The debut LP of New Jersey's East of Venus bears the weight of expectations and the liberation of experienced musicians just having a good time playing together, as they have privately for a decade. Consisting of members of alt luminaries the Feelies, Luna, and Winter Hours, as well as the Bongos, the quartet presents a collection of seven jangly original tunes along with covers of the Rolling Stones, Tim Hardin, and the lesser-known "Jane September" by Red Buckets. Sadly, bandmember Michael Carlucci, formerly of Winter Hours, passed away in late 2015, so
Memory Box
will stand as a one-time offering from the lineup of Carlucci, Stanley Demeski, Glenn Mercer, and Rob Norris. ~ Marcy Donelson