Barricades - With Perfect Aim

Boston's own Barricades have released their full length debut album titled With Perfect Aim. This effort introduces us to a confident and focused group who are honed in and concentrating on nothing but the task at hand, creating music that fans can easily identify with and marvel over at the same time.

We start things off with the song "Lost", a track that has been around for a couple of years, but makes its debut as a polished, enhanced studio track with excellent vocals brought to us by Jared Walsh and Chris Norton who contribute a great deal to the band's melodic framework and set the bar pretty high for the rest of the album to follow. "Have One on Me" is a thumping, bombastic track coupled with an exquisite drum pattern brought to us by Dan Norton and sees the band keeping things level with an organic blend of indie rock that can't be compared to any one particular artist and is something entirely of their own creation. "She's Got A Way" is a finely tuned, cohesive blend of mid-tempo guitar rhythms mixed in with a strong musical sensibility that also shows off the well rounded nature of the group that is in full force here and bodes well for the latter portion of the album to follow.

The second half begins with my favorite track off the album, "Stay" an absolutely terrific track featuring gentle acoustic guitar melodies and top notch vocal syncopation that really gets it right from the start and sees a band sticking to the script and focusing on what they laid out when they were in the studio during the recording process. "On The Shelf" is a fast paced, musically toned track that features deep, pulsating guitar licks that move at a pretty good clip, and gives you the opportunity to experience other facets of the band that they haven't had the opportunity to express up until now. We get ready to close out the album with "Young", a slow and steady rocker that features terrific vocal interludes that meld together beautifully with the instrumentation at hand to create a resonating track that does a great job of setting up the final song on the album. And the final song on the album is "Ghosts", a sensational, echoing track that brings in all the musical elements we've heard in some capacity in the earlier stages of the album, and gives us an encapsulated overview of what we've experienced so far and how we got to this point as the album fades to black. I featured these guys as an Artist Spotlight feature about 2 years ago, and I had an inkling that these guys had a good musical formula that was in the process of solidifying, and I was fascinated to see what the fruits of their labor would bear down the road. Here we are a couple of years later, and the band has created a terrific effort that realizes the vision I laid out in my article, and sees the beginning stages of a band well on their way to a promising and long lasting career.

All together, a terrific and well envisioned debut album from Barricades, a band that has a definite vision of where music fits into their everyday lives, and realizing the importance of maintaining a strong and sound musical cohesiveness that will continue to serve them well moving forward.

                                                                                                                       Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Lost
2. Have One On Me
3. Mannequin
4. With Perfect Aim
5. She's Got A Way
6. Stay
7. Sunset
8. On The Shelf
9. Young
10. Ghosts      

Artist Spotlight: Two O'Clock Courage

Starting off your week with a brand new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we venture down to Trumbull, CT and uncover the explosive sounds of Two O'Clock Courage. The band consists of James Davidson on lead vocals, Nate Cartier on bass, Mike Ruotolo on drums, Rico Ruotolo on guitar, and Dan Stewart on guitar. The band's music is an eclectic mixture of pop-punk rhythms faintly reminiscent of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday with an extreme emphasis put on melody and audience participation, something which is an essential ingredient for the success of any upstart band. One thing that hit me almost immediately upon first hearing their music was the genuine and heartfelt sincerity that emanates strongly from the lyrics, and you can tell that these guys feel very strongly about what they do for a living, and have a strong, resonating connection with their fans that almost feels like they are a part of the band, and contribute greatly to the overall musical makeup of the group. A terrific and promising act that is destined for greater stardom beyond the confines of their hometown. Some great tracks for you to discover include "Wyoming" and "We Were Evergreen Oldboys".

For more information on the guys in Two O'Clock Courage, head on over to their Facebook page located here and find out for yourself what these boys are all about. The gents are on Twitter as well from over here and interact with them to see if they'll be making their way to your hometown sometime soon. Their music is available for public listening consumption on their PureVolume page right here.

Grouplove To Perform Back-to-Back Nights in Boston This September

LA's fast rising indie rock darlings Grouplove are set to perform on back-to-back nights come September that will give you double the fun and two different ways to see the band! The group will play a traditional, plugged in show on September 22 at The Sinclar in Cambridge, to be followed the next night by a stripped down, acoustic set at Arts at the Armory in Somerville. This is a once in a lifetime chance to see two different facets of the band that you won't get the opportunity to see so close together, so make your plans accordingly to see this rare treat manifest itself on stage.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday via Ticketmaster with presale tickets being made available tomorrow. For more information regarding tickets, please visit The Sinclair's website here and Arts at the Armory's site from this location here.

Interview w/ The Neighbourhood

Proud to bring you yet another installment in my continuing interview series! Today, I'm particularly pleased to bring to you an interview with an emerging band based out of Newbury Park, CA by the name of The Neighbourhood. You're probably already familiar with them as their song "Sweater Weather" is currently burning up the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart, currently in it's 7th week at #1 there and their album "I Love You." is starting to pick up some traction as of late. The members of the band were super gracious enough to sit down for an exclusive chat as we get to know the guys a little bit better personally and get a sense of their beginnings and their fast track to stardom. Here is the transcript from that interview.

Give us your names and your roles in the band?

 Mikey Margott - Bass
 Jesse Rutherford - Vocal
 Bryan Sammis - Drums
 Zach Abels - Guitar
 Jeremy Freedman - Guitar

 How did you guys all meet and when did the band form?

We all met through our local music scene in Newbury Park.  The band formed around a year and a half ago, almost two years now...it's crazy. Time flies.

How did you settle on the name "The Neighbourhood" for your band and how did it originate?

Jesse came up with the name but the American way of spelling it was taken. No matter who you are or where you live, everyone comes from a "neighbourhood".  It's something everyone can relate to.

How would you characterize your music to someone who has never heard of you guys before?

Dark pop is usually the abridged description we will give. We like to call it black & white.

I've noticed in videos of you guys on YouTube that they're all in black and white, what was the decision behind that artistic choice?

We decided early on to do everything in black & white.  It is just as much a part of who we are as our music. It's our vision.

Take us behind the recording process for "I Love You." and what that whole experience was like?

We demoed out a lot of the songs in Jesse's bedroom.  We took the songs to 4th street in Santa Monica & The Gallery in New York to work with our producers Justyn Pilbrough & Emile Haynie. The songs took more of a definite shape in the studio, but we had the overall vision for the record since day 1. 

