Artist Spotlight: Light Years

Starting off the week right with another brand new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head down to the Buckeye State and travel to Cleveland, OH where we come into contact with Light Years. The band consists of Pat Kennedy, Tommy Englert, Andrew Foerst, and Kent Sliney. The band has an intense, jarring pop-punk sound similar to that of The Early November and Finch with a strong lyrical base to it and intense, guitar installments designed to get you out of your seat and into the thick of things right away with a fast moving pace set in motion that you will definitely be enthralled by. I came across these guys randomly while seeing their performance video on Audiotree, and I was enthralled with their musical presence that really said alot about the group and what they hoped to accomplish musically going forward. A terrific upstart band that is deserving of your attention right away. Some tracks for you to listen to include "Uphill Battles" and "Parking Lots".

For more information on Light Years, 'Like' them on Facebook right here and see what they're like from a musical perspective. The band can be followed on Twitter as well over here and find out when the band will be stopping by your area sometime soon with a concert appearance. Their latest effort, "I Won't Hold It Against You" is now available for free streaming via their Bandcamp site located here for your listening enjoyment.

DK Wins MuzicNotez Rap Battle

Russian rapper DK has won the MuzicNotez Rap portion of the Battle of the Bands contest. It was a hard fought battle through and through, but DK emerged as the favorite on top and has advanced to move on to the next round of the contest. There will be one more genre battle, and then a wild card battle where the 4 battle winners will duke it all out for the championship. DK joins Japanese band LOKA as one of the finalists for the championship battle that will be taking place relatively soon, stay tuned here to the site for further details.

Artist Spotlight: Osaka Street Cutter

Heading into the long Columbus Day weekend with a brand new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we stay true to our roots here in Boston and check in with a emerging player in the game by the name of Osaka Street Cutter. The band consists of Adrian Aiello on guitar and vocals, John Godfrey on keys, bass, and vocals, Dan Garrity on guitar, bass, keys, sax, and vocals, Adam Salameh on drums and percussion, and Evan Spetrini on trombone and vocals. The music is a polished, electro aided pulse wave guided by a bevy of upbeat, dreamy instrumentation that reels you in with dashing guitar riffs and a strong vocal refrain that puts you in awe the very moment you first them, and leaves you spellbound by the time the music has concluded. I was impressed with the wealth of diversity emanating from these guys, and they definitely have a playful, charming, and enthusiastic vibe to them that I fell head over heels for and they have definitely pushed their way to the front of the line in the Beantown music scene, and they definitely have a bright future ahead of them as far as I'm concerned. Some tracks for you to check out from them include the indelible "Noisy Stabber".

For more information on the guys in Osaka Street Cutter, check out their Facebook page here and 'Like' it as well so that you can stay within the well of a constant stream of updates emanating directly from the band. You can follow the guys on Twitter as well from right here and find out when the guys will be playing in the greater Boston area again sometime soon. Visit their official website here for more in depth information concerning the gentlemen, and all their music is available for free streaming on their Bandcamp site right over here for your listening pleasure.

MusicBoxPete Presents: Towering Over London To Be Released Next Month!

Proud to announce the forthcoming release of "MusicBoxPete Presents: Towering Over London", the follow up to "Artist Spotlight: Vol.1" that came out in April. For this compilation, we head across the pond to London and discover all the lovely British bands that are making serious noise over there, and are starting to wash up on the musical shores of American audiences as well. I'm pretty excited to release this compilation, as I've always been fond of England and all the things they have to offer, from James Bond to Yorkshire Tea (my obsession as of late), this country is a culturally diverse and musically rich country with bands that have some distinct similarities to our own, and have the highest level of talent and sheer musical quality that is unmatched with any other country on earth.

If you're a band currently residing in the U.K. and would like to have your material submitted in consideration for the album, please send me an e-mail at: musicboxpete@gmail.com and I'll gladly look over all submissions and take them under advisement for the final release. Stay tuned to the site for forthcoming details of the album, including a track listing and release date.

