Sweeney Todd

Last night I saw Sweeney Todd, the new Tim Burton musical starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. All of the reviews I read simply raved about the film. I liked the film, but I wouldn't rave about it. I would say 3 out of 4 stars. But I'm still so glad that movie musicals are being made, and it was much better than some of the other ones that have come out in recent years (ie Rent, Phantom of the opera).

Johnny Depp is fabulous as always. All of the actors' performances were pretty great. The music was good. I have never seen Sweeney Todd as a play or anything so I was surprised to find I knew a few of the songs. I think they did a good job of integrating that whole "breaking out into song" thing and making it seem natural, which some musicals don't do such a good job of. It was also very different from a lot of movie musicals because it was so dark and there wasn't really any dancing. It was definitely over-the-top though, like all good musicals. I almost wish the blood would've been more realistic instead of such a bright red. But I think that was their intention because otherwise it would be really gorey to a point where maybe some people couldn't watch it.

As usual, I think the best parts were the comic relief - like Sasha Baron Cohen's flamboyant "Italian" barber character. Or when Judge Turpin sentences a second-time offender to hang because he has proven that he has chosen a life of crime and they cut to the offender who is a small boy. I laughed perhaps a little too loudly in the theater (I have a very dark sense of humor).

Overall, I definitely recommend seeing the film. It didn't blow me away the way I hoped it would, but I still enjoyed it. And Johnny Depp is hot even when they try to make him look ugly and crazy.

P.S. I may not update much over the next week or so with the holidays. My apologies. But happy holidays to everyone! Tata dahlings.

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Lists lists lists

This is the time of year when music bloggers compile lists - best albums, best songs, best new artists, etc of 2007. But I'm not going to compile these lists because I didn't start doing this until July. So next year I will compile more extensive lists, but this year I will just rattle off a few albums from 2007 that I really liked in no particular order.

Awesome Albums from 2007
"Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge" - The Pierces (iTunes)
"The Reminder" - Feist (iTunes)
"Balance Between" - Ippazzi (iTunes)
"Marry Me" - St. Vincent (iTunes)
"im on to you - EP" - Ian Axel (iTunes)
"Baby 81" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (iTunes)
"Kala" - MIA (iTunes)
"Don't Make Me Wait" - Locksley (iTunes)
"Random Spirit Lover" - Sunset Rubdown (iTunes)
"And End Has A Start" - Editors (iTunes)
"Get On With It - EP" - Shoot the Messenger (iTunes)

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Theme Thursday - Christmas

So I meant to do this post yesterday but I ran out of time and then my internet wasn't working and then I was on a plane to Minneapolis. So here it is, a little late, Theme Thursday (on a Friday... oops...). I told you I would make it up to you that I haven't posted as much music lately, so here it is - a rather eclectic mix of 20 Christmas songs for your enjoyment over the next few days leading up to Christmas:

All I Want For Christmas Is You [mp3] - Mariah Carey

Happy Christmas (War is Over) [mp3] - The Alarm

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree [mp3] - Brenda Lee

Little Drummer Boy [mp3] - The Dandy Warhols

A Holly Jolly Christmas [mp3] - Burl Ives

The Twelve Days of Christmas [mp3] - Belle & Sebastian

X-mas Song [mp3] - Fireflies

White Christmas [mp3] - Bing Crosby

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen [mp3] - Bright Eyes

Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas [mp3] - The Eels

Ice Storm [mp3] - The Go! Team - "Christmas"

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas [mp3] - Judy Garland

Joy to the World [mp3] - Sufjan Stevens

The Christmas Song [mp3] - The Raveonettes

Christmas Bells [mp3] - Rent

All I Ever Get For Christmas is Blue [mp3] - Over the Rhine

Deck the Halls [mp3] - The Essex Green

And from my old high school choir (if you're in the mood for something a little more classical):

Jingle Bells Medley [mp3]

Laudate Dominum [mp3]

Hodie [mp3]

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Wacky Wednesday - Christmas Edition

To make up for the fact that I haven't posted much music lately, I am going to do a Theme Thursday Christmas extravaganza tomorrow. In fact, I'm posting so many songs that I have decided to take some of them (the sillier ones) and post them today so that it's not quite so overwhelming tomorrow. So here you go - some whacky Christmas songs.