Recently, your song "Sweater Weather" hit #1 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart, how big of an achievement was that for you and how did you guys all feel after hearing that news?

It's amazing. So crazy to see people getting behind our song on any platform. Truly humbling.

What are some artists that have played a big role in the musicians you are today?

Growing up we liked anyone from Metallica to Otis Redding to N'Sync to Wu Tang. We are a pretty eclectic group of individuals when it comes to music. We don't want our music to sound like anyone else, though.

What do you guys like to do in your spare time when not playing shows?

Ping pong, hang with friends, get tattooed, make music (write, record, etc...), play basketball, go to kings hockey games, when we are home we love to eat at our favorite restaurants (sayka, toppers, sub contractor, etc..).

Lastly, how has being in a band bonded you together and made you guys closer as friends and develop a strong kinship over time?

There's nothing left to hide from each other.  We know each other better than anyone knows us. It's definitely a struggle at first to spend all day everyday with the same people, but we do it at home anyways, so we're used to it.

Thanks once again to Jesse, Jeremy, Zach, Mikey, and Bryan for being so kind and gracious and taking time out of their ever busy schedule to do this interview! Judging from various interviews I've seem them do on YouTube, they seem like pretty mellow and laid-back individuals and their talent clearly shines brightly in their music. For more info on The Neighbourhood, 'Like' them on Facebook here, follow them on Twitter here, and purchase their album "I Love You." on iTunes here and on Amazon MP3 here.

Artist Spotlight: Breanne Primeau

Closing out the week and heading into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we have a terrific emerging singer-songwriter direct from the Boston area by the name of Breanne Primeau. Breanne has a pristine, captivating voice similar to the likes of Adele and Joss Stone with a sassy, confident persona that completely evokes the type of music she set out to create while in the studio. I was totally floored the moment I first heard her voice, and was amazed at the confidence she displayed while belting out these high energy tunes that has a old soul R&B type of feel to it with a subtle jazz touch thrown in for good measure that complements her well rounded sound that only gets better as you go along listening to her music. A terrific and promising young talent that is poised to take that next leap up the musical ladder. Some great tracks for you to check out from her include "Broken Wing" and "I Shouldn't Stay".

For more information on Breanne Primeau, head on over to her Facebook page located here and see firsthand the immense talent that she has put on display here. You may follow her on Twitter as well from over here and find out if she'll be making her way through the Boston area sometime soon. Her debut album appropriately titled "Take the First Step" is now available for streaming and purchase via her Bandcamp page located here.

The Bynars Release New Single "Dancing On A Dream"

Boston's own indie/dance rock outfit The Bynars have released their brand new single titled "Dancing On A Dream". The song is a vibrant, exciting track that features the guys bringing in their energetic blend of alt-rock that is somewhat similar in vein to Foster The People, but with a more identifiable tone that is completely original and allows the band to stand out prominently among the other players in the Boston music scene right now. A terrific track that I think has the potential to be one of the most talked about songs heading into the latter half of the year.

The track previews the forthcoming album X vs. X, which will be released on September 17th. If you would like to check out the song for yourself, you can stream it from their Bandcamp site right over here.

Joe Bachman Releases "A Soldier's Memoir (PTSD Song)"

Nashville, TN based singer-songwriter Joe Bachman has just released his latest single titled "A Soldier's Memoir (PTSD Song)". The poignant ballad is a country laced tune that has simple structured country melodies layered upon riveting lyricism that touches upon the profound subject of a loved one fighting overseas and succumbing to the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and witnessing the relentless and disturbing images that soldiers are exposed to while fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's not too often that I come across songs with a strong social message attached to them, but this one in particular really hit close to home as it touches upon a harrowing issue for families who are eager to have their loved one come home, only to come back feeling much different than before and constantly replaying the carnage inside their head that they've witnessed during their time away. A terrific track that is definitely deserving of your listening time.

If you would like to check out the track for yourself, it's available on iTunes at this link right here. For more information on Joe Bachman, head on over to his Facebook page located here, follow him on Twitter from this location here, and visit his official website over here. 

Artist Spotlight: The Gift of Ghosts

Kicking things off with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for you! Today, we head over to Rockland County, NY and discover the intense sounds of The Gift of Ghosts. The band consists of Matt McNulty on lead vocals, Alex Kouvatsos on guitar, Jordan Curran on guitar, Rich Wagner on bass and vocals, and Michael Galgano on drums. The band has an frenetic, no holds barred sound similar to the likes of Underoath and Pierce The Veil with melodic interludes sparsed out in between to give the listener a hint of diversity and showcases a band that is on the cusp of finding their true sound that most upstart bands have extreme difficulty finding these days. You may remember Matt McNulty as one-half of the Boston based pop-rock outfit Call Me Anything, and this music is a dramatic change of pace for him that may alienate some of his fans from his other project, but those people need to understand that musicians are constantly developing and trying out new genres, and while you might not fully appreciate the new venture he's involved in, learn that he is a person after all and he's only doing what makes him happy each and every day. I've known him personally for a few years, and he is one of the most genuine, down to earth guys I've ever met who has exceptional talent that is beyond imagination. See a clip of him laying down vocals for their new song "Collapse" right here.

For more information on the guys in The Gift of Ghosts, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see firsthand the intensity that the band brings to the stage each and every time. Follow the band on Twitter here and find out when the band will be stopping by on tour in your area sometime soon. The band has a pretty sweet Tumblr page located here that allows you to interact with the guys in the band one-on-one while they're out on the road touring this summer.

Interview w/ Friendly People

Starting off the second half of the week with another installment in my continuing interview series with local Boston area musicians! Today, we sit down for a chat with an emerging cast of players in the local scene called Friendly People. You may remember them as an Artist Spotlight feature a few weeks ago and their colorful blend of upbeat, danceable indie rock has me totally enthralled and anxious to see what the future holds for the guys. The boys were super gracious enough to devote some time to do an exclusive, sit-down interview just before they took the stage at Great Scott the other night basking in the glow of a noisy and vibrant nightlife in Allston Rock City on a picture perfect evening. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and your roles in the band?

Colin: I'm Colin, I'm the newest addition to the band, I play keyboard.
Pat: My name is Pat and I play acoustic guitar, sing, and bass.
Davis: My name is Davis and I play drums.
Mitchell: My name is Mitch and I play guitar and bass as well.
Jeff: My name is Jeff and I play guitar and bass also.

