Artist Spotlight: Lauren Tenney and the Terribles

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from an up and coming soul/blues act based from right here in Boston called Lauren Tenney and the Terribles. The group consists of Lauren Tenney on lead vocals, Charlie Bloom on guitar, Alex Hartley on keys, Francis Hickey on bass, and Patrick Dalton on drums. The band has an eclectic, soulful vibe to them reminiscent of acts such as Sade with Lauren's captivating vocal presence taking ahold of you right away and the laid-back, pleasant sounding vibe provides for an entertaining and fulfilling listening experience. Most of the members of the group, including Lauren and Alex received their education at the Berklee School of Music, one of the premier education institutions in the area and known the world over, where you can see that the members are exceptionally gifted and are well versed in all areas pertaining to music that makes them a well rounded collective and makes the stand out from the other up and coming acts in the scene today. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "Too Late" and "Don't Matter".

For more information on Lauren Tenney and the Terribles, head on over to their Facebook page right here where you can get the latest up to date information on the band including tour dates coming right near where you are. If you would like to take a listen to the band's debut self-titled EP, you can pop on over to their BandCamp site located here where you can stream or download the album on the site for just $4! The EP is also available for purchase on iTunes as well right over here.

Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

Fresh from Las Vegas, NV (also home of The Killers), Imagine Dragons have released their much buzzed about debut album titled Night Visions. The album has been gaining much traction recently thanks to this past summer's big hit "It's Time", and the group's refreshing approach to craft sonically delicate musical structures coupled upon with well written lyrics that make this band one of the best new artists to come out this year.

The album starts off with the pleasant sounding "Radioactive", a downtempo effort that blends in some sleek electronic influences plus the warm and inviting lead vocals of frontman Dan Reynolds ensuring that the album gets off to a great start right out of the gate. My favorite track off the disc is the aforementioned first single "It's Time", a melodic and thunderous track that features an instantly catchy hook with the perfect blend of consistent guitar licks and a slight electronic touch that make this track one of the best of the year and is one of the highlights of the album so far. "Demons" features Dan's delicate and prominent vocal presence allowing all of the instrumentation to naturally take shape and run its course all the way throughout the album with aplomb. "On Top of the World" features a chipper and upbeat handclap inspired beat that makes you feel much like the song's title and allows you to enjoy different facets of the band that we haven't had the opportunity to check out up until this point.

The disc's second half begins with "Hear Me", a solid and consistent rocker that features straight up guitar riffs and the electronic influences pushed into the background to give the song its own distinct personality. "Bleeding Out" tones it down substantially from the prior tracks and tends to play it safe on a slacked and uninspired track heard here. "Underdog" features some creative and uptempo synth influences that will have you grooving along to the keyboard on one of the more pure electro influenced tracks featured here on the disc. The album begins to draw to a conclusion on "Nothing Left To Say/Rocks", with some solid keyboard synth arrangements and a strict focus on a electronic state of mind represents the album's true focus and dynamic set forth. "Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older)" closes it all out and does a great job of bringing in all the elements we've heard so far and presents it to us in an encapsulated format that ensures that we understand what the album's mission was and if they accomplished it to a certain extent. I was impressed with Imagine Dragons when I first heard them on the radio with "It's Time", which was an appropriate and fitting track that also serves as a requiem for the state of the music industry right now with the demise of local Boston station WFNX and its transition into the digital age, leaving us wondering and asking the question, "Where do we go from here?"

In retrospect, a standard and focused effort from Imagine Dragons, who have made a strong first impression with their debut effort and shows what the band is made of and what they can improve upon with their next release and all those that come after it.

                                                                                                                     Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Radioactive
2. Tiptoe
3. It's Time
4. Demons
5. On Top of The World
6. Amsterdam
7. Hear Me
8. Every Night
9. Bleeding Out
10. Underdog
11. Nothing Left To Say/Rocks
12. Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older)   

Artist Spotlight: Betty Who

All brushed off from the hurricane and ready to deliver an all-new edition of Artist Spotlight for you guys! This week, we head to the land Down Under of Sydney, Australia and check out the talents of Betty Who. Betty evokes a authentic, mature pop persona within her music, sort of within the lines of Katy Perry but with much more sophisticated lyrics and a indie-focused outlook that makes her stand out from the crop of other performers trying to make it in the scene today. I was really impressed with what she had to offer musically, and she clearly demonstrates that she is in sole possession of prime vocal range that sets her apart from the others and has a promising musical future ahead in the distance. Her debut single "Fire With Fire" is a perfect example of her drive and ambition that will carry her a long way in this business.