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis [mp3] - Neko Case - "New Coat of Paint: Songs of Tom Waits" (iTunes). This song isn't particularly silly but it has a funny title.

Oi to the World [mp3] - No Doubt (iTunes)

a Christmas medley [mp3] by Flipp (I think). I have no idea what it's called or what album it is from. A friend of mine made a "Christmas Carnage" mix CD one year, and this was on it. I'm not even 100% sure it's Flipp but it sounds like Flipp and my friend was a big Flipp fan. If anyone knows the title, artist and/or album, please feel free to tell me.

This Christmas [mp3] - Louis XIV (iTunes)

Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) [mp3] - The Ramones - "Brain Drain" (iTunes)

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Videos from the radio stars

I'm feeling in a cinematic mood today (maybe it's because of my awesome new camera that I'm slowly figuring out how to use...!), so I'm going to post some music videos. Hoorah!

Paper Planes - MIA - "Kala" (iTunes)

Not the best video but I love MIA anyway.

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) - MIKA - "Life in Cartoon Motion" (iTunes)

As great as this video is, it's not quite as great as the video for Love Today, which Universal Music Group has disabled the "embed" feature on, so alas I can't post it here. I also find this video kind of ironic because Mika couldn't be skinnier (or gayer...)

Pull Shapes - The Pipettes - "We are The Pipettes" (iTunes)

I wanted to post their video for Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling) but once again, Universal has disabled the "embed" feature. Really not understanding why they would shy away from the free publicity of people re-posting the video all over the internet...?

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Merry Christmas to me

I bought myself an early Christmas present today: the Canon Digital Rebel XTI. Ain't she a beauty? Now you won't have to read my ranting about how much my camera sucks when I try to take pictures at concerts (not that it even always worked anyway). So yay! Merry Christmas to me! Sorry no music today guys. I've had a very long day and I am just going to crash. But I will make it up to you I promise. Tata dahlings.

Will Smith is Legend

I don't write too many movie reviews unless I've seen an advanced screening or it's a smaller film that I want to support but this time, I'm making an exception. I saw "I am Legend" last night. I personally was very excited for this film because I had seen them filming all over the city - particularly in Washington Square Park (I saw all the bald, white-headed zombies in the park one night but they were all wearing winter coats and I actually saw Will Smith leaving his trailer in his full army costume one day) - and it's always cool to see movies that you saw being filmed come to life on the screen. I almost PAed on the film (it set the record for most PAs ever used on a film I do believe and a few of my professors had been contacted to recruit us film students) but was too busy. I kind of wish, in retrospect, that I could've. PAing sucks, but it would be really cool to say that I was involved in the making of this film.

Everyone was skeptical about whether or not a movie where Will Smith is the only character for the majority of the film would be boring or not, but Will Smith was totally captivating. The run time is an hour and 41 minutes, but it didn't feel that long at all. Not that 101 minutes is that long of a run time for a movie anymore. But the point is, it never dragged. Will Smith gives an awesome performance as a man whose solitary "constantly being hunted but is sure he can find a cure for these cannibalistic zombie-like creatures that used to be humans" lifestyle is starting to get to him. The relationship between him and his only companion - a German shepherd named Sam - is so touching and heartbreaking. I was really impressed by Will Smith. I haven't seen any of the other dramas that he's been in, but I think he has really proven himself as an actor of all genres.

The movie is also rife with suspense and tension. I kept waiting for things to jump out of the shadows. I think I was holding my breath at a few points and I was not all about going home to an empty apartment by myself at night after the film, so I hung out with some friends instead. It's not really a horror movie, but parts of the movie are downright scary, which is fine. Just be prepared for that.

One thing I didn't like was how parts of the movie were so quiet and then there would be a really loud noise to startle you, but it wasn't even anything scary. It was him closing those metal window guard things or something. There were a few times where I was like "that was really unnecessary." Other than that there were just the basic plot-hole questions that aren't really a big deal but just kind of bug you if you think about them too much like "why does the water still work when everything is all grown over and none of the other utilities are working?" and "if 90% of the world died, where did all the bodies go?"

Oh I guess there was one more thing I wasn't such a fan of with the whole experience - watching empty New York on the screen in a theater packed full of New Yorkers who, it sounded like, were all eating popcorn as loudly as possible. And at least 2 cell phones went off during the movie. That kind of ruined the whole "abandoned New York" feeling for me.

