The Bynars

I don’t dance. But if I did dance, I would probably dance to “Dancing On A Dream” by The Bynars. Seriously, I almost accidentally danced just a second ago when I listened again. That was close. Was it the slick beat, layered synths, perfectly effected guitars or ’80s nostalgia that nearly caused a lapse in my stationary judgement? Possibly. More likely is that it’s such a well written song. Those Bynars are sneaky. - Daykamp Music

What's better than being halfway through the work week? Being halfway through the work week and having a dance party! That's what's in store in our latest advance album stream, where we're featuring the latest from the Bynars, X vs. X. The Boston-based duo, named after a race of humanoids in Star Trek, play appropriately futuristic-feeling electro pop and have shared the stage with bands like fun. and Math the Band. X vs. X looks at the extremes in life: love and hate; dreams and reality; happiness and sorrow; and the complexities within. Those kind of themes can be a drag, but combined with the Bynars' dancefloor-conjuring synth hooks, the result is equal parts smart, relatable and fun.

RIYL: Foster the People's dance party glow; the Neighbourhood's slick slinkiness; Atlas Genius' mix of intimate lyrics and dreamy synths.

X vs. X is out September 17.

Want more Bynars fun? Play with their interactive video for "How Does It Feel to Be in Love?". - AllMusic

The Bynars – Boston, Massachusetts

Put on your dancing shoes for the undeniably addictive electro pop dance single, “Dancing on a Dream,” from the Boston DIY band The Bynars. As with do with all posts featuring talented new artists and bands that are inexplicably under the radar for too long, we’ll watch the feedback and numbers to see how all of you take to this promising new band. Their sophomore album, X vs. X, officially dropped on September 17th. Good thing is that, judging the reactions of friends of the cafe, the cloak of obscurity is lifting off of The Bynars. In listening to X vs. X, we get the sense that this band is going to start breaking out soon.

“Dancing on a Dream” – The Bynars from X vs. X – Sept. 17th

It’s not really clear how to put a genre on the album’s second track, “Tired of Hooking Up With You,” featuring ATM. It’s a beat pop framework – that’s the best way to put it – with rolling waves of 80's new wave synth coupled with 80's electric guitar riffs, as if Prince, OMD and Eddie Van Halen were put into a blender. There are times, on standout songs like “All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun Tonight,” that you link you hear some Passion Pit, MGMT and New Order, but the truth is, and it becomes clear (although ultimately not) as you progress through each track that this band thrives off of experimental and taking a dabble from the spectrum of music genres to create an original, and interesting, musical journey. On “All I Wanna Do…” a nearly 12-minute track, the band breaks out into an interesting and colorful free form-style jam somewhat characteristic of jazz jams, as well as some late 1960's and early 1970's rock, where players and their instruments, in intervals lead the song and step into the spotlight for a couple of minutes.

“All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun Tonight” – The Bynars from X vs. X - Indie Rock Cafe

If you’re into synth-heavy beats and daringly futuristic jams, the Bynars are the band for you. Their new LP, X Vs. X, is out now and is full of infectiously fun music. - Magnet Magzine

WASHINGTON, July, 21, 2011 —The Bynars are the epitome of the modern indie pop rock band. Their songs are relatively short and tight. There’s enough bounce in their sound to get a crowd dancing but at the same time a fast enough tempo for anyone to rock out.

The power pop quartet began their set late into the night at the Velvet Lounge. It was the band’s first trip to the nation’s capital. They were determined infuse the night with energy and clever, if slightly offbeat, rhythms.

The Velvet Lounge, located on U Street in Washington DC, has an upstairs venue which is intimate and is quickly crammed with people. The Bynars hail from Boston and were happy to see the difference DC provided them. As opposed to the atmosphere at Boston shows, people at the Velvet Lounge were willingly dancing to the majority of the Bynars’ songs.

It was difficult not to dance to the infectious pop sound of the Bynars. The songs all have a certain lighthearted feel to them and quickly settle into a solid groove. The brevity of the songs is also an important factor, as they never overwhelm the audience for long stretches, so everyone was able to remain relatively fresh for the duration of the set.

Most of the songs, if not all of them, were off of the band’s recently released self titled album. Being a something a new band, the songs were a great mission statement for where the band is in their sonic evolution.

A song like “Asking Your Mom for Money” isn’t the most stand out song the band plays, but it’s memorable mainly for how front man Matt Jatkola pauses on the introduction, identifying the ridiculousness of the title. The song signifies the band is still in its relative infancy, as they are not far removed from what the title of the song is suggesting.

