The Bynars - X vs. X

Boston's own The Bynars are back with their all new studio effort titled X vs. X. This frenetic and exciting effort from the group is a heavenly concocted slice of dance rock magic coupled with a frenzied enthusiasm that you just can't find anywhere else, and brings about an aura and buzz about the group that is undeniable and easy to enjoy right from the get go.

We start things off right away with my favorite track off the album "Dancing On A Dream", a dance infused, pulsating electro rock delight that sets things abuzz right away and puts you in a carefree state of mind, ready to enjoy whatever comes your way and eloquently showcases the band's musical dynamic right from the start. "Tired Of Hooking Up With You" features more dense synth pop hooks, and the wondrous lead vocals of Matt Jakola continue to bring about the band's musical techniques that are in full display and sounding as marvelous and polished as ever. "I'll Get You Back" features some more noticeable rock rhythms conjured upon an electro lovers paradise that is impossible to ignore and is something that can be appreciated almost instantly even if you don't like dance music that much.

The second half starts off with "Everyone Is Here", a more toned down number than the previous tracks, and presents an exceptional amount of diversity from the group that is unmatched from any other musical outlet currently entrenched in the Boston scene right now. We start to round things out with "Blow", an indelible dance oriented track that has an insatiable groove that you just can't help but to move along to, and appreciate the fact that you're hypnotized by the power of dance. "Give It To Me" closes out our stay here with an ethereal slice of electro aided bliss coupled with a bevy of distorted vocals and beautiful instrumentation that totally encapsulates the musical message that they wanted to write when creating these songs in the studio. I totally enjoyed these guys right from the first note when I heard them, and I really took to heart the musical style and direction they were aiming for. Even though I'm not that much into electronic music, I loved the fact that they combined it with a rock oriented mindset that kept me tuned in all the way throughout and I didn't miss a single beat whatsoever.

Looking back, an outstanding and top notch effort here from The Bynars, who have created something special with this effort that shows off the musical chemistry that they have cooked up together that makes them one of the premiere up and coming acts in the Boston scene that you need to hear right away. Highly recommended!

                                                                                                                                Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Dancing On A Dream
2. Tired of Hooking Up With You (f/ATM)
3. All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun Tonight
4. I'll Get You Back
5. Everyone Is Here
6. Never Gonna Die
7. Blow
8. Give It To Me 

Artist Spotlight: Parlour Bells

Finishing out the final week of October with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we keep it local here in Boston and check in with the dark and melodic sounds of Parlour Bells. The band consists of Goddamn Glenn, Nate Leavitt, Magen Tracy, Brendan Boogie, and Paul Myers. The band is self described as "dusky, darkly romantic lounge pop & art rock" that allows you to dim the lights a bit and experience the ethereal sounds slowly making their way towards you and taking ahold of you by the time the music has concluded. I caught these guys in concert a couple of weeks ago at the post-party for the premiere of the WFNX documentary "We Want The Airwaves", and I was totally impressed with them from the get go. I had heard about them frequently in the scene, but never had the opportunity to check them out in concert until that moment, and I was enthused with what they had to offer musically and Glenn's glammed up look wearing a shimmery sleeveless frock totally evoked the musical style that he was aiming for, and the music has that unspoken creativity and sheer beauty that is noticeably absent from modern music today. A terrific up and coming band in the scene that is definitely worthy of your musical time. Some tracks for you to enjoy from these guys include "Airwaves" and "Bachelor Hours".

For more information on Parlour Bells, you can 'Like' them on Facebook here and see what their their unbridled creativity has yielded. You can follow them on Twitter as well right here and communicate directly with the guys in the band as well. Visit their official website located here for more in depth information pertaining to the group, and also find out when they'll be playing in the Boston area again sometime soon.

Track Listing and Release Date Lined Up For MusicBoxPete Presents: Towering Over London

An update on my forthcoming compilation titled "MusicBoxPete Presents: Towering Over London". I'm happy to announce that the final track listing has been finalized for the disc and that a release date has been firmed up as well. Thanks to all the acts for submitting their material in consideration for review! The response for this has been extraordinary from across the Atlantic and I can't wait to share this compilation with you when it's released exclusively via Bandcamp for free on November 12.

