Three Weeks

Here's our interview with local Utah band and my personal friends, Three Weeks!

    -Where did you come up with your band name and is there some meaning behind it?

       It was a late night and we were in a silly mood.. we were talking about putting things off, and procrastinating.. our drummer at the time made the statement.. "yeah dude.. it's like three weeks til sunday..."  And we thought that's could be kind of a cool name.. so we were 3 Weeks til Sunday for several years, until we we released our album last April.. at which time we dropped the til Sunday part, and now we are just THREE WEEKS.  It's more user friendly for people announcing us and stuff.. the name got confusing for people sometimes..

- Who are some of your musical influences?

        I grew up listening to the Beatles, Eagles, Kansas, Journey.. you know the classic rock that our parents love.. so that really is the biggest influence in my writing.. trying to write songs that are catchy, and hopefully timeless.. other more modern influences would include Eve 6, Fountains of Wayne, and the Killers.

- Do you have a certain theme or feel for your current album?

     The album is called Alive Again.. and in it we deal with archetypes like  Rain, birth, resurrection... the album was produced in a time of great growth for the band, and preceded  some even bigger changes and bigger growth.  It really represents our first real steps and address to the world.

- Describe your sound/genre.

     We just call it chill rock.. it's all pretty easy to listen to..

- Who are the members of your band and their roles?

      Bryce Wood- Lead singer, guitar, songwriter
      Austin Wood- Keys, guitar, vocals, songwriter
     Christian Hathaway- Bass, vocals
     Kent Scott- drums, vocals
     We also have a full tech team that runs our light and sound headed up by Mark Lusk, Joseph Ditton, and Stuart Olsen

- What would you like to accomplish or achieve with your music?

     Show the world that there is more to listen to than just hip hop.. that music really can mean something again.  I look back at the songs that have had an impact on my life, and it's those songs by the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle that high school kids are showing to their teachers saying.. "Listen to this new band!  They have this awesome new song called Sounds of Silence!"  I want to help people rediscover the real magic of music.

- What is your creative process like?

     I do most of my composing with my brother Austin.. Some songs almost write themselves, while others have to ripen on the vine.  I get a lot of my ideas in the shower of all places:)  Usually one of us will have a concept for a song, and we get together, and just hammer it out.

- What instruments do you use (technical specs for the nerds)?  

     I play a Talman thin body electric acoustic, and I also play a squire telecaster.  Our keyboard is a Yamaha.. nothing fancy, our bass is a Fender vintage precision bass, and our drum kit is a pearl with zxt symbols.  I sing into a sure beta 58 mic, the back up vocals run on pg 48 mics, and our system is a combination of behringer, peavy, and crown boards and amps, with Kustom speakers.

- If you could work with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Paul Mcartney!

- What's on your MP3 player currently?

     I actually don't have one!  I'm still in the stone age!

- Any upcoming concert events or releases?

     We will be doing a concert on Dec 4th up Utah State University Campus.. cost is $5.00 at the door, and all public is welcome

- Any final thoughts, shoutouts, tips or words of advice?

     Never be afraid to pursue your dreams.. I started writing music because I wanted to do a band, but wasn't good at playing covers.. it's amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.  Do it for the love of it.

     Please check out our website threeweeksrock.com, and find us on facebook.. we do have a fan page for the band, or add me personally.  We have a lot of videos from past shows and stuff.  If you want us to come play just email me or facebook me!  Thanks much!

Nate & his Kite

 Read on for our Q&A session with band, Nate & his Kite, an experimental rock band from Indiana.

-Nate & His Kite, very quirky but it leaves me wondering...who is this Nate and what about his kite?  Where did you come up with your band name and is there some meaning behind it?

The name “Nate & His Kite” probably has an even more quirky story.  During the spring of 2005 the majority of our band was attending college together.  Our good friend Nathaniel spent day after day ditching class and flying his kite.  It was the free spirited attitude of this that seemed to parallel the music we were making.  In 2008 Nathaniel joined our band after playing trombone on our album.  It just seemed right.

- Who are some of your musical influences?

I personally am influenced by everything I hear.  I really try to keep an open mind about genres and try to give everything I come across an honest listen.  The big influences for me are The Beatles, Tom Waits, Oingo Boingo, Talking Heads, The Format, Ozma, The Blood Brothers, and The Mars Volta.  As a whole we listen to a wide variety of things including The Beach Boys, RX Bandits, Horse the Band, and a wide range of hip hop and R&B artists. We also pull a lot from classical, jazz, and world music

- Do you have a certain theme or feel for your current album?