How did you guys all meet and when did the band form?

Pat: I guess it was 2011 that winter of going into spring. I did a songwriter's circle at All Asia cafe actually in Central Square. Mitch and Davis were in the crowd and they liked my moves and my vocal style and then we decided to record some music and that's how it started.

Describe the sound of Friendly People to those who may not be familiar with you guys?

Jeff: Psychedelic baroque music? (Laughter)
Pat: That's what it would sound like if you're tripping on acid, but definitely very rhythmic at times and rock music.
Mitchell: People have said folk infused indie rock. That was certainly when we first started out and it's a pretty accurate genre title and I think it's changed alot since then.

What is your earliest recollection of being exposed to music at a young age and how has that helped shape who you are today?

Pat: What got me into playing music personally well that was definitely pop-punk stuff. I was smack dab in to the early 2000's specifically Green Day, blink-182, Weezer was huge, and it evolved into Radiohead, but definitely that sort of fun loving music was what really got me into it.
Colin: I listen to The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers on cassette cause my dad happened to have those as a kid, it was very formative, I don't think that ever went away.
Jeff: The Cranberries, that was the one my parents put on all the time.
Davis: My dad grew up on Steely Dan, I think all of us we were in a similar situation cause in Townsbury you were either an athlete or a musician. All of us kind of geared towards the music side of things.
Colin: Billy Joel was huge for me I just realized that, I took piano lessons since I was 5, by the time I got to 6th or 7th grade I'm like "What the fuck do I do with a piano?" because someone showed me Billy Joel and I was like "Oh, that's what I do with a piano!"

Can you take us behind the recording process of your latest album 'Shake" and what that whole experience was like?

Pat: The first 5 days of the recording process, we pretty much didn't shower, we did a little bit of sleeping.
Mitchell: We recorded at a non-profit studio called The Record Company where Pat used to work at, it's basically a studio run by having freelance engineers coming in and do records, and half the band studied in a recording program in Boston so we decided to go in without hiring external help, so we all engineered the record together and hibernated in this studio for a week, then after we had all the basics down, we did all the overdubs at home because we have our own home studio set up and then we mixed it as well so it was kind of all homegrown.

What are some of your favorite recordings off the album that you guys really enjoyed?

Mitchell: I really like playing "Here We Are" live in particular, it's very high energy, it's a good way to get a show going, and it gets you energized as anyone in the crowd, it's a fun one to play.
Colin: I can say someone who's come into the band late as a band member, "Speak" is one of my favorites.

Has being in a band made you guys closer or had you guys already been bonded together as friends before that point?

Pat: I would say we actually we started to become friends playing music together. We didn't really hang too much or know each other before we started playing music.
Mitchell: Before the band started, a bunch of us lived together in the same apartment and then we knew each other for years, a couple of us decided that we wanted to make an album and we thought about putting a band together for it because a number of us in the apartment were already such good friends and we all played together and that's sort of how it all formed.
Jeff: The vibe was right before, but when we started playing music we really made a connection, I came in a little bit later than these guys, but I think it seems like a cool bunch of people to hang out with.
Davis: Spending a month living in a van with 5 other guys kind of makes you a little bit closer. We took some steps, we're pretty honest, we're pretty respectful, sleepovers, bed sharing. (Laughter)

What are some things you like to do together in you spare time when not making music or playing shows?

Colin: I like brewing beer and running, video games are a huge outlet for me, and TV, I love TV, I watch so much TV and movies.
Mitchell: I go to see shows.
Davis: Mitch and I recently moved to New York and the music scene in New York is super inspiring and there's always great shows to go out and see, spend alot of time soaking it in.

What do you guys have coming up next down the pipe, planning to play any more shows this summer?

Pat: We have a few more shows. We're doing a show on George's Island which will be really fun, that will be on August 24th. We have a Cafe 939 Red Room show, but that's not until November. But before then, we're going to do another tour in October going out to Chicago. This time, it's going to be a week off instead of a whole month off. We'll be going out to Chicago and do a little Midwest run, and hopefully have some CMJ shows coming up after that.

Any last words to your fans who may be reading this interview?

Pat: Thanks for coming out to shows and listening to music, it really means alot.
Jeff: Keep bringing your friends, keep showing them the tracks, we really look forward to meeting more people at the shows.

Thanks once again to Pat, Colin, Mitch, Jeff, and Davis for being such sweet and generous people for taking some time out to do this interview. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them and seeing firsthand what they're capable of achieving, and they are definitely on their way to doing something special and are a band you should be checking out in concert! Visit them on Facebook here, follow them on Twitter here, and check out their music via Bandcamp here.

Artist Spotlight: Save Ends

All fired up and rearing to go with another edition of Artist Spotlight to start out your Tuesday! Today, we have a terrific Boston based act to take a look act by the name of Save Ends. The band consists of Brendan on lead vocals and piano, Burton on drums, Sam on bass, Tom on guitar, and Stan on guitar and vocals. The band has an interesting hybrid mixture of indie rock rhythms and pop-punk melodies mixed in with deep and poignant lyricism that you can relate to and feel the sincerity emanating almost immediately the moment you first hear their music. I stumbled across these guys randomly while searching the Internet, and I was enthralled with the group's dynamic and their ability to craft music in a honest, heartfelt manner that you just don't see enough of these days in young, startup acts and it's quite refreshing to hear the band's take on the world as we know it and see how well they communicate with their listening audience. A terrific local act that is slowly making their way upstream in the local scene. Some terrific songs to have a listen at include "Time And Tarnish" and "Sweet Defeat".

For more information on the guys in Save Ends, head on over to their Facebook page here and give them a quick 'Like' if you enjoyed listening to their music as much as I did. The band is also available to be followed on Twitter here and communicate directly with the band on a one-on-one basis and find out when they'll be stopping by the Boston area again with a concert appearance. The band's latest EP titled Strength vs. Will is now available for listening consumption on their Bandcamp site located directly over here.

Lonesound Releases Free Download Of "A Place For Everyone"

British bred singer-songwriter James Ewers, who also goes by the stage name of Lonesound, is making available to his listeners a free download of his newest track, "A Place For Everyone". The Reading born, Hackney based musician has been making a name for himself in his native country, and he is hoping that the same success that found him in the U.K. will translate well for his prospective American listeners as well. His music is a blend of tightly focused and melodic folk arrangements that will take ahold of you almost immediately, and is a great way to be introduced to him and see what his music is all about.

