System & Station have been a lot of places and done a lot of silly things. Somewhere along the way though, they managed to release eight recordings, tour the nation eighteen t imes, and develop into a band that merits your attention. Their latest release, A Nation of Actors is a new direction for the Portland-based band. They have tried on a few different musicians over the last ten years, but their current configuration seems to be the winning combination, as the new album is their most solid work to date. Singer/songwriter RFK Heise has written a compilation of songs that straddle the line between indie rock substance and mainstream marketability. Their songs are instantly likeable - but not because they have lost any substance or complexity. In fact, the music is much more consistent and focused. There is an integration of pop-inspired melodies that makes the songs more relatable and easy on the ears. “The World is Run by Wires” is a nice blend of rock and pop and sounds a little like Coldplay (circa 1999) meets The Shins. Who knows…maybe A Nation of Actors could be the album that helps bring the indie music world to the MTV masses.
-- Brigitte B. Zabak [August 27, 2008]
