Fall 2013 New Music Preview

With the summer winding down ever so slowly, I thought it would be a good idea to check out some of the new albums that will be making its way onto store shelves and online very soon. This fall's crop of albums include a bevy of indie acts looking to stake their claim on the scene and move their way up the pedestal with their new material. Here is a list of some upcoming fall releases you'll want to pay attention to:

Grouplove - Spreading Rumours (September 17th)

Los Angeles, CA's own Grouplove are back with their sophomore release titled Spreading Rumours. The band have been blowing up with the first single off the album, "Ways to Go" impacting alternative radio as we speak, and the band are getting ready to embark on a unique tour that will have the band playing 2 shows in several cities, with one being acoustic and one being a full set with instruments. This release should be a huge step forward for the group and cement their place in the alternative music scene.

MGMT - MGMT (September 17th)

Psychedelic rockers MGMT make their long awaited return with their third self-titled release. The band's last album, 2010's Congratulations was underwhelming at best, and didn't exactly excite listeners who adored the band with their genre-defying debut, 2007's Oracular Spectacular. This release gets the band back to their roots explored on their first one, with dreamy, hypnotic psychedelic influences hearkening the band back to their beginnings, and hopefully this one gets the band back to basics and on the right musical track.

Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull (September 24th)

Kings of Leon make their long awaited return this fall with Mechanical Bull. The follow up to 2010's Come Around Sundown sees the band continuing to bring their old blend of Southern rock inspired influences brought upon a grandiose scale, and have a strong musical self-esteem to go along with it that gives the band some clout and name recognition from fans and music critics alike who appreciate their type of music and what they have to bring to the table.

Call Me Anything - The Best Damn Time (September 24th)

Boston's pop-rock darlings Call Me Anything are set to make their long awaited return with their new one, The Best Damn Time. The follow up to last year's Celebrity EP sees the band maturing and evolving greatly from their last release, and moving towards a more mature musical frame of mind, while still retaining elements from their past that made them who they are today, and a popular attraction among the mostly female demographic of their fanbase. They're ready to bring it to the next level, and the time is now.

The Avett Brothers - Magpie and the Dandelion (October 15th)

The Avett Brothers are ready to release their new one Magpie and the Dandelion. The follow up to last year's stunning The Carpenter sees the band maintaining their Southern inspired, bluegrass fed type of music that really gets down to the roots of American music with a stunning collection of tunes produced by the legendary Rick Rubin who also helmed their last release, and this effort is poised to have the group break through to the next level and on their way to the level of stardom that they always dreamed of.

Any more albums you're clamoring for and looking forward to hearing this fall? Let me know which albums you can't wait to be released, and I'll take it under advisement and give it special consideration here on the blog.

This Much - Decision/Spiral

Boston's own This Much have released their brand new 2 song EP titled Decision/Spiral. The disc is a inviting and relaxing mixture of indie rock rhythms conjured upon a simple musical structure that shows off the band's organic playing style that makes them unique among the other bands currently embedded within the Boston music scene.

The first track "Decision" is a remarkable, easy-going track that features neatly tuned guitar rhythms and soft, whispering vocals brought to you by frontman Terrence Mulhern who contributes a great deal to the trio's musical outset that has a bare bones essence to it that is crisp, refreshing, and makes you want to continue listening right until the very end. "Spiral" wraps up our short trip here, and features an intricate, folk leaning style that has indelible acoustic guitar melodies weaving in and out through the instrumentation here, and wonderful bass and percussion brought to you respectively by John Stricker and Denny Kennedy who round out the short EP with something that is incredibly relaxing and makes you appreciate the honest musicianship and impeccable talent that these three guys have, and shows off what the band are capable of bringing to their audience both on record and on stage. I've covered these guys previously here on the blog back in January as my Artist Spotlight feature, and I really commended the guys for keeping things simple and straightforward, while not doing too much musically that would have otherwise made the music distracting and unable to pay attention to all the action that is going on. I thoroughly enjoyed the band's playing style immensely, and I have great hope for the trio moving forward.