For more information on Lonesound, head on over to his Facebook page here and follow him on Twitter here to get a better understanding of his musical insights. His official website located here contains more far reaching information, and to check out that free download of "A Place For Everyone", click on this link here that will ask you for your e-mail address where a link will be sent to download the track, and you can hear for yourself what this talented musician has composed for the general public.

Julia Easterlin Performs Live For Break Thru Radio

Boston based singer-songwriter Julia Easterlin recently performed for the fine folks over at the NYC based Break Thru Radio studios. Julia took her immense talents to the masses with an exquisite performance that really showcased all her unique skills and abilities that come through brilliantly in this well put together clip that also spotlights the members of the band that ensure that her artistic vision is well represented in this well put together vid.

For more information on Julia Easterlin, head on over to her Facebook page located here and follow her on Twitter from this location here. Her music is available for listening consumption on her Bandcamp site located right over here.

Artist Spotlight: Modern Baseball

Rounding out the week and heading into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head to the City of Brotherly Love otherwise known as Philadelphia, PA and uncover the sounds of Modern Baseball. The group largely consists of Brendan Lukens, Jacob Ewald, Ian Farmer, and Sean Huber. The band's music is an inventive mixture of indie rock influences mixed in with a slight punk-rock sensibility reminiscent of Say Anything that puts them in a class all their own and gives them clout and user accessibility to fans of both genres. I was impressed with the vocals that had a spoken word like dexterity to them that was a little unusual at first, but totally made sense as you delved into the music further and explored the vivacious melodies and homegrown instrumentation that runs rampant throughout their music. An amazing upstart band that deserves some love from the Boston area. Some great songs to check out from the guys include "Re-do" and "Tears Over Beers".

For more information on the guys in Modern Baseball, head on over to their Facebook page located here and 'Like' it so that you can stay in tune with everything that is going on in their world. The band is also on Twitter as well over here and communicate with the guys directly to find out if they'll be venturing up to the Beantown area sometime with a concert appearance. The band's latest album appropriately titled "Sports" is now available for streaming and purchase on their Bandcamp site located over here for your listening pleasure.

Artist Spotlight: Rebuilder

Cool off from the sweltering heat with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we have an emerging Boston based band by the name of Rebuilder. The group consists of Sal Ellington on lead vocals and guitar, Craig Stanton on guitar and vocals, Daniel Carsbad on bass, Brandon Phillips on drums and guitar, and Rick Smith on keys. The band has a fast paced, high energy punk sound that is faintly reminiscent of New Found Glory with indelible hooks and ear piercing melodies that will have you immediately sold on the guys from the word go. What I loved most about these guys was their ability to move along at a fast and furious pace, but not too fast so that listeners just joining in can catch up to all the action and be a part of the magic going on right in front of them. A terrific upstart band that has plenty of potential to get even better in the time laying ahead. Some great tracks to have a listen at include "Everything That I Hate" and "Exhaustion".

For more information on the gents in Rebuilder, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what the boys are all about and what they can do for you musically. You can follow the guys on Twitter as well over here and find out when the band will be stopping by the Boston area again with a concert performance. Find out more info about the band via Refuse Rethink Rebuild, their record label's website right here and check out their self-titled debut EP via their Bandcamp site here.

Commentary: Reaction to the Controversial Rolling Stone Cover Featuring Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

A tidal wave of controversy erupted early this morning when it was revealed that the Marathon Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev would be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone for their August issue. Mostly having a reputation for being a music magazine, this decision to feature this cruel monster on the cover and glorify him like a 70's teen idol is wrong and morally reprehensible on all counts.

I've actually never been a fan of Rolling Stone to begin with, and I think it's completely gutless for the editorial staff of Rolling Stone to decide in their morning meeting that the mastermind of the Marathon Bombings would be granted prime real estate square on the cover of a magazine usually reserved for musicians, actors, and prominent figures in the entertainment industry. How anyone could defend putting this monster on the cover is beyond comprehension, and I must respectfully disagree with one Hilary Hughes, writer for Vanyaland who says that putting him on the cover elevates awareness of what happened on April 15th on a national level, but doesn't everyone know what happened on that day and do we need a visual reminder of the mastermind behind this senseless bombing? How a magazine largely known for putting musicians on the cover decided to put a killer on the cover and make him look like Jim Morrison is gutless and disrespectful to all of the victim's families and everyone that was injured on that horrific day.

Rolling Stone is going to get some serious heat over this cover choice that's for sure, and I think they really need to reconsider their edgy cover choice and think about the people that were affected greatly by this tragedy, Bostonians like myself who are proud, passionate, and all have different points of view when it relates to certain topics, but for subjects like this we can all agree that is definitely not a way to promote awareness about a calamity in which innocent people were killed.

Port Orchards - River Songs

Washington DC's own Port Orchards return with their all new studio release titled River Songs. The follow up to the recently released Luna Grande finds the collective building upon the buzz of their last release, and maintaining their ambient melodies and delicate lyrics to create a simple structured album that has a completely unfiltered quality to it.

We start things off with "The Ghost That You Died To Be", a steady and breezy rocker that features a terrific guitar melody that melds in wonderfully with the lightly tuned percussion arrangements that make this track easily enjoyable. "I Want Everything" is another toned down tune that features many of the same musical characteristics as the prior track, but with a more prominent guitar track to give the listener a little bit more variety in the process. "Togetherness" is an upbeat, bombastic track that features wildly inventive melodies that immediately put you in a positive frame of mind with its colorful vocals adding a bit more dexterity to an well received album so far. My favorite track off the album is "Back On The Beam", a truly beautiful track that strikes a perfect harmony between the instrumentation that is deeply intertwined within the lyrics that provide for a strong boost as you enjoy the rest of the day in front of you.

The second half of the disc features "Roomsitter" a midtempo, enjoyable track that features terrific vocal syncopation that shows the harmonizing between the members of the group and the connection that all the members of the group feel when playing together. We begin to wrap things up with "The King of Putt" a melancholy, relaxing rocker that features neatly arranged instrumentation and a positive outlook ahead as we forge towards the conclusion of the album. "Your Favorite Song" ends things here with an encapsulated tune that brings in all the musical elements we've heard in succession one after another on the album, and gives us an overview of sorts as we look back on everything we've listened to and how we got to this point. One thing that I enjoy about these guys is their overall simplicity when creating music, and making everything seem beautiful and pristine as you listen to their songs and it really makes you appreciate the time and energy that they expunged on this album to create something that they knew from the get go people would appreciate greatly upon first listen.