For more information on Betty Who, cruise on over to her Facebook page here where you can also snag a free download of the aforementioned "Fire With Fire" directly from the page as well! She is also available to be followed on Twitter right here where you can keep up to date with all that is going on musically in her life. Her music is available on SoundCloud as well right over here. 

Artist Spotlight: Mallow

Today's Artist Spotlight belongs to an electronic/hip-hop artist based from right here in Boston by the name of Mallow. You might also remember Mallow as part of the ever growing local indie collective known as Bear Language (another past Artist Spotlight feature), and is branching out with a diverse and eclectic mixture of electronic influences and old-school hip-hop rhythms that put him on a different pedestal than all the other artists out there today. I was intrigued with the style and charisma that he evokes in his music that truly gives him a gift to share with his prospective listening audience and lets him do some self-discovery of what's outside his musical window. A great local talent that is definitely worth your time. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "Mono No Ke" and "Glissin".

For more information on Mallow, cruise on over to his Facebook page right here, where you can also stream his music directly from the page. If you would like to listen to his EP "The Underside", you can point your browser to his BandCamp page right here and it's also available for listening on SoundCloud right over here.

Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon

Emanating from Bangor/Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club are back with their highly anticipated sophomore set, Beacon. The follow up to 2010's Tourist History finds the Irish indie-rockers continuing to build upon the buzz of their last release, and translate for their listeners what they'll be able to bring to the table this time around.

The disc opens up with the slightly electronic infused "Next Year", a track that blends in standard issue guitar licks and the lead vocals of Alex Trimble make this track a standout and brings in some musical elements that we heard on their last release to a great degree. "Handshake" features much of the same musical characteristics as the previous track, but features more prominent guitar and bass tracks that do a neat job on conveying to the audience their blend of musicality and what to expect on the rest of the album to come. "Sun" brings it down a couple of notches with some solid piano melodies and electro infused delights that show off a different side of the trio and their capabilities as musicians in the process. "Someday" amps up the musical intensity substantially with more full bodied guitar riffs and Alex's simple vocal style allowing the listener to join in the middle of the action quite easily and not miss a beat. My favorite track off the disc is the album's first single, "Sleep Alone" a track with incessant drum beats that are reminiscent from the band's breakout hit "What You Know". While not as catchy as that song, the track does a great job of keeping the listener's attention and ensures that they'll stay around for the remainder of the album.

The disc's second half begins with "The World Is Watching" featuring the vocal talents of Valentina, a slow and steady rocker that features groove laden guitar licks that allow you to move along to the song with great fervor and ease, making this song impossible to not enjoy. "Spring" almost feels like a reggae tune with some of the guitar riffs giving off the aura of being in a lush, tropical paradise and gives the band some depth and even more reason to check out their music if you haven't already. The disc ushers in its conclusion with "Pyramid" a downtempo, intricate tune that features ominous guitar riffs that jump out at you unexpectedly to throw the listener off guard a bit just for fun and give them something unexpected in the process as well. The title track closes it all out with a pleasant sounding melody that brings in some elements from the prior tracks to give the listener a quick synopsis of what they heard so far in their journey to the conclusion of the album. When I first heard Two Door Cinema Club after they released the aforementioned "What You Know", I was amazed with the song's catchiness and it's ability to get stuck in your head quite easily. Another song from their last album, "Undercover Martyn" had many of the same characteristics as the former, which is the band's strong suit at this point. They're not much of an album band, but more of a singles act which is not necessarily a bad thing, it makes you prominent among music fans who will grow to love and appreciate whatever you have to bring to wet their musical palette.

All in all, a solid and consistent effort from Two Door Cinema Club, who bring us a collection that is not as consistent as their first, but does a great job of keeping the listeners attention all the way throughout and also showcases the band's musical growth from their prior disc.

