The day has finally come, K Sera has released the first single to their highly anticipated debut album, Collisions and Near Misses. If you haven't picked up their single, "Dream, Like I Do" I highly urge you to open up you iTunes and give the guys some love and support, because this single has definitely earned it.

         This is just the beginning of something beautiful, my friends. K Sera is picking up momentum and this upcoming album is going offer that brilliant collision you have been waiting for.

Element 1:
Mike Caswell's wicked pipes. Ever since The Machinist EP, Caswell has been delivering falsettos, great range, and most importantly, amazing enthusiasm. You get all of this again in "Dream, Like I Do". He still has that seamless transition between his shouts of  "could you set yourself on fire" to the lullaby like chorus of "They don't dream at all, they don't dream like I do".

Element 2:
The guitars and driving bass! The new guitar licks are tearing a new hole in the universe. The guys have definitely evolved since their first EP. The tremolos and the syncopations from the guitar, Jordan's agressive bass guitar, are great thunderous support to the singing in the song.

Element 3:
Dustin's drumming. Enough said. He has powerful drumming skills that you don't see as often in many bands anymore. Not once in a K Sera song has he been simply a background beat to the melody. No, he marches to the beat of his own drum and it's simply awesome. In "Dream, Like I Do" your attention is drawn to his fast rhythms and driving beats. This guy is a beast.

Element 4:
There is no 'I' in team. Something that made K Sera always work was the collaboration between all the band members. Each clearly has his unique strength. Still, there is no competition for attention, rather a seamless collaboration in making the most euphoric and might I add, badass sounds that they can come up with. It's an orchestration and even Ludwig Van Beethoven would say, "Damn, that was awesome".

Element 5:
The lyrics. "Dream, Like I Do" has to be one of K Sera's most memorable songs yet while still avoiding the horrific "pop" syndrome. Throughout the release of previous EP's, K Sera has challenged listeners to become the best human beings they can be, with thoughtful lines and song titles ("We Were Thinking of Evolving", "Don't fade away", "Go build yourself up, I'm so proud I know you", and a personal favorite, "If you find yourself walking through hell, hey kid, keep walking till you find your way out"). "Dream, Like I Do" isn't any different. They're still as encouraging, and what is more, they have that fight in them that we love so much.

Keep up to date on all things K Sera at their facebook page. You don't want to miss what they have in store for you.

What's your favorite thing about "Dream, Like I Do"? Let us know in the comments below!

 Written by Deanna Trombley

-Tunage

          The album starts with the self-titled song, “Babel”, going straight into a direct and hopeful feeling tone that is screaming, “Did you miss us?”  Yes, we did.  Here’s the thing: if you at all liked their previous album, Sigh No More, I can promise you that you’ll love this album just as much. It’s all there: the poetic “cynical idealist” lyrics, the exciting banjo licks, and driving rhythm that inspires you to keep going. My favorite lyrics from “Babel” that contain the spirit of Mumford and Sons are:

“You’ll build your walls and I’ll play my bloody part, to tear, tear them down”.

         This is just a small piece of their brilliant lyricism. Another perfect example would be the hit single, “I Will Wait” that creates a gorgeous hopeful chant to hold close to your heart.  The instrumental style has remained pretty close to their previous work, having that signature Mumford and Sons sound that is easy to recognize, even if you haven’t heard any of their new songs. This band has to be one of the greater pioneers in bringing folk back to the forefront of the music world. Much like Johnny Cash and many other folk band legends, this band is best known for their well-written lyrics. You can tell time was spent in putting real meaning into the words of the songs, making them sound more like poems in sing song form than just a regular tune. This is a golden quality found in some of the best folk bands, just like Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” there’s something more meaningful in the words than just having the simple old “Things are hard but I’m going to get back up” type of lyrics.

          Speaking of proper folk band influences, another highlight in this album is the song titled “Reminder” with the very Jonny Cash-esque low melancholy singing in the beginning with the classic walking bass and simple guitar strumming rhythm.  This ballad is a great breather from the pace of the previous songs. The lyrics are dark and romantic just like Johnny Cash’s better-known work, giving another salute to this amazing genre.

          One of the more different sounding songs is “Broken Crown” because of the more ambient sounding guitar playing. While they stay true to their signature style, this song has a soaring sound that brings the keyboards out more to the front of the song instead of being a supportive role to the guitar playing. It has an epic feel because of the instrumentation, making what would be a proper soundtrack to an equally epic show, perhaps Game of Thrones? It definitely is a song that makes you want to march on a Scottish field in a battle for a powerful king.  If that’s not exquisite imagery painted by the mixed sounds of a well-formed song, I don’t know what is.

