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1. Surely you know- 3:23- Elevator Action
2. Coming Out Wild- 2:05- The Sammies
3. I Started Running- 2:33- The Talk
4. Nuvo- 2:40- Elevator Action
5. For John- 4:28- The Sammies
6. Welcome to Fort Awesome- 2:47- Alternative Champs
7. Anyother Saturday- 4:44- The Talk
8. Superheroes- 3:45- Marat
9. The Lightest Things...- 3:25- Twelve Thousand Armies
10. Rockingham- 3:38- Alternative Champs
11. N.Y.L.A.- 2:31- The Talk
12. Falling Out- 4:04- The Sammies
13. Swimming in The Pool- 4:38- Alternative Champs
14. Secret Society- 3:09- Elevator Action
15. Everyday is Getting Better- 2:15- Twelve Thousand Armies
16. A Ritual Girl- 3:01-Marat

reviews - Society, Secret

*Cable and Tweed Blog

"If I had a thousand records released this year this one would be at the top with no question. Finely executed male/female vocals, they have perfected modern trashy, glammy, bubble-gum rock. I dare you to listen to Society, Secret and not make your glam faces/poses - if you can stop singing along at all."

*PerformerMAG.com (PICK OF THE MONTH!)

"Elevator Action have created a rocking CD that plows through 11 garage rock stompers in just over half an hour. These 30 minutes may not change your life, but you’re going to have a big grin on your face the whole time, sometimes in spite of yourself. Elevator Action approached this record with every intention of knocking one out of the park, and they’ve come very close with Society, Secret. The songs grab hold of you so forcefully."

*Durham Herald Sun

MoRisen pumps out two new, punchy indie records

Charlotte's MoRisen Records has made quite the name for itself since industry journeyman Chuck Morrison set up shop in 20001.

Over 5 short years, the label has caddied some of the state's most promising young talent (including The Talk, whose songs have found their way onto Fox-teen drama "The OC"), released the music of at least on time-tested juggernaut (Snatches of PInk, whose alcohol-rock bowled over critics at Rolling Stone some 10 years ago), and put the city of Charlotte back on the musical map.

Today, MoRisen's wheels are spinning fast as ever, promoting the release of two new North Carolina records: en eclectic self-titled debut from Charlotte's The Sammies and the sophomore effort from punchy Queen City three-piece Elevator Action. Unlike The Talk and Snatches, neither The Sammies nor Elevator Action has ventured beyond the Eastern Seaboard indie rock circuit. But, at risk of sounding corny, this scrappy material promises good things for both bands and bodes well for the future of the healthy MoRisen roster.

Youthful Charlotte four-piece The Sammies get by on surprisingly tight song writing and the occasional curve ball. Like the work of musicians twice their age, each bit of the band's eponymous debut feels realized and meticulous. If there's a "right place" for the guitar in the mix, it sits there. If there's a melody the verse begs for, you're going to hear it.

As a result, The Sammies makes some brassy stylistic leaps from track to track presumably in the name of song servicing. The aptly titled album opener, "Coming Out Wild," starts things off with rock swagger and jangly guitar bounce - a boiled-blood tailoring of 20 year-old Athens mystique. But only two tracks later the band has moved on to pure indie pop, resembling a mannered Nada Surf, creaming up guitar leads on "Falling Out." Later, The Sammies morph into a smoky Wolf Parade approximation with the drunken duo of "Caretaker" and "She Died," only to return to the blaze of "Wild" for the record's home stretch.

It's a bit erratic, but somehow the journey works, each song's mini-aesthetic fitting into the overall feel of the record. "The Sammies" isn't so much brave as it is self-assured, a solid cycle of good songs. But, really, what more could you ask from a debut rock record?

"Society, Secret," on the other hand, is anything but a genre-hopper. Elevator Action's MoRisen release starts in a dust cloud of sassy riffing, and ends just the same. It's a dingy, garage-y slab of rock 'n' roll - owing as much debt to '70's glam rock as '80's punk. It isn't ground breaking. The Makers, The Dirtbombs, The White Stripes - you've heard it all before. But that doesn't detract from guitarist/vocalist Eric Gilstrap's hollering six-string and over-it attitude. Whether it's the sneering "Surely You Know," the Miracles-knicking "Start A War" or the beer bottle ballad "Breaking Glass Plans," these are 11 tracks of truly spirited stuff.

And while neither of these releases is capable of catapulting MoRisen to Merge status, it's inspiring to watch this small operation do such a fantastic job of supporting its handful of North Carolina's best bands. If anything, "The Sammies" and "Society, Secret" surely portend more great things to come.

- Robbie Mackey / The Herald-Sun

*acousticshock(german source)

....three young, talentierte Americans from North hide themselves Carolina, which quite captivate with their mixture from skirt(rock), Glam and easy Punk influences and cause inspiring storms.

*Outlawtorn( German source)

....Surely You Know is fine garage a Rocker with Pop Appeal, which quotes within certain ranges post office Punk. A trace better is however Nuvo, which can switch between calm Verschnaufpausen and punkiger rage attacks very fast.

