Division St.

Division St. is a "local" Boston hybrid formed at Berklee College of Music from all over the world. Despite the breadth of their original places of origin, the band has garnered a well-deserved following in the Boston area. Their second album, Harbour in the Static, leaves clues as to the reasons for their popularity. The album opens with Isaac Hasson's rallying cry launching the band into the cleverly written "Carry the Blame." "Confession of Truth" is a reply of questionable intention to the '60s submission "Love the One You' re With," which mixes forced romance with solid instrumentalism (including a marching drum line provided by inventive percussionist John Dorizzi). "Follow Me There" is a sometimes strained "flow and swirl" with a syllable-heavy bridge. "Spinning Circles" includes grating falsetto interjections, but the backing is strong, based solidly on Thom Scheller's four-string pulse and Jeffrey Scott Bluestein's light Hammond and backing vocals. "Losing My Mind" poses a dangerous question in a sudden, over-driving chorus. Dorizzi's flitting stick work leads into the swaying shanty lament "Never Enough," which is perhaps the high point of the album. "Water's Edge" builds slowly into a mellow ballad featuring Bluestein's smooth ivories and Dorizzi's deep tribal beats and a bluesy solo by Hasson. Bluestein also opens "Left Behind" with clever key work that is soon joined and propelled by the solid combination of Dorizzi and Scheller and topped by Hasson's bellowy vocal. "Let It Flow" unites Division St. in a funky, breathy vibe that peaks the album before it falls into the choppy closer "No Mercy." - Matthew Robinson Division Street's 1995 effort Standing on Ceremony has a habit of hitting the listener in all the right places. It's pleasing instrumentally, and at times experimental with different combinations of keyboards and drums. On vocals, Issac Hasson invites in someone ready for a good love song, but at the same time, someone that knows full well the struggles of everyday life. While the record offers just nine songs, each of those tracks is long and involved. None of the songs play for less than four minutes, and two span over five minutes. Some bands can't hold the attention of their audience for that long with one melody, and must switch over to new songs quickly. But Division Street instead tells a story, with their music and their lyrics. Piano and keyboard man Jeffrey Scott Bluestein and Hasson have penned memorable phrases in their songs, such as "don't hold onto the battles you have lost," and "take me to the place where I can wash away this world we've made." Among others, these lyrical lines show that the group isn't a band in the sense that we view musicians on most occasions -- glamorous, rich, and powerful. Instead, Division Street shows with this record that they are a group of artists, playing on the streets, signing about what makes them happy and what makes them cry. Every song can be considered a standout track, because each delves into the depths of unique sounds and messages. Singeling out specific songs doesn't do justice to the completeness of the record, but those looking to get to the band's best stuff should definitely sample the optimistic and toe tapping inducing song "Maybe Next Year." Another highlight is the record's somber finale, "Fade to Blue," in which Hasson ventures to vocal experimentation not yet heard on the record, something that shows promise for Division Street's future efforts in the Boston music scene. Overall, however, the record's best track is the first, "Live for You." It's a wild, upbeat song, and a great way to open an album because it gets the listener excited, perhaps touch an emotional spark, and ready them for the musically pleasing ride that ensues. - Shawn Nicholls Isaac Hasson formed the band Division St. along with pianist and acoustic-guitarist Jeffrey Scott Bluestein, bassist Thom Scheller, and drummer John Dorizzi. The band released two full-length releases and one six-song EP: Standing on Ceremony (Plaid Cat Records, 1995), Harbour in the Static (Plaid Cat, 1997), and Division St. EP (Red-Crush Records, 2000).