Here is the final track listing for the album:

1. Home Advantage - (The Sands Of) San Lorenzo
2. Nathan Detroit - Hold Me Tight
3. The Bottom Line - Record Player
4. Piper Saint - Abandon Ship
5. Dearist - Get What You Want
6. Rivalries - Built To Last
7. Landmarks - Backpacks And Traintracks
8. Royal Fisticuffs - Pomegrantes
9. Maycomb - Dynamiter
10. Lower Lands - Canvas
11. White Clouds & Gunfire - Bruised Not Broken
12. Midday Committee - Chivalry's Dead Sugar!
13. Boston Manor - All Tight (Euan Cosh)
14. Forrest - Southsea
15. As It Is - Often

For more information on the compilation, head on over to the official MusicBoxPete Bandcamp site right over here and find out everything that there is to know about the disc, and stay tuned here on the site for further updates regarding the release of the compilation.

Artist Spotlight: Kansas Bible Company

Rounding out the week and cruising into the weekend with another installment in my ever growing Artist Spotlight collection! Today, we head to the Midwest to Goshen, IN and check in with the eclectic and inspiring sounds of Kansas Bible Company. The 12 piece band consists of Jake Miller, Michael Ruth, Jeff Yoder, Nathan Morrow, Nate Klink, Luke Yoder, Jacob Yagu Martin, Isaac Lederach, James Green, Jake Snyder, Charles Frederick, and Rafael Chavez. The music is a mixture of upbeat folk built upon a huge assortment of instrumentation that is too numerous to mention here and it's absolutely mind blowing hearing the depth of musicality that shines so brightly from these gentlemen, and really speaks to mind about the volume of the band's musical goal that is in full force here. I was drawn to the group largely because they had so many members, and I was curious to see what each person brought individually and collectively to the recording process, and when heard in its finished form is a true work of art and a testament to their harmonic bliss that they have fortified right here for your listening pleasure. An immensely talented group that is definitely worthy of mentioning right here on the site. Some tracks for you to check out include "Jesus, The Horse Thief" and "Hotel Chicamauga".

For more info on the guys in Kansas Bible Company, head on over to their Facebook page over here and see all the musical shapes and colors right before your very eyes and ears. You can follow the fine gents on Twitter from this location here and find out when they'll be making their way towards the East Coast hopefully sometime soon. Visit their official website here for more in depth information about the fellows, and check out their latest release titled "Hotel Chicamauga", now available for your listening and purchasing enjoyment on their Bandcamp site right here.

Artist Spotlight: Louder Space

Taking it all in with another installment in my Artist Spotlight series! Today, we head out to the West Coast and cruise on over to San Luis Obispo, CA and uncover the sun kissed sounds of Louder Space. The band consists of Chris Kaye on lead vocals, Clayton Daly on guitar, Oren Ben-Joseph on bass, and Philip Tyler on drums. The band's music is a reflective and peaceful blend of reggae based rhythms mixed in with a bit of a funk influence as well to balance everything out for good measure and bring out the melodies that are just yearning to be heard and bubble up to the surface for everyone to enjoy. These guys were nice enough to send me a care package last week containing their CD, some stickers, and an amazing postcard with a handwritten message from Oren which was so nice of him to write and I was enthralled by the good vibes and love emanating so strongly from the band. They also have a local connection to them as the bassist Oren is originally from the MA area and is a die hard Red Sox fan as well, and I totally appreciate the positivity and genuineness of these guys for reaching out to me in such a special way. A terrific upstart band that I'm sending all of my love and respect out in full force. Some tracks for you to check out from these awesome gentlemen include "Jerusalem Tree" and "805".

For more info on the guys in Louder Space, head on over to their Facebook page here and find out everything that there is to know about these amazingly talented and gifted musicians. You can follow them on Twitter as well from this location here and see when they'll be making their way through your hometown sometime soon with a concert performance. Visit their official website right here for more in depth information concerning the band, and all of their music is available to listen at your heart's content over on their Bandcamp site conveniently located here.