Artist Spotlight: Grandview

Almost ready to close out the week with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head over to Burlington, MA and come across the dynamic sounds of Grandview. The band consists of Lu-lu on guitar, Billy on lead vocals and guitar, Tom on drums, Josh on guitar and backup vocals, and Mike on bass. The band's sound is a cross hybrid between Brand New and The Early November with a strong emphasis put on melody and affecting the listener in a deep and emotional way, which is the overall point of music in general. I stumbled across these guys randomly while surfing the Net, and I found something striking about the band that I haven't seen done on a grand scale in quite some time, an ability to strike an emotional chord with the listener that has a somewhat awakening effect on them that allows one to find out more about themselves and where they go from here on out. A terrific undiscovered band that deserves to bubble up to the top in the scene. Some tracks for you to check out from the guys include "Concrete" and "Pillars".

For more information on Grandview, head on over to their Facebook page right here and stay connected with a steady stream of updates including tour dates and a new EP from the guys which is expected to be released sometime later on in the fall. Check out their music available on their Tumblr site here which is undergoing some remodeling at this very moment, but you can find the music there and all that they have to offer you musically.

Helicopria - SuperGeist

Boston's own Helicopria are back with their all new studio release titled Supergeist. The follow up to last year's Chaos of Closure sees the group continuing to adhere to their unique blend of progressive rock that has made them a must see attraction locally, and have a strong musical presence both on record and in concert that makes them unique among the plethora of local acts.

We start things off with "Red" a blasting, indelible slice of prog-rock heaven with the dazzling vocals of lead singer Allison French providing the energy that immediately jumps to 11 here with a non stop thrill ride of blasting guitar riffs brought forth by the enchanting Sulene Van der Walt that makes this track a joy to listen to through and through. "Worm" starts off with a outstanding drum blast from JP Bouvet that features a bevy of distortion pedals and seductive bass licks from Drew Moore that are the band's hallmark and give them an identity that fans and newcomers can easily relate to and keep them occupied and coming back for more each and every time. "Kit's Song" begins to conclude our stay here with a decidedly downtempo feel that is noticeably different from the other tracks, but works particularly well here and hints at the band's musical diversity that can be felt in full force right here. The disc concludes with my favorite song off the record "Scarecrow" a distorted, jumbled hot mess with an assortment of guitar riffs and Allison's vocals adding a great deal of beauty and intrigue to the album and wrapping things up on a song that accurately represents the band's sound, and what they're all about as well. I had the opportunity to check these guys out in concert last year at Cafe 939 right near Berklee College of Music, and I was immediately floored with their live show which had so much kinetic energy that it was hard to keep up at times, but it didn't matter as the show was spectacular and fully represented the band's distinct and individual personalities that really jump off the page, with Sulene's red hair channeling Hayley Williams of Paramore but with her own badass persona, and the scantily clad bassist Drew usually seen carrying a big green "D" around his neck that just adds to the band's mystique and aura and whose enthusiasm is building as I'm talking to you at this very moment.

In closing, a well implemented and launched effort from Helicopria, a band that is on a mission to take the city by storm and expose their sound to a whole new group of willing and devoted music fans, and have a special unique chemistry that shines through brightly on display.

                                                                                                                          EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Red
2. Worm
3. Kit's Song
4. Scarecrow

Note: The artwork for the album features 4 colorful portraits of each band member presented in vivid color. To view it along with the rest of the album, head on over to their Bandcamp site located right over here.

Artist Spotlight: 3MF

Starting off your week with a brand new edition of my ever popular Artist Spotlight series! Today, we head out to the western portion of the state and head to Northborough, MA and seek out the sounds of our own 3MF (which stands for Third Man Factor.) The band consists of Jake Shea on lead vocals and guitar, Luke Tobin on guitar and vocals, Riley Feeney on bass, Kyle Champeon on saxophone, and James Massucco on drums. The band has a high energy jam band style similar to that of Grateful Dead but mixed in with a little classic rock influence a la Allman Brothers Band that gives the group a stamp of originality and makes them stand out from among the pack of the other local artists currently trying to make it out there in the scene today. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these guys as they had a fun, eclectic playing style that kept me totally enthused all the way throughout, and Kyle's saxophone skills add a great deal of enjoyment and excitability to a band that clearly have a great deal of fun playing together. A terrific local band definitely worthy of your listening time. Some tracks for you to check out from them include "Jack & Jill" and "Fool's Gold".

