Artist Spotlight: Shortwave

Hey everyone!

Hope everybody had a great Memorial Day weekend! It's time to get back in the swing of things and check out this week's edition of Artist Spotlight. Today, we head north of the border up to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and discover the sounds of Shortwave! The band consists of Ryan Johnson on lead vocals and guitar, Devin Jannetta on drums, Sager Johnson on guitar and backup vocals, Nik Odermatt on bass, and Cary Parker on organ and backup vocals. The band has an intense, rhythmic indie/dance-rock feel to them sort of a cross between Phoenix and The Kooks. The melodies are guaranteed to grab a hold of you upon first listen and it will keep your head bopping right until the very end. I was immediately impressed with the band's innate ability to meld together simple, indie-rock patterns and insert melodic, danceable beats into them that sets them apart from other up and coming indie rock acts and attracts new listeners from different genres as well. Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "The Sublime" and "Horror Show".

To check out the fun and eclectic music of Shortwave, check out their official website at http://www.shortwavetheband.com You can also like the band on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/shortwavetheband and the band can also be followed on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/shortwavemusic  

Artist Profile: The Offspring

Today's Artist Profile is on one of the first bands I ever bought an album with my own money, The Offspring. The Offspring were formed back in 1984 in Huntington Beach, California and the band consists of Dexter Holland on lead vocals and guitar, Noodles on lead guitar and backup vocals, Greg K on bass, and Pete Parada on drums. Back then, the band was known as Manic Suicidal and changed their name to The Offspring in 1986. Ron Welty was the drummer for the group back then, and would go on to be their drummer for the next 16 years after that. The band maintained a healthy following in the burgeoning California punk scene, and eventually signed a record deal with Nemesis Records in 1988. The band would release their self titled album a year later under very limited quantities. The band would release their next album Ignition in 1992 to much greater fanfare and success, and the band went on tour for the next 2 years promoting the album alongside many other up and coming bands in the Cali music scene such as No Doubt and Pennywise.

The band's real mainstream breakthrough came in 1994 with their third album titled Smash. This was the first album under their new record label, Epitaph Records and the album went on to sell over 16 million copies worldwide, setting a record for the biggest selling album on an independent label. The album produced such genre defining tracks like "Come Out and Play", "Self Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away". After a lengthy tour, the band signed with Columbia Records and began work on their next album, Ixnay on the Hombre released in 1997. The album contained such blistering tracks like "All I Want" and "Gone Away" and even though it wasn't as successful as Smash was, it did eventually reach platinum status. The band's next album followed a year later titled Americana and was a massive commercial success, selling over 4 million copies and spawning hit singles such as "Pretty Fly For A White Guy", "Why Don't You Get A Job?", my personal favorite "The Kids Aren't Alright", and "She's Got Issues".

Following a successful tour to support the album, the band released their next effort in 2000 titled Conspiracy of One. The album contained tracks like "Original Prankster" and "Want You Bad" on its way to platinum certification. The band released a new song titled "Defy You" for the Orange County soundtrack in 2002 which became a Top 10 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks charts, and the band released their next studio effort Splinter the year after with hits such as "Hit That" and "Can't Get My Head Around You". The band released a Greatest Hits disc in 2005 with the new track "Can't Repeat", which became a Top 10 hit on the Modern Rock Charts. The band's most recent effort, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace came out in 2008 and produced massive hits like "Hammerhead", "You're Gonna Go Far Kid", (which spent a record 11 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart) and "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?". The band is working on their next album which should be out sometime later on this year. Smash was the first album I ever bought when I was 9 years old. I remember scrounging up enough money to buy the album from chores and mowing the lawn, and then my mom eventually drove me to the local Coconuts record store so I could buy the CD. I still listen to songs from this album today and remember fondly on the memories it brought me when I was young, and the band still remains to this day one of my favorite bands from when I was growing up.

Silverchair Break Up!

Hey all!

It was revealed the other day that Silverchair, a prominent band of the early to mid 90's grunge scene is breaking up. The band were in the studio working on their next album, but the members couldn't find a creative spark with the three of them, so they've decided to call it quits. The band formed in 1992 and released their debut album Frogstomp in 1995, which was a big success here in the United States, going double platinum on the strength of the hit single "Tomorrow" and a comparable success in the band's home country of Australia. Other albums that followed included Freak Show, my personal favorite Neon Ballroom, and Diorama. The band released their most recent effort Young Modern in 2007 which contained the hit single, "Straight Lines".

