-like intro that slowly brings the vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, and some keyboard into the fold before the intensity picks up and moves through the chorus with purpose.  The song swings back and forth between ethereal and in your face.  “Bridle” fits perfectly within the path cut by all the tracks on the disc before it but somehow feels different.  The vocal takes a backseat to Bowman’s tribal drums on the verse and the solid tandem of guitar and bass on the chorus.  The overall vibe seems to jump at you without feeling heavy or overdone.  Each listen I find myself focusing more on the drums and percussion, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  “She’s Walking Down” is another track that takes different sounds and textures and pushes them together while throwing any preconceived notion or formula out the window.  This is a merging of different influences and genres that works on every level.  This track is made for modern rock radio with guitars, heavy bottom end, extra sounds, and heavy emotional lyrics and vocals.  Disc closer and title track “Midnight Minuet” brings us full circle sonically and ends things on a cool note.  I dig the heavier sound that isn’t too weighted for its own good.  The keyboard dances in the mix with the vocal while the guitars and bass keep things moving steadily.  Even the drum sound is dialed back just enough to let them come through at times and not others.  I really hope The Yagas get the opportunity to tour this release, as the overall groove is constructed for a live situation, especially the vocals.  Even more than that, I hope I get to see them live sooner than later.

Tracklisting: The Crying Room – I Am – Life Of A Widow – Anhedonia – Pendulum – Charade – Bridle – Pullover – She’s Walking Down – Midnight Minuet

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Category: CD Reviews