For more information on the boys in 3MF, head on over to their Facebook page located here and find what you've been missing all this time. The band is on Twitter from this site here and get in touch with the guys to see when they'll be playing in your hometown in the not too distant future. Visit their official website over here for more in depth information concerning the fellows, and check out their debut release "So The Story Goes..." now available for download on iTunes at this link over here.

The Masquerade - Home Is Where You Make It

Erie, PA's own The Masquerade have landed with their debut release titled Home Is Where You Make It. The effort is a effervescent and refreshing slice of pop-punk rhythms mixed upon a unifying lyrical structure that makes the songs pop and sizzle right out of the gate, and brings you right into the thick of things with this emerging band from the Keystone State.

We start things off with "Best Day Of My Life" a hard-rocking, sharply focused rocker that ushers us in right away with the echoing lead vocals of Geo Martinez providing the spark plug that lasts well throughout the duration of the album and long after the song has ended. "Best Day Of My Life" is my favorite song off the album that has a youthful energy to it and a sonic cavalcade that really evokes the spirit and essence of what their music is all about, coupled with dazzling guitar riffs from Brandon Eaton and TJ Hess, with Dakota Valerio providing the pounding drums that accentuate all the other sounds particularly well on this track. "Back Up Plan" has a New Found Glory type of feel to it with intense rhythms and blasting pop-punk wavelengths omnipresent at every turn that showcase a well focused and executed effort worked here to perfection so far. "Set Your Mind To It" begins to close it all out here with a Geo's vocals providing a ping-pong effect that can be felt all over the track and shakes the track down to its very core and provides some good vibes as we move towards the final song. "All My Life" ends it here with an encapsulated track that takes us back to the sounds we've heard in some capacity on the subsequent tracks, and gives us a brief overview of what we've heard so far and how it has affected us as a whole as things close out on point right here. What I enjoyed most about these guys was their ability to keep a simple musical framework in place with pop-punk rhythms that I grew up on and contributed a great deal to the person I am today. These guys have a very simplistic sound that can be enjoyed easily from today's youth, and maybe it can have the same kind of impact on them that the groups of yesteryear had on me.

All in all, a terrific and straightforward effort from The Masquerade, a rookie band to the scene that has the look and feel of a polished pop-punk act that has been doing it for years with a calm and confident stage presence that really turns heads here.

                                                                                                                              EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. The Weekend
2. Best Day Of My Life
3. Back Up Plan
4. Set Your Mind To It
5. All My Life

The Music Tastes of Red Sox Players

With the Boston Red Sox taking on the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon in Game 1 of the ALDS, I thought it would be a good idea to delve into the music tastes of some of the guys on the team. With all the guys carrying on different personalities mostly emanated with their extraordinary facial hair, each player also has their own unique taste in music that you can hear when walking up to the plate at Fenway Park. I've compiled a list of some players and their walkup song that totally evokes their personality and what they seek out to do when they're up at the plate. Here is a list of some selected players and their choice of walk up music:

Clay Buchholz: Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe

This song from the Canadian bred band is a perfect expression of Clay's personality while out on the mound. With his mop of wet hair, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with on the mound and this song is a perfect description of his pitching style.

Daniel Nava: Andy Mineo - The Saints

The slick fielding left fielder brings some Christian hip hop into the mix that shows off his laid back personality and brings a little bit of diversity into the mix here. Noticeably, he is one of the few players on the team who doesn't sport a beard, but that's quite alright with him and this song shows off his clean cut style eloquently.

