CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSIT-EONS REVIEW FROM SLEEPING BAG STUDIOS
"I think I’ve found a real contender to make my top ten at the end of this year with the excellent music I’m finding on the Transit-Eons EP. When you hear a composition like “Better Off Alone,” there’s no way to deny just how much pull music like this has to a listener – nevermind the people that actually MADE it! If I was Paul or Ivan…I can only imagine that the pull of making music this emotionally-all-encompassing and this authentic would lead me to the studio every single free moment I got. They should be absolutely ecstatic with this set of six songs – everything from ideas to execution to production is right where it should be…this EP is nothing short of stunning." - Sleeping Bag Studios
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSIT-EONS REVIEW FROM JAMSPHERE
"I've lost count of how many times I've pressed repeat here...Recently I have been inundated with new music and I am lucky to listen to an album, one time, in its entirety. I have probably listened to “Transit Eons” at least 5 times in a row. There is something very ear-pleasing about this EP that cannot be quite attributed to anything technical or musical; which goes beyond the ‘well-written, well-played and well-sung’. I still haven’t worked out what it is…but I absolutely love it!" - Jamsphere
The worldly vibes of ‘Safari’ return in some capacity for the finale, ‘Beyond The Sun.’ With that said, the final song feels like a culmination of a long journey, one that the listener experiences through Pinto and the Bean on ‘Transit-Eons.’ It’s an eloquent ending to an insanely strong effort.
This album is a must-listen for fans of independent music. It’s inventive, creative as hell, and rewarding to enjoy. I should note that I rarely ever give praise of this magnitude. I’m a harsh critic, and frequent readers of my website know that all too well. Pinto and the Bean, though, are deserving of every ounce of this praise.
"I think I’ve found a real contender to make my top ten at the end of this year with the excellent music I’m finding on the Transit-Eons EP. When you hear a composition like “Better Off Alone,” there’s no way to deny just how much pull music like this has to a listener – nevermind the people that actually MADE it! If I was Paul or Ivan…I can only imagine that the pull of making music this emotionally-all-encompassing and this authentic would lead me to the studio every single free moment I got. They should be absolutely ecstatic with this set of six songs – everything from ideas to execution to production is right where it should be…this EP is nothing short of stunning." - Sleeping Bag Studios
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSIT-EONS REVIEW FROM JAMSPHERE
"I've lost count of how many times I've pressed repeat here...Recently I have been inundated with new music and I am lucky to listen to an album, one time, in its entirety. I have probably listened to “Transit Eons” at least 5 times in a row. There is something very ear-pleasing about this EP that cannot be quite attributed to anything technical or musical; which goes beyond the ‘well-written, well-played and well-sung’. I still haven’t worked out what it is…but I absolutely love it!" - Jamsphere
Review - Pinto & The Bean’s ‘Transit-Eons’
By Brett Stewart (BrettStewart.net)
Pinto and the Bean, a rising indie rock group from Chicago, describe their sound quite succinctly: a little band with a not so little sound. The group consists of Paul Taneja and Ivan Sosa, and they’re absolutely correct in their analysis. This duo’s sound is bombastically impressive and defies the established norms of two-piece acts. Their new six track EP, ‘Transit-Eons,’ is an eclectic collection of quality tracks that showcase immense potential.
‘Eagle Kid’ introduces the duo in a simplistic fashion. Both the instrumentation and lyrical content embrace a level of brevity, that is, until they explode out of your speakers at full force. When that happens, an eruption of distorted rock and roll captures your senses in the most unique way possible. Right off the bat, Pinto and the Bean exhibit serious chops.
An intriguing part of ‘Transit-Eons’ is its use of a myriad of influences. ‘Safari’ is a stark contrast to ‘Eagle Kid,’ embracing some African and folk acoustic vibes. My goodness, their harmonies are beautiful, accenting the soft acoustic nature of ‘Safari’ so well. Lyrically, the songs are as well written as they are performed. There are elements of singer songwriters and folkies in their blend, but said blend feels very original.
