We Read Minds is a band that parallels many other bands you are probably already familiar with….sort of. Their slightly frenzied collection of tracks on their self titled album are dark, electric guitar driven soundscape pieces that rip apart humanity one disturbing lyric at a time. But, they’re not to be skewed by the mainstream pop reality to be a truly “heavy” band. They’re unique in the fact that they almost reach their heavier counterpoints with a pretty basic layout, yet make an immediate left turn down the road towards obscurity before becoming too complacent.

“Savor” is one track that really lets the amplifiers be ravaged with electric guitar backlash. Though this screeching sound is a common formality for We Read Minds, this track is the poster child for their debut album. And you can’t truly appreciate this album without fully digesting the somewhat bubbly love sick cut “The Colour”, or the somewhat hard core folky “Snow Screen”, that paints an amazing landscape portrait of the world at its sickest points.

We Read Minds could be your favorite group. This is absolutely possible due to the common anti-hipster manifestation that boils deep inside so many show goers, shoegazers, and die hard indie rock followers. Their own brand of obscurity is so finely tapered that it becomes more than just music in abstract. These guys are as genuine as those early 90’s U2 records you cherish, only more unique and worthwhile.

We Read Mind’s debut album was originall self released in 2009, but the good folks at The Beechfields Label have picked it up in hopes of spreading the word and have added two exclusive tracks! Check out the band’s website for more information how you can download a digital copy of this album absolutely free!

Download: “Savor” by We Read Minds

Download: “The Colour” by We Read Minds

The Beechfields Records [CD, 2010]

1. Of The Nest
2. Savor
3. The Colour
4. Bastian
5. Rely On The Moon
6. Nocturnal
7. The Difference
8. Snow Screen
9. In The City

Where was a group like Lowell when you really needed them? Well, they were probably exactly where they needed to be – banging around the turn of the century when music was, for the lack of better words, shit. This group had it’s heyday as local favorites in their fare city of Baltimore from 1998 till 2001. They were around when rap metal was all the rage, and there were still towers in the sky. Their post grunge influenced rock n’ roll might not have been promoted by Carson Daily during those confusing times, but even Lowell (cleverly named after the hometown of Jack Kerouac) couldn’t have realized that they were making tunes that would be considered groundbreaking at the turn of the following decade (you know, the one that Y2K was going to prevent from happening anyway).

Lowell’s “debut” full length album The Ten Houses and the Falling Leaves is an full blown collection of all or nothing alternative epic tracks that make Bic lighters hit the air. It’s just too bad we’re only hearing 9 years too late. Tracks like “Somewhere California” or “Sunset Moonrise” would have been blasted across the social networking scene, had it even existed when these tracks were fresh. But, it’s always best to be thankful for what we have, and not what we lost. And thankfully, band member and Beechfields Label runner Michael Nester has decided to bring us an updated version of one of the finest records that never happened.

Much like many of our favorite bands out there, the tides of time come and swoop them away, but the music has the chance to remain. But, it’s still strange to think that an album like The Ten Houses and the Falling Leaves could have easily been left to collection dust in Nester’s closet. Sort makes you wonder how much wonderful music is hidden underneath the sands of time to never be revealed. So much great stuff that will never been known. But, again, let’s be thankful for the reincarnation of what beautiful sounds we can find. Let’s be thankful for Lowell.

Download: “Somewhere California” by Lowell

Download: “Sunset/Moonrise: 1 Pennroad Ave.” by Lowell

The Beechfields Record Label [CD, 2010]

1. Somewhere California
2. Over The Ancient Winter
3. The Days Run Away Like Wild Horse
4. Sunset Moonrise:: 1 Pennroad Ave.
5. Manchester By The Sea
6. Llama
7. The Big Chill:: My Postmodernist Dilemma
8. 20
9. Yoko Ono Love Song
10. Bloomington:: semiotics
11. Bardamu
12. Maladroit

True folk-pop minimalists are of a rare breed these days. Many folks have become perfectly fond of only accepting Nick Drake and a handful of other Drake ripoffs hanging around. My recommendation: let these conformists have a listen to Kadman’s sophomore release These Old Bones. Let thee be regretful and God forgive them for their ignorance when they hear the awesome sounds of this Baltimore-based threesome.

