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March, 2010

Say It Twice – EP

March 22, 2010 by Anna

Say It Twice has had its fair share of success since the release of its Jetset Trends EP on August 2007. It was named one of Alternative Press Magazine’s top 8 unsigned bands and top selling unsigned artist on Smartpunk.com. Past tours include Warped Tour, Bamboozle, and various others with bands such as We The Kings, All Time Low, Metro Station, and plenty more. Now Say It Twice is signed with Authentik Artists and is preparing to release its second EP on March 23, 2010, which is sure to maintain the band’s abundant flow of success.

The album begins with “The Road You Know,” a brilliant introduction to the fervent quality in lead singer John Schaefer’s voice that establishes the earnest and lively tone encompassing the tracks that follow. The song begins with remnants of a ballad as the quiet piano line takes backseat to emphasized vocals, however quickly escalates into an upbeat and danceable track that stresses optimism in the face of struggle. The song transitions perfectly into “Love Learn” which contains the same fusion of pensive lyrics and upbeat sounds as piano and restrained percussion embodies the verses, contrasting with the larger than life sound of the chorus. It serves as a clear indication of one of the band’s musical influences as the electric guitar line resembles tracks from Kings of Leon. “Speed of the Drum” is another display of Shaefer’s strong vocal abilities as his mesmerizing use of falsetto in the chorus embellishes its subtle harmonies. However, the band’s strong qualities lay not only in its vocals, but also in its percussion as “Getaway” introduces its drum line 40 seconds into the song, creating a heart-pounding rhythm that reinforces the song’s urgent nature. “Lies” begins with an atmospheric sound that is abruptly interrupted by high-pitched electric guitar and booming drums. It closes the album with the same subtle sound with which the song begins.

This album is a great introduction to Say It Twice for those who have not heard its first EP and guaranteed satisfaction for those who are already fans of the L.A.-based band. While it does lack innovation, it is an incredibly cohesive listen, displaying the band’s abilities both lyrically and musically as genuine vocals accompany lively guitars and percussion, showing that the band is definitely headed in a very promising direction.

Rating: (3.5/5)

Category Albums | Tags: Say It Twice | 1 Comment
Take Action Tour – 2/24/2010

March 10, 2010 by Charitie
Take Action Tour – El Corazon, Seattle Washington, February 24th, 2010

Featuring We The Kings, A Rocket To The Moon, Mayday Parade, and There For Tomorrow
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Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments
Electric President – The Violent Blue

March 5, 2010 by Alma

Electric President has returned with its third album and it’s a pretty solid piece of work. On a new label, Fake Four Inc., the indie group comprises two natives of Jacksonville, Flo., Alex Kane and Ben Cooper, these guys are ready to put themselves on the map. The Violent Blue is a cool, calm, intriguing mix of electronic instruments with a dash of folk rock.

The great part about this is that the record has many unique elements. The not-so-great part is that familiarity can also fade into the background. An example is the opening track “The Ocean Floor.” It’s a dreamy, wavy song with a lonely piano tinkering in the background. Almost like the sound machines that play ambient sound to lull insomniacs to sleep, sounds like whales calling pervade the song, painting a perfect picture of the sea. But, not unlike the ambient sound machines, it has a tendency to slip out of focus, not for lack of creativity, but maybe just because it’s that calming and familiar sounding.

The remainder of the record brings the same sense of uniqueness all the while soothing with a sense of ease. It is hard to focus on the lyrics. In every song songs they tend to melt, as if they are part of the music. The vocals maintain a floaty, high, echoy sort of sound, like a being higher than yourself is speaking to you, but you’re lost in majesty of the experience. In “Feathers,” the folky sound combined with a distinct rhythm of the tambourine, drums, synthesizers and guitars envelops the vocals. The same situation is in “Eat Shit and Die;” even with a title like that, it’s still hard to divert focus from the most rock-like rhythm of the music to the lyrics.

But overall, the music tends to stand out on its own, utilizing the juxtaposition of uniqueness and familiarity. Most tracks seem to go through a change, either featuring an, almost regal, burst of sound that grows in the song. Another signature is the layering of sound, beginning with a few simple layers then laying it on really thick with different instruments and sounds, giving the song a very full and rounded feeling.

An excellent example is “Nightmares no. 5 or 6.” Pushing the six-minute mark, this track starts with a strange drum line/army marching kind of rhythm, breaking into a pop/rock kind of guitar rhythm. Then the song breaks down to a single guitar with a toy-winding/building-with-tinker-toys sound effect. It then grows into a larger, fuller sound complete with electric guitar, ending with a lot of screeching instruments and feedback.

The coolest thing about The Violent Blue that Electric President seems to have a formula its follows, featuring the same or similar aspects in each track but doing it differently whether it’s with a different rhythm or instrument. It gives a sense of unity and cohesiveness to the record so that each track flows effortlessly. But, if you listen to it closely, there’s a lot of unique and interesting work. Great job, Electric President. This is a solid album that does something new and does it well.

Category Albums | Tags: Electric President | 2 Comments