The idea of being isolated was a really big concept lyrically.  We tried to give each song a different perspective on that.  Musically, we focused on applying the right kind of genre to fit the mood of what we were trying to say.  It was a bit like working on a massive jigsaw puzzle, trying to find that one piece that fit in just the right place to get point across and have everything still feel like a complete song.

- Describe your sound/genre.

It’s sort of a giant collage of the music we’re influenced by.  We jump around with styles a lot and really try to make sure each song is fun but has substance.

- Who are the members of your band and their roles?

Collin Magdziarz: Lead vocals, keyboard, guitar
Robert Herrold: Lead Guitar, Vocals
Clifford Evans: Bass Guitar, Vocals
Nathaniel Ertel: Trombone, Keyboard, Various Instruments
Josiah Greatens: Drums, Vocals

- What would you like to accomplish or achieve with your music?

We really want everyone to have a good time listening to our music and take something substantial away from it.

- What is your creative process like?

Usually, a song begins with a simple idea, a few bars, a melody, or some sort of storyline or topic one of us feels strongly about.  We all have a great deal of input into the writing so it truly is a collaborative process.

- What instruments do you use (technical specs for the nerds)?

Collin: Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cutaway with the capacitor cut out. Amplifier: Vox AC30CC2
Robert: Guitar: Fender Stratocaster Amplifier: Vox Valvetronix
Clifford: Bass Guitar: Ibanez 5 string Amplifier: Crate
Nathaniel: Blessing Trombone, various instruments
Josiah Greatens: Mapex Drums, Sabian Cymbals
we also use a korg microkorg, casio privia, and propellerhead reason for live shows.

- If you could work with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I suppose I would have to say Tom Waits and Danny Elfman.

- What's on your MP3 player currently?

I have way too much music on my iPod to list but I have been listening to the new Fun. album endlessly.

- Any upcoming concert events or releases?

We’re playing The Elbo Room in Chicago, IL on November 15.  We’ve just started booking for winter and spring of next year so there should be a number of things coming up soon.

- Any final thoughts, shoutouts, tips or words of advice?

It’s very important to keep an open mind about music and art.  There are wonderful things beneath the surface that make you think and feel new things if you just give them a chance.

For more information or streaming music please visit

http://www.myspace.com/nateandhiskite

The album Nate & His Kite and the Articifical Scenery is available now on iTunes.

Kill The Drama

Here we have an interview with Steve of the Alt. Rock band Kill The Drama. Enjoy!

-Kill the Drama, easily words to live by.  Where did you come up with your band name and is there some meaning behind it?

Back when we started, we had a female lead singer who created some serious drama within the band so I suggested we call the band something with "drama" in it. A few days later our bassist at the time, Skinny, was traveling with Adam from the band "Triggers" on a roadtrip. He called me and suggested "Kill the Drama". At first, we were a little skeptical because it made us sound like a metal band, but at the time the Killers were just coming out, and they were Indie rock / alternative so we went with it.

- Who are some of your musical influences?

This is a loaded question since we all have so many. Bryan loves bands like Coheed, Zeppelin, Deftones, Floyd, and is really inspired by great guitarists like Randy Roads and David Gilmour. He also pulls from musical theatre for his vocals as he was classically trained in that capacity. I bring a riff inspired style and some of my favorites are Tool, Placebo, Failure and Muse and I also pull great inspiration from Tom Morello and the Edge among others. Jason's real into drumming from the 90's like Dave Abruzesse from Pearl Jam and Jeremy Taggart from Our Lady Peace. He also told me he first wanted to be a drummer from watching Dave Grohl with Nirvana and that probably has a lot to do with his energetic style. Mars brings an element of Janes Addiction and Perfect Circle style basslines that can give the bands direction more of a haunting quality and groove. When you throw all of that together and more it gives us the KTD sound.

- Do you have a certain theme or feel for your current album?

Lyrically "Close Friends with Sharp Knives" is a reflection of different times in our lives. I think it captures love, death, hope, rebellion, the human spirit, betrayal,  and the grind of trying to achieve success rather well. There's also a bit of humor mixed in at times and some flat out interpretive art for the listener. Musically, the songs run the gamut from aggressive to passive, poppy to pure dynamic rock. Its not a mess though without direction. Every song had a purpose and fits on the album I think. Its the foundation of emotional-type rock the music we've been writing the last year or so.