*Crazywire(German source)

....Surely You Know makes a connection between T - Rex, the Sex Pistols and The Kinks. With high Mitsingfaktor, a quantity Sha well well and full guitars, the Song emerges as in former times high point of the plate.

*Elbows Blog

I'm entirely exhausted from the continued circus that is my job this week (hence no post yesterday). I'm still pretty much devoid of anything remotely intelligent to say, but I did want to share this North Carolina band with you because I'm really digging their stuff. According to their website, the best way to describe them is, "Just take 1oz. 70’s punk, 1 ¼ oz. Ziggy Stardust and a dash of bubble-gum pop. Shake feverishly, serve in a dirty ashtray with a garnish of agro-rock star attitude.

*Daily Tar heel

"Elevator Action came to rock....leave you wanting more....really exciting stuff in here..
'Nuvo' hits with its insistent beat and unexpected dynamics.."

*Poisonfreee.com

"I can imagine this being played at the local alternative disco next to The Clash, Franz Ferdinand, The Hives, and Placebo...a strong rocking edge to it...and can get you going in a minimum amount of time...quite diverse....what rounds this record up is the good production by John Agnello (Dinosaur, Jr., Screaming Trees)."

*DIYROCKSTAR blog

When you think of a hotbed for indie culture, you probably tend to think of New York, and LA, but there is really a lot of great stuff going on in North Carolina. The home to Merge and Yep Roc records, there is quite a scene in that area. One of the lesser known components of this scene is Morisen Records. Recently, they sent me a couple of CD's and I really like them both. One of them is called Society, Secret by Elevator Action. It is a great CD of great guitar rock, and is another fun and easy listen. It is one of the better CD's in that sub-genre that I have heard lately.

*LOOKINGATTHEM blog

I'm entirely exhausted from the continued circus that is my job this week (hence no post yesterday). I'm still pretty much devoid of anything remotely intelligent to say, but I did want to share this North Carolina band with you because I'm really digging their stuff. According to their website, the best way to describe them is, "Just take 1oz. 70’s punk, 1 ¼ oz. Ziggy Stardust and a dash of bubble-gum pop. Shake feverishly, serve in a dirty ashtray with a garnish of agro-rock star attitude. This elixir of the rock gods is what we simply call Elevator Action." Okay, sure, I'll buy that.

*ZINK MAGAZINE

Manic Epsisode of Shopping/Cleaning/Making Out:
Elevator Action's "Society, Secret" (MoRisen) has enough dance-worthy energy to keep up with your joyful episodes spent racing around the mall, cleaning out your disaster of a closet, or fooling around with your new Mr./Ms. Right Now.

*MYFACE blog

When I was growing up, there was only one music for me, and that was punk rock. I lived according to the principles of The Clash and Minor Threat.As my tastes slowly began expanding, I looked into the roots of punk. I found Bowie and The New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. All that classy glam stuff. In a similar vein as my glam-punk favorites is Elevator Action, a band with whom I share a hometown of Charlotte, NC. Apparently the corporate oppression of the banks, yuppies, suburbs and soccer moms affected these folks too, because the music is raw, and aggressive yet somehow liberating and honest - exactly what punk should be. Elevator Action has created the sound of asphalt: rough, ragged, dirty and gritty, but with a glittery sparkle that's damn pretty when the sun goes down. Male-femal vocals create a sonic point-counterpoint that fills out the songs, adding extra layers to the already beautiful chaos of the mix. Granted, Society, Secret has a bit more studio polish than Black Flag ever did, but it's OK. The album's bubblegum melodies are the better for it. Elevator Action - fortunately for us - knows that, at heart, all punks ever wanted was to be pop. The Ramones wanted to be The Beatles on speed, and Elevator Action picks up with that legacy offering delicate harmonies and catchy hooks, without sacrificing unflinching honesty or those lovely chainsaw guitar riffs punk fans have come to love and expect. Never pandering or falling into stereotype, Elevator Action is destined for the indie scene, and even then as underdogs. And they're all the more punk for it. Johnny Rotten was wrong. There is a future, and its name is Elevator Action.

*Celebritycafe.com

The sophomore album by Elevator Action Society, Secret is like a combination of an amusement park thrill ride and fun house. The music consists of pure samples of rock, punk, pop and glam sounds. Combine that, with the gruff and edgy vocals, its like a dropped bottle of soda, that when opened, explodes into a wild scene of chaos. Now thats fun!

With 11 tracks of deserving awesomeness, each song delivered something exciting, unusual, stylish and energetic to the mix. Here are my most played. Surely You Know, Start AWar, The Pleasures All Mine, Common Days, and Vicious Hands spun me around faster than a freshly oiled seat on the "Tilt-A-Whirl especially with my humdinger favorites ranking in respectable at #1 and #2 Nuvo and Secret Society.