The members, Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies, and Chris Joannou won't be working together unless it feels right in some way. The band released this statement via their fan club concerning their breakup:

"We formed Silverchair nearly 20 years ago when we were just 12 years old. Today we stand by the same rules now as we did back then ... if the band stops being fun and if it's no longer fulfilling creatively, then we need to stop. Back in 2009 we went into the studio to start work on a record. Initially things were going well and as a result we did some shows in 2010 to maintain creative momentum. However, over the months that followed in the studio it became clear to us that we were moving in different directions. Despite our best efforts over the last year or so, it's become increasingly clear that the spark simply isn't there between the three of us at the moment."

What do you make of this news? Leave your comments here on the blog and tell me what you think!

R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

Right out of Athens, Georgia legendary alternative rockers R.E.M. are back with their brand new studio effort, Collapse Into Now. The follow up to 2008's Accelerate finds the rockers returning to their sound that catapulted them into stardom and this is one of their best and most cohesive discs in years.

We kick things off with "Discoverer", an anthemic, arena ready rocker that is a great platform for lead singer Michael Stipe to reintroduce his powerful and lingering voice that emanates ever so strongly from one song to the next. "All The Best" is a carbon copy of the preceding song, but it features more varied guitar rhythms and greater variances in tempos that make this song really pop and stand out. My favorite song off the disc is "Überlin", an acoustic and melodic juggernaut that syncs in seamlessly with Michael's pristine vocal power and guitarist Peter Buck's masterful guitar work making his presence known. "It Happened Today" is a mellow, reflective rocker that features intricate guitar melodies layered upon Michael's simple yet elegant vocals weaving their way in and out of the song with no discernible trouble whatsoever.

The disc's second half roars out of the speakers with "Mine Smell Like Honey", a melodic and return to form tune for R.E.M. that hearkens back to their early 90's heyday with anthemic choruses and transcendent guitar riffs that makes this song a joy to listen to all the way through despite the song's odd title. "Walk It Back" is a low key, mellowed out acoustic number that appears to be a common theme for the band on this album with elegant melodies and light yet effective musical arrangements that make this song a very pleasurable listen. We head into the latter third of the album with "That Someone Is You", a quick and straight to the point one a half minute rocker that jam packs all of R.E.M.'s incredible talents into one quick, fell swoop that is a rare treat to hear from these guys. "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I" puts the mood in order with a quiet, reflective number that once again finds Michael's vocals once again working their magic amid the flurry of acoustic guitars omnipresent at every turn. The disc's finale "Blue" is an experimental, drawn out tune that sees R.E.M. taking a slight detour on an advanced yet delicate track that shows R.E.M.'s resolve and proves why they're one of the most adventurous and successful alternative bands of the past 30 years. R.E.M. have found a pattern of consistent success, mostly in the early 90's with "Out of Time", "Automatic For The People", and "Monster" with a slight dropoff at the latter half of the decade. Slowly, the band began to rediscover their groove and on this, their finest effort to date, have rediscovered themselves as musicians and have proven that they are more relevant today now than ever.

To wrap it all up, R.E.M. have crafted one of their best efforts since 1991's "Out of Time" and have completely reinvigorated their careers as well with a sonic and ear pleasing gem that gives plenty of evidence as to why R.E.M. are one of the best alternative bands out there today. Buy this now, highly recommended!

                                                                                                                         Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Discoverer
2. All The Best
3. Überlin
4. Oh My Heart
5. It Happened Today
6. Every Day Is Yours To Win
7. Mine Smell Like Honey
8. Walk It Back
9. Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter
10. That Someone Is You
11. Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando And I
12. Blue

10,000 Page Views!

Hey everyone!

The blog reached a major milestone this morning as the blog reached 10,000 hits to date! This is a huge moment for me and my blog so I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my blog, complimented me either in person or online, and anyone who has referred my blog to others, all of you guys are awesome! When I first started Music Box Pete back in November 2009, I had no idea how successful the blog would become or how many people would even look at it, but here we are a year and a half later and I've developed quite a substantial following thanks to each and everyone of you, I love you all!