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Kid Nation

This week was the season finale of the CBS reality series, "Kid Nation." Before the show even aired it caused a great deal of controversy with legal disputes about child labor laws and the like. Dealing with kids is always messy legally, which is why I think most networks have avoided it until now. But frankly, I think "Kid Nation" is one of the most innovative reality shows on television and even though I didn't start watching until almost half way through the season, I became completely addicted. I think the concept - of taking 40 kids and putting them in a little miniature town away from the rest of society, without TVs and the internet and other various luxuries, and without adults - is pretty genius.

Of course, saying that they were completely on their own without adults is a lie. There's the obnoxious host who shows up for the challenges and town hall meetings - both of which are adult designed. In fact, the kids may not have to follow specific rules about things like when to go to bed or when to do the dishes, but the whole structure of the show and their time in "Bonanza" is adult-manipulated and scheduled - from the basic organization of the town into districts with a town council to the reading of the "journal" that clues them in to what they should be doing (which usually is what the challenges revolve around too) for the next few days to the challenges that decide what "class" each "district" is (and in turn decides their jobs and their wages) to the ritual town hall meetings where they give away $20,000 (in the form of a solid gold star) to one deserving kid. And the rewards that the kids received for winning the challenges were always totally loaded and manipulative - like the episode where they had to pick between religious texts and a put-put course. I mean, the kids are smart enough to know that if they didn't pick the religious texts, the world would point fingers and say "look at what our children have become!" but I bet you a million dollars that the kids deep down inside really wanted that put-put course. And why shouldn't they? They're kids. They should enjoy their youth while they still can. They have the rest of their lives to figure out their spirituality.

But the best parts of the show were the parts that weren't so adult manipulated - like when kids would come up with ideas of their own to make things and sell them for money (yay for future entrepreneurs of the world) or when they would get in fights and make up an hour later because they realize that holding grudges just isn't worth it. These kids on this show were so mature sometimes, it was pretty impressive. Kids are much wiser than people give them credit for. My favorite quote of the whole season came from the finale when DK said something to affect of "As a leader, my decisions affect other people, not just me. I have to remember that there are other people out there." Our current administration could learn a thing or too from these kids. DK said it much better than that too and he's 14. I think he probably came out with the most wise quotes of any of the kids. But almost all of the kids had their moments of wise revelation. And I think "Kid Nation" shows us that kids are sometimes wiser than adults - or they see things more clearly - because they don't have so much baggage and stuff from life influencing their thoughts and actions and they haven't been influenced by society for as long. And all of the kids - even the most spoiled of brats at the beginning - grew and became better people by the end, and I think that just goes to show that part of the reason kids are like that in the first place is because of adults.

Overall, despite a rather excessive amount of manipulation (but it wouldn't be reality TV without it...) I think this show is probably one of the highest quality reality TV shows on the air. I laughed and I cried (a lot actually...) and I felt uplifted and maybe a little less afraid for the future of this country. I think if adults can watch it and reflect on the wisdom of these kids, we could all learn a few things. Plus I think it's just a really neat idea that no one else has really had the guts to tackle. I'm really glad that despite all the legal hullabaloo it looks as if there may be a Kid Nation 2 (applications were due back in October).

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People are stupid

Last night I was supposed to go to an advanced screening of Sweeney Todd, which I was so excited for. However, due to how poorly organized the screening was (and how rude the people working there were), I didn't end up seeing the movie. Instead I decided to pay to see No Country For Old Men, which was good. A little slow at times, but good overall. Very tense. Javier Bardem was awesome as the creepy villain (though I have to question the haircut...?).

Lesson learned this week: Kip's Bay AMC theater (2nd avenue and 32nd street) sucks. Don't go there. And tickets are $11.25 (when did the cost of movie tickets go up again?! Last time I went to a movie it was $11.00 and the time before that it was $10.75... It's like every time I go it's more expensive!) Man I hate New York sometimes. And I'm sorry but there is no reason to pay so much for a movie ticket and then have to sit through commercials beforehand. Ok, rant over.