David Ortiz: Jay-Z f/ Rick Ross - Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit

This intense hip-hop track from one of the best designated hitters to play the game best describes his aggressive and ferocious nature when he comes to the plate. Bound to hit the ball out of Fenway at any given time, this song puts opposing pitchers on notice and makes them shiver in their shoes with this nerve rattling track here.

Dustin Pedroia: Ice Cube - No Vasoline

The scrappy second basemen also is pretty into hip-hop with this blazing track right here that perfectly exemplifies his underdog nature who will foul off pitches continuously until he finds the one he likes and makes you pay for it dearly.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris

This recent hip-hop track from 2 hip hop legends is the perfect accompaniment to our enigmatic base stealer. With ferocious rhythms and non-stop beats, this track ensures that our center fielder is right at the top of his game and moving to the beat of every pitch here.

Jake Peavy: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Dixie/Sweet Home Alabama (Live)

The live version of this classic track from the southern rock pioneers ensures that our recent midseason trade acquisition feels comfortable with his Southern roots as he makes opposing hitters look foolish with his spot on delivery.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Blake Shelton f/ Pistol Annies & Friends - Boys Round Here

Another country boy who is down with his roots is our own power hitting catcher. With an indelible hock of moss adorning his head along with a sensational beard to match, this song helps our catcher keep his mind on the game.

Jonny Gomes: Dropkick Murphys - The Boys Are Back

Old ironsides and his marvelous beard are kept happy with this track from the Boston born and bred act. With an intense and dynamic sound that is much like himself, this track lets opposing teams know what he is all about.

Koji Uehara: Darude - Sandstorm

This classic dance track for our elite closer ensures that the ninth inning is in good hands, and is bound to be enjoyed amid an endless sea of high fives when the Sox pull through with a hard fought victory.

Mike Carp: Sublime - Badfish

This track from the Long Beach bred band is also home to our freshwater beard styled first baseman/left fielder. The track gives him a much needed confidence boost when up at the plate, and is heavily depended upon to get that extra run in the clutch.

Mike Napoli: Daft Punk f/ Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky

This track from my personal favorite Red Sox player out of the bunch ensures that he is loose and limber while at the plate. With an epic beard that deserves to be tugged on after hitting that walk off home run, he is bound to get lucky afterwards.

Shane Victorino: Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

This classic reggae track from our wide ranging right fielder ensures that he is always chirping while up at the plate, while providing some humorous and entertaining antics that show why he is one of the most versatile and fun loving players on the team.

Stephen Drew: Brooks & Dunn - Hillbilly Deluxe

This country tinged tune from one of the few players not joining the beard club, ensures that his smooth hitting and clutch base stealing come in handy when depended upon in clutch situations.

Will Middlebrooks: Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Flood

This classic track is perfectly designed for our third baseman, and has that certain tone and feel for it that ensures that balls hit in his general direction are caught up in his mitt that creates an instant tidal wave of excitement.

Artist Spotlight: Last One Out

Got another edition of Artist Spotlight ready for you today! We're going to head down to Providence, Rhode Island and uncover the sensational sounds of Last One Out. The band consists of Scott Royal on vocals and keys, Scott Mesite on guitar, Jeff Gahan on bass, and Dustin Bailey on drums. The band's music is a unique and dynamic blend of rock rhythms conjured upon an indie pop mindset that is refreshing and a nice change of pace from the other types of music you're currently being exposed to right now. I had the opportunity to check them out in concert a couple of weeks ago at The Middle East Upstairs, and they completely blew me away with their unbridled enthusiasm that they so eloquently displayed on stage that left me clamoring for more and in amazement of the sheer power of their performance. They are definitely a band to be reckoned with, and one that are slowly making their way through the upper echelons of the Boston music scene and are destined for greater success coming up just around the bend. Some tracks for you to unearth from the gentlemen include "The Cavalry" and "Like A Crown".