With the summer fast apporaching, I'm planning to bring back my series of interviews with up and coming musicians. These interviews will be focused on artists who were previously the subject of Artist Spotlight features in the past so keep an eye out for the first of those interviews sometime within the next few weeks. Are there any other features that you would like me to roll out on my blog? Send me an e-mail at peteramara@musicboxpete.net or leave a comment here on the blog and tell me what you would like to see me cover! Thanks again for all your support, you are the best!

Artist Spotlight: The Hundred Days

Hey everyone!

Tuesday has arrived and that means it's time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! Today for you guys I have a band from the city by the bay, San Francisco, CA called The Hundred Days. The band consists of Jonathan Smith on lead vocals, Jimmy Chen on guitars and keys, Collin Crosskill on drums, and Brett Zaldo on bass. The band has a funky, rhythmic dance rock feel to them similar to the likes of Franz Ferdinand and they hit right at the groove center of the brain with a barrage of guitar driven rhythms and Jonathan's smooth and groove laden vocals that allow the songs to have incredible depth and rich melodic undertones. Alot of bands out there are experimenting with elements of dance in their songs to attract listeners from different genres and it works really well to an extent, but for these guys it's even more evident with the way they implement these styles into their songs and combine them with other rhythms that really connect with the listener in a fun and dynamic way. Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "Sex U" and  "Disaster".

To check out more music from The Hundred Days, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/thehundreddays You can also like the band on Facebook by going over to http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hundred-Days/8101497740As an added bonus for this week, I'm including their hot new video for "Sex U" for all of you guys to check out! This is the first single off their brand new album "Really?" which will hit stores sometime in August. You can view the video for "Sex U" directly below:




In need of inspiration, look for another kind of U, as in getting an online university degree.


See where the possibilities can take you.

Artist Profile: Nirvana

Today's Artist Profile is on one of the first bands I ever listened to growing up, Nirvana. Nirvana was formed in 1987 in Aberdeen, Washington just outside of Seattle. The band consisted of Kurt Cobain on lead vocals and guitar, Dave Grohl on drums, and Krist Novoselic on bass. The band was one of the early pioneers of Seattle's grunge scene, which also included future legendary acts such as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. The band released their debut album Bleach in 1989 on Sub Pop Records. The band's raw and abrasive sound immediately struck a chord with listeners and the band started to attract a small but loyal fanbase in the Seattle area. The band signed a record deal with DGC Records in 1990 and immediately began work on their major label debut release, Nevermind. The album eventually saw the light of the day the next year and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, selling 26 million copies worldwide to date. The groundbreaking album contained such genre defining tracks as "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "In Bloom", "Come As You Are", "Lithium", and "Polly".  It's considered the exact moment when grunge took over the music scene when Nevermind displaced Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" from the top spot of the Billboard 200 in January 1992, cementing Nirvana's legendary grunge status.

The band embarked on a lengthy touring schedule, then quickly began work on their follow up album In Utero, released in 1993. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, on the strength of such classic tracks like my favorite Nirvana track, "Heart Shaped Box", "All Apologies", "Rape Me" and "Pennyroyal Tea".  The album wound up selling 4 million copies in the U.S. and the band went on a worldwide tour in support of the album. Sadly, on April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead inside in his Seattle home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, he was 27 years old. I remember watching news reports of when he first died and was in complete shock that one of my favorite musicians was gone forever. Nirvana will always have a special place in my heart as the very first band that I listened to, which then ultimately led me to broaden my musical horizons.

TV On The Radio - Nine Types of Light

Brooklyn, New York art/indie rockers TV On The Radio are back with their latest studio effort, Nine Types of Light. The follow up to 2008's critically acclaimed Dear Science finds the group mixing it up a bit with an eclectic blend of R&B influences that meld in together pretty well with the groups indie projected aesthetic that they have displayed in the past.

We kick off the disc with "Second Song" a funky, eclectic indie/R&B hybrid that finds lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe in his element with his vocals blending in nicely amid the bombast of horns and other assorted instruments finding their way into the song. "Keep Your Heart" is a toned down, mellow affair that shows off the band's soulful side that we've seen previously on some some of their older tracks and also shows off the band's dynamic versatility that has made the group so well known throughout the indie circle. "No Future Shock" is an experimental, advanced track that shows the band is not afraid to think outside of the box with melodies and rhythms that other bands would be afraid to dabble in. "Killer Crane" is a somber, melancholy number that makes you reflect and ponder on everything we've heard so far and you can't help but to stand in awe of the varying degrees of tempos that the band is able to accomplish with seemingly impeccable ease.

