02.21.03 - Seattle Gay News. Seattle, WA
by Albert Rodriguez

One of the most vibrant new acts in the Seattle music scene these days is the country, indie rock, punk outfit the Plains. The band's recent release On Earth As It Is In Heaven is perhaps 2002's most underexposed, underappreciated recording in the local swirl, but music this good can't go undiscovered for too long. If they stick to the sounds that appear on this record, The Plains will definitely see peaks up ahead.
"Firefly," the disc's welcome mat, riddles the "la di das" of life and love to a jolting of hard-driven guitars. This beats anything currently floating on the TRL chart, a bold and loud display of great songwriting folded into an ear-splitting background. Further along, the band's "At a Party" has road trip written all over it, a really fun rock song tinged with country twangs, and the comically, lazy afternoon-sounding "Los Angeles."
The most impressive cut, however, is the Bonanza-western streaked "El Borracho," an instrumental piece with handclaps that beg to be heard live. The CD is dipped in all musical flavors, so it'll appeal to listeners who want a collection of songs not sounding all the same. Aaron Semer, Josh Atkins, Jonballs Kilian, and Mike Toschi sport good looks and hold down full-time jobs, but collectively and impressively, they make me want to discover the Seattle music scene all over again.