Gliss – Rugby Road
A while ago I went to see a Billy Corgan gig at the London Forum. Skip to almost a year later and a cd drops through my letterbox with a distinct familiarity to it. It turns out that this cd is the support band I saw for that very show. From what I remember of seeing them live, Gliss are a rather sombre looking trio whose party piece (if I remember correctly) was dashing around the stage swapping musical instruments with each other. Despite what I felt at the time was a slight lack of stage presence, I approached Rugby Road, the band's second single, with an open ear.
Described as alternative rock it is clear to see why Gliss attracted the attention of the always upbeat Mr Corgan, they are moderately reminiscent of a young Smashing Pumpkins. Rugby Road is a sultry guitar track which has drawn comparisons to both Garbage and the Pixies, but also recalls a more 80s Jesus and Mary Chain sound to it too.
A great Indie rock single with a dark edge, this is definitely worth the purchase if you are nostalgically hungry for the days of the early to mid 1990s when alternative rock bands reigned supreme. If only Billy Corgan had carried on this way, then maybe he wouldn't have subjected to us to that Zwan album.