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Si vous avez grandi avec le pop-rock des compils Big Shiny Tunes, il est fort probable que l'écoute du premier mini-album du quatuor gatinois Hartford fera naître un sourire sur vos lèvres. Parce que les références sont là (on pense rapidement au punk-pop radiophonique de Blink-182) et parce que le tout est très sympa. Réalisées solidement par le groupe et l'Américain Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship), les six pièces sont accrocheuses et bien écrites. Elles ne s'éloignent toutefois que rarement du cadre pop-rock propret. Carl Boucher - dont la voix s'apparente à celle d'Adam Young d'Owl City - s'en tire de façon honnête, mais chante par moments des lignes comme «I'm ashamed that this is part of me» avec le détachement de celui qui réciterait l'alphabet. Au final, Room 207 promet un séjour très agréable à quiconque en détiendrait la clé. - Voir.ca
Si vous avez grandi avec le pop-rock des compils Big Shiny Tunes, il est fort probable que l'écoute du premier mini-album du quatuor gatinois Hartford fera naître un sourire sur vos lèvres. Parce que les références sont là (on pense rapidement au punk-pop radiophonique de Blink-182) et parce que le tout est très sympa. Réalisées solidement par le groupe et l'Américain Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship), les six pièces sont accrocheuses et bien écrites. Elles ne s'éloignent toutefois que rarement du cadre pop-rock propret. Carl Boucher - dont la voix s'apparente à celle d'Adam Young d'Owl City - s'en tire de façon honnête, mais chante par moments des lignes comme «I'm ashamed that this is part of me» avec le détachement de celui qui réciterait l'alphabet. Au final, Room 207 promet un séjour très agréable à quiconque en détiendrait la clé. - Voir.ca
Open the door to Room 207, and expect to see a party inside. Hartford is another fun pop-punk band with catchy hooks and powerful riffs that leans more towards the poppy side in the vein of Phone Calls From Home or I Call Fives. "It's Not Too Late, It's Never Too Late" is the best representations of the band, with solid harmonies supporting the infectious chorus which will be extremely difficult to get out of your mind. The simple riffs that that sound right out of a 70's classic rock song could have been improved, but they do not take away anything from the song. If you are listening to Hartford, you are not looking for anything groundbreaking. It's enjoyable music to rock out to on the way to school or practice, which is exactly what some people need. Check out Hartford on their website here. Also, the band posted Room 207 for free download, which you can download here.
- Muzik Discovery
Open the door to Room 207, and expect to see a party inside. Hartford is another fun pop-punk band with catchy hooks and powerful riffs that leans more towards the poppy side in the vein of Phone Calls From Home or I Call Fives. "It's Not Too Late, It's Never Too Late" is the best representations of the band, with solid harmonies supporting the infectious chorus which will be extremely difficult to get out of your mind. The simple riffs that that sound right out of a 70's classic rock song could have been improved, but they do not take away anything from the song. If you are listening to Hartford, you are not looking for anything groundbreaking. It's enjoyable music to rock out to on the way to school or practice, which is exactly what some people need. Check out Hartford on their website here. Also, the band posted Room 207 for free download, which you can download here.
- Muzik Discovery
Misant sur un pop-punk qui prend racine dans ce que les Américains Silverstein et The Ataris ont bâti ces 10 dernières années, le trio gatinois Hartford se prépare à se jeter dans la gueule du loup avec un premier album. Prévue pour juillet prochain et produite en partie par Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship, Armor for Sleep), cette galette pourrait se révéler probante pour Carl, J-P et Ben, puisque les trois gars ont la ferme intention de parcourir le continent à la suite de sa parution. Pas mal pour un band qui, il n'y a pas deux ans, se produisait exclusivement dans des sous-sols... En spectacle au Café Dekcuf le 29 mai avec Final Thought et Michou. - Voir.ca
Misant sur un pop-punk qui prend racine dans ce que les Américains Silverstein et The Ataris ont bâti ces 10 dernières années, le trio gatinois Hartford se prépare à se jeter dans la gueule du loup avec un premier album. Prévue pour juillet prochain et produite en partie par Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship, Armor for Sleep), cette galette pourrait se révéler probante pour Carl, J-P et Ben, puisque les trois gars ont la ferme intention de parcourir le continent à la suite de sa parution. Pas mal pour un band qui, il n'y a pas deux ans, se produisait exclusivement dans des sous-sols... En spectacle au Café Dekcuf le 29 mai avec Final Thought et Michou. - Voir.ca
Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, pop punk band Hartford returns from recording with Rob Freeman (Hit The Lights, Armor For Sleep, Cobra Starship) to bring you their new EP, Room 207! After a quick line up addition, guitarists Pat Monette and Simon Chartrand join lead vocalist and bassist Carl Boucher and drummer JP Rochon to complete the band to release the EP. Consisting of six tracks, I gave the EP a full listen after seeing it played live in full at the EP release show.
Room 207 starts out strong with the song Just Like Any Other. As the song starts I got an All Time Low vibe that really drew me in, but as the song progressed it definitely got me hooked with the catchy chorus. Just Like Any Other is also a song that’s perfect for the band’s live performance since the entire end of the song becomes kind of a sing along between the band and crowd.
The EP keeps on going strong with It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late. The chorus of this track has amazing background vocals along with carrying on the catchiness we just heard from the first track, leading to believe that this EP is going to be something stuck in your head for quite awhile.
Can’t You See confirms our thoughts while giving us another track to play over and over in our heads. I especially like how the guitars build up to certain parts of the song. A Secret I Can’t Keep slows the EP down a bit. It’s about a girl who’s extremely fake and it comes back to hurt her.
