My Body Sings Electric

Alt-rock band My Body Sings Electric is a Denver band with a memorable name, but one most folks hadn’t heard about until this past year, although they’ve been around since 2007. After spending a couple of years in basically formative stages, exploring and growing as musicians, they’ve spent the past year taking big strides in the Denver music scene, most visibly placing in the Top 3 in the 2010 Hometown For the Holidays competition, and seeing radio play of their current single “Step Into the Light.” The band attributes their recent successes to a blend of maturing their sound and careful planning.

My Body Sings Electric (whose name is loosely derived from a Walt Whitman poem) formed as sort of a blended family, when musicians from a couple of other bands decided to get together. In the beginning, they say, they were fairly experimental with their sound. “We tried a lot of crazy stuff,” says frontman Brandon Whalen. “It didn’t work out so much with us gaining a lot of fans and momentum, but what it did do is help us become a really tight band, and it helped us become really good musicians in the process, and by the time we decided to make more of a pop-driven record, we were just primed and ready to make it happen.”

It is actually the infusing of pop sensibilities that created the sound that has caused My Body Sings Electric to gain more attention this past year. Along with influences such as Glassjaw, Minus the Bear and Brand New, bandmates admit to liking Top-40 artists like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga almost as a guilty pleasure.

“We admire people who know what is gonna be widely accepted by a target market,” says guitarist Nick Crawford.

Whalen adds, “My favorite guy in the music business is Will.I.Am from the Black-Eyed Peas…Two years ago he said, ‘You know what? Electro is coming in, dance is coming back, people are gonna want to hear poppy-electro-dance songs.’ And they went out and made that record, and today all you hear on the radio are these dance-influenced records. He knew it two years ago.”
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This isn’t to say people should expect Top-40 electro-dance grooves from My Body Sings Electric; this is decidedly an alternative-rock band. Rather, this is a band that is learning from other genres how to temper their sound to connect with a broader audience. Gauging from the momentum they’ve gained in 2010, it’s working for them.

So, what’s on the horizon for the band? They completed tracking on a full-length CD in late 2010, recorded by Stephan Hawkes at Interlace Audio in Portland. Expect a release show at the Gothic Theatre in late March or early April. But you don’t have to wait that long to hear them play; they’re on the bill this Friday night, January 21, at Summit Music Hall with The Northern Way. Go check them out if you have the chance. - Denver Music Examiner

The Epilogues and My Body Sings Electric, currently two of Denver’s most popular alternative rock bands, have sold out their combined April 1st music release party at the Bluebird Theater. But if you missed your chance to buy a ticket, you have another opportunity to see the bands play together—that is, if you act now. In response to the demand, they have opened up another show date: Wednesday, March 30 at the Bluebird Theater.

Both bands are releasing new music this week. The Epilogues, who have continued their momentum since winning numerous band competitions last year, are releasing a new music video for their song “The Fallout.” My Body Sings Electric, who placed in the Top 3 at this year’s Hometown for the Holidays, are releasing their debut full-length CD Changing Color. The first show at the Bluebird sold out within a few weeks after being announced, and the second show was added soon afterward.


Continue reading on Examiner.com The Epilogues, My Body Sings Electric sell out the Bluebird, add another show - Denver Local Music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/local-music-in-denver/the-epilogues-my-body-sings-electric-sell-out-the-bluebird-add-another-show#ixzz1QY28IYx8 - Denver Music Examiner

After a bit of waiting, I finally got my hands on Changing Color, the debut full-length from Denver alt-rockers My Body Sings Electric. This is a band that has been playing a lot around town and gaining a lot of momentum and attention with their high-energy, indie-punk sound.

I had the chance to talk with these guys a few months ago (you can see the article I wrote here), and the impression I got from talking to them was that they are very purposeful, passionate, hard-working and focused. They want to get their music to a wider audience, and they are working a plan to get there.

Listening to their record, I’d say My Body Sings Electric is ready for the larger audience they are seeking. Recorded at Interlace Audio in Portland, Oregon, the record’s production value is outstanding, with quality audio and near-flawless execution. Tight, complex rhythms and riffs played with searing accuracy, overlaid with hooky, singable vocals, make this a great listen all around. The hard work is showing–these guys play extremely well together. - The Oomph Music Blog

I’m overly impressed by the freshman effort of Denver based alt rock groupMy Body Sings Electric.

I generally hate when friends are in bands, in part because I’m really picky and do not like the thought of being dishonest with someone about what I think of their art. Brandon (one of the vocalists) is a past Ignite Boulder speaker and Boulder tech community member.

The album is simply impressive. The top album of 2011 for me, but check it out for yourself: - Andrew Hyde

Truth:

“Changing Color” by My Body Sings Electric is available now on iTunes and through their Bandcamp. The album features ten original songs by the band, including their single, “Step Into the Light.”

Sarah:

You know those bands that you like but don’t exactly know what you like about them? Those bands that you can’t really put into words because they’re so incomparable to anything anyone else has heard before? Yea, that would be My Body Sings Electric. To be perfectly honest, I can’t really put them into words. They’re just so fascinating that I get spellbound by their music.

In their album, “Changing Color,” there are ten tracks to keep me mesmerized. The electric album starts off with “Make You Disappear.” Right away you get a sense that they put a lot of effort in the production of the album. The guitar tracking is done in such a way that it defines their unique sound–pop/rock with an edge.

Vocally, “Step Into the Light” is one of the best songs on the album, which probably explains why it was released as a single. Lead singer Brandon Whalen’s voice is lively and large the second the track starts. Whalen’s voice is unmatched and unconcealed by the instrumentals in the song; but the drumming comes in second in terms of noticeability. The drums are battlefield-quick and appropriately support the liveliness of the vocals.