The disc's second half begins to take shape with "New Cannonball Blues" a varied, frenetic track that sees Tunde's vocals adding a certain dexterity that can't be matched by any other act out there. Our disc begins to draw to a close with "Forgotten" a low key, experimental track that sees the band continuing to find foreign techniques of expressing themselves through music that has never been thought possible before, but the band manages to make it work extremely well and user accessible as well. My favorite track off the disc is the album's finale "Caffeinated Consciousness" a jazzy, bombastic number that works it in with uptempo rhythms, melodic guitars, and Tempe's intricate vocals allowing the song to flow together cohesively and making the song one of the highlights of a very solid effort put forth by the guys. The band recently was dealt a major blow with the untimely passing of their longtime bassist Gerard Smith, who passed away of lung cancer last month at the age of 34. While the intervening time off has helped somewhat with the grieving process, the band still has an irreplaceable hole with his absence. The band is starting to get back in the swing of things with tour appearances and performances on the late night talk show circuit, but the band will never be able to fully replace and duplicate the talents that Gerard Smith displayed with the group.

All in all, a well executed effort here from TV On The Radio, who continue to bring their own blend of art rock to the table for those who are looking for an escape from the ordinary kind of music that is polluting the airwaves these days.

                                                                                                      Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Second Song
2. Keep Your Heart
3. You
4. No Future Shock
5. Killer Crane
6. Will Do
7. New Cannonball Blues
8. Repetition
9. Forgotten
10. Caffeinated Consciousness  

Austin City Limits 2011 Lineup Announced!

Hey all!

The lineup was revealed this morning for this year's Austin City Limits festival! This year promises to be a fun and exciting lineup with a host of new and old entertainers taking to the stage. Some of the announced performers include headliners Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, and Kanye West. Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, and Fleet Foxes are also being included on the bill this year!

Other highlighted performers include Nas & Damien Marley, Cee-Lo Green, Bright Eyes, Social Distortion, TV On The Radio, and Broken Social Scene. Three day general admission passes to this year's festival have already sold out, but single day tickets are now on sale at the festival's website at http://www.aclfestival.com/  Head on over to the website now to purchase tickets and to take a look at the more than 130 acts included in this year's Austin City Limits festival in Austin, TX!

Artist Spotlight: Ken Yates

Hey all!

Time to take a look at this week's Artist Spotlight! This week we head north of the border to London, Ontario, Canada and check out the sounds of Ken Yates. Ken Yates is an up and coming singer-songwriter who has a delicate and richly melodic voice that brings out the best qualities of his music and who he is as a performer and a person. He just recently wrapped up his studies at Berklee College of Music and is getting ready to bring his own blend of folk music to a wider and far reaching audience! His music has also been getting the notice of John Mayer, who mentioned him on his Tumblr blog recently saying that he was really moved by the performance he gave of "I Don't Want To Fall In Love" when John was teaching a songwriting course at Berklee this past March. A flattering compliment from an already established star such as John Mayer is a big push for Ken and should give him ample motivation to further his career! A wonderful and immensely talented singer with plenty of hopes for success in the future! Some of my favorite songs from him include "I Don't Want To Fall In Love" and "Into The Backseat".

For more info on Ken Yates, head on over to his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kenyatesmusic You can also follow Ken on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/ken_yates To purchase his debut EP titled The Backseat, simply go over to http://kenyates.bandcamp.com 

