Alternative Press
Metroscene / First Light At Last Orders / Rating: 7
The Britpop adoration begins with the first track and doesn’t let up. Layers of atmospheric guitar set this band apart from the pack. The first track is a potential arena anthem…
Time Out – New York
Metroscene – Mercury Lounge - From out of the blue (as far as we can tell) comes Atlanta’s Metroscene, which apparently is not a cable-access program but a pretty damn impressive rock band. The band’s self-released CD, First Light At Last Orders, sounds as if the quartet was born to be the hot band playing at the prom in a John Cusack film circa 1984, except it’s spent the years since mastering production in the studio. Massive, sharp-edged guitars, the occasional squalling keyboard and a willingness to go for broke (all we’re saying is keep those lighters handy) make this CD stand out significantly; if these guys can pull it off live, they could be among the better new bands of the year.
– Mike Wolf
MOJO Magazine
"a Pulp-y romp" - Joe Cushley
The Village Voice
Metroscene – Mercury Lounge - Their press kit describes them as combining “mod-pop with atmospheric ambience.” I’d have to say that’s a pretty darned accurate description. The intelligently constructed songs really jump out at you – a little bit ‘80’s retro-punk and new wave with some Alex Chilton nod and winks.
- David Bosler
Pop Culture Press
Metroscene – First Light At Last Orders Big, bold, and loud power pop is back and Metroscene are worthy of carrying the standard for the resurgence. There are lots of influences bubbling under the surface here, and odds are you’ll find three or four of your own if you listened to any pop radio in the 80’s. The instrumentation is tight and the hooks are sharp enough to catch anyone’s ears. “Magdalene Sam” spins out riff after riff, and the rapid-fire buzz of “M.O.D.E.R.N. Girl” should be held up as a fine exemplar for any band looking to cross the pop-punk bridge.
- Boon Sheridan
Rockpile
Under the Radar / Metroscene / First Light At Last Orders
Metroscene’s First Light At Last Orders – released on the band’s own imprint – hints very strongly at a group of American musician’s weened on a mixed bag of British bands from 999 and The Cure to Gary Numan, The Smiths and beyond. The dueling guitar assault of Allen King and John Phillips (also the lead vocalist) – each tackling both lead and rhythm guitars – sets up the dynamic domination of the atmosphere in every song. It makes for a fairly heady brew, a good example of which is “The Change,” loaded with Beatlesque harmonies and walls of rushing, chiming guitars coloring the song’s surprisingly melancholy feel. Skillfully melding Mersey Beat-era pop with dark, quasi-industrial grooves unlocking the emotional urgency of early Stabbing Westward, Metroscene’s music consistently grabs the listener at gut level. One could verbally dissect First Light… from now until tomorrow. The bottom line is this album has it going on from the first note to the last – every song is great, and the quieter moments prove music need be neither fast nor loud to rock. First Light At Last Orders is available through Amazon.com. - Gail “Kiss and Tell” Worley
Atlanta Journal/Constitution
One of Atlanta's best and most consistently enjoyable bands.
- Shane Harrison
LMNOP/babysue
Metroscene - First Light at Last Orders (Independently released CD, Pop)
Let's start out here by stating that this band sounds NOTHING like other bands from Atlanta, Georgia. Even more intriguing is the fact that Metroscene has created a sizable buzz totally through their own energetic efforts. This, their self-released first full-length CD, is as slick and impressive as anything one would hear on bigger independent...or even major...record labels. The music is nicely propelled melodic guitar pop with just slightly spacey arrangements. But what we admire most about these folks are those soaring vocals. The vocals are way above average, and the melody lines have a cool flowing quality that is both dreamy and arresting. Combine the unique arrangements with the great vocals and what do you get? A band that combines elements of commercial music with pure artistic integrity. The mix is a hit, as First Light at Last Orders is like a non-stop string of hits that you've never heard before. And from all reports, the band is apparently superb in concert. We can't find anything negative whatsoever to say here... This is an excellent debut from a band that is simultaneously credible and occasionally incredible...
(Rating: 5 Baby Sues / Excellent)
Creative Loafing
Metroscene - First Light at Last Orders (self-released)
The first full-lengther from this Atlanta quartet is chocked with hard-pushing psychedelic pop, full of echoing guitars and wistful lyrics. Themes are firmly, fittingly set on memories and dreams, and the disappointments that come when reality doesn't quite match up. "William Youth" puts a Kinks-ish turn inward toward autobiography - "Music,alcohol, someone to screw / Sound a bit like you?" - summing up the life of would-be stars (like them). Rock fans with an unquenchable thirst for melancholy will find this useful for daydreaming to - turn it up loud. – Jeff McDermott