Even though it's Friday I'm not going to do a "dance party" mix because there aren't too many new dance songs that I'm really digging at the moment. But here are some other miscellaneous songs I've been listening to with greater frequency lately (they're not new per say, but for one reason or another I haven't posted them and they're currently in my list of favorites so I thought I should share them):

Chicago [mp3] - Sufjan Stevens - "Illinois" (iTunes)

So Says I [mp3] - The Shins - "Chutes Too Narrow" (iTunes)

Hedonistic Me [mp3] - Born Ruffians - "Born Ruffians - EP" (iTunes)

And in other news, Britney Spears' new video for her song "Piece Of Me" comes out tonight. I caught the preview online, and it looks a whole lot better than her half-assed video for "Gimme More." To read more and see a preview, go here. Tata dahlings.

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Theme Thursday - The Road

Before I get to Theme Thursday I just want to say that I saw Electric Six last night for the third time. They did a free show at Southpaw with Earl Greyhound. I'm not going to say much because it was a lot of the usual - fun dance rock and crazy antics from the lead singer (I got a hug this time and he was singing literally inches from my face for a minute. It was pretty awesome). Electric Six was great as usual, despite the lack of keyboard player this show. The crowd was pretty cool this time too - not too rowdy but very excited to be there. At certain points I thought I was seeing The Beatles or something. People were screaming and grabbing at the lead singer's clothing when he came up to the front of the stage. The frenzy was kinda weird actually.

The sound mixer sucked though and I couldn't hear the vocals. I would write about Earl Greyhound, but I honestly can't really form an opinion of their songs since I couldn't hear their voices at all. It sounded like I might've liked the songs, but I couldn't really tell. Stupid sound mixer. The vocals weren't much better for Electric Six, but I could hear him a little more because he tends to yell-sing anyway, and plus I know the songs so I can kind of pick out what he's saying. Anyway, on to Theme Thursday...

So a theme was finally suggested to me: road construction. However, that is a rather tough theme to find songs for, so I'm going to broaden it a little and go with "the road." And, as always, feel free to leave suggestions for future themes.

Open Road [mp3] - Alex Woodard - "Up With the Sun" (iTunes)

Road Trippin' [mp3] - The Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Greatest Hits" (iTunes)

The Road [mp3] - Tenacious D - "Tenacious D" (iTunes)

You can say you knew him when

I have a new infatuation and his name is Ian Axel. Ok, that sounds creepy. But my point is that I think he's incredibly talented. I would go so far as to say I think he is the next Ben Folds. And yes, his real name is Ian Axel. He actually brought that up at the show - saying that people think it's fake. But his mother was in the audience, so clearly he wasn't lying.

I first met Ian Axel a week or so ago at a small benefit concert/air guitar competition for Threads that Teach. He went up at the end and played a few songs. I was completely blown away. He was an amazing pianist, his songs (which he wrote himself) were awesome, and his performance fun and engaging, despite the fact that it was just him and the piano on the stage (not just anyone can pull that off). He only got to play a few songs though, none of which are on his EP, "im on to you," so I jumped at the opportunity to see him play a full set at the Rockwood Music Hall last night.

The name Rockwood Music Hall is kind of misleading - it implies a big open space. It was definitely not a big open space. In fact, it was small, dark and crowded. However, it was intimate and friendly, and the perfect space for someone like Ian Axel to play in because the crowd (which consisted mostly of people who seemed to know him or his music quite well) can interact with him. There was lots of audience participation - clapping and singing along and the like. All in all it was quite a good time.

One of the things I really like about Ian Axel is the range of styles that he achieves with just him and his piano. A lot of his songs are slow, beautiful, piano-rock ballads - but then there are fun, kind of silly songs like "Heartbreak Girl" or angry songs or dark songs (I don't remember their titles because they're not on his EP, but one of them is a waltz - the dark song, which is kind of silly at the same time somehow. The waltz is my favorite of all of his songs that I've heard him perform). He is a very talented and engaging performer, no matter what style song he is playing. You can tell he's having fun and that he really loves music. And that's what I love to see in a performer.

So go check him out and when he's super famous you can say you knew him when. Myspace him or buy his EP on iTunes. Here are some samples for you from his EP:

Afterglow [mp3]
We Are [mp3]

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Xanadu

Last night I saw the Broadway musical Xanadu - you know, the one based off of the 1980 Olivia Newton-John roller disco movie. I haven't actually seen the movie, but my understanding is that the movie was pretty awful (now I fully intend to go see it too). But the play was a total blast and it is the the fact that the movie was so awful that makes the play so great - most of the play is spent just making fun of the movie.