All in all, a terrific EP from This Much, a local band who is starting to make their presence known to music listeners in the area, and have a defined playing style that you just don't see enough of these days from other local bands.

                                                                                                                               EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Decision
2. Spiral

David Downing Releases Debut "Cosmic Conspiracy"

Omaha, Nebraska native David Downing has just released his debut effort titled "Cosmic Conspiracy". The highly skilled cellist is taking his talents to the masses with a 5 song collection that totally eschews his unique and highly specialized blend of classical leaning music that has a certain mood and feel to it that you can't possibly ignore, and leaves you to continue listening to get the full grasp of what it is that he's trying to covey to his listening audience. His music was a welcome surprise to me, and it serves as a reminder that classical music need not be totally ignored, and definitely has a place within the confines of the musical wall.

To check out "Cosmic Conspiracy" in its entirety, head on over to his Bandcamp page here and see for yourself what David has conjured up for you. Visit his official website here for more wide ranging info pertaining to his music.

Artist Spotlight: Set The Pace

Heading into the glorious weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight for today! We head down to Fairfield County, CT and uncover the youth infused sounds of Set The Pace. The band consists of Mike Neaton on lead vocals, P.J. Runko on vocals and synth, Greg Carter on guitar, Jeremy Neaton on guitar, Robbie Williams on bass, and Casey O'Dea on drums and backup vocals. The band's music is a mixture of melodic hardcore with some synth based influences thrown in for good measure that makes them stand out from other bands within their respective genre. What struck a chord for me with these guys was their ability to be comfortable and at ease with the type of music they're playing and their ability to communicate with the audience, which is essential for any band to master the art of in this day of age. A terrific upstart audience that needs a little boost to move ahead of the other acts out there. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Stylin' and Pillin'" and "Movie Theater Pop-Core".

For more information on Set The Pace, head on over to their Facebook page located here and give them a quick 'Like' if you appreciate what they have to give you. The band is also on Twitter from over here and see when they'll be making their way through the Boston area with a concert appearance. Their latest album titled "Call Your Friends" came out last month, and is now available for free streaming and download from their Bandcamp site located right here.

Artist Spotlight: Pretty Lights

Starting off your scorching hot Thursday with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we cool off and head over to Denver, CO where we encounter the groove inflected sounds of Pretty Lights. Pretty Lights is the brainchild of Derek Vincent Smith, and the music is pure electro infused bliss with indelible beats that you can't help but to dance to, and the unmatched musicality from Derek shows you what you've been missing all this time. I must admit I'm a little late to the Pretty Lights party as I've heard of him for quite some time, but never had the opportunity to check out his music until now and I'm so glad that I did because it shows the bare bones essence of electronic music with some hip-hop and soul influences thrown in for good measure to balance out all the goodness that is emanating so strongly from his music. A terrific act that is definitely worthy of additional exposure here on the blog. Some recommended tracks for you to discover include "Color of My Soul" and "Press Pause".

For more information on Pretty Lights, head on over to his Facebook page located here and find out what you've been missing musically all this time. He is available to be followed on Twitter from over here and see when he'll be making his way towards your hometown sometime soon. Visit his official website right here for more wide ranging info pertaining to him, and you can also download all his music for free from that location as well. You can also donate if you wish to keep his spirit of making awesome music alive.

Late In The Playoffs - Alive And On Your Own

Chicago, IL's own Late In The Playoffs have landed on the scene with their debut release titled Alive And On Your Own. The first effort from these rockers features a dynamic and diverse collection of tunes that really speaks to mind the immense talent and breadth of maturity that these guys are capable of displaying both on record and on stage.

