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Like all great endeavors, The Sentiment formed over many, many drinks in a Washington D.C. bar when friends Michael Medlock and Andrew Diego decided that they were tired of just listening to great music and instead, wanted to make it. After many unsuccessful auditions, the three eventually found Katie Thomas and David Smith through mutual friends. Coming together in July 2005, The Sentiment worked to develop a repertoire of genre-bending rock, melding alternative, shoe gaze, post-punk and indie-esque style to reflect its members diverse musical influences.
But don't take our word for it.
"A sentiment, as defined by Houghton Mifflin is "a thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason." The title is quite apt for the local DC rock outfit of the same name. The band is the brainchild of frontman Mike Medlock, and is as much his cathartic medium as his weekend playpen. Medlock is a passionate frontman, but doesn't take himself too seriously, and wears his heart on his sleeve. The Sentiment were and sometimes still are a hard rock band, drawing from the dirt of early 90's grunge but blending it with more contemporary indie rock melodies, sans the snooty avant garde self-righteousness of the Pitchfork generation. At times Medlock belts his lyrics in scream talking, soaring over driving guitars and a thumping rhythm section; other times he'll linger in a softer chest voice delicately supported by ambient arpegiated chords."
- www.dcist.com, July '06
"So you think a bands style is as important as their music? That eyeliner is an integral part of a stage show? Well, The Sentiment has a sentiment for you: drink some Schlitz and piss right off. Channeling the early 90s like its their job, this DC quintet eschews image and focuses on the three essentials of rock music: distortion, volume and beer. The Sentiment put on shows that would make Axl Rose proud with live sets that resemble a house party, due in no small part to the amount of alcohol the band and their fans tend to plow through. But despite a penchant for rock excess, the band is fueled by fun, catchy, and reckless rock riffage, proving that real rock music is an image in and of itself." - OnTap Magazine, January '06
"This is the time of year for nostalgic forays down memory lane, to a time when America was an innocent land of frolicking schoolchildren eating ice cream and blah blah blah and blech blech blech. Lovely sentiments, but they don't hold a Roman candle to THE SENTIMENT, D.C.'s genre-bending rock band. Michael Medlock (vocals), John Ridgeway (bass, guitar), Travis Frazier (guitar, bass), Andrew Diego (guitar), and Nick Roumeliotis (drums) have created a sound to last at least another 229 years. Listen to "God Only Knows" (not the Beach Boys, for sure), "Destroy the Machinery" (always good advice), and "Lipstuck" for some real anthems. Sadly, drummer Nick recently, and unwisely, relocated to some place called California, so the band is seeking a new stick pounder. All you percussionists out there, this is your best chance at rock stardom." - Washington City Paper, July '05