- Describe your sound/genre.

Eurosex rock is what someone called it. I guess because of the romatic European quality to the vocals and music at times but at the same time having a sort of sexual energy to it. We've also been called arena rock because of the big riffs and grandiose elements we have in our songs. I wish we could play a full arena to see if it would carry the energy through the crowd like how we intended it to.

- Who are the members of your band and their roles?

Bryan - Vox / Guitar
Steve - Guitar / Vox
Mars - Bass
Jason - Drums / loops

- What would you like to accomplish or achieve with your music?

To continue to make real honest music and to do it for a real living where we can focus all our time and energy into it. Right now we work efficiently with the time we have and do a pretty good job of balancing creating music with recording and the lvie shows. I wish we could find someone who can take Kill the Drama to the next level. Maybe we finally can try that Arena rock thing someday?

- What is your creative process like?

Sometimes it starts with a guitar idea or bass idea that we come up with before hand and present it to the band. Other times things just kinda happen at practice. Its hard to say. Vocals usually come next where Bry writes the lyrics and sometimes pulls some ideas from a bunch of non-sensical lyric ideas I send to him. That's the real genius he has. He know what words sound good coming out of his voice and knows how to phrase them to work with the music. He's also great at writing a vocal melody which really brings the song along in the process. After we get a good start, we add a bridge or an ending. Sometimes we kinda just pull it together on the fly. The good thing is each song is different and has its own story.

- What instruments do you use (technical specs for the nerds)?

We've been experimenting with some different instruments lately. I think that you can say Bryan is a Les Paul  and Marshall guy and I'm all Strat and Hughes and Kettner Tri-amp for my thick tone. The sounds between Bry and I blend super well. Jason was on Ayote and still uses their Kepplinger snare. Mars changes gear quite often. The constant is his GK heads and cabs.

- If you could jam with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I'd say Tom Morello from Rage. I'm known for pulling solid riffs off the top of my head and would love to throw riffs back and forth with him. Would be incredible. I'd also like to see Bryan jam with Queen personally. He has the tone and range to basically sing whatever or however he wants. I think he could crush some Queen songs

- What's on your MP3 player currently?

So many different things. Listening to Vampire Weekend right now which is a bit odd for me. I've also been listening to "Around the Fur" by Deftones when I work out mixed with Weezer and Phantom of the Opera at times. My MP3 player is a real eclectic mess right now. You should hear it on shuffle

- Any upcoming concert events or releases?

We just recorded a video for our song "Sunshine". See it at youtube.com/killthedramamusic or myspace.com/killthedramamusic . We'll be recording soon. We have about 14 songs right now and a handful of others to finish writing. I honestly have no idea when that will be done. Hopefully by early 2010.

- Any final thoughts, shoutouts, tips or words of advice?

Next time you drink a red bull and vodka, think of us.

For more information, streaming music and videos please visit:

http://www.myspace.com/killthedramamusic

or

http://www.youtube.com/killthedramamusic

Review - Where Astronauts Go to Hide: Amongst Friends

Rating: 9.2

Albeit short, this album tickled each and every indie bone in my body.

Amongst Friends opens with deliciously clear vocals, understated guitar and an excellent use of violin. Each track is littered with vivid imagery and personal references. You honestly feel like you're learning about the vocalist, Josh Pederson, with each phrase he sings. The fourth track "great lakes and greater lays" makes reference to places and things so creatively and endearingly that I genuinely felt like I knew the area being described.

This album is friendly and accessible. Even now I find myself craving Pederson's voice. The lyrics and vocals are warm and welcoming. The accompanying instruments are understated but grasp at your attention.

With this freshman release, Where Astronauts Go to Hide have created for themselves a solid, achingly genuine platform from which to etch their place in the musical sphere.

--Casper Wood

[mp3] Where Astronauts Go to Hide - "The House That Kevin Garnett Rebuilt"

Where Astronauts Go to Hide

Another great interview, this time with Joshua Pederson of Minneapolis/Chicago based band Where Astronauts Go to Hide.

-Where Astronauts Go to Hide, very creative name. Made me wonder...where do they actually go to hide? Where did you come up with your band name and is there some meaning behind it?