In summary, a terrific and well executed second effort here from Port Orchards, who have made an album that is on par with their debut, and gives us a peek inside as to how these songs are conceived in the first place and the time and energy spent creating them.

                                                                                                                                Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. The Ghost That You Died To Be
2. I Want Everything
3. Sunday Bed Love Song
4. Togetherness
5. Back on the Beam
6. New Acropolis
7. Roomsitter
8. Lilt
9. The King of Putt
10. Your Favorite Song

Artist Spotlight: The Offseason

Starting off the scorching hot week with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight for you! Today, we have a terrific Boston based band that goes by the name of The Offseason. The band consists of Ian Bergeson, Joe Broderick, Mike Wolfenden, and Craig Bray. The band has a fast paced, intense hardcore sound that sounds like a cross between New Found Glory and Four Year Strong with a blasting, soaring melodic output that punches you in the face the moment you first hear it and allows you to get into the groove quite easily from first listen. I'm not much of a hardcore punk fan, but there was something to enjoy from these local fellows, and that is their ability to inject passion and enthusiasm into their music which is something that has been noticeably absent for quite some time and it's gratifying to see these local guys putting a stamp of credibility for hardcore punk and making it more user accessible to the general public. A great local band that I would like to see more of going forward. Recommended tracks to take a listen at include "Can't Sleep" and "'98".

For more information on the guys in The Offseason, head on over to their Facebook page here and find out what the band have got going on from a musical perspective. You may follow the band on Twitter as well from this location here and find out when the band will be stopping by the local area again with a concert appearance. The band's music is available on their Bandcamp site located right here where you can find their latest EP "Pasttimes" available for streaming and/or purchase.

MusicBoxPete Podcast To Launch September 16th!

Details are currently being ironed out for the much anticipated rollout of the MusicBoxPete podcast, now slated to officially launch on September 16th! The once a week show will air every Monday from 5:00PM-5:30PM. For the duration of the half-hour, you'll hear songs from some of Boston's fastest rising acts, and it will also feature the same content you're accustomed to seeing on the blog every week, including my Artist Spotlight feature of the week showcasing a local act from the area who I think has the potential to make it big, and a featured album review each week highlighting a prominent album recently released that is definitely deserving of checking out.

There will also be some fun in-depth segments, including in-house interviews with local artists so that you can get to know them a little better, plus handcrafted curated playlists featuring songs ranging from various genres and related to certain topics as well. There will also be periodic news updates giving you the latest as to what's going on in the ever changing music world that we live in. The episodes will be available for download on iTunes immediately after they air, so get ready to experience the MusicBoxPete blog in a whole new way and get excited for what's about to come! Stay tuned to the blog for further updates as the premiere date draws closer.

Artist Spotlight: Long Lost

Closing out your Friday and headed into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! We keep it local as always in Boston as we run into a local act that goes by the name of Long Lost. The band consists of Joe Boynton on lead vocals, Mat Morin on guitar, Mike Moschetto on bass, and Aviv Marotz on drums. If some of these guys look familiar to you, that's because the band is comprised of members of Stoneham's own Transit ( a former Artist Spotlight feature) and Aviator. The new act is gearing up to release their debut album "Save Yourself, Start Again" on August 6th. The band have also just made available a song from the forthcoming release called "This Love Will Grow", and the track is an intense, soaring rocker that hits at you almost instantaneously with it's insatiable melodies and hard nosed rhythms that show a sense of self-confidence and assurance from the group as to who they want to be as musicians and where they want to go from here. A brand new act that I can already tell from first listen has the audacity and drive to pay it all forward.

For more information on the boys in Long Lost, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what these guys are all about. The band can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and communicate directly with the guys to find out when they'll be making their way through the Beantown area again with a concert appearance. Visit the band's official website here for all the latest up to date information surrounding their forthcoming release, and check out the band's newest track "Want", now streaming on Alternative Press's website here and "This Love Will Grow" from AbsolutePunk's website located right here.

The Relevant Elephants, Others Set To Take Part In Chi Cheng Memorial Tribute Show

The Relevant Elephants will be among several acts taking part in the Chi Cheng Memorial Show, sponsored by Rambudikon and taking place this coming Saturday at South Shore Music Hall in Quincy, MA. The show is in memory of Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who passed away a couple of months ago as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash several years prior. All money from ticket sales will be donated directly to Chi's roommate Jessica, and DJ Limitless will be playing Deftones songs in between the band's set so that Chi's memory is well represented throughout the night.

Doors for Saturday's show open at 5pm, with performances beginning at 5:30pm. Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $15 the day of. To purchase tickets for the show, simply click on this link here and for more information on the band's performing and their set times, click on the Facebook event page here for all the latest up to the minute info.

Artist Spotlight: The Hotel Year

Got another edition of Artist Spotlight all ready for you to check out! Today, we head over to Dudley, MA and check out the vivacious sounds of The Hotel Year. The band consists of Christian, Cody, Chris, and Sam. The band's music is a mixture of early 00's post-punk bands such as Taking Back Sunday and The Early November with an innovative twist on it that is completely all their own and stands out prominently from the other types of bands currently embedded within the Boston music scene. I practically grew up on this type of music in high school, and I can clearly identify with the lyrics and melodies eloquently described within the confines of their music that takes me back to a simpler time when music was deeply passionate and bands really had a knack for affecting the moods of the listeners and reeling them in to make them feel like they're part of the act. A terrific local band that is definitely ready to take the next step forward in their careers. Some great tracks for you to check out from them include "Our Lives Would Make A Sad, Boring Movie" and "Vacancy".

For more info on the guys in The Hotel Year, head on over to their Facebook page located here and find out everything you need to know about the guys. The band is also on Twitter, and you can find them here and see if the band will be making a pit stop in the Boston area sometime soon for a concert appearance. The band's latest album "It Never Goes Out" is now available for free streaming and download via their Bandcamp page at this address here.

