WERS 88.9 fm - Album Review: Off the Beat - Kenophobia

If asked to guess what songs an a cappella group covered on their latest album, what would come to mind? Were tracks from System of a Down, Coheed and Cambria, Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance or The Killers anywhere in the answer? On “Kenophobia” U Penn Off the Beat breaks all the rules of a cappella to put out an album that really rocks. Traditional a cappella fans be wary, this is NOT your grandma’s barbershop group. Off the Beat's founding member says the group was formed with the vision "to be the group that sounded like a band, not an a cappella group." Thanks to dizzying arrangements and excellent production values the group pulls off just that on “Kenophobia.” Songs like “Sugar We’re Going Down” leave the listener scratching their head wondering, is this really just voices? The group’s signature powerful vocal percussion is on display in this Fall Out Boy cover, and on majority of the album.

Another standout track is the group’s rendition of the Coldplay song “Fix You.” Coldplay is one of the bands that suffers from the blessing and curse of having its songs frequently covered by a cappella groups. Often these covers fall short due to the sparkling vocals Chris Martin provides in the originals. However, Off the Beat rises to the challenge with “Fix You” and serves up Will Green on lead for the track. His vocal performance never leaves the listener wishing they were hearing the original. “Fix You” climaxes with a clever tease of Coldplay hit “The Scientist” midway through the track. Off the Beat’s twelve members really come together as one voice on this lush ballad.

The group’s last album nearly swept the collegiate categories in the 2006 CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards), garnering Off the Beat three awards. “Kenophobia” nearly assures the group of equaled success in the 2007 awards circuit. A song from the album has already been selected to serve as the opening track on the B.O.C.A. 2007 compilation. Off the Beat proves they’re not slowing down anytime soon with their latest. The only thing we’re left to wonder now, what can’t this group do?