The name has very little meaning, actually. I thought of it while dining at a small pizza place in Minneapolis that’s outer-space themed. Their delivery drivers dress in spandex suits, and wear a helmet and a cape, while transporting your pizza in a small, electric pod-car. The phrase “Where Astronauts Go To Hide,” just popped in my head. The name serves no role, and does not influence my songwriting whatsoever. We actually aim to ignore it – we’ll never intentionally have space-themed merchandise or song titles, etc.

- Who are some of your musical influences?

My greatest musical influences are my close friends in the music industry, regardless of the style. We share ideas and provide constructive criticism. So, my greatest musical influences and friends are Brett Saxon (a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn), Down with the Ship (a great folk-rock group from Omaha), and Flashbulb Fires (phenomenal, talented dudes from Denver). Then there are the obvious influences that you may or may not hear in our music: Wilco, Springsteen, and Dylan the leaders amongst them.

- Do you have a certain theme or feel for your current album?

Well, our most recent effort, “Amongst Friends,” is supposed to convey a sense of comfort in chaos, I guess. The songs on the album were written during an interesting time in my life where I didn’t know what I wanted or where I wanted to be. I’d discontinued my college experience and really decided to orient my energy toward music. Despite the chaos and change surrounding me, I did everything I could to maintain a positive outlook on life. In my struggles I realized that a house is a place to keep your stuff and “home” is where you are happy. Where you are comfortable. For me, “home” is amongst my beautiful friends.

- Describe your sound/genre.

Simple: Fun-loving folk-rock.

- Who are the members of your band and their roles?

Well, I’m Joshua Pederson, and I write the songs. Of course, the whole band plays a role in the creative process once I come to the table with the skeleton. I sing lead vocals, and play acoustic guitar and mandolin. Rachel Kahn plays violin mandolin, trumpet and piano. My brother, Andrew Pederson, plays electric guitar. Another pair of brothers are in the band, Matt Krumm on bass guitar and Mike Krumm on percussion. We’ve recently added Ronnie Parpart, and he will essentially play the role of the “auxiliary guy.” He’ll play a bunch of stuff. Everyone sings backup vocals.

- What would you like to accomplish or achieve with your music?

We are not a band that wants to headline arena tours and sell t-shirts for $35. Our mission is to connect with as many people as possible nationwide and assist in creating a community of talented people and music-lovers. Most of all, we are lovers of travel who love nothing more than performing for new faces each night and the healing therapy of the road in between.

- What is your creative process like?

When it comes to me, it’s sporadic. My songs assemble themselves randomly – I don’t have a staggered method. When it comes to the band, I present the song to them (usually via a demo recording) and they seem to craft their parts loosely. We’ll meet and put everything together, exchange ideas and make decisions together here and there. The band always seems to have a great idea of what vibe I’m trying to convey with a song, and for that, among many other reasons, I love them. I trust them and hardly question what they contribute.

- What instruments do you use (technical specs for the nerds)?

Well, here’s what I know for sure. I play an Alvarez acoustic guitar. Rachel and I share an Epiphone Mandobird mandolin. Rachel plays a Samuel Shen violin. Andy and Matt use assorted Fender and Vox guitars and amps. Mike plays a Tama Rockstar kit. Ronnie plays a guitar rig he essentially personally assembled, so I wouldn’t dare try to explain it.

- If you could jam with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

It’s hard to answer this question. I’m not a “jammer.” But I feel like if I were to have the opportunity to present my songs to anyone in an intimate setting, I would have to select the people whose advice I would be the most likely to respect: Jeff Tweedy from Wilco, Andrew Bird, or anyone in the Hold Steady. I could easily say Hendrix or someone like that, but I feel like I would rather discuss music with people that are currently creating something new and interesting – and surviving in the brutal environment that is today’s music industry.

- What's on your MP3 player currently?

I recently discovered an absolutely wonderful band from Montreal called Land of Talk. I can’t get enough. I’m also listening to a lot of An Horse, Maria Taylor and Kevin Devine.

- Any upcoming concert events or releases?

We’ve got some local shows in Chicago and Minneapolis coming up before the end of the year (yeah, we’re local in two cities…). We are also premiering a music video on November 19th in Minneapolis for our song “The House that Kevin Garnett Rebuilt.” We’ll be hitting the open road again come early 2010.

- Any final thoughts, shoutouts, tips or words of advice?

