Past to Present

Houston based band, The Wheel Workers, have put out the album Past to Present that have lyrics of the 60’s and 70’s but with a more up to date, modern sound. Their songs are melodic while having a different sound than what you hear on the radio. Well, at least the old style radio, with satellite radio you might be able to hear their music but still, it’s a music that’s not played to the masses rather than to people who want to have a song that is both enjoyable to listen to while also having a statement.
Listening to the lyrics on Past to Present that first time was something of an effort because I couldn’t quite make out what all was being said. Steven Higginbotham has a soft voice that almost sounds like he could be singing the songs in a whispered voice. This soft, low volume vocals does nothing to hurt the songs. In fact it’s his voice that captured my attention and it was also because of how soft they are that I looked at the booklet to read the lyrics. Which is where I found out that these songs all have a point to them and are a statement. Such as with the opening track ‘Power’, where the opening line is “All our power, doesn’t mean anything at all, all our power, ends in horror but we don’t learn anything at all”. It’s that sort of style statements and thought lyrics that the songs all have.
While the lyrics are thoughtful and at times could be making a social statement, I was also pulled in by the beats. These songs might be ones that have some sort of meaning but they are done in a fun way that make me want to sing along with them. The tunes are catchy, the beats are rhythmic, and you can hear the passion this group has for their music. The songs don’t have any intense energy to them or get into having high tempos and loud vocals, but the songs are still strong. These songs go from dark to a bouncy beat but all are catchy, well played, and well sung.