The acoustic pastures of ‘Safari’ are quickly departed for tight beats and electronic influence. The genre hopping on this record is incredible and ‘Gunshot’ feels like track right off of the cutting room floor of a New Order recording session. It’s also infectiously catchy and stole my heart from the opening notes. ‘Gunshot’ may stand as one of my favorite indie efforts of this year. (And that says quite a bit, coming from a guy inundated with hundreds of indie artists each year.)
‘Better Off Alone’ feels like a compromise between the acoustic feel of ‘Safari’ and the electronic nature of ‘Gunshot.’ It’s a fulfilling fusion and again, their harmonies are beyond noteworthy. It’s also a deeply introspective, slightly dark track about loneliness: something Pinto and the Bean seem to be getting along well enough with.
‘Transit-Eons’ lights an experimentalist candle that remains bright all the way until the end of the experience. The sonic landscapes of ‘Teenage Love’ are reminiscent of Arcade Fire’s recent work - there’s a lot going on. Actually, I’d argue that ‘Teenage Love’ could be swapped with a track from the pinnacle Arcade Fire record, ‘The Suburbs,’ and feel perfectly at home. (That’s a high compliment: that album is tremendously good.)
Pinto and the Bean, a rising indie rock group from Chicago, describe their sound quite succinctly: a little band with a not so little sound. The group consists of Paul Taneja and Ivan Sosa, and they’re absolutely correct in their analysis. This duo’s sound is bombastically impressive and defies the established norms of two-piece acts. Their new six track EP, ‘Transit-Eons,’ is an eclectic collection of quality tracks that showcase immense potential.
‘Eagle Kid’ introduces the duo in a simplistic fashion. Both the instrumentation and lyrical content embrace a level of brevity, that is, until they explode out of your speakers at full force. When that happens, an eruption of distorted rock and roll captures your senses in the most unique way possible. Right off the bat, Pinto and the Bean exhibit serious chops.
An intriguing part of ‘Transit-Eons’ is its use of a myriad of influences. ‘Safari’ is a stark contrast to ‘Eagle Kid,’ embracing some African and folk acoustic vibes. My goodness, their harmonies are beautiful, accenting the soft acoustic nature of ‘Safari’ so well. Lyrically, the songs are as well written as they are performed. There are elements of singer songwriters and folkies in their blend, but said blend feels very original.
The acoustic pastures of ‘Safari’ are quickly departed for tight beats and electronic influence. The genre hopping on this record is incredible and ‘Gunshot’ feels like track right off of the cutting room floor of a New Order recording session. It’s also infectiously catchy and stole my heart from the opening notes. ‘Gunshot’ may stand as one of my favorite indie efforts of this year. (And that says quite a bit, coming from a guy inundated with hundreds of indie artists each year.)
‘Better Off Alone’ feels like a compromise between the acoustic feel of ‘Safari’ and the electronic nature of ‘Gunshot.’ It’s a fulfilling fusion and again, their harmonies are beyond noteworthy. It’s also a deeply introspective, slightly dark track about loneliness: something Pinto and the Bean seem to be getting along well enough with.
‘Transit-Eons’ lights an experimentalist candle that remains bright all the way until the end of the experience. The sonic landscapes of ‘Teenage Love’ are reminiscent of Arcade Fire’s recent work - there’s a lot going on. Actually, I’d argue that ‘Teenage Love’ could be swapped with a track from the pinnacle Arcade Fire record, ‘The Suburbs,’ and feel perfectly at home. (That’s a high compliment: that album is tremendously good.)
The worldly vibes of ‘Safari’ return in some capacity for the finale, ‘Beyond The Sun.’ With that said, the final song feels like a culmination of a long journey, one that the listener experiences through Pinto and the Bean on ‘Transit-Eons.’ It’s an eloquent ending to an insanely strong effort.
This album is a must-listen for fans of independent music. It’s inventive, creative as hell, and rewarding to enjoy. I should note that I rarely ever give praise of this magnitude. I’m a harsh critic, and frequent readers of my website know that all too well. Pinto and the Bean, though, are deserving of every ounce of this praise.