The Perms - The Aberdeen EP

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada's own The Perms have arrived with their all new EP titled The Aberdeen. The latest release from our neighbors to the North finds the band continuing to bring their own unique and eclectic blend of electro tinged rock that is reflective of the area in which they grew up, and is the type of music that serves them best and allows their audience to identify with them and what they have to bring to the musical table.

Things start out on the right note with "It's Mania", a upbeat and high energy rocker that ensures things start out on the right note with Shane Smith and his brother Chad providing some memorable hooks that will have you singing right along. The title track is my favorite song off the album that features toned out guitar riffs that perfectly accentuate the melodic outbursts that are omnipresent throughout the track at any given time, and give the band some clout and notice from the listener just tuning in who may not be too familiar with the group, but have a natural curiosity as to what all the buzz is about, a solid all-around track. "The Parent Thing" begins to close out the effort with a straightforward, midtempo blast complete with a strong vocal push and instrumentation that has varying degrees of tempo that put everything in perspective here and gives the guys some energy as we close things out. "Walk Away" ends our stay here with a sharply focused tune that features specially blended guitar riffs that adequately portray the style and essence that the band sought out to create while conjuring up these tunes while in the studio.

All in all, a solid and well rehearsed effort form The Perms, a Canadian band that is looking to make a solid first impression on American listeners who may not be too familiar with them. This effort will definitely make audiences here aware of their style and sophistication that is just yearning to be heard from those outside the country and beyond.

                                                                                                                               EP Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. It's Mania
2. Aberdeen
3. The Parent Thing
4. Walk Away

How Do Boston's Musical Acts Compare To Those In St. Louis?

With the Red Sox playing in Game 1 of the World Series starting tomorrow night at Fenway Park against the St. Louis Cardinals, I thought it would be a good idea to compare musical acts that reside from the two competing cities, and see how they stack up against one another in terms of musical influence, name recognition, and overall musical relevance as well. To balance everything out, I've included acts from multiple genres that gives you a good idea of the music emanating from each city, and how they have influenced music as a whole.

Boston Musical Acts

Aerosmith
James Taylor
The Pixies
Four Year Strong

The list of bands that formed in Boston is quite strong. Looking at the list, Aerosmith is clearly the biggest name on the list and is still going strong today after 40+ years of musical existence. James Taylor also got his start in the Boston area as he grew up in Cambridge, and also performed for patients at McLean Hospital in Belmont several years ago that shows his devotion to his local roots, and has also occasionally played at Fenway Park sporadically over the years as well. Indie legends The Pixies got their start in Cambridge as well, and were responsible for the mainstream explosion of indie music in the late 80's and early 90's and had a great deal of impact in shaping the overall foundation of indie music as we know it today and are considered to be true pioneers in the genre as well. Four Year Strong reside from Worcester, MA and have become a force to be reckoned with in the hardcore punk scene and are clearly avid fans of all the Boston sports teams, and one member always wears a Bruins hat in support of the greatest hockey team in the whole land, and one whose logo adorns my left bicep permanently.

St. Louis Musical Acts

Chuck Berry
Nelly
Story Of The Year

While St. Louis has an impressive list of musical acts emanating from its foundation, it doesn't hold the torch against the list of acts from our great city. The most influential name on this list is clearly Chuck Berry, who got his start way back in the 50's and has his influence heard in multiple genres across several decades, and is considered a pioneer in the field of rock and roll and still occasionally continues to play live today at the age of 87. Rapper Nelly originally got his start back in the early 2000's with his album Country Grammar and had a number of hits before his career stalled in a bit in recent years and has flatlined as of late, but still releases material sporadically. Story Of The Year who you may remember from their debut release Page Avenue containing the instant classic "Until The Day I Die" got their start in the Lou as well, and are proud of their heritage representing the Cardinal way. While I love them as a band, I still think the Red Sox are better!