                                                                                                                                Album Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Next Year
2. Handshake
3. Wake Up
4. Sun
5. Someday
6. Sleep Alone
7. The World Is Watching (with Valentina)
8. Settle
9. Spring
10. Pyramid
11. Beacon 

Artist Spotlight: Sirma

It's Tuesday and time for an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for the week! Today, I have a promising performer living right here in Beantown named Sirma. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey you might remember Sirma as the frontwoman for the Boston based band Helicopria (another past Artist Spotlight feature). This time around, Sirma takes a detour from that genre of music and focuses on an ambient, electronic mixture similar to that of Bjork with an authentic, deep focus on originality and style that is a quality in artists that is almost a rarity to find these days. Her voice has a soothing, relaxing component to it that that makes you feel right at home and doesn't feel the need to do too much and branches out just enough so that you get a grasp of what she has to offer you musically. I was very impressed with the transformation that Sirma made from her previous musical effort, and has found her individuality as a performer that must feel liberating for her and looks ready to take the next step in her musical path. A very promising singer that has a bright future ahead for her.

For more information on Sirma, head on over to her Facebook page right here. While you're there, you can listen to her debut single "Wanderer" directly from the app on the page. You can follow her on Twitter right here to see what she's up to this very minute. Be on the lookout for her debut EP "Traces" which will be released sometime before the end of the year.

Interview w/ Will & Matt From Call Me Anything

Bringing in another installment of my ongoing series of interviews with past Artist Spotlight artists to touch base and see what they've been up to recently. Today, we check back in with two of my best friends Will Tenney and Matt McNulty from Boston's own Call Me Anything. These guys we first featured on the blog last May and won the Artist Spotlight of the Year award last year, and have been great friends and huge supporters of the blog from the beginning! I caught up with the guys just before they took the stage this past Saturday at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge to see what they're up to right now and go behind the scenes of the creation of some of their music. Here is the full transcript from that interview:

How did you guys first meet up and become friends?

Will: Well, I actually first met Matt on the first day of college, my old band had gotten signed to a management deal and I needed a partner and some other members, and I met Matt on the first day of college.

Matt: We sat down, we were wearing the same thing, everybody thought we were brothers so it was going to be a good fit.

When was the moment that you decided you two should form a band together?

Will: It was right there, what happened was I had signed up with this band For The Foxes, and I was just going out at that point just as myself, I had no one to go with and I was doing acoustic and I just said, "Hey man, do you want to just come? I have no idea what it's going to be like." And so, we just drove and we played 2 or 3 shows with For The Foxes as no one, just as music.

Matt: I played a half assed version of a drum set with a high ride and a snare kick and that was just about it, just kind of played along with what I heard with the songs, just kind of learned them on the spot.

Tell me about the recording process behind your latest EP "Celebrity" and what were the inspirations behind some of the songs on the release?

Matt: The recording process for the "Celebrity" EP was much different than I think either of us have ever done, we've never really gone into a studio with bits and pieces of songs and kind of molded everything together into fully composed songs and the album eventually as soon as we got in there, but we had also never worked with somebody that was quite as experienced and talented as Christian Medice, and I think he did alot more for us and helped us reach that next level that we were looking for.

Will: Yeah I mean, honest to god if you're reading this Christian, I love you dude. Our record would be so screwed without you. We knew we wanted to be a pop band and we have these songs, but we had no idea how to go about it and he was like, "Alright, here is what we're going to do." and we did it, he gave it to us and thanks brother!

How is the music on this release different sonically compared to your previous work?

Will: I think speaking sonically, it's alot more electronic and that we're not playing alot of instruments on the actual record, a lot more MIDI, synthetic instruments. When we came together, it was kind of by accident so those were the songs we were making that were kind of left over from our old band. Our demo collection, "A Little Bit Better Than Yesterday" were songs we kind of had left over and by the time came to make our first record, we knew we wanted to be a pop band so it really felt like the right move.

Earlier this year, you shot a music video for "Celebrity", can you take us behind the shooting of the video and the concept behind it?