For more information on Last One Out, 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 everything going on in their world. You can follow them on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be stopping by your area again with a concert appearance. Visit their official website here for more wide ranging info pertaining to the band, and check out their latest EP "Still Life Moves" now available for download on iTunes at this link here for your musical enjoyment.

Top 10 Albums of 2003

We take a trip down memory lane today with a look back at some albums that were released in 2003. This list features alot of albums that I have fond memories of, especially in the summer after I graduated high school and these albums have contributed a great deal to my current musical taste, and have enabled me to explore other genres and bands as a result of listening to these following 10 classic albums. Here is the list in no particular order by rank:

Brand New - Deja Entendu

Long Island, New York's Brand New cemented their status as one of the premiere emo-punk bands of my generation with this classic effort. This was one of the first albums I listened to where I didn't skip a single track in between and listened to the entire thing straight through. An absolutely flawless album from start to finish featuring such awesome tracks such as "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows", "Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades" and "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light". Frontman Jesse Lacey is at the top of his game here with haunting vocals reeking of despair and presenting a new facet of the band that hadn't been uncovered up until this point, and allowed them to evolve and gravitate towards other sounds that they hadn't experimented with either. A classic album from beginning to end.

Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar

Chris Carrabba cemented his lyrical reputation with this terrific third effort. The album changed the game for the band, and immediately catapulted them to a level of stardom never seen before. The album went gold on the strength of such classic tracks like the indelible "Hands Down", "Rapid Hope Loss", and "As Lovers Go". Completely raw and honest in terms of lyrical veracity and blasting melodies, the album clearly articulates the band's musical mission that was fully developed and ready to be exposed on a wider scale to a clear and receptive audience out in front.

Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue

Jacksonville, Florida's own Yellowcard officially landed with their sensational fourth studio album. The album immediately turned heads with its introduction of a violin player in the band never done before, but worked to perfection here on tracks like 'Way Away", the title track, "Only One", and "Empty Apartment". Frontman Ryan Key's longing shines through brightly on this effort that totally defined my summer of 2003, and I immediately became obsessed with this band from that point forward and have totally enjoyed seeing the band evolve greatly and mature into a confident and static band appreciated by legions of fans all over the world.

Story of The Year - Page Avenue

From the heart of the midwest in St. Louis, Missouri, Story of The Year made their presence known with their major label debut. The album was a raw and dynamic effort, producing a hard edged rock sound that immediately jolted fans and breathed some diversity into the musical format at that time, producing unbelievable tracks like "Until The Day I Die", "Anthem of Our Dying Day", "Sidewalks" and "Razorblades". This album gave me an immediate blood rush, and was an integral part of my freshman year at college that provided me with so many memories along the way that I'll cherish for some time to come.

Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

Bellingham, Washington's own Death Cab For Cutie gained legions of fans with their fourth studio album. The album became a centerpiece for contemporary indie rock, and was a favorite of Seth Cohen's from The O.C. that completely transcended boundaries, and presented a vivid and detailed lyrical perspective from frontman Ben Gibbard that is very autobiographical in nature, and was eloquently presented in tracks such as "The Sound of Settling" "Title and Registration" and "The New Year". An album that completely jump started my love for indie rock, and allowed me to look at music a little bit deeper within the melodies and lyrics.

Thrice - The Artist In The Ambulance

Irvine, California's Thrice officially hit it big with their outstanding third album. The effort was a raw and realistic effort that delved into the more technical side of the band with complex time signatures and melodic hardcore breakdowns that have become their hallmark for quite some time, and gained a  huge legion of fans (myself included) with this cathartic release. Some standout tracks from this release include "All That's Left", "Stare at The Sun", "Paper Tigers", and "The Melting Point of Wax". While they're currently on hiatus, I anxiously anticipate their return with baited breath and hope they continue their musical mission that they set on with this album.