David Manchester (guitar/vocals) and company (Frank Corl on drums, James Bahleda on everything you can imagine) have been noticed throughout the Northeast for their stellar live performances. Their talents prove to be just as effective on record as they are when said talent is dripping from their foreheads onto barroom floors. “Anything” is by far the highlight of These Old Bones. It’s a real shit-kicking tune with some long notes barreled from Manchester’s mouth. But for the die hard enthusiasts, “Bone & Wire” is the song that will set your heart aglow.

Kadman was once a solo project molded directly around David Manchester. Thankfully our man found himself a couple of stellar gentleman to match his talents as a craftsman in the low tempo pop world. These Old Bones is an album you will find yourself listening to no matter what mood you are in. It has the ability to reek havoc amongst the independent world simply by being that damn good. Jealousy is sure to ensue.

Download: “Anything” by Kadman

Download: “Bone & Wire” by Kadman

The Beechfields Record Label [CD, 2010]

1. Portraits
2. Anything
3. Bone & Wire
4. Sunshine
5. Contracts To End
6. Dropped
7. An Army Rises
8. Mountain Song
9. Lullaby
10. Little Darling

The Honest Mistakes have spent the last decade desperately trying to reach the high they have now been introduced upon. Break Up is the result of a name change (formerly The Chris & Joylene Show, named after the group’s founders), a two year hiatus, three years of recording, and an all-out inspirational attitude that would not allow them to simply lay back and quit. After years of riding the coat tails of completion for so long, the final product is very impressive.

Breaking up is hard to do, as the legend goes. But The Honest Mistakes found a way to make the concept pretty. With a series of low key pop ditties like “Roses” or “Take A Picture”, it might almost seem like they’re having fun. Indeed, Break Up is probably much more personal than one could really know, but it doesn’t void the listener from connecting with the tunes on their own level – a sign of intelligent songwriting. And co-founder/writer Chris Ehrich is obviously hip to said facts that create a pretty song.

The Honest Mistakes have been known to consider themselves “a band out of time” which is ironic considering whenever it seemed as though they were physically running out of time to put this record out, they pulled themselves out from the confrontations of the real world and put together their finest work to date. This is a band that is constantly striving to create songs that tantalize the heart and leave audiences feeling better after hearing them rock. I feel it’s safe to say The Honest Mistakes shall continue to succeed.

The Honest Mistakes: Roses [mp3]

The Honest Mistakes: Take A Picture [mp3]

The Beechfields Record Label [CD, 2010]

1. Break Up
2. Feel Good
3. Roses
4. Long Way Around
5. Sidekick
6. Stay
7. Take A Picture
8. If It Isn’t Me
9. Tell Everybody
10. Welcome Home

The term “WTF” was thankfully not accessible when Elvis Costello emerged so many years ago. But, in his beginning stages, it probably would have applied. Thankfully, the artistic revolution happend, and he became a household name. And with this, some brilliant performers were surely to draw influence. One act would be Gary B & The Notions and their gem of an album The New Twist & Shout. Influence, yes. Copycat, definitely not. They simply stir up a 50′s pop style with a new age rock mentality to create barroom classics that will assist you in drowning yourself alongside your pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Gary B has a knack for songwriting as far as lyrics are concerned. He knows what a love song is supposed to be about: love. Simple, but quite a few musicians seems to forget that. He also knows how to bring out the sort of punk spirit of his aforementioned predecessor. But, the most impressive spirit this cool ass cat and his Notions possesses is the power of introduction. They keep the songs short, but never fail to lengthen an intro to get your foot tapping and good-time feelings in gear. “Give Me One Reason” is a perfect example of such ingenuity.

Baltimore native Gary B is a truly unique individual and he has found a brilliant team in The Notions. They bring a splendid demonstration of perfectly acceptable nostalgia with their feelin’ good album The New Twist & Shout. And as simple as the title of the album is, it might just be absolutely perfect for their style. Much like the artists by which they are influenced, this band is more than capable of standing the multiple choice test of time.

Gary B & The Notions: Give Me One Reason [mp3]

Gary B & The Notions: Unannounced [mp3]

The Beechfields Records [CD, 2009]

1. We’ll Wait
2. Three Horse Carousel
3. Hall and Oates
4. Unannounced
5. Rhthym of the Weekend
6. Jenny
7. Give Me One Reason
8. Nations 1-2
9. Sally
10. The Exercise Song
11. New York Jet Set Garbage
12. Landscapes & Skylines