Reviews of The Going and The Gone
"Not sure where this bunch popped out of (ok, I think it was the Boston area) but this guy David Mirabella and his crew have released a damn good ep here. There's only 6 songs which is a perfect taste (I love eps!) and they do a nice mix of rock/pop tunes along with some alt-country on some others. The opener, "Guardrail" is the former with some sweet hooks and perfect tension while "No Guarantees" sounds like prime Elvis Costello with a slight Americana influence in there. "Far Away" evokes some classic Old 97's with a thumpa dump beat and feathery backing vocals. "Cliché" rocks a bit hard and has a cool opening riff sounding like it was straight off a True West record and "Ruby Colored Halo" is where they go full bore with the gorgeous pedal steel, gentle vocals and sweet acoustic guitars. Not sure if they have a full-length in the can but I hope so because they sure sound ready for it. In the meantime pick this up, you won't be disappointed."
- Dagger Zine
"Each song is a multilayered hook-fest with carefully constructed instrumentation and vocal balance that makes it one of the better power pop albums you’ll hear this year... subtle background vocals to the simple yet effective guitar work to the overblown keyboard-bordering-on-organ sound adds layers that create an irresistible mix of swirling ear candy."
- Northeast Performer Magazine
"Whether it is a full melody that soars out of the haze or the echoing of twangy country-style guitar riffs, The Rationales from Boston put together a sound that is complete and finished. On their debut release, “The Going And The Gone,” The Rationales let themselves do some rocking and rolling with reserved pop rock while still keeping things classy and smart."
- Plug In Music
"With an exuberant blend of pop, rock, and Americana seamlessly intergrating with their inherent indie spirit, The Rationales are poised to make their mark in Boston and beyond."
- They Will Rock You
"A cool mix of Big Star- and Kinks-like poppiness and Wilco- and the Jayhawks-inspired rootsy jingle jangle. My ears were like putty in their hands."
- Captain's Dead
"The Going and the Gone kicks off with a confident, luxurious mesh of guitars on 'Guardrail,' followed by the boisterous bounce of 'No Guarantees,' ... [and] sustains this wave of raucous, infectious energy throughout."
- Easily Fooled
Longtime readers know I have a soft spot for bands that bridge the divide between power pop and alt-country, and this Boston band has done just that on their debut EP. "No Guarantees" is the track that hooked me in, and it manages to fit influences as varied as Wilco, The Old 97s and Big Star into its 2:14 running time. Also worth the price of admission are the instantly catchy "Far Away", the jangly "Cliche" and the pedal steel-drenched closer "Ruby Covered Halo". If this sounds like it's up your alley, it would be downright ir-Rationale to pass on this EP.
- Absolute Powerpop
"The Rationales hang on to what makes a great record: chords that count, melody, backing vocals!, straight ahead, earnest, punchy rock, with solid vocals, intelligent guitar. The Rationales are finding new respect for pop in the here and now, with real songs played from the heart."
- Chris LeRoy, Songwriter
Cracker/The BellRays/The SongBook
"Sounding like Whiskeytown meets Tom Petty with a bit of The Rolling Stones thrown in, The Rationales. just finished the debut EP The Going and The Gone with six tracks. The Americana roots based group stradles the line between pop and rock without really planting their feet firmly in each genre for long. "Guardrail" is a Wilco-like mid tempo number with an inventive bassline and backing organ that drives the melody to a lush chorus. Another great pop song here is "No Guarantees" - it has the power pop bounce and twang that Rhett Miller and Old 97s did at their poppiest. This continues into the awesome "Far Away" with a ghostly harmonomic in chorus and Mirabella's vocals are very Jagger-like here. The catchy driving rhythms are also on the song "On the Vine" - it compares well with Wilco's "Summerteeth"-era roots pop. I really look forward to a full album from The Rationales, as this is an excellent EP."
- Powerpopaholic
The music by The Rationales is great. No no... lets use a better word then great... how about, Honorificabilitudinitatibus. (meaning "the state of being able to achieve honors." The arrangement of each song is full. They have a wall of sound approach without all the doubling and the album sounds great! If pop music, the Stones and alt county were to get mixed with the band the Oneders... You might approach the sound of the Rationales... but really just think Wilco. oh, and if you don't know the Oneders(pronounced Wonders); Tom Hanks will come stab you in the ear with an ice skate. Go check them out live... Make sure to yell Honorificabilitudinitatibus at the stage.
- Boston Music Reviews
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