So as you can clearly see, Boston has the edge in terms of the amount of acts that emanated from the Bean, and the ones that had the most influence on music today. St. Louis doesn't quite match up in terms of total musical impact, and significantly lags behind here. Are there any bands here missing from either city that I may have missed?  Let me know and I'll be sure to add them on the list to see how everyone matches up and if this list still holds water.

Artist Spotlight: Spiritual Rez

Starting off the last truly warm day of the year with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we keep it local here in Boston and check out the reggae infused sounds of our very own Spiritual Rez. The band consists of Toft Willingham on lead vocals and guitar, Jesse Shaternick on bass, Ian "Meat" Miller on drums, Quinn Carson on trombone, Clay Lyons on saxophone, Mohamed Araki on keys and guitar, and Rob O'Block on lead guitar. The band has a high energy, laid back reggae sound that blends in some rock influences as well that complement each other quite well, and perfectly accentuates the band's sound that they have worked feverishly to polish and send off into the stratosphere for everyone to enjoy and marvel over what they've created in the studio. I totally enjoyed these guys from the get go, and the fact that they're from right here in the Boston area puts the icing on the cake and gets my stamp of authenticity right away as I never knew that there were reggae bands here in Boston as most of them reside out in California, but they totally evoke that West Coast vibe that permeates throughout their music, and their image suits them exceptionally well as the picture above shows all of the members barefoot and their laid back and carefree personalities that each of the members evoke as they dig their toes into the sand and take on whatever is in front of them. A terrific undiscovered band that is definitely worthy of some major love and respect. Some tracks for you to check out from the dudes include "Man's Hands" and "Decisions".

For more information on the guys in Spiritual Rez, cruise on over to their Facebook page here and fall in love with what they've conjured up for you musically. You can follow them on Twitter as well right here and say what's up to the guys when you get the chance. Visit their official website located here for more wide ranging info pertaining to the band, and check out the band's latest EP "Apocalypse Whenever" for purchase and streaming on their Bandcamp site conveniently located here.

Boys School - A Friend Of Mine EP

Los Angeles, CA bred Boys School are back with their latest EP titled A Friend Of Mine. The latest effort from the guys is a deep, focused blend of indie rock conjured upon a strong melodic framework that puts the guys on a different pedestal than the other bands coming up in the scene right now.

We kick things off with "Rollin Along" a steady, acoustic aided track that has a strong Elvis Costello influence to it that shows off the band's musical chops in full force here and also has a strong musical dexterity to it that gets us off on the right foot splendidly. "Waiting On The Day" is my favorite track off the album that totally exemplifies the band's musical mission in clear form right here with upbeat guitar licks presented that have a Spoon like influence to it that shows off the band's versatility as well as their capabilities of bringing in all of their musical influences together on one stage here, and is a real treat to hear in its finished form. "Can't Come Back" begins to conclude our musical journey here with a thoughtful musical creation that features terrific vocal syncopation and steady, advanced instrumentation that ensures everything comes to a close the way it intended and that fans are left feeling satisfied as well. "A Friend of Mine" ends our stay here with a relaxing and invigorating acoustic guitar track that does a great job of ending everything here on cue and on point with a well encapsulated track that does a great job of bringing in all the elements we've heard together in succession after one another, and gives an encapsulated overview of the album for those just tuning in.

To sum it all up, a well constructed and implemented musical effort from Boys School, who have a clear grasp of the type of music they want to play, and how they want to communicate with the audience as well that puts them in a class all their own.

                                                                                                                                EP Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Rollin' Along
2. Novi Nights
3. Waiting On The Day
4. Can't Come Back
5. A Friend Of Mine

Artist Spotlight: Through The Roots

Wrapping up the week and cruising into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we stay on the West Coast and head on over to beautiful San Diego, CA where we come into contact with the positive minded sounds of Through The Roots. The band consists of Evan Hawkins on lead vocals and guitar, Ross Garcia on bass, Brady O'Rear on keys, Taylor Boatwright on drums, and Chris Cruz on guitar and keys. Their music is a mystifying and captivating blend of reggae influenced rock mixed in with the spirit of Bob Marley with a uplifting and positive message embedded within the music that any like minded individual can take to heart with them. I really appreciated the message embedded within the lyrics that drew me to the guys in the first place, and made me drawn to their infectious aura that emanates so strongly when you first listen to them. A terrific unsung act that is definitely worthy of some love here on the site. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "Best Friend" and "Stay Positive".

