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Lets go back in time to February of this year and highlight a release which did not get the spotlight it deserved. Search/Rescue is a tremendously talented band who have all the makings of greatness, my favorites being the subtle hooks and solid melodies. I also hate to mention past affiliations but it may perk some ears to know this band is made up of former members of Acceptance and Gatsby’s American Dream.

Song to start with: “Fireflies”

It doesn’t come out till next week but you can now listen to Brett Dennen’s new album, ‘Hope For The Hopeless’. This solo artist has got a fair amount of soul, and style to go with his acoustic based slow rock. Definitely an album worth listening to and most likely one you’ll want to pick up after hearing it.

Song to start with: “Make You Crazy”

Long overdue and much anticipated, the ‘Got Friends EP’ definitely hits the sweet spot for waiting fans. The opening track “Got Friends” which is remixed twice on the short album, has a very similar feeling to ones of the band’s past hits “Hope For Us”. To take that one step further and say that in 5 years the bands has not changed one bit which seems to be an overall good thing. Drenched in passionate, catchy, forced rock “Turning Around” is probably the EP’s highlight and hidden gem, but whatever your favorite song, this is definitely worth picking up to remember the good  ol’ days.

Listen to The Jealous Sound

Song to start with: “Got Friends”

Music out today worth buying

* Copeland – You Are My Sunshine [$7.99 @ Best Buy]
* Keane – Perfect Symmetry
* Ingrid Michaelson – Be OK
* The Jealous Sound – Got Friends EP
* The Decemberists – Always The Bridesmaid Vol. 1

Other music out today

* A Rocket To The Moon – Greetings From… EP

The Helio Sequence have the perfect blend of electronic, grungy indie rock, and pop influence with their newest record, ‘Keep Your Eyes Ahead’ to create something very attractive. Hints of Death Cab For Cutie and Bloc Party both make appearances on the record but for the most part this is a creation all their own.

Song to start with: “Hallelujah”

This album is easy to talk about and describe because it’s just an EP with 6 songs redone acoustically and a new song (also done acoustically) thrown in for good measure. Most of the songs are taken from Planet Of Ice which is understandable considering it’s their newest record. “Guns & Ammo” is the new song and also pretty close to the EP’s best track. Is this worth the cost? For most people, yes.

Listen to Minus The Bear

Song to start with: “Pachuca Sunrise”

You may have seen our write up about Anathallo’s album leak and their response but chances are a lot of people don’t know who the band even is. Their style is a little hard to describe other than to say it contains waves of experimental rhythmic melodies. Vocals a long with any other type of instruments are used to create music that is unlike much else you’ve heard. Their new album which will be out in November seems like it will be a little more traditional than their last one but it still has that traditional Anathallo sound and feel.

Song to start with: “Noni’s Field”

The new album from Copeland is outstanding, but not perfect. The old song which the album title is based off of describes what journey you can expect the record to take you on. Singer Aaron Marsh, has remarked “Initially, that song is very lovely and when you think of it, it immediately conjures up fine memories of your childhood, but actually it’s super creepy in the latter verses of the song. It gets quite dark”.

Greeted with room filling, layered, chorus drenched vocals along with very light keys, “Should You Return” is a warm opening track which sets the stage for the rest of the album’s tone. “The Grey Man” follows with a slightly peppier tempo an even catchier melody during the chorus. “Good Morning Fire Eater” tops my list of favorite tracks partly because of the beginning guitar picking and delicate vocals which instantly demands your attention and partly because of the second half of the song which falls into traditional Copeland territory with a wall of sound and marching lyrics rolling out from Marsh on top.

Tonal wise, the record never really breaks the cheerful, sunny persona, the same one which greets you at the start of the album. Lyrically speaking however, the record is all over the map at times diving into the darker themes. “…Everybody knows that you break your neck to keep your chin up” displays one of those times when the lyrics and tone conflict, blurring the line between “creepy” and “lovely” like the American pop song “You Are My Sunshine” does which was intentionally something that lead singer Marsh was going for. The album does a fantastic job of layering different emotions and themes during individual tracks which ultimately creates a deep, rich place for your imagination to run wild.

In each of the previous records from Copeland it felt at the time that they had to push themselves to produce that group of songs and each was very distinctively different and unique. ‘You Are My Sunshine’ is arguably different than anything else but at the same time it feels closely related to ‘Eat, Sleep, Repeat’. It’s hard to fault something for not being different enough, and I guess the music being rooted in the keys rather than the guitar is the biggest component to that feeling, but it would be the biggest (or smallest) gripe about this collection of songs.

Copeland, like a good friend, is a band that you can always count of to produce quality material. The album is fantastic from beginning to end with moments of brilliance laced through out. Any fan along with any new comer should not be disappointed in the least.

This record at heart is a driving album full of road trip themes and lyrics that give you the feeling of knowing you are in an important moment. The music that accompanies the nostalgia is old school indie rock with dabs of Ranicd-esque vocals. Most likely this album will get over looked but this is a little shout out to give the worthy record a chance.

Listen to Scream Hello

Song to start with: “20/21″