Listen to Neon Trees
Release Date: 3/16/10

I’m sure everyone can agree that the business side of music is and has been going through changes. Public radio station WNYC’s show ‘On The Media’ has a fantastic episode bringing up all different aspects with honest and intelligent conversation about each.

For 10 years, music execs have waged a war against digital file sharing — and software like Napster and websites like The Pirate Bay — which have decimated the industry’s profits. But recently, there are signs from Europe that the battle over free music may be changing.

On The Media – ‘Facing The (Free) Music’

Starting The Album Project back in 2007, I thought that if I was able to have an impact on a band in some kind of meaningful way that then this site would have been a success and worth it. The thing I hated the most was discovering some small independent bands that I loved, only to lose them based on the lack of exposure. I wanted to somehow give bands, that I loved, a way to be heard.

I’m not so naïve as to believe that getting signed to a label is the end all be all. Today though, announcing Brandon Clark & The American Standard have signed to the P Is For Panda record label and knowing The Album Project had a hand in that really does make the site feel like a success, even if just a little bit.

To celebrate the album’s release we’re giving 500 digital copies of the new EP away for FREE.

Your help in spreading the word about this giveaway and band are absolutely essential. Please post links, send emails and tell all your friends [reference, of course, intended].

thealbumproject.net/honestly

Update: Only a few left

Listen to Boris Smile
Release Date: 3/16

Recently, I was searching my daily internet sites and happened upon a gem of a band. Leslie and The Badgers, is a charming alt-country band based out of Los Angeles, California.Their song “Old Timers” was featured on the FX show “The Riches”, which might coincidentally be the only reason you may or may not have heard of them. Check out their latest album “Room Full of Smoke” on iTunes — I recommend starting with the songs “Los Angeles” and “Ball Park Lights”.

If you’d like to catch some of their real charm, check out these videos of them that initially caught my attention.

iTunes Link
Zune Link
Direct MP3

Track Listing

1. Fun. – All The Pretty Girls
2. Pet Lions – Propeller Plane
3. Alcoholic Faith Mission – Nut In Your Eye
4. Alberta Cross – Old Man Chicago
5. Paper Route – Good Intentions
6. Sequoyah Prep School – Old #4

I started writing a full review for this album, but what I really want to do is just talk about how much I love it. On my first sheepish listened to “Fall Hard” the song was just good enough to get me to listen again. The second and third time however, the songs subtitles, which are never forced upon the listener, begin to show up and become bright and visible.

I love the way the songs start off slow (hook wise) and over the course of 4 minutes, sink (deep) in to your skin. Among the strongest songs are “Fall Hard,” “Candle Burned Out,” “Four By Four,” and “Show Me Something”, which is probably my favorite. The second of “Show Me Something New” jumps out of the speakers with so much flavor, yet in such a simple way. After listening to so much music, the way I can tell I really like something is that after each listen, I have a new favorite song that I think won’t change, but always does.

This is a record I have become so enamored with, yet I didn’t mean to. I actually don’t even know why I love these songs so much, but I do.

Shout Out Louds on MySpace

You can download a remix of “Fall Hard” by Passion Pit on the band’s site for free right now.

* Four Year Strong – Enemy Of The World
* Frightened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
* Sanctus Real – Pieces Of A Real Heart
* The Morning Benders – Big Echo
* Brandon Clark & The American Standard – Honestly EP [Free Download]

Other music out today

* Demon Hunter – The World Is A Thorn
* Ted Leo And The Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks

Frightened Rabbit - Winter Of Mixed Drinks

Having ended his solo songwriter/singer career, Brandon Clark joined forces with guitarist Paul Lynch, drummer Paul Hedges, and bassist Chris Zeigler in January of 2009 to form what is now Brandon Clark & The American Standard. The band have recently signed up with the P Is For Panda label to distribute their music, and Honestly is their first release. If this EP is of any indication of what kind of band chemistry these Atlanta guys have while playing together, then we can expect  to see some great things from this band in the future.

Brandon Clark & The American Standard play a blend of country-based, adult contemporary rock, with hints of some bluesy influences as well. Opening the Honestly EP up, “Anchor” does its name justice and anchors the listener, beginning on an electric picked riff that transitions into acoustic strumming and a backing vocal-assisted chorus. Brandon Clark’s chops are the perfect tone for this type of music, riding the instrumental mix with purpose and longing—that aspect being particularly heard on the primarily acoustic “It’s You” and phenomenal finale “That List”.

The great chemistry that the Atlanta band have together as musicians is frequently heard on the  Honestly EP, and it’s here where the release truly shines. Brandon Clark and Paul Lynch are a great guitar duo, turning what could have been a set of basic four-chord songs into guitar-work showcases that could easily top much of the popular stuff on adult contemporary radio these days. The aforementioned “It’s You” exposes their knowledge of guitar scales, and fourth track “Restless” sports a bluesy guitar solo to climax the most country-oriented song on the EP. Bassist Chris Zeigler’s and drummer Paul Hedges’ work should not be left out either; the prior musician having many well-played bass lines on the EP—most notably on third track “The Rain”.

Brandon Clark & The American Standard bring it altogether for their best track, “That List”. Beginning on a riff that is reminiscent of Lifehouse’s “You and Me”, the song steadily builds on the EP’s best, heartfelt melody and crescendos into a well-crafted violin climax. Fading into silence, the Honestly EP has just showcased a band that sports a solid chemistry when playing together, bleeding with potential for even better things in the future. The production is clean, while still having that raw, intimate feel about it to bring you really close to the band while listening. Keep your eyes on these guys as they are bound to deliver even better things in the future.

Release Date: 3/9/10
Label: P Is For Panda
Buy: Panda Shop
Listen: MySpace

Review written by: Jared Ponton

Those who find creative places to stick them, which promote the site, and aren’t illegal, may also win something. You can submit a picture of the sticker in action to the same email address.