Will: We have a joke in our band, and it's every time we do a video shoot something monumentally terrible happens and without fail, it happened again! If you've seen the video, it's a big party scene and we staged a party and then it kind of turned into an actual party. Drinks are flowing and everyone's doing their thing, attitudes and egos get real big. Long story short, there we some disagreements between members of this band and the neighbors, some fists were thrown, policemen were called.

Matt: I really wish I could tell you about the situation, but it just kind of happened. To this day, I have no idea. At the end of the day, it was ridiculous and couldn't expect anything less from a CMA video shoot.

Speaking of videos, Matt you have your own YouTube channel where you release cover videos of songs, can you tell us how the idea for that came about?

Matt: Honestly that idea just came one day I decided that I wanted not just to be a drummer anymore and I wanted to show people that I could do a little bit of vocals, and if you look back at the first videos, it's nothing pretty, it's just 15 year old me jumping around like an asshole. It became so much more than I ever expected and it does alot for our band, it creates alot of controversy with fans on YouTube. But honestly, for those of you that hate on it, we love it, you're buzzing us up more so keep it going, keep talking shit! (Laughter)

Will: When I first met Matt, I saw the YouTube channel and I watched his videos and I was like, "Eek!" but we were young kids back then, we were still kind of odd but I'm so proud of the way his channel has really developed, it actually has turned into something people want to be a part of and people like. I think you definitely stepped your shit up a whole lot dude, and for the fans that don't necessarily agree with what I'm doing or what Matt's doing or don't like the screamo covers or don't like the pop music, we set out from Day 1 to play the music that we wanted to play, not what you wanted to play, and if you don't like it, I'm sure they're some other bands that you can go check out, but I appreciate you taking the time to check us out at one point.

What new CD's that came out recently have you been listening to in your spare time?

Will: I really like the new Owl City record, the new Pierce The Veil record is awesome, the new Eve 6 record is great, but as far as singles go, every single one off the new Taylor Swift record is so awesome. I'm a Top 40 nut.

Matt: I'm very, very into the new Carly Rae Jepsen record. It didn't really do as well as I thought it was going to but I loved that record. I think every song on that record is sick, I get alot of influence from production from that album. Obviously, the new Pierce The Veil record is probably my favorite record of the year.

What does the rest of the year hold for you guys, are you planning to play any more shows or release any holiday songs around Christmas time?

Will: Yeah, I'm not sure how much of this we're actually allowed to talk about, cause we're not sure if it's confirmed yet, but it looks like we're going to be on the west coast after Christmas with some of our good buddies, I really can't say who yet. But that's what it looks like we're going to be doing. We're also talking about maybe doing a re-recording of our Christmas song that we did last year.

Lastly, what do you have to say to your fans that have supported you along the way and have gotten you to the point where you are now?

Matt: We're absolutely nothing without all the people that are standing downstairs screaming right now. A day like today, especially when we're playing a hometown crowd, it's completely surreal for us. I never would've thought that I would walk outside of my own show and see a line down the street. It's incredible, we can't believe that you guys care about it that much and we can't thank you enough!

Will: You know it sounds cheesy, when I was little and watched people get asked this question I was always like, "That's such a stereotypical answer or such a typical answer." And now that we're a little bit further, it's like that's all you can say is "Thank you so much." I get the jitters, I went to do guest vocals on This Is All Now's set and I get so excited that you guys are so excited, and I sing like shit, but you don't care, and I don't care, and we're all having a good time. I guess what I'm trying to say is you guys are awesome and thank you so much!

Thanks once again to Will and Matt for being so gracious with their time to do this interview! I can honestly say that these guys aren't just friends of mine, they're almost like family to me and feel like brothers because they've been nothing but super nice, classy, and professional anytime I run into them! To check out their music, simply go to their Facebook page right here and 'Like' it as well! You can follow them on Twitter as well right over here. To check out Matt's YouTube channel and to subscribe to it, simply click here.

A Whole New MusicBoxPete!

Hey everyone!

As some of you may have been wondering what my big announcement is, you're looking right at it! MusicBoxPete has a complete overhauled and refreshed new look, making it easier than ever before to read posts in a more simplistic fashion! The site also has a brand new URL: www.musicboxpete.com This will be the new web address of the blog from now on so if you enter in the old web address, it will automatically redirect you to the new website. Just in case you can't find it for whatever reason, make sure to change the bookmarks in your web browser to reflect this new change.