“Outside” is another song off the album that practically solidifies the band’s musical success. The upbeat guitars and striking cymbals combined with the gang vocals make the song impossible to not move to.

*See Song of The Day: “Outside”

“Porcelain Skin” is a little different from the other songs in that it’s little more funky. It slows down a little in the verses, especially verse 2. I think it’s cool that the band has the ability to make songs out of similes and unexpected ideas, as heard in “Porcelain Skin”:

We may still see the light
but we know that the star is dead
We may still see the light
It’s just as white as your porcelain skin

I’m like a doll with my faith all painted up
Just as fake with the dreams to match me

Ironically, the album’s beat picks up with “The End of Summer.” It spits out lyrics containing disappointment and letdown in the most falsely happy voice:

I wrote a letter home today
To be sure they weren’t forgetting me
But the sentences just fell off the page

Well I can only be a runaway
Until I find myself a place to stay
but I will hold you close to these open notes

It’s tough to say what you need to hear
I probably won’t be around next year
It’s tough to say what you need to hear

I’ll be gone at the end of summer
When all the leaves are changing color
It’s getting dark a little earlier
I’m sure your life is getting better

The guitar tracking gives off an “oh, well” vibe in the verses, keeping the song upbeat and poppy. But after the second chorus, the song becomes what you expect–despondent and dark:

Buttoned my suit and sold my soul
How could we be so full of hope?
All my possessions bring me fear
I’m living out my dream this year

I’m such a bore I’m getting old
I held your hand when it got cold
How could we be so full of hope?
I’ve read enough to see the joke

I like the bipolar-ness of “The End of Summer.” It’s interesting; different. The album ends with “The Awful Truth,” which is awfully good (insert drum sting here).

MBSE has potential. If they continue making music at this level of professionalism and talent, they could leave their mark on the pop-punk world. - Truth or Sarah

My Body Sings Electric are no ordinary group of musicians. They love music–not only when they’re on stage. A few words with any of these guys and you’ll feel their affinity for music almost instantly.
And while yes, I am close with these guys and have a huge amount of respect for what they do, that’s not why I love Changing Color.
Late in 2010, the band trekked out west to Portland, Oregon to record this 10 song LP with Stephan Hawkes, who has worked with such amazing records by Dance Gavin Dance, Fear Before, and Closure In Moscow–and, perhaps most notably, worked on Ugly Colors “Perfect As We Are.”
Hearing an assortment of demos over the years, I wasn’t sure what to expect from these guys. When they found their mark, they were spot on. But, more often than not, it seemed each member of the band seemed determine to shine over one another. Their absolutely insane guitarists’ Nick Crawford and Jeff Fedel seemed to shine a little too bright; their singer’s voice a bit too sharp; their bass and drums not quite tight. It was almost there, but not quite.
“Changing Color” is perhaps the perfect revelation of a band who have a sense of renewed control and confidence. The songs are cohesive and tight. The riffs are neatly packed into spaces they seem to fill; the vocals aptly mixed. Largely a result of the excellent song reconstruction, pre-production and huge overall improvement in sound quality, it’s very clear the exact sound My Body Sings Electric are going for. The impeccable riffs on the album’s second track, “Living Proof” are gratifying and huge; Whalen’s voice is charged with enthusiasm and positivity. That is probably at the heart of “Changing Color” as a whole–it’s bright and reflective of the each member’s characteristically uplifting attitude.
My Body Sings Electric’s sound might be the result of a flawless combination of good tastes. The members regularly listen to bands like Circa Survive, Ugly Colors, Edison Glass, and As Tall As Lions: and due especially to singer Whalen’s sense of melody and their guitarists’ superb technical capabilities, their sound showcases their taste.
Sure, some of the moments on the record might miss the mark a little bit–the drum roll intro on “Step Into the Light” is a bit too much, the dark melodies vibe to match on “Porcelain Skin” tend to stray from the better courses taken on the more uplifting tracks (actually, I could probably do without that track altogether, as it’s a bit too distinctly reminiscent of Circa Survive’s “Mandala”). Despite these shortcomings, it’s impossible to deny the strength and charm of “Changing Color” as a whole. The tight packed riffs and supercharged guitars are only met with more well-structured bass lines and continually solid melodies.
It might be because I’m proud of them, or it might be because the guys in this band have the exact same taste as me–but today, I can honestly say that I can’t help but get excited at the very thought of listening to this record. Congratulations, guys. - The Music, The Message

Pop-punk stalwart My Body Sings Electric used to lean heavy, but the band heads more toward pop on its latest release. Recorded at Interlace Audio in Portland, Changing Color is a highly polished affair of airtight instrumentation and squeaky-clean vocals. This album would have no problem finding airwaves a half-decade ago; it still might get there today. These guys are as technically precise as you can be, and this thing sounds best when they're going for gymnastic guitar lines and disjointed construction. Tickle Me Pink broke up, leaving shoes to be filled at the top of the local pop-punk scene. With Changing Color, My Body Sings Electric seems ready to step in. - Denver Westword

“Changing Color” marks My Body Sings Electric’s first full-length album. The Denver rock band traveled to Portland, OR in late 2010 to make the record at Interlace Audio with producer Stephan Hawkes (Johnny Craig, Dance Gavin Dance, Fear Before) and created an accessible pop-punk record with a dash of complex instrumentation.

“As musicians we are always critiquing our own work because we want it to be perfect,” said front man Brandon Whalen. “Changing Color is the first time any of us have been this excited about the music we have created.” - Denver Post