Afterlaughs is a sheer testimony of the musical maturity and tastes of this Bangalore based rock band that separated in 2005. Zebediah Plush is a tight knit band who believe in having fun and expressing themselves with their music. Thus the name Afterlaughs, which shows that the album is born at the end of their daily chorus individually and together as a band. This is one album by an Indian band that is complete in terms of expressive cohesiveness and it's difficult to pick up one track that depicts the album as a whole. In fact each of its tracks is unique and still falls within the musical boundaries of the album as whole. Each song serves to underscore the fact that what makes this band beyond categorization is the sheer excellence and artistry of their composition and their willingness to venture from safe and predictable to the new and different. The beautifully designed cover and inlay depicts one item each for the ten tracks in the album -- but then the band hates to attach philosophy and reasons to something which is closer to their heart and is a part of their being. The album opens with "Tea and Toast" and listeners get their first insight into what the band's influences are, and where this album's musical journey will take them. The band stresses riff playing with a ceremonial inclusion of clean guitar and keys solos. But then there are songs that break away from this often proven formula. Listen to ballads like "Singing Lady," "Attack of the Killer Butterfly," and "Sea of Stories" and you'll be taken aback by the band's extreme compositional skills. Special mention here to Avijit's keyboards which fills the ambience with its sheer innovation and gives the band its unique sound. And don't forget the dramatically performed rhythmic dynamism running through Anand's guitar with extended solos to the point of no return, backed by impeccable basslines from Anandita. Arfaaz, the band's drummer, also seconds as the lead vocalist and has sung vocals on six out of ten songs of the album. Zebediah Plush released a demo album two years back and two of its tracks are included in Afterlaughs -- "Journey to Gondolin" and "Elastic Man." "Gondolin," as the band loves to call it, already reached a cult-like status among the Bangalore crowd and was also featured in theGreat Indian Rock -- 8 compilation. All in all, this is one album to be possessed by all serious Indian rock lovers and kept among the top and distinguished row of their music collection. ~ Bhasker Gupta, All Music Guide