The Grownup Noise to Perform at Cafe 939 This Saturday

Boston's own The Grownup Noise will be playing a show this coming Saturday at Cafe 939 at 8:00pm, right near the Berklee College of Music. The band have been making the rounds in the local scene, playing at such places like Club Passim in Harvard Square and most recently at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge just a couple of months ago. If you're not familiar with them, their music is a blend of some unusual instrument selections (accordion, violin,) along with the usual guitar, bass, and drums to create a truly diverse and dynamic instrumental outlet that is unlike any other band out there.

Other artists that will be gracing the stage including Princeton NJ's Miracles of Modern Science and Krief from The Dears also contributing an appearance as well. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $12 the day of. For more info on the show and to purchase tickets, click on Cafe 939's website here.

Bear Language - Rememory

Boston's own Bear Language have released their full length debut album titled Rememory. The much anticipated debut album from the Berklee College of Music grads signifies a definite musical statement from these gentlemen as to who they are musicians and where they want to be moving forward. The band's indie leaning qualities and occasional dabbles into electronic territory showcase a musically adventurous and band that is musically mature and wise beyond their years.

We start things off with "Fake Is Real" an intense, shattering rocker that sees the band evolving greatly from their debut EP, and putting more emphasis on their hard rocking characteristics that make them a well rounded group in the process. Lead singer Luca Buccellati's vocals have a Thom Yorke like composure to them that allows the songs to have their own identifiable blueprint that fans can relate to quite easily. "Can I Resist?" is a more downtempo rocker that features delicate guitar riffs and Luca's marvelous vocal abilities weaving in and out through the chord progressions and tempo shifts that unravel a different side of the band that we haven't had the opportunity to witness until this point. My favorite track off the album is the upbeat "Questionable Commodities" a piercing, take no prisoners track that features gradually shifting guitar riffs and varying degrees of tempos that show the step that these guys have made in their musical maturity, and the career arc that they're currently taking looks very promising as evidenced by this highly advanced track. "Meet Me Outside" is a beautiful, dreamy track that features more toned down rhythms and Luca's mysterious vocals lurking in the background that provide the perfect atmosphere and a sense of serenity as we head into the latter stages of the album.

The disc's second half features "You Have Jive" an eerie, mysterious number featuring a purely instrumental based number with the absence of vocals that allows you to squarely hone in on the band's highly methodical talents that truly showcase the band's abilities that is put on display for all to see and marvel over. The album starts to close on "I'm Looking" a fast paced, frenetic rocker that is one of the longer tracks on the album clocking in at just over 7 minutes, but it covers alot of ground for such an expansive track with sharply focused instrumentation and Luca's vocals providing the perfect accompaniment as we head towards the disc's conclusion. "Hybernation" ends it all here with a melancholy, laid back tune that totally encapsulates the band's dynamic and shows all their capabilities together in one fell swoop, and connects the pieces from the first track of the album to showcase a well rounded and diverse effort heard here. I was totally sold on Bear Language from the moment I heard "Mary Go Round", I was assured that this band would be going places and were capable of achieving all of their musical goals and ambitions, and they have clearly accomplished that assignment clearly to a T, so Luca and the boys have the world squarely on their shoulders and ready to accomplish anything that stands in their way musically.

Overall, a terrific debut effort from Bear Language, a band that is finally coming into their own and showing everyone their musical strengths on display. This is just the beginning for the guys and is the first step towards a long and promising musical career moving forward.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Fake Is Real
2. Can I Resist?
3. Questionable Commodities
4. Next Time
5. Meet Me Outside
6. I Heard
7. You Have Jive
8. I'm Looking
9. Hybernation

Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne to Perform At Gallery 263 in Cambridge

Brooklyn's own Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne will be performing in the Boston area this coming Saturday, July 13th at Gallery 263 in Cambridge, MA. The duo's music is an organic, acoustic based blend of folk rhythms and earthy melodies that combined with the thought provoking lyrics create a musical tour de force that is unlike anything ever heard before. Their stage layout is pretty simple, using only a couple of microphones and their wooden instruments, but they pack a serious punch for a folk act and are one that you definitely don't want to pass up on.

They'll also be sharing the stage with Paige Chaplin with the doors opening up at 7:30pm, Paige Chaplin taking the stage at 8pm, and Mark & Mary taking over at 9pm. The suggested donation to attend the show is anywhere between $5-$10 so donate whatever money you see fit for this concert. For more information on the venue and the show in particular, head on over to Gallery 263's website here and for more information on Mark & Mary, click on their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter over here.

Artist Spotlight: The Weeds

Starting off your Tuesday with another brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we stay in the lovely confines of Boston and uncover the indie enhanced sounds of The Weeds. The band consists of Justine DeFeo on lead vocals and guitar, Joe Lacy on vocals and lead guitar, Jarek Maj on bass, and John Hadley on drums. The band has an intense, deeply resonating sound similar to that of The Pixies and Saves The Day with a strong instrumental component that accentuates the lyrics quite well, and fills out the band's repertoire pretty nicely also. I stumbled across these guys random online, and I was impressed with the band's ability to keep things relatively simple, and not try to overdo it in terms of excessive and unnecessary experimentation as some other upstart bands fall victim to. But these guys clearly have a sense of the type of music they want to play and who they are as musicians, and that will serve them well a great deal moving forward. A terrific undiscovered band that is well worthy of press here on the blog. Some great tracks for you to check out from them include "Sunset Eyes" and "Death Valley".

For more information on The Weeds, head on over to their Facebook page located here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay in the know of everything that they have going on. You may follow the band on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be stopping by the Beantown area again with a concert appearance. The band's latest EP titled "Roots/Routes" is now available for free streaming via their Bandcamp page at this destination here.

Body Language Release Music Video For "Well Absolutely"

Brooklyn's own Body Language have just released a music video of their brand new track titled "Well Absolutely". The video is a terrific slice of magic with a summer infused beat providing the perfect accompaniment as your eyes are stimulated with a plethora of colorful images that are designed to keep you in the summer mood as the dog days of the season are upon us, and also gives us some eclectic instrumentation to cool us off and keep us motivated as we enjoy our summer.

The song is the first single off their forthcoming album "Grammar", which is due to be released on September 10th. If you would like to hear the track in its entirety, head on over to their Soundcloud site located right over here and experience what musical treat the band have concocted for your listening pleasure.

