Honor Society

A bit of a departure into pop territory with this one, but keep reading because Honor Society aren't just your run of the mill sugary pop band. They have some of the most catchy, meticulously crafted songs I've heard in a long time. They remind me of The Cab with slick vocal harmonies having a modern edge with 80s undertones. (any group that sings about wondering what a girl's looking at on her mac are definitely a 21st century band) They are on tour with Jonas Brothers but let's not hold that against them, shall we?

Their EP, A Tale of Risky Business, spins tales of young love and regrets. Why Didn't I? tells of not getting the nerve up to tell someone how you really you feel, (It should be me and you together walking in the rain). It's the strongest track with a big beat verse that explodes into a driving chorus of guitar melodies and excellent harmonies. Honor Society shouldn't be exiled because they make great pop music. There is a place for undeniably catchy hooks with mainstream appeal and Honor Society delivers in both.

Honor Society- Myspace
Why Didn't I-

The London

Hailing from Pittsburgh(?), The London is a band with an epic quality to them. Lead singer Dusty Ray has a deeper voice that kind of reminds me of a more melodic Depeche Mode. Their new EP Young and In Love just came out and has a big sound to it. With blaring guitars, martial drums, and catchy hooks, The London, as their name suggests, has a very Britpop sound. But Ray says their influence from the British music scene doesn't land on any particular band but rather the way British music revolutionalized the scene.

The London have anthemic songs. Their first single, Content, begins with military drums before crashing into melodic chorus which finds Dusty reaching for the high notes. The song Young and In Love is pulsing with guitars and flowing with synths; a definite highlight on the record. The harmonica laden Twenty One tells of the feelings one has when you reach that milestone (Lord give me a hand, I'm 21). A very good band that aims to write songs with all their heart and guts.

The London- Myspace
Twenty One (Acoustic)-

Birds of Tokyo

Australia just keeps on feeding me great music. Let's add another one shall we? Birds of Tokyo formed 5 years ago from well-known Australian bands Karnivool and Tragic Delicate (umm, ok.) They released a couple of EPs and two full lengths in a few short years and all without being signed to a major label. Birds of Tokyo remind me a lot of the band Tonic with soaring vocal melodies, which I think makes or break a band. They have strong guitar driven songs with great hooks to wrap your ears around.

Their latest release, Universes, finds the band really figuring out who they are. They have delivered some of their strongest songs yet. Among them are Broken Bones and Wild Eyed Boy. The latter is urgent, soaring track about the constant feeling of not being satisfied. (Wild eyed boy you're heart won't settle/ How much can you take?) The band really shines on the rocking, tempo changing White Witch. Lead singer Ian Kenny mixes up his vocal delivery to hit the power notes when he needs to. Another killer track is the ultra catchy Head in My Hands, it will have you humming the hook for days on end. Birds of Tokyo is a throw back to '90s rock and is refreshing to hear that there are some bands who still believe is making solid melodic rock.

Birds of Tokyo- Myspace
Wild Eyed Boy-

Anarbor

With a name like Anarbor, one might think that the band hails from Michigan. Well, one would be wrong. Anarbor is 4 guys from Phoenix, Arizona. But their music is very much California sunny rock/pop. They released a couple of EPs last year to little success. But their lack of sales doesn't translate into lack of quality. Their new EP Free Your Mind, comes out on Tuesday and it is filled with one catchy song after another.

The Brightest Green is a bouncy, choppy, guitar-driven song with chorus that is reminescent of Fall Out Boy. Lead singer Slade Echeverria can hit the high notes when he needs to but thankfully doesn't stay in that range. Often these punk/emo bands can get a little whiny. Another high point is Passion for Publication. It blends lyrics about a relationship going south (We've been falling apart/built to crumble from the start) with a sunny hook.

Anarbor will no doubtedly get slapped with the "another emo band" label, but they don't deserve it. They're much better than that. Anarbor has the goods and delivers with interesting songs that don't fall into the "whiny white boy" mold which is where a lot of bands get lumped.