We start things off here with "Golden Years" a blasting, incredible slice of heaven with insightful guitar riffs and inviting lead vocals brought to you by Aaron Goldschmidt that starts things off on the right note and gives us great vibes as we anticipate eagerly the rest of the album to follow. "Never Wrong" is an indelible, exhilarating track that best encapsulates Aaron's lead vocals, and shows off the musicality of everyone involved as the rest of the album takes shape to a wonderful delight. "You Won't" is a track that evokes the carefree nature of the summertime with soaring melodies and incredible guitar licks that really makes you proud to be in the presence of such gifted and talented musicians who know firsthand how to illicit the attention of their audience with such laserlike precision. My favorite track off the album is "Hope", an acoustic based track that really hits you in the face the moment you first hear it with Aaron's terrific vocal abilities once again providing the backdrop to an all out incredible track that is the highlight of a knockout album heard here so far.

The second half of the disc takes shape with "Living Proof" an intense, captivating rocker that grabs at you from a lyrical standpoint, with the instrumentation at hand providing the perfect accompaniment to an all around excellent track to listen to from front to back. The disc starts to draw to a close on "You and The Cold", a toned down, laid back rocker that begins to wrap things up on a well rounded and diverse collection of tunes heard so far. The disc ultimately draws to a close on "Chemical", a steady and building rocker that manages to bring in all the diverse musical elements heard to this point, and presents to us an encapsulated synopsis of the album as a whole and what we've encountered in our journey to the end. What I enjoyed most about this album was the carefree and dynamic nature of the album that really got me all shook up the moment I first laid ears on this album, and was immediately captivated of the sheer musical knowledge amassed by these four talented musicians and coupled that with the fact that the album was recorded right here in Danvers, MA shows the local connection of this album and really gravitates me towards these guys in a big way.

To sum it all up, an outstanding and riveting album from Late In The Playoffs, who have brought with them an cohesive and straightforward collection of tunes that is the bare bones essence of what true, honest musicianship both feels and sounds like. Highly recommended and one of the best albums of the year so far.

                                                                                                                       Album Score: 5/5

Track Listing:

1. Golden Years
2. Never Wrong
3. The Wayside
4. You Won't
5. Hope
6. Force of Nature
7. Living Proof
8. My Sober Self
9. You and the Cold
10. Chemical

Last One Out Release Behind The Scenes Documentary of "Still Life Moves" EP

Providence, RI's own Last One Out have just released a behind the scenes documentary detailing the creation of their latest EP titled "Still Life Moves". The 12 minute film takes us in the studio with candid interviews from the members of the band chronicling the mixing and mastering process of the album, plus behind the scenes footage of the guys just having fun and being themselves in this very up close and personal doc that showcases what goes on behind the scenes in the comfort and environment of a recording studio.

For more information on Last One Out, 'Like' them on Facebook here and check out "Still Life Moves" from their Bandcamp site located right over here.

Interview w/ Maycomb

Proud to bring you another edition of my ever expanding interview series! Today, we head across the pond to Wolverhampton, England and in the confines of Maycomb, one of the most promising British bands I've had the pleasure of coming across. I reviewed their most recent album "I Opened My Heart to Caustic Things" here on the blog back in December of last year, and they have really left an indelible impression on me with their infectious hooks and insatiable melodies really making me appreciate the breadth of talent emanating from England. I just had the pleasure to conduct a thorough interview with them that takes us a little deeper inside their creative process, and a little more about these lovely lads. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and roles in the band?

My name’s Jonny Ward and I play guitar and sing backing vocals in Maycomb. Simon McCoy is our bassist and lead vocalist, Jack Owen shares guitar and backing duties, and Jimmy Taylor plays the drums. That’s us.

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

Jimmy and I both grew up in Wolverhampton, in the heart of the UK’s West Midlands, and met one another through attending local shows and playing in local bands. It wasn’t too long before we ended up playing in a band together.

Soon after that we met Simon, who was studying at Wolverhampton University. Simon originally started playing bass for our old band, long before we realised that he was a great vocalist, and when that band eventually fell apart Jimmy, Simon and I decided to start something fresh, with Simon singing.

We went through a ton of line-up changes before we managed to convince Jack to join us as our permanent fourth member. Jack was somewhat of a local hero to us, having previously played in bands we greatly admired, so we couldn’t believe our luck when he decided to be a part of Maycomb.