Among many other new features of the blog is an official YouTube channel! The channel can be accessed at: www.youtube.com/user/musicboxpete This channel will contain exclusive concert footage shot by yours truly, and a full rollout of new content will be available this Saturday, when I'll post footage from Call Me Anything's hometown show taking place at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge. For those attending the show, I'll see you there!

Other changes I'll be making to the blog include:

- I'll be featuring 2 Artist Spotlight artists per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Due to the immense popularity of this feature to the blog, I thought it would be a good idea to feature a mixture of New England based artists and newcomers seeking attention on a more national scale.

- You'll also be seeing more album reviews on the blog than ever before! Album reviews have been an essential and integral component of the blog ever since it launched in 2009, and you'll be seeing more reviews from Boston based bands and nationally known groups.

If you have any questions about the blog in general, or just want to shoot me a line, e-mail me at musicboxpete@gmail.com or click the G-Mail logo in the upper right hand corner of the screen!

Muse - The 2nd Law

Hailing from Teignmouth, Devon England, Muse are back it again with their all new studio release, The 2nd Law. The follow up to 2009's The Resistance finds the British alt-rockers continuing to build upon the experimental sounds of their last release, albeit on a much more grandiose scale this time around and a more stronger emphasis being put on the electronic space age rhythms being put on display right here.

The disc kicks right off with "Supremacy" a gritty, orchestral sounding track that does a great job of introducing the different sounds we can expect to hear on this album, with a somewhat ominous overtone being out on display by frontman Matt Bellamy who does a great job of spreading his vocal power throughout all the components of this track. My favorite song off the disc is the album's first single and futuristic sounding "Madness" a distorted, jumbled up electronic lovers' delight that does a beautiful job of blending in alternative rock rhythms with electronic components that when combined, are a sight to behold and to hear on record as well, an all around terrific track. "Panic Station" features more prominent guitar riffs and takes a more rock oriented approach that the previous tracks tended to shy away from, and shows off the band's diverse and creative side with their ability to dabble in other areas that makes them a more full featured and long lasting group in the long run. "Follow Me" tones it down a notch with an apocalyptic sounding track featuring dark undertones that do a great job of capturing the emotional overtone of the album pretty accurately and ensures that the listener pays attention all the way throughout to fully grasp the message behind the song as well.

The second half of the album begins with "Explorers", a toned down composition that features the implementation of piano melodies that blend in nicely with Matt's calm and comforting vocal presence that presents a different side of the band that we haven't seen before on the album up until this point. "Big Freeze" features more upbeat melodies that feature a slight electronic edge to them that doesn't sound too overwhelming when you first hear it, creating a clear distinction between the two sounds that strike a perfect balance. "Liquid State" pumps up the velocity substantially with a hard nosed rocker that captures the essence of the tracks we heard in the beginning stages of the album, and shows off the fervor and excitement of it all with blazing guitar riffs and a pure alt-rock sound that caters to listeners who favor a certain genre more than the others. The album's end approaches with "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable", the first of a 2 part opus that features dazzling electronic beats that may sound like a little bit too much for some listeners, but for diehard electronic fans this is heaven for them with a certain aura that the band captures so well on this record. "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" is a more toned down affair with simple piano arrangements and a more voyeuristic style that the band have experimented with so much in the past that works to a great degree on this track, and ensures that the album comes to a good stopping point that the listener will find satisfactory and to their liking. When I first came across Muse back in 2004 after they first released the song "Time Is Running Out", I was impressed with how different it was from the other songs that were on alternative rock radio at the time, and how the song didn't take chances and let it run its course the way it was. Looking back, the band has evolved immensely from that song into a band that shares a parallel course with another fellow British band, Radiohead and how they evolved to their current musical status today. Muse are definitely following the same path Radiohead once did.

Wrapping it all up, a terrific and well thought out follow up effort from Muse, who continue their musical quest of electronic and symphonic melodies that ushers in feelings that the end of the world is upon us (especially those who believe the world will end in 2012 like the Mayans predicted),  and gives us a glimpse of a band currently in their element and on their way to greater success that is yet to come.