Anarbor- Myspace
Passion For Publication-

Oh Dorian

I never would have thought that there would be such great music in the town I live. Normally I'm writing about bands and artists that originate some place else. But with Oh Dorian, she is right here in my backyard. I caught this excellent artist on a local newscast and was dumbfounded at her voice, her lyrics, her everything. The best way to describe Oh Dorian (aka Heather Kemp) is to take Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles, and Regina Spektor and put them in a casserole dish and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Oh Dorian has a smoky, easy on the ears voice that is just effortless. Her songs are piano driven folk/pop gems. The melodies are not retreads of familiar territories as her voice zigs when you expect it to zag. Blue Cigar starts off with a boppy piano as her lyrics tell of a child being born as the mother dies, (Oh but sir, I have bad news/I'm afraid it's your wife/she just couldn't fight for two) and thus finding life in death. The juxtoposition of the happy piano with the somber lyrics shows tells of songwriter who is wise beyond her years. Her song The Sequel turns from a peppy piano ditty into a grungy lo-fi anthem. I have yet to hear a song I didn't like from this girl.

Oh Dorian is currently recording her upcoming EP, so keep an eye out for this young singer because she will be one to watch in the future.

Oh Dorian- Myspace
Blue Cigar (Live)-

Mat Kearney

It's about time. Mat Kearney finally has a new single out and a release date for his sophomore album. Closer to Love off the sure to be excellent City Of Black & White will be officially released to radio on March 10th, but you can hear it right here, right now. Kearney burst onto the scene by having his music featured in almost every TV show there is. He is a folky singer/songwriter with a knack for "rapping" in his songs. (Now the rapping is more along the lines of talk/singing but still.)

Closer to Love is the best I've heard Mr. Kearney in a while. His music sounds so clean and exuberant. Maybe it's the cheery piano chords heard throughout the song or the uplifting lyrics, but either way Mat Kearney finally has a song that should find its way on radio and your iPod alike. The record was written in the oddest places- the back room of a studio, in coffee shops with people he met, even hearing someone fiddling around with the guitar and humming along. City of Black & White will be in stores on May 19th.

Mat Kearney- Myspace
Closer To Love-

Closer To Love from Mat Kearney on Vimeo.

Winston Audio

So it's just a coincidence that Winston Audio hails from the great state of Georgia. And it definitely shows in their music. Dry your eyes, whiny emo bands because Winston Audio are here to usher in a new era in rock. They are a straight up rock band with no frills, no synths, no eyeliner. Just dirty, southern, catchy rock music.

Their full length album The Red Rhythm, is packed with great songs, hooks, and lyrics. Action/Reaction begins with a crunchy guitar riff before lead singer Daniel Dewitt sings of resolving conflict through force. (If you push we'll push back/ Violence is the only way we react) It is a hypnotic song with an epic feel. But perhaps the best song is Hey Ann, with excellent lines like, "You were sinking like a ship with a hole in its side." It's a slow burner with pounding drums, a killer guitar riff. DeWitt completely puts his all in this song, with his vocals straining to a breaking point. Winston Audio is dirty enough to be good, but clean enough to hear the great melodies they provide.

Winston Audio- Myspace
Hey Ann(Live)-

The Modern Society

This is my new favorite band at the moment. They are so new that they have almost no videos posted anywhere. It doesn't hurt either that they are from my home state of Georgia. The Modern Society put out their debut album Friends and Enemies on their own. It had a couple of good songs, but they really have outdone themselves on their sophomore album The Beat Goes On. It has some of the catchiest, rollicking songs I have heard in a long time. The best of them all is the rollicking Promised Land- an ode to living in a small town. Woody Brown speaks directly to me with lines like I've never been one for the politics of a southern town where sticking around is the same damn thing as giving up/Get me out of here!