How did the name Maycomb originate?

Maycomb is the name of the fictional town in which Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is set. Jimmy was reading it at the time that we were trying to come up with a name and it was one of the few suggestions that we all liked so we went with it. It isn’t a commonplace word and it has a bit of history, which I really like, but at the same time it’s chronically prone to mispronunciation. We’ve seen a lot of wild spellings of it in our time as a band.

Describe your music to those who aren't familiar with you guys?

We like to describe ourselves as pop-punk for grown-ups. Pop-punk is the place where all of our musical interests meet, so it’s very natural that anything we write together has roots in the genre. That said, we try to push the boundaries of pop-punk and enjoy experimenting with its conventions. Lyrically, we tend to deal with darker themes than genre normally allows for, and we feel that as a result we generate a mature and refined sound. It’s cool when kids are into it, but it’s also cool that it can be appreciated by an older audience.

What inspired you guys to get involved in playing music?

I can’t speak for the rest of the guys in the band, but I’ve been surrounded by music for my whole life. 75% of my family members are musicians so naturally I tried to rebel against it in my early teens, but it wasn’t long before I was begging my dad to teach me to play. I’m sure the others have similar stories, but I can say that I was lucky enough to have been inspired and encouraged to write, record, and perform music from an early age. I appreciate that not everyone gets that opportunity.

What artists played a big role in your sound and have shaped you into the people you are now?

I think it’s overwhelming any time someone mentions our name in the same breath as Motion City Soundtrack. Individually, we all love that band so much; the way they structure songs, the lyrics and melodies they compose, and the way the speak so passionately about the music they make. They’re a huge inspiration to us and the music we make, and it’s humbling any time that’s recognised.
We each take inspiration from so many different sources (I know Jimmy’s family has a penchant for soul music that helped to shape his tastes), but personally, I wouldn’t be who I am today without people like Paul Simon, Joe Strummer, Morrissey, Peter Green and Van Morrison. My dad has a lot to answer for.

Take us behind the recording process of "I Opened My Heart to Caustic Things" and what that whole experience was like?

Recording the album was a really fun, interesting experience. It was the most ambitious project we’d ever attempted and it got pretty intense, with time constraints constantly looming over us. We knew we wanted to do a full-length, and we spent so long meticulously writing, demoing, and practicing the songs, that when it came time to go down to London for two weeks to record with our friend Frankie Torpey, we knew them inside-out.

Recording was fairly straight forward, as once we’d got the right tones and sounds that we felt most accurately conveyed the mood of the album, it was just a case of laying everything down to the best of our ability. With the exception of a few effects and dynamics, there wasn’t a great deal of experimentation. This is something that we would probably like to have a bit more time for when we get around to doing our next record, but for our debut album it was an efficient and honest way to record. It was a lot of fun, and I’d say we’re all happy with the outcome.

What do you guys like to do for fun in your spare time when not making music or playing shows?

We’re all pretty big on movies and TV. Each of us tends to have different passions in sports, or games, or books, but we spend most of our down time watching and discussing shows and films together. Also, beers.

What's coming up next for you guys, any new music or shows in the U.S. that we should know about?

We have no immediate plans to get over to the U.S., though it’s something we’re pretty desperate to do. It’s such a fascinating country, so to be able to do what we love doing over there, and seeing it through the perspective of the band, would be truly amazing. It’s definitely high on our to-do-list.
Other than that we’ve been quietly piecing together demos for our next record, which is a painfully slow process. We’re approaching the writing a little differently – more organically – than we did with the last record, so it’s really interesting to start to hear the results. We’re a long way off, but it’s exciting nonetheless.

Unfortunately, I’ve broken my hand so I’m out of action for a couple of months. Hopefully it won’t slow writing down too much more.

Lastly, why do you think people should listen to your music?