                                                                                                                                   Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Supremacy
2. Madness
3. Panic Station
4. Prelude
5. Survival
6. Follow Me
7. Animals
8. Explorers
9. Big Freeze
10. Save Me
11. Liquid State
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System     

Artist Spotlight: Black Box Revelation

Hey everyone!

Bringing it again this week with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week for you guys, we head overseas to Brussels, Belgium an uncover the sharp sounds of Black Box Revelation. The duo consists of Jan Paternoster on lead vocals and guitars and Dries Van Dijck on drums and percussion. The band has been around since 2005, but have slowly been gaining steam here in the states for the past couple of years with their smooth combo of indie rock rhythms a la The Strokes and Southern influenced rock reminiscent of such bands like The Allman Brothers, but have a musical dynamic that is totally all their own with cutting edge guitar rhythms and fast paced, frenetic drumming that will have you grooving along to the songs right until the very end. I managed to catch these guys in concert back in September as they were opening for The Sheepdogs (another past Artist Spotlight alumni), and they put on a hell of a show that didn't make them stick out like a sore thumb, and ensured that they set the tempo right from the get go, and also encouraged the audience to stick around to get the crowd energized and ready to rock through the night. A terrific live act that is already on its way to greater success right here in the States. Some highly recommended songs for you to rock out to include "Shiver of Joy" and "I Think I Like You".

For more information on Black Box Revelation, head on over to the band's Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/theblackboxrevelation While you're there, you can stream their latest EP "Shiver of Joy" direct from BandCamp so that you don't have to listen to it in another browser window. You can also follow the band on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/bbrofficial and see what they're up to this very minute. The band's official website at: www.blackboxrevelation.com has the band's latest slate of tour dates among many other awesome and pertinent features designed to keep you occupied.

Sirma Releases Debut Music Video For "Wanderer"!

Originally from Istanbul, Turkey but residing right here in Beantown, Sirma has released her debut music video for "Wanderer", the first single from her debut EP! The video is an intriguing one, as it utilizes stop motion technology that features the talents of Dilşad Anıl making a massive painting on a lawn that melds in beautifully with the ambient instrumentation running afoot throughout this clip. The song is an ambitious and creative venture that sees Sirma venturing into new territory and beginning to rediscovering what is possible on the other side of the fence.

For more information on Sirma, 'Like' her Facebook page right here and you can follow her on Twitter as well right here. Keep an eye out for her debut EP "Traces" which should see the light of day sometime this Fall!

A Clever Con Release Music Video For "Katy Perry Sex Tape"!

Monroe, New Jersey based A Clever Con, have just released their music video for "Katy Perry Sex Tape". The video features a pretty clever zombie apocalypse theme featuring the band in costume as zombies that works together pretty well with Halloween coming up at the end of this month and features fast paced guitars, coupled along a hard rock laden path that makes this video a wholly worthwhile viewing experience that will keep you entertained all the way throughout!

For more information on A Clever Con, visit their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter right here.

All Time Low - Don't Panic

Baltimore, Maryland's finest All Time Low return with a bang on their all new studio release, Don't Panic. The follow up to last year's Dirty Work finds the premiere pop-punkers returning to their initial sound they displayed on their earlier work, like 2006's "Put Up Or Shut Up" and 2007's "So Wrong, It's Right". This album is the best in their catalogue to date and is one of the best albums of the year so far.

The album opens up with the blasting first single "The Reckless and The Brave", a loud slice of pop-punk energy with the tremendous lead vocal power of Alex Gaskarth setting the tone of the album pretty quickly and gives us a preview of what we can expect when they come up to the plate. "Backseat Serenade" tones down the energy a notch, but still plays a formidable presence in the backfield with vivacious pop-punk rhythms and a sharp, poignant lyrical outlook that grabs a hold of you almost instantaneously and you'll never look back. My favorite track off the disc is "Somewhere in Neverland", a groove laden, pop-punk lover's delight with Alex's amazing vocal abilities, guitarist Jack Barakat's intense guitar riffs, bassist Zack Merrick's indelible bass licks, and drummer Rian Dawson's fast and furious drum patterns adding fuel to the fire on a song that best encapsulates the heart and soul of the album. "So Long Soldier" amps up the energy unexpectedly on a track that almost sounds like a metal track when you first hear it, and shows firsthand that the band are on a mission to prove themselves and show that they aren't a bunch of pretty boys who don't write their own songs.