For more information on the guys in Through The Roots, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what all the buzz is about. They're also active on Twitter, and you can follow them from this location here and stay in touch with the guys on a direct basis. Visit their official website here for more in depth information concerning the gentlemen, and check out their latest remix EP "Zombies", now available for download on iTunes at this link right over here.

Artist Spotlight: Fortunate Youth

Starting off an unusually warm day here in October with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight ready for you! Today, we head out west to Los Angeles, CA and seek out the reggae inflected sounds of Fortunate Youth. The band consists of Dan Kelly on lead vocals, Travi Bongo on percussion, Jered on keys and bass, Greg Gelb on bass and guitar, Corey Drasko on guitar, bass, and keys, and Jordan Rosenthal on drums. The band has a relaxing, ethereal reggae infused sound to them similar to the likes of 311 and Sublime with a down home, roots oriented approach apparent throughout their music that puts you in a relaxed frame of mind right away, ready to escape the troubles and tribulations of your ordinary life. I came across these guys while viewing their concert performance on Audiotree, and I was enthused about the organic approach they took when performing, and they clearly had an enjoyable time performing despite the high temperatures inside the studio that was evident with Jordan the drummer performing shirtless, and the band was clearly having a good time letting loose and doing what comes naturally. A terrific undiscovered band that is deserving of some love here on the East Coast. Some tracks for you to unearth from the dudes include "Sweet Love" and "Farmer".

For more information on the guys in Fortunate Youth, head on over to their Facebook page located right here and see what they're all about and what they can do to better your musical desires. They're also available to be followed on Twitter from this location here and communicate with the guys directly on a one-on-one basis. The band's music is available for public listening consumption over on their ReverbNation page located here, and the band will be performing locally in Boston next Wed. Oct. 23rd at The Paradise, so get your tickets now in a hurry before they sell out!

We Want The Airwaves: The WFNX Story To Premiere This Weekend!

The documentary film about the now defunct local Boston radio station WFNX will make its long awaited premiere this weekend at the 4th Annual Filmshift Film Festival taking place at the Somerville Theater, right in the heart of Davis Square. Directed by Jason Steeves, the film takes us back on a trip down memory lane as we go back to the station's beginnings back in 1983 when it was a fledgling station trying to gain recognition in the local community, and slowly began to build a following with its cutting edge blend of alternative and indie music which was largely unknown at that time, and quickly began to cultivate a local identity with its eclectic on-air personalities such as Henry Santoro contributing a great deal to the station's charisma and attitude.

As I've mentioned many times before here on the site, WFNX had a great deal to do with the current musical tastes that I have now, and I would totally be nowhere without them. I owe a great deal of my musical existence to WFNX, and I can't wait to see this finished product make its debut and I'll be among a great deal of onlookers attending the film premiere. The first showing will take place this Saturday night at 7pm, which tickets are unfortunately sold out for with a party taking place shortly thereafter across the street at Johnny D's that is definitely going to be a hot attraction. Tickets are still available for the screenings taking place on Sunday afternoon at 2pm and 6pm, and you can buy them at this link here.

Last One Out - Still Life Moves EP

Providence, RI's Last One Out have arrived on the scene with their second EP titled Still Life Moves. The 4 song collection is a dazzling array of rock tunes conjured upon an indie rock framework with a slight pop sensibility thrown in for good measure that adds a touch of diversity to a band well on their way to the path of success.