For those of you who have never heard of the movie Xanadu, ONJ plays a roller-skating Greek muse named Clio (who, as a human, goes by the alias Kira, "which is good because that's her name") who inspires a guy named Sonny Malone in Venice Beach, California in 1980 to open a roller-disco called The Xanadu. However, she breaks the key muse rule of not falling in love with a mortal and she falls in love with Sonny.

Sadly, I didn't get to see star Kerry Butler in it, but her understudy Patti Murin was fabulous so it was still a riot. I loved her overdone Australian accent and I'm very impressed with her rollerskating skills. I suck at rollerskating, so I can't imagine having to wear rollerskates through in an entire play and do things like dance with them on.

The whole cast was awesome and they all looked like they were having the time of their lives. I would say my favorite was Jackie Hoffman as the muse Calliope. She was absolutely hilarious - so campy. The whole play was just so campy that I think even the most avid musical hater might enjoy themselves, because not only is it mocking the movie Xanadu, but it's almost (lovingly) mocking musical theater.

I highly highly recommend Xanadu if you want to go see a super fun Broadway show. Although don't sit too close to the stage - I was in the very front row (Row B on the left side of the auditorium) and it gets kind of hard to see sometimes. Plus they kept making fog, which nearly asphyxiated us a few times.

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Dance Party - 12.7.07

Happy Friday everyone.

Goblin City [mp3] - Panthers - "The Trick" (iTunes)

Love in a Trashcan [mp3] - The Raveonettes - "Pretty in Black" (iTunes)

Every Time We Touch [mp3] - Cascada - "Every Time We Touch" (iTunes)

Theme Thursday - Waiting

AAAAHHHH!!!!! REMY ZERO IS KIND OF BACK TOGETHER!!!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Ok, sorry, I just had to get that out of my system. You're going to have to excuse my giddy schoolgirlness this post because these guys are possibly my favorite band of all time so I am super excited. I was browsing myspace yesterday and it said that they added new music and I was like "what?!" because they've been broken up since 2003 (there were rumors in 2006 that they were considering getting back together but then that didn't happen) and I went to their profile and it now says they've been together "1989-2003, 2007-???" Hooray!!!!! The "new music" that was added was just a song called Christmas off their self-titled album from 10 years ago. But in their "about Remy Zero" section it says: "The story so far: We formed in Birmingham, AL in 1989. We took a break in 2003. It seems now we've found the spirit to make music together again. Whatever we do as a group and seperately we'll try to keep you posted on here. Stay tuned..." AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! I'm SO EXCITED!!!!! I was so heartbroken when they broke up.

Anyway, so since I've been waiting for this to happen for a long time, the theme this week is waiting. As always, please feel free to leave ideas for future themes.

Save Me [mp3] - Remy Zero - "The Golden Hum" (iTunes) - there are lyrics that say "I've been waiting for you" and I wanted to include them...

Waiting for Magic (Total Remix 7") [mp3] - Ace of Base - "The Sign" (iTunes)

Waiting [mp3] - Cake - "Pressure Chief" (iTunes)

Waiting for Your Letter [mp3] - Cary Brothers - "Waiting for Your Letter EP" (iTunes)

Waiting for Life [mp3] - Once on this Island (iTunes)

Waiting to Die [mp3] - Zero 7 - "The Garden" (iTunes)

Don't Make Me Wait [mp3] - Locksley - "Don't Make Me Wait" (iTunes)

Get On With It

Saturday night I went the album release show at The Lion's Den for some friends of a friend. The band is called Shoot the Messenger, which I have to say is a great band name. The show was lots of fun. Opening for them was their professor's band, The Bronze Fondue, and one of the members of Shoot the Messenger played with them. They had costumes and they were pretty funny. Shoot the Messenger was up next and they were great. They had lots of energy. One thing I thought was neat about them was that they switched instruments like practically every song, which goes to show that they are all multi-talented individuals.

I'm going to digress momentarily to write about my first introduction to some of the members of Shoot the Messenger. They are recorded music students at NYU. My freshman year roommate (the friend who also brought me to their show this weekend) played their freshman year final project for me - it was a boyband spoof song entitled Boom Shika La (She Move Me). It started off as a joke, but then they really went through with it. They recorded that song under the name Prisons of Fun. I'm not sure how many of the members of Shoot the Messenger were involved, but I know at least two were and I believe this was probably one of their earliest collaborations together. I have to say, Boom Shika La (She Move Me) is one of the catchiest, funniest songs I think I've ever heard - much like most real boyband material, and I think they could've had a smash hit had they gotten it into the right hands. I was very disappointed that they didn't perform Boom Shika La at the Shoot the Messenger show.