Interview w/ Lower Lands

Proud to bring you another installment in my continuing interview series! Today for you, we head across the pond to Lincoln, England to find out more about the emerging sounds of Lower Lands. These four lovely lads have been making a name over there with their debut EP "Canvas" making an impression on thousands of listeners, and they're hoping that their sound can transfer over well to U.S. listeners as well. The boys were nice enough to sit down for an interview as we talked about the genesis of their music and their hopes and aspirations of their music moving forward. And here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and your roles in the band?

My name's Jacob and I play bass and sing, Benji sings and plays guitar, Paul plays guitar and sings and Rob plays the drums.

How did you come up with the name "Lower Lands" and how did you guys all meet?

Lowlands was the name of a local football team and we thought the name rolled off the tongue pretty well but we didn't want to copy it, so we changed it up a little bit.
A few of us were friends and in bands since we were about 13 then we got to college and all got obsessively in to Reuben so we made Lower Lands.

When is the earliest moment you can recall being exposed to music?

I remember my mum always singing me Bob Dylan songs when I was a kid.

Then when I was four I really fell in love with Elvis, I just thought he was the coolest guy ever. I even asked to get my hair cut like his.

What music did you listen to growing up and how has that helped shape who you are today?

I was really lucky to have parents who were into cool music.

I grew up listening to loads of punk like Stiff Little Fingers and The Sex Pistols. The Cure were also a huge influence on me as a kid, I remember watching their music videos and being blown away by how different they were to anything else I'd ever seen.

When I was 9 my mum took me to my first proper gig which was Iggy Pop and Green Day. Seeing bands like that on stage just made me want to be doing do what they were doing.

Growing up in the U.K., were there many opportunities or outlets to play music or was finding venues to play difficult?

There are quite a lot of shows going on in England and we haven't ever really struggled to get them. We're blessed to have people contact us regularly asking us to play their event.

The only problem being that there's so little money in the live music scene these days promoters can't even cover bands costs most of the time, every penny we've ever made on merch has gone straight into petrol. So if you see us live buy a shirt, trust me the money doesn't get wasted.

Take us behind the recording of your latest EP "Canvas" and what that whole process was like?

We recorded at The Ranch with Neil Kennedy and it really couldn't have gone better. The guy is a genius and he made everything sound exactly how we wanted, it was a privilege to work with him.

What are some of your favorite songs you guys have recorded so far?

I love the title track of the new EP 'Canvas'. I think it just drops people straight in at the deep end of our new stuff and shows people what we're all about.

What do you guys like to do for fun when you're not playing or recording together?

We play a lot of FIFA and it gets pretty intense. I'm the best and Benji knows it but he's just too proud to say it.
We love looking at stupid stuff on the internet and quoting stupid movies. Will Ferrell is the funniest man alive.

What does the rest of the year hold for you guys? Playing any shows in the U.S. sometime soon?

We've got a few one off shows coming up over summer and a UK tour to announce soon. We all want to make it over the Atlantic as soon as we can, but I'm not gonna give anything away.

Any last words to those who may be reading this interview?

I hope you like Lower Lands and if we ever play a show near you sometime come say hello, we'd all love to meet you. Thanks for paying attention to what I had to say right to the end too.

Thanks once again to the fine chaps of Lower Lands for being so kind and gracious for carving some time out of their busy schedules to conduct this interview! For more information on the band, please visit their Facebook page here and check out their music via their Bandcamp page located right here.

MusicBoxPete Podcast to Launch This Fall!

The continuing and ever evolving expansion of the MusicBoxPete blog rolls on. Today, I'm proud to announce that the blog will be venturing into the world of podcasting with the launch of the official MusicBoxPete podcast! The podcast will feature all of the components you regularly see here on the blog, plus some added bonus features as well to complement the existing outlook. The podcast will feature:

- Songs by local area bands and artists from the Boston and New England region.
- Interviews with local area artists and prominent members of the music community.
- Upcoming album releases and a featured album review spotlighted on the blog.
- Artist Spotlight of the week feature highlighting a local area band that you should be listening to regularly.
- Periodic news updates on everything concerning the world of music.

This is an incredibly exciting venture for me, and I hope you guys will come along for the ride, we're going to have an awesome time together! The official launch date for the podcast is still being finalized, but stay tuned to the blog for further details as the layout of the show is being solidified at this time.

Today Junior - What's The Skinny?

Allston, MA's own Today Junior have released their full length debut album titled What's The Skinny? The three piece band have crafted an exquisite collection of tunes for the masses that are primed and ready to be delivered to your earlobes at a steady pace.

We start things off with "Sweet Dee Part I" a straightforward, melodic jam that is a no frills affair with steady guitar licks delivered to you courtesy of Harry O'Toole and his lead vocals providing the perfect accompaniment for the rest of the disc to follow. "The Antidote" features a neat percussion arrangement by Mike O'Toole that shows off the cleverness and ambition that the band have clearly demonstrated in the beginning stages of the album, and how they intend to move forward. "Fresh Air" is a organic, simple structured format tune that shows off the band's chops and their ability to dabble in varying degrees of tempos that aren't too strong or too soft, but hit at you at just the right level where it isn't too overwhelming for the prospective music listener.

The second half gets underway with my favorite track off the album, "Sunspots" an upbeat, passionate tune that just reeks of summertime with wistful guitar melodies and Harry's vocals providing the perfect soundtrack to your trips to the beach or summer barbecues that will get even better with this song playing in the background. "Squeeze" is a fast paced track clocking in at just under 2 minutes that manages to cram alot of musical goodness in such a short span of time, and ensures that your time listening to the track is well spent. The disc begins to conclude with the album's title track, a pleasant sounding track that shows off the band's dynamic that is well constructed and shows the communication between the other members of the group and how they all stay on the same page musically.  We end matters here with "Sweet Dee Part II", a song that incorporates elements from songs we heard at various points throughout the album, and presents an encapsulated synopsis of the album at large and the various tempos we've encountered in our journey towards the finish line. I caught these guys in concert last year at Copperfield's right near Fenway Park, and I was impressed with the band's stage presence and how genuine they were when I chatted with one of the members afterwards, and I got a sense that these guys love playing music in general and from living in Allston Rock City, these guys are exposed to music on a constant 24/7 basis.

In summary, a well executed and constructed effort from Today Junior, who are a band making their way through the confines of the Boston music scene, and delivering to the crowds music that they really take to heart and are extremely passionate about.

