Waver of the Verificationist

Starmaker was created by Jon Waller as a solo project after the mutually agreeable breakup of local Gainesville, Fla. band Pet Monument. Members of that band contributed to the making of the record as well as members of Oh Sanders and Savages, who are considered band family. While a psychology student at the University of Florida, Jon received a book as a gift, The Verificationist by Donald Antrim, which inspired the first Starmaker record. Much like the book, this album is full of asides and digressions while exploring the need of existential fulfillment, fear of the unknown, and letting go of the obsession to understand everything around us. Waver...was sadly the last album recorded at The Manor in Gainesville before it was invaded by local criminal elements. The 1920\'s house was the perfect setting adding natural reverb and providing an organic environment for recording. Gainesville Satellite Review Waver of the Verificationist, the debut album from Ex-Pet Monument guitarist Jon Waller\'s solo project, Starmaker, picks up where PM left off two years ago, creating a beautiful and engaging tableau of fuzzy indie-rock splendor. Concerned with the atmosphere and space in the music created by a wash of dreamy layered guitars, oft-times portentous keyboard chords, and hazy, reverb-drenched backing vocals, Waver brings to mind Ben Gibbard fronting Broken Social Scene or Teenage Fanclub, while the two instrumental tracks evoke the Berlin Trilogy-era David Bowie/Brian Eno collaborations. Aurally complex and immediately enjoyable, Waver simultaneously pleases the shoegaze fan in us all, while packing plenty of hooks to keep you humming after the album is over. Sept 2008 Issue Satellite Magazine Gainesville, FL.