Luckily, Shoot the Messenger still knows how to write catchy tunes, even when they're not mocking boybands. Their debut EP, "Get On With It," is six songs that I won't be able to get out of my head for a long time. From the first bouncy Didn't Know to the last country-flavored (and surprisingly my favorite) Going Home, each song makes you want to sing along. They are a rock band, but each song has a slightly different feeling to it, which is nice. So go over to their myspace and have a listen. I'm not sure how you can purchase the EP from them at this very moment (they were for sale at the show) but it will be on iTunes in a few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled (what a gross saying!). And if you really need it right this very minute, I'm sure if you send them a message or something, they would be glad to sell it to you. Some samples for you:

Boom Shika La (She Move Me) [mp3] - Prisons of Fun

Didn't Know [mp3] - Shoot the Messenger

Going Home [mp3] - Shoot the Messenger

Photos by Laura Schwartz.

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A little taste of Minneapolis in New York

I recently discovered that I could stream The Current (Minnesota's public rock radio station) on iTunes. I knew you could stream it online, but I couldn't get that to work for me for some reason. The iTunes stream is pretty flawless and it tells you what song is playing and everything, which is really nice. I don't listen to the radio in New York at all. And The Current is really one of the few stations I listen to in Minnesota (ever since they got rid of Drive105, may it rest in peace...). Here are a few of the awesome songs I've heard on it the past few days that make me love this radio station.

Hang Me Up to Dry [mp3] - Cold War Kids - "Robbers & Cowards" (iTunes)

Taught to Look Away [mp3] - Matt Pond PA - "Last Light" (iTunes)

Their motto is "expand your playlist," which I have definitely done since listening to this station. I love the variety of music they play. For example, at the moment they're playing the Peanuts Theme. So go check it out. Support public radio! woohoo! Tata dahlings.

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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

With a band name nearly as long as the EP itself, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are a New York pop-punk band on the rise. They have that noisy, under-produced, lo-fi Shoegazey sound that so many modern day bands are adopting in homage to classic early punk rockers combined with the dreamy, relaxed boy/girl vocal lines of Stars. They used to be a trio but in October they added a fourth member, drummer Kurt Feldman.

Their self-titled, self-debuted, 5-song EP runs at just 13 minutes 29 seconds but those brief minutes are lots of fun, as you can tell just by looking at the song titles - like the first track, entitled "This Love is Fucking Right!" or the third track, "Doing All the Things That Wouldn't Make Your Parents Proud." My favorite song though is probably the last track: their self-titled song on their self-titled, self-debuted EP. You can listen to 4 of the 5 songs on their myspace. Or buy it at Insound.

And some tracks to take home for you:

Doing All the Things That Wouldn't Make Your Parents Proud [mp3]
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [mp3]

Zerobridge

During CMJ I didn't get to go to many concerts, and the one night I did get to go see some shows, I had a really terrible night, which made it hard for me to really get into any of the bands that I saw perform. Zerobridge was one of those bands who I saw but couldn't get into because I was just plain crabby. Luckily, they saw my post and contacted me, offering me a second chance to listen to their music (when I was not in such an awful mood).

I'm not entirely sure why but the first thing that came to mind when I listened to their 5-song EP, "Havre De Grace," was: Snow Patrol meets Collective Soul meets Remy Zero. There are hints of a few other bands in there. Like maybe The Strokes? I dunno. They have a nice harmonious rock sound, most of their songs are relatively upbeat and something about them reminds me of 90s rock (hence the Collective Soul comparison). Saying that the remind me of 90s rock is a huge compliment coming from me because the 90s is my favorite musical decade. My one complaint would be that their song The Shake, with lyrics that say "get on the dance floor" could be a little more danceable. It's almost dance-able and I think they could of added a few more layers and maybe picked up the tempo just the tiniest bit to make it a very catchy dance-rock tune.

All in all, I quite enjoyed their EP and I'm glad they got in touch with me so I could give them a second (and more fair) listen. You can listen to their entire EP on their myspace or buy it on iTunes. And here's one freebie for you to take home:

This is My Version [mp3]

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