Of course, I would like to thank Mstoc for featuring us on your blog site! Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this and look up our music. I have one shout-out: our great friend Laura in Chicago who has designed a website for us, and taken loads of live pictures and video. I feel like I should credit her more often, I’m just lazy about that. Advice? I don't feel like I'm in any place to give anyone advice, but here's what I would say, if I did assume such a position: Don’t get discouraged. Some people in some cities have opinions of their own, some people only like what Pitchfork tells them to like, some cities will only like Minus the Bear cover bands. Someone, somewhere, will love what you’re doing.

The Temple Cloud Country Club

Mstoc's exclusive interview with Dean Frances-Hawksley and Andy Suttie of The Temple Cloud Country Club.

The Temple Cloud Country Club, very unique name. Where did you come up with the name and is there some meaning behind it?

Dean - We originally intended the band to be a kind of internet music collective, a ‘club’ of sorts. This is because there are only two of us and we live in different countries. We thought it would be nice to get musicians from around the world to contribute by sending files and then we could assemble the finished piece. But we’re both control freaks, so we ended up doing everything ourselves.

Andy - The name doesn't really mean anything. Temple Cloud is a small village just south of Bristol, England. I used to drive through it quite a bit. It just struck me as being a very cool, and somewhat bizarre name for a little village.

- Who are some of your musical influences?

Dean - I like the Crazy Frog. Suttie listens to anything mechanical – vacuum cleaners, engines, power tools, that kind of thing. Also, if you spill a box of matches, he can tell how many there are just by looking.

- Do you have a certain theme or feel for your current album?

Andy - I'll let Dean tell you as much or as little as he likes about the theme, but yes, it's pretty heavily themed. It's a full-on concept album, if you want to think of it like that.

Dean - Yes. The album is largely about those defining moments that mark the end of childhood, the moments at which we are ‘invented’ (hence the album’s title). A Hole in Water, for example, recalls my first understanding of suicide, an actor in a TV show I loved as a small boy. Lillian is about the death of my grandma. Indestructible is about witnessing a motorbike accident. These are the moments when we are shocked out of our childish reverie. There’s a song called The Death of a Family Pet, which speaks for itself really.

- Describe your sound/genre.

Dean - I can’t. Sorry.

Andy - Ask someone else. I really don't know. My wife describes it as Un-Easy-Listening, which I thought was quite clever. If you look at the blog on MySpace (We Sound Like what?) you can find a truly odd range of material that we have been compared with. Sometimes people call us prog, and sometimes people call us retro. Actually, can we be both progressive and retropsective at the same time?

-Who are the members of the band and their roles?

Dean - There are two of us, myself (Dean Frances-Hawksley) and Andy Suttie. I write the songs and provide vocals and minimal acoustic guitar. Suttie takes my folksy arrangements and changes them into what you hear on the album – adding drums and bass and piano and whatever else, and producing the whole thing. It’s a very efficient unit.

Andy - There's only Dean and me. I play guitar, bass and keyboards.

- What would you like to accomplish or achieve with your music?

Dean ­- I’d like for our music to be an influence for good health, like eating broccoli or carrot sticks. Musical broccolli.

- What is your creative process like?

Dean - The songs are written quickly and there are many of them. I send them to Suttie. The ones he likes he arranges and sends back to me. That’s the core of it done. After that it’s all details, getting things to sound as good as possible, re-doing vocals and the like. And all without ever being in the same room together.

Andy - Usually Dean sends me a rough demo of a song with acoustic guitar and vocal, and I send it back with a rough attempt at an arrangement. usually we bounce things backwards and forwards by email a few times, adding and changing things before we settle on something. I have a more hands-on role in productions, but Dean has a lot of input.

- What instruments do you use (technical specs for the nerds)?

Dean - We don’t rule out using any instrument, and we don’t rule out ruling out any instrument. We use a mix of real and sampled instruments, whatever we can play, steal or borrow basically.

Andy - I write the orchetsral parts and programme them in Cubase.

- If you could jam with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Dean ­- I don’t know how Suttie would feel on this one – he’s a far better guitar player than me, so maybe he would enjoy it – but I hate jamming, I even dislike the word. Jamming always seems so wasteful, an activity for stoners. I have bad connotations of drunk people sitting around late at night, reducing every song to three chords, repeating the same verse time and again because they can’t remember the words. Spare me. But if Bob Dylan invited me to his house I would do whatever he asked. I would play Rockin All Over The World for three hours solid if he asked me to. I would even do the moves.