The Modern Society crank out catchy rock. Whether it be the blues stomping Paper Moon, or the pounding 81, these guys know how to write clever, blast it from your stereo music. Brown's vocals are what set the band apart from the others. With a rasp that adds soul to every note, he makes all the difference here. Unfortunately their album is only available through their website. Make sure you check out their Myspace page to hear their best songs.

The Modern Society- Myspace
Tokyo-

Powderfinger

File this under "Big In Australia." Powderfinger formed in 1989! But I have never heard one of their songs until I heard it playing in band breaker, Grey's Anatomy. Their sound is very melodic with Train type quality, but way better. They are on their sixth album, Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, and it has a few great tracks. Among the better ones to check out is the song featured in Grey's called Drifting Further Away. It's sparse arrangements during the verses allows you to really hear what lead singer Bernard Fanning is saying; Don't shut me out/don't hold it all in/you're drifting further away.

Another great track to hear is Nobody Sees. Powderfinger may not be the newest band, but upon discovering them you will wonder why. They have a definite soft side but with catchy melodies and a rock edge.

Powderfinger- Myspace
Drifting Further Away-

Valentine's Day...Massacre

Saturday is Singles Awareness Day or if you are in a relationship, Valentine's Day. So in the spirit of both I have pulled 2 of my favorite songs to reflect both sides of this day. I fall in the former category myself, so I will be laying low until the dust settles.

Happy Valentine's Day-
Jem does an excellent cover of the simply gorgeous Coldplay song Yellow. Now you can't really beat the original, but there is something about performing this song with a piano that really brings the words to life. (Look at the stars/look how they shine for you and everything you do). This version is off of the Sweethearts compilation that features artists covering their favorite love songs.

Yellow (Cover)-


Happy Single Awareness Day-
Fiona Apple is my all time favorite artist, ever. So when she gets scorned or wronged, expect to be hearing about it in a song. One of my favorite songs is off her excellent thrid album Extraordinary Machine. It's called Not About Love and is singing about how, well, she is not in love. (This is not about love/cause I'm not in love/In fact, I can't stop falling out). Great song to sing when you look at all the other people spending who knows how much on gifts that don't really matter.

Not About Love-

The Damnwells

So not so much new but one of favorite bands, The Damnwells seems to making music on their terms. Their last record Air Stereo was released back in 2006 and ever since then I have waiting on their follow up. Well, what do we have here? Oh it just their new album One Last Century, FOR FREE. Yep, they are giving away their new album for free. Through the magazine Paste, The Damnwells want everyone to get this album without paying a dime. Check out the brilliant Come to Me below, the best song off the album. With it's simple lyrics and down home melody, this song is begging to be a classic.

Lead singer Alex Dezen knows it sounds odd to do this and expects that some will say that the album must be full of b sides or something. Wrong! Dezen says, " I have never worked so hard or put so much of myself into a collection of recorded songs. It is for just this reason that I want to give it away."

The Damnwells- Myspace
Come to Me(Live)-

Chester French

A they not a he, Chester French is comprised of D.A. Wallach and Max Drummey. This duo definitely has a unique sound. They are at once electronic, pop, rock, and pure ambition. Their first single She Loves Everybody, embodies a simple backbeat before exploding with electric energy. That song is filled with excellent lyrics about that one girl who, how can I put this nicely, has a lot of love to go around. Wallach sings, You're just a little girl now/ you're just a girl who misses her dad/I know she loves me/ she loves everybody.

And can we talk about the video? It sucks you in. It takes a turn. And you can't look away. Excellent song to introduce you to a band that strives to make smart complex music in today's world of easily digested pop music. And oh yeah, it doesn't hurt that they have Pharrell Williams in their corner. He signed the band amid a flurry of offers from Kanye to Jermaine Dupri. Chester French's debut album Love the Future is filled with quirky songs and is bound to be far from complacent.

Chester French- Myspace
She Loves Everybody-