So what do Colleen, Abra, Lila,
A chimera is a word from Greek mythology. It is a fire breathing she-monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail. The present day Chimeras met at Temple University in Philadelphia and consists of bassist/vocalist Adam Cooper, guitarist/ vocalist Matt Turnbull, guitarist/vocalist Dan Ferry, and drummer Shim Perlman.
Her is their second full-length release and it mimics their first by following a theme. Their 2007 debut, Party Of God, was based on the wars in
Now, they have dedicated an albums worth of material to women: real, imagined, fantasized, and archetypal. Gladys is a real living and breathing woman who works at a Wendy’s restaurant that the band frequents. Lorraine was inspired by Gloria Swanson’s character in the film Sunset Boulevard, while Abra is a character in East Of Eden. The Chimeras has raided books, movies, and the lives of friends to find their material, which adds up to a unique listen.
Their sound falls into the alternative rock category, complete with jangling guitars. The musicianship is more than competent, but it is the witty and well-constructed lyrics that stand out. The major problem is the production, which does not do the material justice. It sounds a little washed out and does not have a complete clarity. The band members have stated their goal at first was to be more of a basement recording band, and they mention a reel-to-reel tape recording. Their music is sophisticated enough that they need to find a way to do a better job in the recording studio.
The Chimeras are a work in progress, but they have invented a unique way of assembling an album. I hope they explore other themes in the future as they are an interesting group and seem to have a lot of potential.
