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Artist: The American Dollar
Album: The Technicolour Sleep(2nd Album)
Year: 2007
Buy Here (CD, iTunes, Zunior FLAC) - theamericandollar.info

Tracklisting:
1. Rudiments of A Spiritual Life
2. The Technicolour Sleep
3. Signaling Through the Flames
4. Tonight, Let's All Make Love in London
5. Daytrip
6. The Swamp
7. Supernova Landslide
8. Time
9. Summer of War
10. DEA
11. Raided By Waves
12. Palestine

Links:
last.fm/music/the+american+dollar
myspace.com/americandollarband

"I recently mentioned my fondness for The American Dollar from Queens, NY. I had just heard The American Dollar’s first album which was released in 2006. Then I found out that the band was already done and ready to release their second album here in early 2007. The Technicolour Sleep is that album and it picks up right where the band’s wonderful self-titled debut left off. Fans of instrumental rock and/or post-rock should pay close attention.

The band states this about their name and music: “The name and music are part of a series of contemplative reflections based on the world we live in, and exactly how we live in it. These expressions take the form of positive, negative, and neutral emotions depending on your viewpoint and the meaning conveyed in the music, whether it is love, sadness, thought, appreciation, rejection, etc.. Meaning is personally and individually creative, a large factor which makes us human.”

I am not sure I can describe The American Dollar’s music much better than the way they have described it themselves. This is music that can not be conveyed in simple words. You have to hear The American Dollar to discover the band’s true spirit. The American Dollar and The Technicolour Sleep encompass everything and everyone. The band’s music perfectly portrays all of life’s many stages. At the glorious highs, the lowest lows and everything in between, The American Dollar prove how truly powerful (instrumental) music can be. You simply need this band."

RIYL: Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Caspian

-Sound As Language


"Cinematic post-rock for people who don't actually like post-rock. The Technicolour Sleep showcases the type of music that would be played during the quietly sentimental moments of movies. In fact, The American Dollar's music has already been included in MTV's notorious reality show, The Real World. The band's music fits so well in this moving and dramatic context because this post-rock duo has mastered the art of composing straightforward and emotional instrumental music. The American Dollar concentrates their efforts on developing beautiful music that reaches the depths of a variety of human emotions.

This duo, comprised of Richard Cupolo and John Emanuele, sprung up in Queens, New York. The two musicians rotate between playing guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and various percussion instruments. The simplicity of the instruments used mirrors the simplicity of the music itself. The songs typically feature repeating keyboard melodies that are embellished with drums or percussion. Occasionally, a guitar or bass line is introduced as the music swells into a swirling mass of sound.

The longest track, contrary to typical post-rock fashion, is just over five minutes. The American Dollar keeps their music relatively straightforward. There are no sixteen-minute songs filled with whirring ambient noise as is common practice for many post-rock groups. Rather, Cupolo and Emanuele go straight to the heart of the composition. The songs all develop quickly and while there are slower moments of repetition, the music never becomes redundant and boring. Regardless of how much shorter The American Dollar's songs are, the music still feels calming and emotional. Essentially, this is instrumental rock for those of us with shorter attention spans. When the twenty-minute masterpieces of Godspeed You! Black Emperor seem too heady, The American Dollar is a healthy though not completely similar alternative.

Due to their rapid development and climactic dynamics, The American Dollar's songs convey a compelling sense of emotion. As a whole, The Technicolour Sleep has an earnest and gloomy feel. There often exists a hopeful undertone but few of the tracks are openly uplifting. The light percussion and reverberating keyboards of Tonight, Let's All Make Love in London shape the only obviously elevating song on the album. The gorgeous and tranquil melancholy of The Technicolour Sleep is undeniably touching. While some post-rock fans may find The American Dollar's music too simple or generic, it is perfect for anyone searching for cinematic and emotional music."

- Libby Wait, cdreviews.com