Elevator Actions Society, Secret becomes available on Tuesday, June 6th. Hey, thats just around the corner, so the wait isnt long at all, not like those thrill rides you have to wait for.

Reviewer: Lynda Dale MacLean new pop
Reviewer's Rating: 9 (out of 10)

*BullzEYE

Elevator Actions second album, Society, Secret on indie MoRisen Records is the follow-up to their acclaimed debut, Its Just Addiction. With screaming guitars, ballsy vocals and a thundering rhythm section, Elevator Action is a garage band that is heavily influenced by punk and glam elements, and with a few exceptions, Society, Secret hits the gas pedal and doesnt let up. Songs like Surely You Know nd Nuvo are potent rockers, and Start a War is endearing in a Plimsouls-meets-Duran Duran sort of way. But some of the exceptions (Call Me Transistor and Vicious Hands) miss the mark in a big way, and that will temper some of this bands hype. This is probably one of those bands that puts on a better live show than what translates to record, but if youre looking for some cool music to put on at a party to get the chicks to shake their asses, this is one you should pick up. - Mike Farley

*Creative Loafing

Elevator Action's previous release on Charlotte-based MoRisen Records, It's Just Addiction, was a solid debut outing, to be sure. Produced by John Agnello, a man with a knack for recording guitar-heavy, meat-and-potatoes rock records, there were riffs-a-plenty, lots of trebly screamed choruses and enough atmosphere to populate a small planet. It was volatile, and sometimes seemed to exist in a vacuum. Society, Secret suggests that vacuum might have been the oft-incestuous QC music scene. The new disc examines the pleasures and pains of nightlife and relationships, both lasting and liquored-up. Songs like "Miss Congeniality" and the title track take advantage of an admirable male/female, he said/she said dynamic (courtesy guitarist Eric Gilstrap and bassist Laurie Ruroden) to give the album a lyrical and emotional thread that never fails to hold strong. Quite possibly MoRisen's best release to date. (Davis)

*Germany

Elevator action is a trio from NC that has been making music together for several years. They began with a debut album in 2004 titled “It’s just addiction.” They are now releasing their 2nd album which is a delightful mix of garage pop, glam punk, and quality songwriting.
The album begins with a glam punk feel. “Surely you know” is nostalgic of the 1970’s. Somewhere between the sex pistols and gary glitter, "Nuvo" is a bit dirtier, where the deciding influence is front man and guitarist Eric Gilstrap's voice, which groans and croons into the microphone in a wonderfully impudent fashion.
The guitar moves into the foreground with “Start a war,” while “the pleasure’s all mine” features the bass played by Miss Laurie Ruroden. “Common days” plays once again with a fun punk sound. “Miss Congeniality” accommodates all aspects of music, which is not a simple task, as this track, and all others on the album are seldom longer than 3 minutes.
Whether it’s the guitar, bass, or the drums of James Donley, there is a beautiful interaction of instruments and voice in “Don’t Believe.” Gilstrap sounds a bit like Axel Rose and Laurie’s sweet voice comes on like a rockin’ chic.

“Call me transistor” wisks us away again into the wild 70’s. (dosen’t fit) More in line with the album is the title song, “Secret society.” The bass gives the song a quick beat, which is skillfully taken up by the guitar, and supported by the drums. “Vicious Hands” also builds on the two different singing styles of the vocalists.

Little flashes of B 52 here and throughout makes you feel like dancing. The album ends with a lazy SouthernStates sound, probably inspired by the trios hometown of Charlotte, NC.

So the album delivers a wide variety of sounds. It is produced by John Agnello, who has worked with Dinosaur Jr, Alice Cooper, the Lemonheads, and Jimmy Eat World.

The circumstances under which “Society, Secret” was created are quite memorable. Singer Eric Gilstrap lost his voice for two whole months, alcoholism, cutting and various relationship issues accompanied (supposedly) the creation of the album and is reflected in the lyrics. Despite all those problems, it is a fun album to listen to, and is packed with good rock songs.

*High Bias

The indie arcade’s on fire from the sophomore CD by Elevator Action, a talented trio seemingly named after the popular 1980s video game. Look for these hot hipsters to rise to the alternative penthouse like label-mates the Talk (who were recently featured on Fox’s teen drama The O.C. Unlike similar contemporaries, Elevator Action’s record Society, Secret is diverse, containing raw songs like “The Pleasures All Mine” and warehouse pop like “Call Me Transistor.” Like a love child of Jack White and Karen O, Elevator Action contains edgy passion. This record is recommended for those camping at Coachella’s Mojave stage. Deirdre Walsh

*The Daily Texan, Austin, TX:

Society, Secret is the second album from another Morisen find, Elevator Action. The album isn't bad, but it's not great, either. It definitely captures the indie-rock sound that has become all too familiar (soft rock meets punk lyrics with elements of '80s techno and '70s style), but that's as far as it goes. For the most part, it sounds just like the next underground group. But to their credit, Elevator Action's high-voltage sound probably makes for an electrifying live performance.

- Robert Brown

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