                                                                                                                        Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Right Where You Left It
2. Sweet Dee Part I
3. The Antidote
4. Tiger Eyes
5. Fresh Air
6. Sunspots
7. Getaway
8. Squeeze
9. What's The Skinny?
10. Sweet Dee Part II

Artist Spotlight: That Racket

Kicking off the month of July with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head up to Andover, MA and check in with the emerging and vivacious sounds of That Racket. The band consists of Matt Giolito on drums and percussion, Daniel Short on lead vocals, Alex Mazzarese on guitar, and Guy Landerson on bass. The band has an intense, frenetic sound that takes influences from all over the musical spectrum such as The Rolling Stones and The Ramones with a fast-paced, intense sound that features dynamic changes in tempo and a strong musical sense of who they are as musicians. I caught these guys in concert this past Thursday at The Middle East Upstairs where they opened up for Dave Crespo's After Party, and I was completely blown away by their stage presence that totally had me sold from the get go, and I was impressed with the collective musical knowledge that they have amassed at such a remarkable young age. From Daniel's spastic gyrations on stage that evoked Mick Jagger, to Matt's impeccable shirtless drum skills, these guys definitely have all the components necessary to take it to the next level. A great undiscovered local band that is best experienced live in concert. Some recommended songs for you to check out from them include "Mandarin Oranges" and "Too Close To Home".

For more information on the boys in That Racket, head on over to their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay up to date with all the happenings going on in their world. The band's music is available on their ReverbNation page located right over here for your listening pleasure, and check out their official YouTube page located here so that you can see firsthand what these boys are all about.

Mac Miller - Watching Movies With The Sound Off

Pittsburgh, PA's native son Mac Miller is back with his sophomore studio album titled Watching Movies With The Sound Off. The follow up to his 2011 debut Blue Slide Park finds the rapper (real name: Malcolm McCormick) aiming for a more deep and introspective sound this time around that really cuts to the core and finally reveals his true persona that has been yearning to be revealed for a few years now.

We start things off with "The Star Room" an eerie, laid-back jam that sees Mac bringing down the tone several notches from his prior album, and aims for a more pure, unadulterated sound that gives Mac some diversity and depth as both an artist and person. My favorite track off the album is "Avian" a piano aided rhymer that shows a musically sophisticated side of Mac that we haven't seen before, featuring a simple rhyming scheme and a slow, steady beat that truly represents the artistic vision that he was looking for when he was in the studio recording this album. "S.D.S." is a more traditional, simple format hip-hop track with dazzling hooks and clever rhymes that set this track apart from the others and in a class all its own. "Bird Call" is a jazzed up tune featuring more upbeat instrumentation, and Mac's killer rhymes making an indelible impression on you from the get go and shares a side of Mac that is almost an instant revelation and makes us think of him in a totally different light than what we're used to. "I Am Who Am (Killin' Time)" is a throwback jam featuring some nostalgic beats set amidst a backdrop of clever rhymes set forth by Mac that continues the journey that we embarked on at the beginning of the album. "Objects In The Mirror" features a neat percussion based beat that runs silently in the background, but is more noticeable towards the end of the track, and gives us a more organic, unadulterated feel that is very well recorded and allows us to make an easy transition into the second half of the album.

And the second half of the album kicks off with "Gees", an inventive, cleverly styled hip-hop opus featuring Mac's killer rhymes and thoughtful, inquisitive beats making up the bulk of the arsenal here. The disc's title track is a more toned down affair from the prior tracks, and features a more subtle, layered approach that shows off Mac's diversity as an artist, but better yet the maturity that he's made from his last effort. "Remember" is a terrific, densely populated track that has an eerie, mysterious nature to it, but it all makes sense when you go back and listen to it in its entirety and see what Mac was aiming for when he was in the studio laying down this song. We get ready to close out the album with "Aquarium", a distorted, musically toned out track that features a repeating loop that gives it almost a throwback feel, and that starts to bode well for the conclusion of the album. The disc comes to a close on "Youforia", a synth heavy jam that takes in all the musical elements we've heard in succession one after another, and brings about a sense of finality as the disc fades to black. I'm a huge Mac Miller fanatic, and while I don't listen to hip-hop that much, I genuinely admire Mac's talent and charisma that has me in awe to be in his musical presence, and watch the magic unfold right before my eyes and ears. He totally exudes confidence and likability in everything that he does, and it's just awe-inspiring to watch everything fall into place right here.

In summary, a well executed and implemented second effort here from Mac Miller, who has shown considerable growth and maturity as an artist, and is quietly becoming one of the more prominent hip-hop talent coming up in music today.

                                                                                                                       Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. The Star Room
2. Avian
3. I'm Not Real (f/Earl Sweatshirt)
4. S.D.S.
5. Bird Call
6. Matches (f/Ab-Soul)
7. I Am Who Am (Killin' Time) (f/Niki Randa)
8. Objects in the Mirror
9. Red Dot Music (f/Action Bronson & Loaded Lux) 
10. Gees (f/Schoolboy Q)
11. Watching Movies
12. Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes (f/Jay Electronica)
13. Remember
14. Someone Like You
15. Aquarium
16. Youforia  

Alexander Release New Music Video For "Say Hello", Updates on Lower Lands and Maycomb

U.K's own Alexander have just released their brand new music video for the song "Say Hello", the title track from their album of the same name. The clip features the band walking down a London sidewalk while holding a placecard that reads the song's namesake, all while passing by fans walking down the street waving to the band as they casually stroll by. This is a very simple and inventive clip that really strips the song down to the essence of what it's all about, connecting with the audience and fostering and nurturing a relationship with them as well. Here is what the band had to say about the song: 

"The song is about getting away from something that is really dragging you down, finding something fresh and just feeling great, even if it's just for a week. The video is about being open and just smiling at people saying hello. It's a message for people to just let everything go and be happy and open. The star signs which are featured on the bottom of each sign, are a symbol of who we are and it's a metaphor to show we are opening up to people." 

You can download "Say Hello" on iTunes at this link located here. 

In other British related band news, Lower Lands have just released their brand new EP titled Canvas as a free digital download which you can check out for yourself right here. Maycomb are slated to film their first music video within the next couple of weeks, and we'll have periodic updates regarding this very soon. Check out the bands on their respective social networking sites here and here to get a sense of the music emanating from the other side of the pond.