Andy - I was never a fan of jammimg with anyone. I like to play music which is worked out and structured when I play with other musicians. I can't think of anyone I'd rather work with than Dean at the moment.

 - What's on your MP3 player currently?

Dean - I don’t use one. I’m listening to a clarinet quintet by Mozart at this moment. Then I intend playing some Crazy Frog.

Andy - I don't have an mp3 player.

- Any upcoming concert events or releases?

Dean - Yes – the album. The album is out on the 28th of this month. We’re hoping to play live gigs from spring next year.

- Any final thoughts, shoutouts, tips or words of advice?

Dean - Yes, don’t deliberately mis-spell words on your FaceBook updates to make yourself seem tough and ill-educated. FaceBook is inane enough without making matters worse. Unless you are tough and ill-educated, in which case, please don’t hurt me.

You can find more about the band, their album and listen to their music at
http://www.myspace.com/thetemplecloudcountryclub

Or at

http://www.templecloudcountryclub.co.uk

Review - Qu: Sherwood

Rating: 7.3

“I am the favorite in a fight that I can’t win.”

On an album loaded with catchy tracks, Sherwood’s third release Qu (out October 13th on MySpace Records), has me tapping my toes and singing under my breath while I work on reports at my desk. Vocal harmonies and distortion saturated guitar solos hook you while the jazzy drums and lyrical synth hold you tight.

The lyrics are energetic and you’ll be singing along before you realize it. Peppy, upbeat tracks create a happy pop rock feel while the languid slow numbers opine about love and life. Qu, in its entirety, is an addictive and memorable collection of songs sure to have you bobbing your head and tapping your fingers on the steering wheel as you remember summer nights spent in the arms of your High School sweetheart.


Track by track review for Sherwood Qu:

Shelter – Perfectly displays Sherwood’s harmonic gift. At not even a minute long this is an nice little display of the vocal talent of the group.

Maybe This Time – I really enjoyed the percussive mimic of a rapidly beating clock as the intro to this song. The lyrics are empowering. This is a fun, poppy way to open the full length tracks for the album.

Hit the Bottom – Of all the songs on Qu, this is the song I see playing on Top 40 radio. The track is danceable, singable and is already stuck in my head. You’ll hear this song being hummed and sung by high school students the world around. It’s pretty hard not to get caught up in the chorus and in the breakdown in the middle of the song.

Make it Through – Charming rhythms and clear vocals in “Make it Through” will easily hook you. The song is relatively slowly paced but is still a fun, catchy tune.

You Are – Yet another song I could easily see, or hear as it were, playing on the loudspeakers at a High School dance or play during one of the awkward silent moments on The Hills. It’s still catchy as hell and fun to sing along with.

Ground Beneath My Feet – The very instant this track started I could not help but draw comparisons to The Fray. The use of the keys, even the vocals and lyric style all smack heavily of songs like “How to Save a Life.” After a slow intro, the song drops into a more driven style. It’s a good song and if you’re a fan of bands like The Fray, this is the track for you.

Around You – Another song that quickly had me comparing Sherwood to bands like The Fray. This number is genuine and romantic. Use this on your digital mixtape for your significant other.
What Are You Waiting For? – I suppose, in answer to the question posed by this song, I’m waiting for this song to really pick up. This is the first, but not last, example of a song where I expected the song to pick up/speed up/get better and it just never quite ended up where I was hoping it would.

Not Gonna Love – Easily my favourite track on this album. This is a catchy, inviting and thoroughly fun song. I was singing along by my second listen. From first taste I was absolutely enamored with “Not Gonna Love.” It had a classic rock feel with a twist. The drums had me feeling as though I had just finished watching The Breakfast Club or Say Anything. I wish this track had been placed earlier in the album, however.

Worn – This number is gentle and heartwarming. This song features a lovely female voice in a duet. “Worn” is the type of song you’ll love when you’re thinking about your significant other.

Free – Again featuring a driving emphasis on the keys, “Free” is a slow anthem. The message seems befitting of a more enthusiastic soundtrack but the slow steady pace of the song is still entertaining. This is one of those tracks when you expect that at any time the song will pick up. Unfortunately, it never does.

No Better – Ending the album is a slow piece detailing a story of divorce as told from the eyes of the child or children. The depressing subject matter is hard to fit into the rest of the album. The song is touching, though, and is one of those numbers you’ll undoubtedly belt at the top of your lungs when you’re feeling down.

---Casper Wood