The second half picks it up right where the first half left off on "To Live and Let Go", a much more toned down rocker that still plays a vital role in the success of the album with Alex's voice breathing charisma and youth into people's lives and making them feel young again. "Outlines" features a great guest vocal appearance from Jason Vena of Acceptance that continues to pedal the bike even faster with a non-stop melodic roller coaster that brings everything together on a mixed bag containing pop-punk rhythms and gritty lyrical content that sets everything in it's place right here. "For Baltimore" is an amazing, jaw dropping rhythmic blast that is an ode to the band's hometown, and serves as an appropriate anthem for the Baltimore Orioles in their quest to the playoffs and shows off the band's true colors, and who they are as musicians and as people in real life. We begin to close out the album with "Paint You Wings", a youthful and vivacious track chock full of "oh-oh-ohs" in the chorus and shows off the band's blueprint standard of creating wondrous pop-punk melodies and interweave it upon extremely well written lyrics that speak to mind of the band's effect on music listeners all over the world. The disc comes to an end on "So Long, And Thanks For All The Booze" that begins much like the same way it began with loud and intense guitar riffs and Alex's casual and goofy persona as a lead singer that serves as a model for how all pop-punk bands should craft their own compositions and how they interact with the audience, both on the album and in person. I was immediately sold on All Time Low when I first heard them 4 years ago, right after "Dear Maria, Count Me In" started to impact radio and MTV, and was totally captivated by the band's ability to communicate with the audience and compose true, heartfelt lyrics that speak to mind how universally loved and appreciated the band is by their fanbase (myself included), and how hilarious and good natured they are, whether it's communicating with their fans via Twitter or chatting outside one of their shows, this band is the real deal and should be embraced within their scene as the true pioneers of their genre.

All together, a terrific and well thought out follow up effort from All Time Low, who have made a bold statement that they are the preeminent kings of the pop-punk genre, and it seems kind of ridiculous for male fans to feel ashamed that they listen to them, because their music is user accessible by everyone regardless of gender and has affected people in a very positive and uplifting way. Highly recommended and definitely one of the best albums of the year!

                                                                                                                          Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. The Reckless and The Brave
2. Backseat Serenade
3. If These Sheets Were States
4. Somewhere in Neverland
5. So Long, Soldier
6. The Irony of Choking On A Lifesaver
7. To Live and Let Go
8. Outlines
9. Thanks to You
10. For Baltimore
11. Paint You Wings
12. So Long, and Thanks For All The Booze 

Artist Spotlight: Good Problems

Hey everyone!

Kicking the post Columbus Day week off with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today for you guys, I have an emerging artist straight out of Burnsville, Minnesota called Good Problems. The one man band is the brainchild of Pat Brown, DJ, manager, and frequent collaborator with another past Artist Spotlight feature Mod Sun. The solo effort is a mixture of Kid Cudi and M.I.A. with a strong emphasis put on thought provoking lyrics and pleasant sounding beats that show off the more positive side of hip-hop, and abandons the traditional stereotypical notions that turn alot of people away from hip-hop, such as drugs, guns, girls, fancy cars, and nice shoes and offers us a glimpse inside the mind of Pat and the immense artistic and lyrical talents that he is capable of displaying at any given time. An extremely promising young talent with great potential for success later on down the road. A couple of recommended tracks to check out for your listening pleasure include: "I Like To Change" and "Think Deep, Don't Sink", a collaboration with his partner in crime Mod Sun.

For more info on Good Problems, head on over to his Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/mygoodproblems where you can stream his music directly from the page. You can also download his EP titled "Be Eccentric" for free from his website at: www.mygoodproblems.com For more up to date news on what's happening with Pat, you can go to his personal Facebook music page at: www.facebook.com/patbrownmusic and he can also be followed on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/thepatbrown