18th & Addison

18th & Addison Releases 'Little Parasites'
By Chelsea Lewis , 2/17/2015

Author Rating: 4.0 Stars - Very Good

18th & Addison has released Little Parasites and are making their presence felt in the rock industry because of their modern sound that combines elements of pop and punk rock in a way that feels new. 18th & Addison includes Kait DiBenedetto and Tom Kunzman. The duo plays off each others musical strengths right off the top of the album and doesn't stop until the final song.

Little Parasites opens with "Like Porcelain" and this track sets the tone for the rest of the album. DiBenedetto and Kunzman are both featured separately on the single, but when they combine their vocal ranges with the aggressive and hard hitting punk/rock inspired instrumental sound, the result is a perfect combination of hard and soft coming together to create a unique musical balance.

18th & Addison came together in Toms River, New Jersey and have been building their fan base one show at a time. They have high energy and capture their emotions within each song that is featured on the album. This does feel like a complete musical work instead of a collection of singles.

There isn't anything like Little Parasites on most rock playlists today. As a band they are willing to take risks and also play with their musical ranges. They have combined many musical influences while also refusing to stay inside a musical stereotype, they are different and proud of that fact. Throughout the album Kunzman delivers an emotion solo but when they come back together their ranges take on a whole new meaning.

This album isn't afraid to explore its more aggressive rock 'n' roll side and embraces the elements that have been created from playing shows night after night and working together in basements and garages. This kind of musical creation is natural and the way that things used to happen, by coming together and jamming in a friend's basement. If they can keep up this modern and aggressive feel that also compliments their incredible vocal ranges as a duo, it won't be long before 18th & Addison is touring all across the United States and is known off the music charts.

Stand out tracks on the album include "Circles," "Too Many Faces" and "Consequences."

Their album is currently available for download and on Spotify. - Chelsea Lewis, The Celebrity Cafe

We recently featured 18th & Addison from Toms River, NJ as one of our Bands of the Day. Well I hope you paid attention and also picked up their latest EP, Little Parasites. The EP has proven to be a must have for your playlist. What began as an acoustic duo featuring Tom Kunzman who was formerly in the band A Criminal Risk and DiBenedetto was one of MTV’s first recording artist with her band Just Kait (she is also the guitarist in the band What’s Eating Gilbert, the side project of Chad Gibert of New Found Glory) has since developed into a full live band. Together these two have come together and created their alternative rock sound cultivated from their influences of melodic rock, pop, punk and much more. They are capturing and bring back the honesty in music which is something so many bands strive for. Kait explains,

“The goal for us has always been to push this music in a direction that neither one of us had ever attempted”. Since we’re both from two totally opposite ends of the musical spectrum, especially in our town’s music scene, that has come pretty easily to us. We now play live with a full band and the songs have all taken on a new life. We love what we do, and we write from the heart first and foremost which really helps us put out music that we’re extremely proud of and anxious to release for others to hear.”
Their EP starts right off with a vibrant punk rock infused track, Like Porcelain. It is so refreshing to see a band bring out such energy in their songs and create excitement in their music. Circles starts off with an aggressive punk angst vocals that grab your attention and then you can’t help but get drawn in by Kait and her Joan Jett-esque vocals that compliment Tom so well. The song flows into a melodic catchy tune highlighted with dramatic pauses that maintain a punk edge. It is definitely a stand out track.

The melodic rock track, Jealousy invites the listener on an emotional rollercoaster ride that Jealousy will always take you on. You capture hints of vulnerability and despair in the vocals, all the while keeping it an uptempo rock track. Consequences is a great emotionally driven track with a catchy chorus and highlights Kait’s vocals and her honest emotion shines through.

You ever have the feeling where you feel like you are drowning and just want to run from it all. Running brings out that emotion and that sense of needing to escape it all. But then the song beautifully brings in a moment of reflection and almost a much needed pause to face whatever challenges you have ahead. It really is one of my favorite songs on the EP. Once again, 18th & Addison hold true to keeping honest emotion in their music as in their track, Too Many Faces. The connection between Tom and Kait is superb and they create this harmonic balance.

The EP ends with another one of my favorite songs, Central City Suicide. The intro starts right off with dirty guitars that draw you into a musical tale. Tom bleeds so much passion into this track of desperation filled with apologetic emotion. Kait’s vocals come in almost angelic at the moment,beautiful song. The guitars kick ass in this song!

It is so refreshing to see a young band making the music they love and putting their heart so deep into it. While many bands are out chasing the next big sound to be, 18th & Addison have proven that their EP should be a must have on your playlist! You can pick up their EP by heading over to iTunes here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/little-parasites/id939729740. - Marisol, Music Junkie Press