Thursday - War All The Time

East Brunswick, New Jersey's Thursday broke on through with their third studio album here. The effort followed up the previous year's fantastic Full Collapse, but this effort cut right to the core with a honest and reflective set of poetic blasts that created the basic foundation of their fanbase, and immediately sprang them to life with a collection of blasting and emotionally charged tracks, such as "Signals In The Air", "For The Workforce, Drowning", "Division St." and "Asleep In The Chapel". A terrific start from a band who got their start performing in basement shows in NJ, and showed their devotion to their home state with this incredible collection of compositions.

The Early November - The Room's Too Cold

Another band hailing from the Garden State, The Early November brought their blend of emo-punk to the masses with their debut full length, The Room's Too Cold. The effort brought frontman Ace Enders and Co. to the forefront with a honest and heartfelt collection of tunes that really presents the bare bones essence of what music is all about and really left an impression on me that just made me stand there with awe and see their musical presence unfold right before my eyes. Some tracks that really stand out on this one include "Ever So Sweet", "Something That Produces Results", "My Sleep Pattern Changed", and "Everything's Too Cold...But You're So Hot". An outstanding collection from a band that wasn't as well known from their peers in the scene, but contributed a great deal of musical gifts to the masses with this one.

The Postal Service - Give Up

A side project of Death Cab's Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service made a hell of a first impression with their debut, Give Up. The effort coupled the worlds of indie and electronic into a brand new genre called indietronica and completely transformed the musical landscape into a sea of shifting rhythms and harmonies that were unlike anything currently out there in the world of music at that time. It created a whole new genre of sorts, and immediately threw out the musical rulebook in the process where you didn't need to abide by any rules or regulations when creating these out of this world jams. Some standout tracks from this collection include "Such Great Heights", "We Will Become Silhouettes", and "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight". A terrific collection from an act that was their only studio effort to date, and changed the musical landscape as we know it.

The White Stripes - Elephant

The fourth studio album from The White Stripes proved they were worth all the buzz generated about the months before this release came out. A thorough and exhilarating collection of tracks that completely defined the style of early '00's alternative rock, and made them lauded and respected in multiple circles and gave a whole new meaning to the framework of garage rock that was all over the musical world at that time. An incredible collection of tracks including "Seven Nation Army", "The Hardest Button to Button", and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself". An outstanding album that really started my love of garage rock, and gave me a whole set of musical notes to whet my musical appetite.

The Assembly Line - The Places We Leave Behind

Brooklyn's own The Assembly Line have released their latest EP titled The Places We Leave Behind. The effort is a rich and dynamic effort of straight forward rock rhythms mixed in with a sincere and upfront lyrical mindset that makes the band unique among their other contemporaries within the same genre.

We start things off with "Tonight (There's Only Us)", a downtempo, low key track that eloquently shows off the band's style and what they can bring to the musical table. Lead singer Thornfin Nguyen contributes a great deal to the band's musicality and sophistication that you can see and hear moving forward. "The Tide" has a terrific guitar melody brought forth by Chris Potter that represents a more upbeat and dynamic shift in musical tone that shows off a different facet of the band that we haven't experienced up until this point. "Photographs" is my favorite song off the album that features more shifting musical soundscapes and Thornfin's deep vocals contributing a great deal to this song that best evokes the musical qualities that represent this effort as a whole. We start to round things out with "Just Kids", an upbeat slice of pop-rock with a sunny disposition to it that brings about a wealth of diversity to a well rounded out album as we head into the disc's final track. "Empires" closes things out with a hard hitting song that shows off the band's wealth of diversity lying in their catalog, and you can see from the very first tune that there are varying degrees of tempos that strongly indicate the band are capable of handling anything thrown their way, and present it in a format that listeners can easily comprehend. I enjoyed the simplicity and straightforwardness that emanated so strongly from these guys, and I appreciated the way that they presented their musical works to the public without resorting to electronic methods of manipulation that would have otherwise distorted the clear musical assignment that these guys set on from the very beginning.

Overall, a great effort from The Assembly Line, who do things the right way here on an effort that shows their raw musical dexterity and truthfulness lyrically that will serve them well in the long run and make them stand out more from the other upstart bands currently out there today.