          These songs are all just a small taste of what Mumford and Sons has to offer in this new and highly satisfying album. It’s great for the die-hard Mumford and Sons fans as well as people new to the genre and the band. I give this album a huge thumbs up and I recommend you go check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mumfordandsons?fref=ts
Official Site: http://www.mumfordandsons.com/
Purchase on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mumford-sons/id307699986

Written by Deanna Trombley

- Tunage

You’re young, you’re full of life, you’ve got ambition, kid, and nothing can stop you. You know that exact feeling I’m talking about, don’t you? I have got to say, I’ve been to plenty of concerts, but watching Fun perform at the Wiltern in Hollywood on a Friday night gave me one of those reassuring and defining moments that I’m quite capable of standing on top of the world. If I could sum up this show in one word it would be this: uplifting. Just for the heck of it, I decided to look up the definition of said word, and I have to say, it’s spot on to what this show had to offer.

up·lift·ing   [uhp-lif-ting] 
adjective
  inspirational; offering or providing hope, encouragement, salvation, etc.: an uplifting sermon.

          I’m pretty sure you’ve heard at least one song by Fun (unless you’ve been living under a rock or your name is Gollum). It’s become a bit of an anthem for our generation: “We Are Young”. However, if you haven’t heard any of their other songs, I would highly suggest it. Nothing can put a bigger smile on your face than the lyrics to “Be Calm” from Fun’s first album, Aim and Ignite. 

Hear ye, Hear ye!

          Silversun Pickups just released their anticipated album, Neck of the Woods, and they're sounding as good as ever. Check out the songs below as we give you a sweet review to this brilliant album.

        Silversun Pickups have been giving us great music since their first EP released in 2005, Pikul. They're an indie rock band with a highly organic sound. If you're a fan of Death Cab for Cutie, Anthony Green, or The Pixies, you'll love these guys.

            Right off the bat, one thing you’ll notice about this album is that it’s much more ambient sounding than the lat album the Silversun Pickups released in 2011, Swoon. Still, I have to say, I love it. “Skin Graph” gives a beautiful introduction that makes you feel like you’re walking into these woods. They’ve painted a picture for us with blues and indigoes. As the song picks up, all of your anticipation for the album bursts into glory as you finally get to hear Brian’s voice. The cong already gives you a familiar feeling of soaring that the Silversun Pickups have given you before. My most favorite song has to be “Make Believe”. The chorus of that song stands out the most in my mind. The buildup to the guitar solo is incredible. Silversun Pickups have always managed to bring familiar influences from bands like The Pixies and knit them into a bigger idea that makes them unique. This album does a great job in showing that creativity.

             Another great song in this album is “Mean Spirits”. It starts out with a rough and deep guitar and bass riff that drives the song to an even more orgasmic and familiar buildup that the Silversun Pickups are known for. This song brings the alternative rock elements that they’ve had in previous albums into play. It’s a warm and familiar feeling that you just can’t get enough of. Bring on the distortion! We love it.

          Each song stands great on its own. The Silversun Pickups do a great job in having a good variety of sounds and elements in their songs. What makes this album so impressive is the obvious creative step they’ve taken in this album to evolve as a band. They’re as fresh as ever and they’re the same indie band we’ll always love.


If you like what you hear, here's the link to their facebook page and official band page so you can go get some sweet new songs to listen to. 

- Tunage

Written by Deanna Trombley

          The taunting wait for I The Mighty's first ever Equal Visions Records EP Karma Never Sleeps is almost over, and they streamed the whole thing on YouTube! Although, needless to say, you're going to want to get it for yourself on March 27th when it's offically released, and you still have time to pre order it with some wicked merch. Don't let a deal like that slip through your fingers!

          I The Mighty is a progressive/alternative rock band from San Francisco. If you’re a fan of Say Anything or Envy On the Coast, you’re gonna love these guys. They’ve released two previous EPs, one being self-titled, and the second titled Hearts and Spades. As for Karma Never Sleeps, the guys really packed their sound with a lot of drive. We like the drive. The EP introduces you to what you’re in for which, as they so eloquently put it, is “the earthquake coming on”. They tell the listener to wake up, and they get their attention by the throat. It was a perfect song selection to get you pumped for what else they have in store in this EP.

          I have to say as I listened to the EP, one of the biggest things that stood out to me was the variety in their bridges.  I can’t begin to tell you how many bands overuse the, wait for it…. BREAKDOWN. You don’t get that with I The Mighty. These guys really do diversity a justice. Each song explores a different sound, while staying true to this EPs homage. In “These Streets Are Alive”,  the song begins with a cry for help. The seams of the world are being gently pulled away. By the second half of the song, you’d imagine the buildings of cities are crashing and burning down as we face our ‘inevitable and impending doom of the end of the world’ (which is scheduled to be this year, if I’m not mistaken). If the world does come to a horrible, fatal ending, this is a song I wouldn’t mind going down with, because the lyrics are downright epic, bringing tragedy and hope together in a beautiful collision of contradiction emotion. You can also hear how their guitar and vocal styles have really developed handsomely. Every time you hear that tremolo, you feel like fighting, and I don’t mean the fist-pumping-tribal-ape-mosher kind of fighting.The kind fighting you do with hope because things might be tough now, but there’s a promise for something better up ahead. This is the kind of stuff we need these days, and I The Mighty truly delivers it.

          Go see for yourself, and pick up your copy of the Karma Never Sleeps EP once it’s released on March 26th.

- Tunage

Written by Deanna Trombley