Ben Mettey's work on the synthesizer is one of the band's stronger aspects. So many bands of a similar ilk have incorporated a synthesizer into their attack and while this might come off as clichéd to some, Mettey is able to make it work with a thick, almost bass like sound. It’s sometimes easy for a synthesizer or keyboard to overpower the rest of the band, but they are able to fit the sound seamlessly in with the rest of the band, never sacrificing a thing.


The Bynars
One of the highlights of the how was “How Does It Feel to Be in Love?” The song isn’t as straight forward pop/rock as most of their songs, but quirkiness of the song has their implied future bursting out at the seams. They don’t seem to be stuck on just making simple pop/rock tunes, all they are quite good at playing them, but moving on to more adventurous territory.

This idea was also pushed forward with their only cover of the night. Although it was more or less impromptu and they quickly realized the audience at the Velvet Lounge was wrong for it, it was refreshing to hear the Bynars at least attempt Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” The crowd might have been struck somewhat clueless, but the change of pace showed the band was willing to look outside the box they might be expected to play in.

The Bynars have all the makings of an excellent pop band. Their live show is already solid but still has plenty of room for growth, suggesting they could be and possibly should be headed for bigger things. The Bynars are definitely a band to keep an eye on for the next time they come through DC.
- Washington Times

THE BYNARS | Great Scott | September 30 | These supremely mellow synth-poppers have been siphoning melodies from the Cars' fuel tank into some airtight EPs over the past few years (check last spring's Back from Outer Space), and a new one is due. No title yet, but they'll certainly have it figured out before their release show, at which they'll also debut a video from the EP produced by locals Quarter Productions. - Matt Parish, Boston Phoenix

The Bynars [debut album] is a sparkly, spiky, adrenalized dash through a Rentals-meets-Passion Pit electro-pop dream that buzzes with Weezer-y guitars, old school new wave synth squiggles, and perky songs about weighty topics like asking your mom for money. - The Boston Globe

Synth pop rockers The Bynars write some of the catchiest songs you’ll ever hear, the hook laden songs that are included on their just released self titled debut album will make your ears dance. Today, they realize their dream, release their debut and tell the world to get ready.

Over the last few months they have been releasing singles the valentine’s day release of ‘How Does it Feel to Be In Love,’ and march’s ‘Asking Your Mom For Money,’ two really tasty deliriously fun tracks. These and the 10 other songs on the album are a joy to listen to; totally bright and fun. This album has a certain personality that is just so damn likable, a sense of humor that is approachable and lyrics that are irrefutably perfect for their sound. Even on the slow churned ‘Every Little Thing You Love’ the band shows this pop sensibility that is perfect for a sunny day or to just brighten the mood. I can’t say enough great things about it, I’ve just had so much fun listening I feel its my duty to explain this in as many exclamations as possible (without actually using the punctuation).

For fans of the ‘nerd synth pop rock’ genre this album is 30 minutes long but will spend a considerable amount of time on your player of choice. Replaying again and again, singing the songs in the shower, and chair dancing to these songs is a certainty. Have a good time and check it out.

BUY THE ALBUM. Now. Seriously. - Music Savage

"If there was one thing that was predominate in all the performers that night it was the energy; Boston band, The Bynars started it all off with a fury of sound and each subsequent band kept up the pace." - PopWreckoning.com

The Bynars, a local Boston band headed by Matt Jatkola, started off the night with a pop set including some songs from their upcoming EP (CD release show is slated for September 20 at Great Scott). The band is known for their catchy dance tunes and eccentric affinity for Star Trek. T.T's was the first Boston show for the Trekkies since they got back from their northeast/midwest tour. Bringing stories from the road, the foursome played an energetic set with tunes reminiscent of the Beach Boys. The songs "Bone Dry" and "Party All Night" were the catchiest of their set with harmonic "oohs" and strong percussion. The high point was when a "random" member of the audience dressed in beachy gym apparel jumped on stage and accompanied the band with an impressive guitar solo. - Jennifer Brown, WTBU Radio

“The Bynars succeed mightily at channeling a magical and endless display of beats and sonic color. Brainy and adventurous, this band is fearless, creating simple, fun and happy tunes.” - Performer Magazine

http://performermag.com/Bands/Article/2010/The%20Bynars - Performer Magazine

If Weezer and The B-52’s got drunk and hooked up, their offspring would be The Bynars, sewing together early 90’s alt-rock and synth-pop, unleashed as a spastic outburst of giddy energy. Rivers Cuomo-like vocals, laid-out over high-voltage guitars and candy-coated keyboards, filtered through retro-minded cool and fist-pumping intensity. Deliriously danceable rock doesn’t get any better. - lonelyvagabond.com

"The Bynars... The Sultans of Synth" - Patrick Carroll