                                                                                                                             EP Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Tonight (There's Only Us)
2. The Tide
3. Photographs
4. Just Kids
5. Empires  

Ryan Harris Brown - Wave Goodbye Wave Hello

Nashville, Tennessee's own Ryan Harris Brown is back with his brand new EP titled Wave Goodbye Wave Hello. The follow up to 2011's The Trail EP finds the singer-songwriter in the prime of his comfort zone with an exhilarating collection of tunes that totally evokes the laid back, free wheeling style that he evoked so eloquently on his prior release, and is expressed to a greater degree on this effort here.

"Begin" is a breezy, fun filled tune with Ryan's vocals going together smoothly with the standard issue acoustic guitar melodies that are absolutely outstanding and have a crisp, refreshing dynamic to it that is breathtaking and just gets better and better after repeated listens. "Let It Go Easy" is a more downtempo musical frame of mind with toned down melodies and a more introspective sound that really cuts down to the emotional core that lies at the base of the song, and is represented at various other points throughout the effort, but the main portion of it lies within this well constructed track right here. "Waiting On You" has a country tinged feel to it, which happens to be the basis of how all these songs are written, and has a direct, passionate effect on the listener that will almost be immediately felt upon impact and will definitely have a lasting impression on the listener and one that many will remember the effort by.

The second half of the effort features "Forever Means For Good", my favorite track off the album that is one of the most beautiful, unadulterated tracks that I've heard in quite some time, and really represents the hidden emotional message that is embedded within this album that could be aimed at any particular person, and has that lasting effect that you'll hear and remember where you were while listening to this song, an outstanding song all around from beginning to end. We begin to close things out with "I Don't Love You Anymore" a dark, poignant ballad that shows off Ryan's abilities as a dazzling and confident musician who wears his heart on his sleeve and pours it all out there for everyone to see exactly what he is feeling at this very moment. "The Time That It Takes" ends our journey here with a relaxing and comforting tune that brings in all the musical soundscapes we've heard in succession after one another, and allows us to tie all the loose ends and connect back to where we started from as we map our journey here to the finish line. I was impressed with Ryan's debut EP when I first reviewed it here on the site 2 years ago, and I was amazed with all the skills that he amassed when he went to school here in Boston at Berklee College of Music. He has a clear and firm grasp of the type of music that he wants to play and has all the key components necessary to move forward in this ever changing industry, and I see great things for him moving forward.

In retrospect, an incredible and top notch effort from Ryan Harris Brown, who has created another outstanding effort here that shows a musician in the prime of his burgeoning career that is only getting started, but shows huge signs of promise and flourishing greatly moving forward.

                                                                                                                         EP Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Begin
2. Let It Go Easy
3. Waiting On You
4. Forever Means For Good
5. I Don't Love You Anymore
6. The Time That It Takes  

Artist Spotlight: twenty one pilots

Kicking off the month of October with a brand new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head over to the Buckeye state of Ohio and head over to Columbus to come in contact with the emerging duo known as twenty one pilots. The group mainly consists of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, and their music is a electro tinged blend of alternative rock with a slight pop sensibility that will grab listeners of multiple genres in an effort to have all music lovers converge on one level and come to an equal appreciation and common ground on something that they both can enjoy equally. I had heard alot about these guys in recent weeks, and I finally checked them out to see what the buzz was all about, and they have a strong musical presence to them that will definitely excite fans and generate positive word of mouth about them that is already building and bubbling over at this very moment. A terrific up and coming act already well on their way to stardom. Some tracks for you to discover from them include the first single "Holding On To You" and "Car Radio".

For more information on twenty one pilots, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what they're all about from a musical perspective. They're also on Twitter as well from this location here and find out when they'll be making their way through your hometown soon with a concert appearance. Visit their official website here for more in depth information concerning the duo, and check out their latest album "Vessel" now available on iTunes, Spotify, AmazonMP3, and a slew of other digital music outlets.