BAND IS FINDING ITS CENTER *Time No Reason's new CD "Inner Works," shows group is working toward middle ground By Glenn Gamboa, Akron Beacon Journal, July 8, 1999 Time No Reason has a different set list for every show. Sometimes, the Akron quintet puts on a heavy set, showcasing the intricate guitar work of Sean Larson and John Vorndran and the big drum sound of Bill Gans. Sometimes, the band focuses on the singing of Christopher O'Connell and the songwriting of bassist Anthony Sterns for a more alt-rock sound. And somtimes, Time No Reason just pulls out a bunch of cover tunes-from Tonic and Third Eye Blind to Radiohead and U2-and just enjoys entertaining the crowd. "Everyone in the band has different influences," said O'Connell. "We plan to meet somewhere in the middle." The band's new CD, Inner Works, which well be released tonight, shows that growth toward the middle. Songs such as Tension and Rain show the band's alt-rock leanings, while the songs such as Heretic show off a heavier sound. "We're very pleased withthe CD," said Sterns, who wrote or co-wrote the bulk of the album's songs. "I'm really happy withthe journey of the album. It starts slow and moves pretty well." Sterns said the band, which started out as a Rush cover band and has changed from progressive rock-influenced unit to a more straightforward group since O'Connell's addition two years ago., just goes where the songs take them. "Sometimes we get into songs with three parts and that build real slow and sometimes we want something light," he said. "We kind of bounce back and forth. We have both those moods and we expect them to continue." Both ends of the band are starting to get attention in a lot of different areas. Last week, the band opened for heavy-metal heroes Montrose at the Odeon, while local adult alternative station WAPS (91.3-FM) considered adding songs from Inner Works to its playlist. The fact that O'Connell's vocal can easily dtaw comparisons to Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas and Third Eye Blind's Stephen Perkins doesn't hurt the band's more radio-friendly material. WAPS already put the pop driven Rain into rotation last year, while WBWC (88.3-FM) in Cleveland jumped on Tension. The band has high hopes for the new CD, which took more than a year to write and record. "We hope it will catch somebody's attention," said O'Connell. "Of course, we would love to get signed (to a major label). But we're realistic, we hope it will gain us more regional recognition." Sterns agreed, adding the band also hopes to land some management. "We really want to get back on the radio again," he said."That was a great feeling to hear our songs on the radio." And most of all, the band wants to continue having fun, said O'Connel, who said Time No Reason will let loose with some covers at its CD release party tonight. "We don't think these CD release parties have to be so serious, where you focus just on the new stuff, or even your own stuff," he said. " We just want to have a good time with people." Time no Reason will play Banana Joe's, 271 S. Main St., Akron, at 9:30 . Zero Parade will follow. Then TNR will come back and play some more.