We’re humbled whenever anyone listens to our music. There are so many bands around at the moment that it’s amazing that people choose to listen to us. We work hard to try and make music that feels real and honest to us. We have no pretentions, and as long as we feel that we’re representing ourselves truthfully, then we’re happy. If anyone chooses to listen to us after that then we’re truly grateful. Thank you.

Thanks once again to Jonny and the chaps in Maycomb for being so humble and gracious to do this interview. I always have a soft spot for the music scene in England and am constantly humbled and enthralled by the depth of talent that is constantly being churned out and is a place that I'm destined to visit sometime soon, I'm that much in love with the country. For more information on Maycomb, 'Like' them on Facebook here, follow them on Twitter here, and check out "I Opened My Heart To Caustic Things" on their Bandcamp site right here.

Artist Spotlight: Foreign Tongues

Starting off this Tuesday with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we come across a band that is composed of members residing in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts called Foreign Tongues. The band's music is a mixture of dynamic instrumental arrangements composed within shifting time signatures that makes the band an original and one that's not afraid to dabble in different genres to present a full featured band with immense musical capabilities. I came across these guys randomly while surfing the Internet, and I was impressed with the manner in which they conducted themselves musically and how they constructed each song singularly, with each individual musician contributing a great deal to the overall success of each song on the EP. It can be totally construed as an individual effort from each band member involved, not just a group effort. A terrific local band definitely worthy of your listening time. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Winter Sun" and "Origami".

For more information on Foreign Tongues, head on over to their Facebook page located here and 'Like' them so that you can get the latest stream of updates directly from the band. Follow the guys on Twitter here so that you can be in the know of when the band will be performing in the Boston area again sometime soon. The band's latest EP titled "Glue" is now available for free streaming via their Bandcamp page located here for your listening pleasure.  

Wise Girl Release Debut Single "Stuck In This"

NYC's own Wise Girl have released their debut single "Stuck In This", off their forthcoming debut album. The manner in which the single is being released to fans is markedly different than the traditional means. The band is giving away the single for free, as long as the fans promise to spread word of mouth for advertising on Facebook and Twitter by mentioning the upcoming album with the hash tag #LoveNotMoney. This is a intriguing method of releasing new music to consumers, and I think it's a method that will definitely catch on in the future as other acts will be sure to employ similar means in getting their music quickly out to the general public.

The debut album is titled, "You'll Just Have To Wait" which will be out on September 10th. For more information on Wise Girl, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter from this location here. Visit their official website here for more wide ranging info pertaining to the band.

Bear Language Release Music Video For "Meet Me Outside"

Boston's own Bear Language have just released their brand new music video for "Meet Me Outside" earlier today. The video made it's debut on Diffuser.fm and was helmed by Nicolas Pesce and the clip features the band's signature Radiohead leaning influences combined with hard hitting guitar riffs providing the soundtrack for the short film, which almost feels like you're seeing a montage of clips from a horror movie. You may remember the teaser trailer for the vid that I posted last week, and seeing this clip in full really helps you connect the pieces and clear up the aura of mystery from the preview that left alot more questions as to what was actually going on in the video.

Check out the video above and check out Bear Language's new album Rememory, now available on iTunes and Spotify among digital music retail outlets.

Interview w/ That Racket

Starting off the waning days of summer with another entry in my ever growing interview series! Today, we check in with Andover, MA's own local upstarts That Racket. You may remember them as an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog a few months ago, and they have enjoyed a terrific summer playing various Battle of the Bands festivals in and around the North Shore area, playing their unique blend of fast paced rock tunes to an anxious and frenetic crowd. Drummer Matt Giolito was gracious enough to devote some time for a quick chat so that you can get to know the guys a little better and discover what they're all about if you're not familiar with them. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and roles in the band?

Daniel Short is the Vocalist, Matt Giolito is the drummer, Guy Landerson is our bassist, and Alex Mazzarese is our guitarist.

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

The band was initially formed by myself, Gabe Medina, and Daniel Short. The band has gone through several guitarists and bassists in the past year.

How did the name That Racket originate?