Artist Profile: The Mars Volta

Today's Artist Profile is on one of the best live acts that I've ever seen, The Mars Volta. The Mars Volta is the brainchild of Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez Lopez. former members of At The Drive In, a hugely influential alt-punk act from the mid 90's to the early 2000's. The band was formed out of the ashes of At The Drive In, which disbanded in 2001 mostly because of creative differences and Cedric and Omar becoming disenchanted with the prospects of mainstream success. The Mars Volta's sound was drastically different than At The Drive In, and had a more abrasive, progressive rock component to them that truly allowed Cedric and Omar to think outside of the box and let their true talents out to shine. The band released their debut effort De-Loused In The Comatorium in 2003, a concept album based on a fictional first person story about someone in a drug induced coma battling the evil side of his mind. The album produced such incredible tracks like "Inertiatic ESP"and "Televators". The album received thunderous critical acclaim, selling over 500,000 copies and was one of the best albums of the year. The band released their follow up effort Frances The Mute in 2005. This was another concept effort based on a diary found in a repossessed car by the the band's late sound technician, Jeremy Ward. The album went on to achieve almost the same success as its predecessor, selling close to half a million copies on the strength of such jarring tracks such as "The Widow" and "L'Via L'Viaquez". The band went on a lengthy tour after that in support of the album which was very warmly received by the audience.

The band wasted no time in beginning work on their next album, Amputechture which came out a year later in 2006. The album contained tracks to the tune of "Viscera Eyes" and "Vicarious Atonement".  The album wasn't as well received as the first two had, but still managed to sell close to half a million copies. The band then later begun work on their next effort, The Bedlam In Goliath which came out in 2008. The band had quite a ordeal leading up to the creation and release of the album after Omar purchased a Ouija board at a curio shop in Jerusalem which the band took on tour with them while promoting Amputechture. After playing with it, the band's drummer at the time Blake Fleming quit the band, Cedric had surgery on his foot leading him to relearn how to walk all over again, songs began to disappear from the computer screens, Omar's home studio got flooded, and the album's engineer suffered a nervous breakdown all leading up to the disc's release. Omar eventually destroyed the Ouija board and the band eventually completed work on the disc, producing such classic tracks like my favorite Volta track "Wax Simulacra", "Goliath", and "Aberinkula". The band's most recent effort Octahedron followed a year later, and gave way to such tunes like "Since We've Been Wrong" and "Cotopaxi". The band is currently in the process of finishing up production on their latest album, tentatively scheduled for release sometime later on this year. The first time I saw The Mars Volta in concert was at the Worcester Palladium in May 2005 and it was the best show that I've ever been to. I remember just being in awe of their presence and watching them unfold on stage was truly an experience to behold. I can't wait to hear what Cedric and Omar have up their sleeves on their next album! 

BREAKING NEWS!! The Starting Line To Tour This Summer!!

Hey all!

It was announced earlier today that The Starting Line would finally be hitting the road this summer for a series of tour dates with All Time Low! The band left hints that a major tour announcement was imminent coming from status updates on their Facebook page saying "We have Something Left To Give this summer" and now the band have finally come through on their promise on what is sure to be a summer to remember! I have been a huge fan of The Starting Line since my high school years and I'm so stoked that I finally get to see the band in concert for the first time believe it or not!

All Time Low will be headlining this tour in support of their new album Dirty Work which hits stores June 7th. Other acts that will be joining them this summer on select dates include Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Cartel, and The Cab! The tour kicks off on July 28 at the The National in Richmond, VA and for Boston area fans, they will be hitting up the Bank of America Pavilion on July 31! The tour wraps up on August 27 at the Rapids Theatre in Niagra Falls, NY. Here is the full itinerary of dates for the Gimme Summer Ya Love Tour: (dates that are boldfaced indicate that The Starting Line is performing at that show)

7/28 The National; Richmond, VA w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd
7/29 Liacouras Center; Philadelphia, PA w/ The Starting Line, Mayday Parade
7/30 MAC Center at Monmouth University; West Long Branch, NJ w/ The Starting Line, Mayday Parade
7/31 Bank of America Pavilion; Boston, MA w/ The Starting Line, Mayday Parade
8/01 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom; Hampton Beach, NH w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd
8/03 The Dome at Oakdale Theatre;Wallingford, CT w/ Mayday Parade
8/04 Metropolis; Montreal, QC w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/05 The Blind Dog; Windsor, ON w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/06 The London Music Hall; London, ON w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/07 Elements; Kitchener, ON w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/10 Garrick Centre; Winnipeg, MB w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/11 Louis' Pub; Saskatoon, SK w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/12 Edmonton Events Center; Edmonton, AB w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/13 MacEwan Hall; Calgary, AB w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/15 Vogue Theatre; Vancouver, BC w/ Mayday Parade, We Are The In Crowd, Brighter
8/16 Knitting Factory; Spokane, WA w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/17 Knitting Factory; Boise, ID w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/20 Ogden Theatre; Denver, CO w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/21 Sokol Auditorium; Omaha, NE w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/22 Val Air Ballroom; Des Moines, IA w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/23 Orbit Room; Grand Rapids, MI w/ Mayday Parade, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/26 Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA w/ The Starting Line, Cartel, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd
8/27 Rapids Theatre; Niagara Falls, NY w/ Cartel, The Cab, We Are The In Crowd

Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math

Fresh out of Atlanta, GA Manchester Orchestra are back in full force with their latest release, Simple Math. The follow up to 2009's Mean Everything To Nothing finds the indie rockers picking up right where they left off on their last release, rapturous melodies blended in with indelible instrumentation that makes this effort one to keep a close eye on this year.

The disc opens up with "Deer", a calm, melancholy track that greets you warmly with the lead vocals of Andy Hull to help you make sense of the song structure and what you can expect to hear going forward. "Mighty" is a loud, mid-tempo rocker that sees the band getting some of their aggression out with intricate guitar riffs and Andy's vocals throwing in a certain emotional intensity that keeps you listening right until the very end. "April Fool" continues the melodic onslaught with gritty guitar riffs blending in wonderfully with the bevy of instrumentation at hand here.

As we venture into the disc's second half, we stumble across "Virgin", an intricate, well mapped out track that sees Andy's vocals getting some help from a choir that can be heard distinctly at various points throughout the song and is a really fascinating track to hear unfold right before you. My favorite song off the disc is the album's title track, a raw and downtempo number that best encapsulates the immense talent that Manchester Orchestra is capable of displaying with Andy's beautiful and captivating vocals making a strong statement to the listener as to why they should purchase this album. We get ready to draw the album to a close with "Apprehension", a melodic, layered track that is chock full of piano, guitars, and Andy's vocals once again working their magic on a splendid track. The disc's final track is "Leaky Breaks", an comprehensive 7 minute long track that does a great job of wrapping up the album with a memorable track that the listener will take to heart after listening to each song and making connections about each one, which this song serves as a good reminder for the listener to do so. What made the band's last effort so successful was its ability to find creases in each of their songs to insert melodic breakdowns that blended in together seamlessly with the instruments and vocals, something that's very difficult for any one band to accomplish thoroughly. This effort also does a great job of at least trying to match what the last album was able to do: earn the respect and devotion of its listeners.

To sum it all up, a wonderful and top notch effort from Manchester Orchestra, who have proven that lightning can strike in the same place twice with a cohesive and linear effort that looks almost effortless, but you can tell that the whole band worked a great deal to finally bring this effort to fruition. Definitely recommended!

                                                                                                          Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Dear
2. Mighty
3. Pensacola
4. April Fool
5. Pale Blue Eye
6. Virgin
7. Simple Math
8. Leave It Alone
9. Apprehension
10. Leaky Breaks

Artist Spotlight: Moss Points North

Hey everyone!

Time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we're keeping it local with an up and coming band right out of Boston called Moss Points North. The band consists of Colin Lee on lead vocals and guitar, Pat McCusker on electric guitar, Jesse Gottlieb on bass, Isaac Richardson on piano, and Jeff Samatoro on drums. The band has a very pleasant and soothing indie rock sensibility that stands out prominently the minute when you first hear them. Colin's amazing and delicate vocals flow together seamlessly with the band's richly organic sounds comprised of a mix of guitars and piano that work together really well on a melodic scale. With the influx of upstart bands out there in the music world connecting with listeners in the digital realm, it's very comforting to hear that there are bands out there who are keeping it straightforward and simple by not adding any extraneous noise to their music that can sometimes bog down the true meaning of their music. Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "Float Away" and "The Owls".

To check out the music of Moss Points North, head on over to their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moss-Points-North/188537756422You can also follow the band on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/mosspointsnorth Check out the band's official website at http://www.mosspointsnorth.com/ for all the latest updates regarding the band!

