The Good Mad Review

Hey,

Sorry for not posting last week, but I spent the better half of last weekend digging through moving boxes, trying to put my house back together. Anyways, I’m back with another band review.

This week, I’m highlighting The Good Mad. I found them a few months ago, as their lead singer Allie Gonino plays Laurel on the Lying Game, and in one of the episode, she performs with her band. I was intrigued by their sound features ukuleles, violins, and various instruments.  Overall, the trio’s sound is unique, fusing alternative, pop, and folk music seamlessly.

Some of my favorite tracks are:

Baby’s On the Run which is reminiscent of The Civil Wars, featuring a prominent banjo, gorgeous harmonies, and a straight-up folk vibe. Allie’s violin at 1:42 fits perfectly; it is rich and full-bodied, adding to the song.

Follow Your Heart which leads in straight away with a strong strings section, mellows out, and fires back up again. I like the alternating vocals in this one especially. It has a darker tone which I like as it almost contrasts with the lyrics which are about following your heart. Normally, those types of songs are light, poppy and bouncy. This is heavier and I love their choice.

In the Gray is a slower song that really allows the lyrics to take center stage. “I don’t know why/you chose to evade… you should leave me behind/what if it’s true what they say/it’s better to end a love/then to throw it away.” Absolutely beautiful.

Sail on, which might be my favorite song they’ve put out, starts out like a folk song but evolves stylistically by the first verse or so. I like how comfortable they are with genre bouncing; it’s a very brave move that definitely pays off. Allie’s vocals are particularly stunning on this track and the background vocals provide the perfect complement to her already forceful voice. Additionally, “these days it seems like everyone is bidding on love/but it’s not up for sale” is an absolutely genius line.

In conclusion, The Good Mad have the ability to go far. I really admire their artistry and originality. Their songs are similar without being repetitious and by bringing in different instruments, they ensure that they are not just a folk band or a rock band or anything else.

They are one of my favorite new finds and you should totally check them out!

Website: http://www.thegoodmad.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGoodMad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thegoodmad

Until next week,

Bella

Beecher's Fault Continues to Amaze Me

Hey,

A few months ago, I highlighted a band by the name of Beecher’s Fault. These amazing guys, from Astoria, New York, just released a new EP and it’s so amazing I just had to review it.



1. Misbehavior- A great song to start the album. I love how instruments all trickle in, climaxing with the addition of the lead singer’s distinctive vocals. The keyboard line really stands out, as well as the tambourine; tambourines are by far the most underappreciated instrument out there. J The percussion has an incredible effect, allowing the song to nicely flow.

2. In Waves- Love the drum-only introduction and how the instruments come in “in waves.” Very creative. The song has a very 1980’s flavor, which automatically gets my approval. Still, the track remains totally modern. The two styles could have clashed, but they don’t, which goes to show that Beecher’s Fault is here to stay.


3. Say Something- My personal favorite track. I love the opening line of “quit scaring my friends.” It instantly piques my interest. The instrumentation is simple—yet complex—permitting the vocals to be the main focus. The harmonies are stunning and the melody will be stuck in your head for the next week, at least. J


4. Wall Street- Maybe this one is my favorite track. I can’t decide; they’re all great. This song is, indeed, a “hell of a time.” I particularly like the minor tone, truthful lyrics, steady percussion in the background, and the guitar solo around 2:12.

5. Photos- A solid final track. The song boasts a bittersweet melody, a tambourine (you know my thoughts on tambourines) and once again, showcases their amazing drummer. I love the various instrumentation and the  lead singer’s falsetto.


Overall, Beecher’s Fault is a band where all the members are remarkable musicians, excellent songwriters, and beautiful performers. This EP sets that in stone. I wish these guys the best of luck. Tell all your friends about these guys, buy their album (I promise you’ll have these songs stuck in your head), and support them; they deserve it.

 
If you want to connect with the band, their music is available on iTunes, Spotify, and their website. You can find them on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and their official website.

Here are the links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/beechers_fault

Website: http://beechersfault.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeechersFault

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/beechersfault

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/beechersfault

 

Until next week,

Bella

Beecher's Fault

Hey,
Happy Friday! Granted, for most students like me, Friday is just another day of the week, but if you're working good for you. You survived another week. For me, I'm just happy I survived the heat; it's supposed to be 100 degrees this weekend. But I'm keeping cool, exercising indoors and listening to good music. :)

So, speaking of good music...

I love social media. It goes without saying that social media connects us, brings us together, and introduces us to new people/ new things we might never have found otherwise. I was slow to join twitter. I thought, honestly, I have an e-mail account, Facebook, and a blog. What else do I need? It turns out, I was missing out. In the past, bands tried to reach new ears by way of MySpace and now, they use Twitter. One day when I logged on my account, with my unbearably long e-mail address (thesoundtrackofmylife2012@gmail.com)  I saw I had a new follower. Usually, it’s just like one of my sister’s friends, but it turned out to be a new band I had never heard of (hence the word “new”) called Beecher’s Fault. Curious, I clicked on the link to their Facebook page and listened to their song “Misbehavior.” I am so glad I did.

          These guys are incredible. The band is comprised of three guys from Astoria, New York : vocalist/guitarist Ben Taylor, vocalist/keyboardist Ken Lamken and drummer Eric Levine. Their music boasts many features such as a beautiful indie vibe, some aspects of modern alternative sounds, and an unmistakable sound. When they come on my Spotify playlist I know automatically who it is. They are very distinctive and I like that. I find even in alternative circles that bands tend to get lazy and bang out a boring melody and some mediocre lyrics. Maybe it’s just me, but I like bands that put effort into their sound. With Beecher’s Fault, you never have to doubt that they worked at their music. All of their tender loving care really paid off.

                My favorite songs are Leftover People and Conductor. Leftover People is cool because the piano intro leads into the song perfectly, the drum line fits perfectly, and the overall beautiful simplicity with a touch of chaos. Simplicity and chaos, though they might be antonyms, work well with each other. And Conductor stands out because of the emotional lyrics, simple instrumentation, and the vocals give me goose bumps.

They also have really cool music videos. I especially enjoyed the music video for Liars, which uses shoes to tell a story. Very creative. I loved it. J

So, in the end, I really enjoy their music. I like the polished yet slightly gritty sound. They embody alternative music and I hope nothing but success comes their way.

If you want to connect with these guys, their music is available on iTunes, Spotify, and their website. You can find them on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and their official website.

Here are the links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/beechers_fault

Website: http://beechersfault.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeechersFault

MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/beechersfault

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/beechersfault

If you are in an undiscovered band or if you are a fan on an undiscovered band and would like a review on my blog, please leave a comment, e-mail me, or tweet me at twitter.com/tsoml2012

Until next week,

Bella