We start things out with "Favorite Van Gogh" a midtempo, straightforward number with a strong vocal pattern brought upon by keyboardist Scott Royal who contributes a great deal to the band's melodic output, and is definitely a force to be reckoned with later on in the effort. "The Cavalry" is my favorite song off the effort: an intense, pulsating rocker that perfectly evokes the unique blend of music that they set out to create the moment they commenced recording on this effort, featuring more varying degrees of instrumentation and a steady, quick pace makes this track one of the staples of their live show and has a totally different sound when you hear it on the record. "Hardwiring" has a more noticeable piano melody ingrained within the confines, but the game remains the same with its inventive and melodic instrumentation weaving its way into your consciousness with a intricate earworm that you can't ignore any longer. "Like A Crown" ends our stay here with a track that manages to bring in elements we've all heard in succession one after another, and features a terrific drum pattern brought forth by Dustin Bailey that ensures everything goes together according to plan, and that we end things right on cue as well. I saw these guys a few weeks ago at The Middle East Upstairs as a part of the Local 929 showcase sponsored by Radio 92.9, and they made a terrific first impression on me with their stage presence being the highlight of the evening and just the way they conducted themselves on stage made me clamor for more from the band, and they seemed like really honest and genuine people when I interacted with a couple of the guys after their set.

Overall, a simply amazing effort from Last One Out, a band who have a clear grasp of the type of music they want to play, and they have that special spark that sets them apart from the other bands on the scene and puts them on a higher pedestal as well.

                                                                                                                                EP Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. The Cavalry
2. Favorite Van Gogh
3. Hardwiring
4. Like A Crown  

Kevin Devine - Bulldozer

Brooklyn, NY's own Kevin Devine has returned with his seventh studio album titled Bulldozer. The follow up to 2011's Between The Concrete and The Clouds finds the introspective singer-songwriter continuing to build the audience abuzz with his deep interwoven lyrics that touch upon a myriad of different topics, and an eclectic and upbeat sound that will gather everyone around you and come together in curiosity and awe at the same time.

We start things out with "Now: Navigate!" an acoustic blended tune that features varying degrees of tempo and Kevin's intriguing vocal stylings starting things out on the right note and puts us in good company as we move forward. "Little Bulldozer" is my favorite song off the effort that features an indelible guitar riff that gnaws at you instantaneously the moment you first hear it, and has a infectious energy about it that you can't shake off and all you can do is sit back and stand in amazement at the depth of talent that Kevin is capable of displaying at any given time and it shines brightly exceptionally on this one. "Couldn't Be Happier" is a darker edged tune featuring somber guitar melodies and allows us to go a little deeper inside Kevin's persona and how he conjures up such masterfully created slices of poetry that just yearn to be heard by unknown ears and marvel at its creation at the same time. "You Brushed Her Breath Aside" is a sleek, midtempo number featuring softly focused guitar licks and Kevin's vocals providing a sense of comfort and companionship as we delve deeper into the second half of the effort laying ahead.

We start the second half off with "The Worm In Every Apple" a breezy, peppy tune that shows off the musicianship of Kevin and his backing band in full force here with riveting melodies and a strong musical state of mind that shows they truly enjoy playing together and know how to work collectively on a musical level. We begin to close things out with "For Eugene", an organically composed track featuring earthy acoustic guitar melodies and Kevin's warm and inviting vocal abilities bringing everyone together for this track and marvel at what we've experienced so far. "Safe" concludes our stay here with an all encapsulating track that brings together all the melodies we've heard together and allows us to look at a glance of how we've gotten to this point and what we've all experienced together emotionally. I must admit that I'm a little late to the Kevin Devine party, but I'm so glad I got the opportunity to check him out when I did. His music is some of the most deeply poetic pieces that I've heard in quite some time, and it's almost that I got to know Kevin a little bit better personally and he's almost like a close friend of mine. That's really the general point of music today, getting to know the listener a little bit better personally and extrapolate their lyrics and apply it to a general life event or topic currently happening in your life today.

In summary, a well rehearsed and executed effort from Kevin Devine, who continues to marvel and excite fans with his wholly unique and captivating blend of music which is continuing to draw in a more expansive audience as we speak and a better understanding of what Kevin is like as a person.

                                                                                                                          Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Now: Navigate!
2. Little Bulldozer
3. From Here
4. Couldn't Be Happier
5. You Brushed Her Breath Aside
6. Matter Of Time
7. The Worm In Every Apple
8. She Can See Me
9. For Eugene
10. Safe