NOTE: The band is getting ready to release their debut EP The Ghost At The Feast on May 14th, and you can download it exclusively on their BandCamp page at: http://mosspointsnorth.bandcamp.com/

Artist Profile: The Killers

Today's Artist Profile is one of the best bands of the oughts (2000's), The Killers! The Killers were formed in 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada and the band consists of Brandon Flowers on lead vocals and keys, Dave Keuning on guitars and backing vocals, Mark Stoermer on bass and backing vocals, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. on drums. The band was formed after Brandon perused the ads in a local newspaper searching for a guitar player, and came across one who had similar musical influences who just happened to be Dave. The pair eventually met and began recording together as a duo, and played their first show in January 2002 at the Cafe Espresso Roma in Las Vegas. Ronnie joined the band in August of that year with Mark joining the ranks shortly thereafter. The band signed with Island Def Jam in 2003 and began work on their debut effort, Hot Fuss which saw the light of day in 2004. The album was an incredible commercial and critical achievement, selling over 3 million copies to date and producing such landmark tracks that have defined the modern alternative era like "Somebody Told Me", "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It",  my personal fave "All These Things That I've Done", and "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine". The band embarked on a lengthy stateside American and world tour following that.

The band's next effort Sam's Town, followed in 2006 and wasn't as successful as its predecessor, but did produce some memorable tracks in the form of "When You Were Young", "Bones", and "Read My Mind" on its way to platinum certification. The band's next effort Day & Age came in 2008 and was more warmly received by the press, containing such tracks as "Human", "Spaceman", and "A Dustland Fairytale". The band is planning to get back together later on this year to begin work on their next studio album with no firm timetable in sight for completion and release as of yet. When I first heard The Killers, I was immediately impressed with Brandon's voice and most importantly his character that he evoked in his songs with incredible charisma to add to the touch. A truly incredible band that I'm sure we haven't even heard the best of yet, and one that has plenty more potential of even greater success laying somewhere down the road.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Seattle, Washington's finest Fleet Foxes are back with their highly anticipated follow up to their 2008 self-titled debut album, Helplessness Blues. The indie-folk group attempts to build off the success of their prior record by continuing to express their indie-folk sentiment with captivating melodies and dynamic instrumentation that has made this effort so worthwhile.

The album opens up with "Montezuma" a lush, orchestral folk ballad that opens up your eyes and ears to lead singer Robin Picknold's beautiful and organic vocals which add a distinct element that can be heard in every Fleet Foxes song. "Bedouin Dress" picks up the melodic tempo a bit with an upbeat folk tune that features elements of acoustic guitar and mandolin that really add to the band's authenticity and style. "Battery Kinzie" is a lush, overflowing folk tune complete with Robin's comforting vocal presence putting everything at ease with the help of guitars and other assorted instruments to make you feel right at home with the band. My favorite song off the album is the disc's title track, a captivating and alluring track that features light acoustic guitar arrangements built around Robin's amazing and layered vocal arrangements echoing strongly long after this song has ended.

The disc's second half opens up with "The Cascades", a peaceful and comforting instrumental track that almost makes you feel like you're one with nature, overlooking a gushing waterfall while surrounded by tall, overarching trees. "Lorelai" is a track based on an almost similar premise, but with vocals added this time around to enhance the musical intensity and build an emotional connection with the listener as well. "The Shape / An Argument" is a longform folk track that is the best example of Robin's rapturing and awe-inspiring vocals which continue to get stronger and more intricate as the disc carries along. We get ready to conclude the album with"Blue Spotted Tail" a quiet, peaceful folk ballad that features simple folk based instrumentation that sees the band taking a bare bones approach that works extremely well here. The disc concludes with "Grown Ocean", a melodic and orchestral tune that shows off all the extraordinary talents that the band is capable of possessing in one simple arrangement. Folk music these days is enjoying a resurgence of sorts never seen before, with acts like Bright Eyes and Mumford & Sons bringing folk music directly into the mainstream consciousness, something that has never been done before. Fleet Foxes are another in this growing line of bands who are bringing something new and refreshing to the eyes and ears of music listeners.

All in all, a terrific effort here from Fleet Foxes who have crafted an exquisite follow up effort that continues on their musical quest to bring something groundbreaking and inviting to both new and established fans who want to hear music that best represents and embodies the true American spirit. Highly recommended!