Frontman Daniel Short came up with the name and we've been lovin' it ever since.

Describe the sound of the group to those who aren't familiar with you guys?

We play rock n' roll and punk and put freaky rhythmic gyrations in your ears.

What artists do you think are most comprised within your music and have had a great influence on you?

Our influences include Nirvana, FIDLAR, White Stripes, The Black Lips, Electric Six, and Led Zeppelin, we each have different backgrounds musically.

Describe the nature and energy of your live shows, how did that originate and develop over time?

Daniel is an incredibly energetic frontman.

What are some of your favorite songs that you've written together as a band?

Out of the songs we have written together, we really like "Lemonade".

What do you guys like to do for fun in your spare time away from making and playing music?

In our spare time we like to eat spaghetti, cuddle, and break-dance.

What's coming up next for you guys, any more shows or new music that we can expect to hear soon?

We're still in the middle of a heavily stocked summer tour that keeps us on our toes, but besides that we also have some high quality recording coming soon!

Thanks once again to Matt for taking some time out to do this interview! I got the opportunity to see them live at The Middle East Upstairs a couple of months back, and they have a fantastic stage presence that needs to be seen to be believed. The guys are just getting their feet wet in the music scene, and they have the potential to be even better in the days ahead. For more info on the guys, head on over to their Facebook page and 'Like' it here, follow them on Twitter here, and check out their official website here.

Artist Spotlight: Scan The Sky

Wrapping up the week and cruising into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head out to the western part of the state to Dudley, MA and into the sounds of Scan The Sky. The band consists of Cody Peck on lead vocals, David Carlin on bass and backup vocals, and Josh Noel on drums and backup vocals. The band has a upbeat, intricate playing style that has a certain calm and ambiance to it that is very comforting and soothing to hear and is a great departure from the other types of music currently out there today. I was impressed with the band's simple and straightforward dynamic that is very eloquently put on display here, and the band also has the ability to dabble in different tempos that provides a good variety for the listener and allows the band to accomplish a great deal musically in the long run. A great local band deserving of some additional exposure here on the blog. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Mending The Sea" (featuring Christian Holden of The Hotel Year, a former Artist Spotlight feature) and "Revival".

For more information on Scan The Sky, head on over to their Facebook page located here and discover what the band have prepared for you musically. You can follow the band on Twitter from this location here and see when the band will be performing in the Boston area again in the near future. Their latest album "Dear Hope" is now available for free streaming and on a name your own price scale on their Bandcamp page located here and see what they're all about.

Artist Spotlight: Born Without Bones

We're taking it to the streets with another brand new edition of Artist Spotlight for you today! We're going to head out on an adventure to Milford, MA and find the sounds of Born Without Bones. The group consists of Scott Ayotte on guitar and lead vocals, Jonathan Brucato on guitar, Jim Creighton on bass, and Burton Wright on drums. The band's music is a clever and inventive blend of indie-rock rhythms nestled upon a strong melodic framework that makes the band stand out prominently the moment you first hear them. I was blown away when I first heard "Rough Terrain", and really appreciated the band's dynamic of starting out with a slow acoustic based melody, before pumping up the energy and velocity to 11 with a blasting, guitar fueled opus that soared straight into the sky and featured terrific instrumental breakdowns from everyone involved to create a mesmerizing and breakthrough track heard here. It's great to find undiscovered bands who dabble in a wide variety of genres that will make them go a long way in their careers, and these guys definitely have a promising future laying ahead for them based on what I've heard. Some terrific tracks for you to check out from them include the aforementioned "Rough Terrain" and "Suffice".

For more information on Born Without Bones, head on over to their Facebook page located here and find out everything that there is to know about the guys. You can follow the guys on Twitter from this location here and find out when the guys will be stopping by the Boston area with a concert appearance sometime soon. Visit their official website right here for more wide ranging information pertaining to the band, and visit their Bandcamp page over here where you can listen to their latest album "Baby", and purchase it on a name your own price scale.