The next track, Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option), is one of my favorites off the EP. While easily the catchiest track has some of the best elements of the other songs all in one. With great back up vocals and perfectly timed instruments, Stop And Think will definitely be on repeat when I’m playing music. Finally, the EP ends with Good Friends Are Like Bright Stars. While the song starts slow it builds up more and more and has the same sing along element I liked with the first track.
Overall, Hartford is definitely a band to look out for. This is just the beginning for them. Room 207 is sure to be a huge hit in Canada and hopefully everywhere else too! Catch Hartford around Canada through July with Going Through The Motions and In Lights. Check them out at
http://www.myspace.com/hartford819.
Tracks:
1. Just Like Any Other
2. It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late
3. Can’t You See
4. A Secret I Can’t Keep
5. Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option)
6. Good Friends Are Like Bright Stars
Favorite Tracks: Just Like Any Other, It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late, Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option)
Similar Artists: All Time Low, Blink-182
Rating Out of Ten: 9/10 - Shred News
Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, pop punk band Hartford returns from recording with Rob Freeman (Hit The Lights, Armor For Sleep, Cobra Starship) to bring you their new EP, Room 207! After a quick line up addition, guitarists Pat Monette and Simon Chartrand join lead vocalist and bassist Carl Boucher and drummer JP Rochon to complete the band to release the EP. Consisting of six tracks, I gave the EP a full listen after seeing it played live in full at the EP release show.
Room 207 starts out strong with the song Just Like Any Other. As the song starts I got an All Time Low vibe that really drew me in, but as the song progressed it definitely got me hooked with the catchy chorus. Just Like Any Other is also a song that’s perfect for the band’s live performance since the entire end of the song becomes kind of a sing along between the band and crowd.
The EP keeps on going strong with It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late. The chorus of this track has amazing background vocals along with carrying on the catchiness we just heard from the first track, leading to believe that this EP is going to be something stuck in your head for quite awhile.
Can’t You See confirms our thoughts while giving us another track to play over and over in our heads. I especially like how the guitars build up to certain parts of the song. A Secret I Can’t Keep slows the EP down a bit. It’s about a girl who’s extremely fake and it comes back to hurt her.
The next track, Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option), is one of my favorites off the EP. While easily the catchiest track has some of the best elements of the other songs all in one. With great back up vocals and perfectly timed instruments, Stop And Think will definitely be on repeat when I’m playing music. Finally, the EP ends with Good Friends Are Like Bright Stars. While the song starts slow it builds up more and more and has the same sing along element I liked with the first track.
Overall, Hartford is definitely a band to look out for. This is just the beginning for them. Room 207 is sure to be a huge hit in Canada and hopefully everywhere else too! Catch Hartford around Canada through July with Going Through The Motions and In Lights. Check them out at
http://www.myspace.com/hartford819.
Tracks:
1. Just Like Any Other
2. It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late
3. Can’t You See
4. A Secret I Can’t Keep
5. Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option)
6. Good Friends Are Like Bright Stars
Favorite Tracks: Just Like Any Other, It’s Not Too Late, It’s Never Too Late, Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option)
Similar Artists: All Time Low, Blink-182
Rating Out of Ten: 9/10 - Shred News
Discography
Hartford 2008 Demo
Released: September 2008
Four song demo self-produced by Hartford
Track Listing:
01. Turn It Around - 4:06
02. Say It Like You mean It - 4:00
03. Far From Home - 3:34
04. Going Crazy Alone - 2:44
Room 207
Released: June 22nd, 2010
Produced by Rob Freeman (Hit The Lights, Cobra Starship)
Over 1,300 units sold in Ontario within the first month of release
Track Listing:
01. Just Like Any Other - 2:58
02. It's Not Too Late, It's Never Too Late - 2:32
03. Can't You See - 3:41
04. A Secret I Can't Keep - 3:10
05. Stop And Think (When Failure Is Not An Option) - 3:10
06. Good Friends Are Like Bright Stars - 4:07
Photos
Bio
With over 5000 total independant album sales, 200 shows played and 8 tours across Canada, Hartford
can easily be considered an explosive force in today's music industry. The Canadian quartet was thrust into an uphill climbafter the release of 'Room 207', selling 4,700 units since June 2010. Recorded with Rob Freeman in January 2010 (Hit The Lights, Cobra Starship),
Hartford showed no signs of slowing down since the debut EP's creation.
Honing in on their sound, Hartford returned to New Jersey in September 2011 to record 3 songs with producer Ace Enders (The Early November) as a means to showcase their readiness for another step up and growth as musicians. Soon to follow the release of a single, Hartford has plans to record a full length with Ace Enders, to be mixed by Luc Tellier (Simple Plan, The New Cities). Non-stop determination has led JP, Carl, Simon and Pat to independantly release a video for the EP's single, "It's Not Too Late, It's Never Too Late", racking in 2000 views in 48 hours, and has them set to embark on an east coast tour of the US in November 2011.
Since their inception in 2008 and touring Canada coast to coast, Hartford is no stranger to the stage, tightening their live performance night in and night out. “(…) I was blown away with the energy coming from the stage. These guys have the entire package: great image, fantastic musicianship, catchy songs and amazing vocals” (Dale Penner – Nickelback, Jonas) Hartford is far from being done and refuses to stop. To the four Canadian boys from Ottawa, it's never been about saying what if, it's about putting everything into 30 minutes of set time, about building something great and learning that there is more to life than a 9 to 5 job.
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