                                                                                                        Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Montezuma
2. Bedouin Dress
3. Sim Sala Bim
4. Battery Kinzie
5. The Plans / Bitter Dancer
6. Helplessness Blues
7. The Cascades
8. Lorelai
9. Someone You'd Admire
10. The Shrine / An Argument
11. Blue Spotted Tail
12. Grown Ocean

Artist Spotlight: Kim Morrell

Hey everyone!

Time to take a look at this week's Artist Spotlight! This week, we have a local flavor to add to the mix as we have an up and coming artist right out of Boston by the name of Kim Morrell. Kim Morrell plays a urban blend of pop and R&B similar to the likes of Rihanna and Chris Brown, but adds in her own persona that makes her stand out from all the other artists out there of the pack. Her voice has a smooth, melodic flow to it that allows the beats to pop and sizzle right out the bag and from the get go, serves up immediate notice that she is ready to take the world by storm. There are a bevy of hip-hop/R&B artists out there who do too much to get noticed and the songs fall flat as the result of it, but Kim doesn't fall into that category whatsoever and she clearly demonstrates that she has all the necessary ingredients to make a lasting impression on the listener and she is well on her way to having a fruitful and successful career. Her single "Take A Pic" is a perfect example of all the extraordinary talent that she is capable of.

For more info on Kim Morrell, head on over to her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kimmorrellmusic You can also follow Kim on Twitter by going to http://www.twitter.com/kimmorrellmusic  You can view her music video for "Take A Pic" directly below:

Artist Profile: Jimmy Eat World

Today's Artist Profile is on one of the founding fathers of the emo-rock scene, Jimmy Eat World. Jimmy Eat World were formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993 and the band consists of Jim Adkins on lead vocals and lead guitar, Rick Burch on bass and backing vocals, Zach Lind on drums, and Tom Linton on backup guitar and vocals. The band's name is derived from an old crayon drawing made by Tom's younger brothers Jim and Ed. The brothers bickered and argued constantly, and Ed was able to exact revenge on Jim by drawing a picture of Jim putting the Earth into his mouth, with the caption "Jimmy eat world" written underneath the drawing, hence the origin of the band's name. The band's sound was inspired by acts like Sunny Day Real Estate, one of the originators of the emo-core scene during the early 90's, and Jimmy Eat World began writing songs based upon the emo mindset and begun a lengthy tour schedule in the process, giving them some well deserved recognition in the emo underground. The band attracted the attention of a talent scout at Capitol Records and was offered a record deal which the band graciously accepted. The band recruited Drive Like Jehu drummer Mark Trombino to produce their debut effort, A Static Prevails which came out in 1996.

Despite being signed to a major label, the band was allowed to release singles on indie labels and became one of the first major label bands to be fully embraced by the indie community, something which was unheard of at the time. The band released their next effort Clarity in 1999. This album is regarded as JEW's best album and one of the defining albums of the emo-rock genre, containing such classics like the title track, "Lucky Denver Mint", and "For Me, This Is Heaven". The band was dropped by Capitol Records shortly after the release of Clarity, and the band decided that their next effort would be released without the help of a major label. Their next effort would be the one that catapulted them into the mainstream, 2001's Bleed American (retitled "Jimmy Eat World" after the 9/11 attacks). The album contained such career defining songs like my personal favorite song "A Praise Chorus", the title track, "Sweetness", "The Middle", and "Hear You Me". The album quickly went platinum and is regarded as one of JEW's best albums. The band embarked on a heavy touring schedule after that, and took some time off before regrouping in 2004 to begin work on their next effort, Futures. The disc contained tracks like "Pain", "Work" and the terrific title track, en route to a gold album certification by the RIAA. The band's next disc Chase This Light followed in 2007, giving way to songs like "Big Casino" and "Always Be". The band's latest disc Invented, came out just last year and reunited the band with Clarity and Bleed American producer Mark Trombino, who lent his expertise to such tunes like "My Best Theory" and "Coffee & Cigarettes". I will always be grateful to Jimmy Eat World for introducing me to other bands in high school that helped broaden my musical horizons, bands like Brand New, Finch, Taking Back Sunday, and a host of others that are way too numerous for me to mention here. They have helped expand the musical palette of countless music fans around the world, and are in my opinion the sole creators of the emo-rock genre that without them, wouldn't exist in its form today.