The Sound Of Growing Up

The Sound of Growing Up sing pop songs about...you guessed it, growing up. If you feel like you're having a quarter life crisis you might find their lyrics appropriate (i.e. "My whole life is laced with doubt"). Yeah, we've all been there and now there are pop songs that detail someone else's growing up struggle paired with pop melodies, trumpets, the ukulele, and harmonizing voices that somehow manage to make you smile despite all the uncertainty. - New Music Collaborative

Boston based pop rock band The Sound Of Growing Up is releasing a new 5 song EP titled "Drifting" due out in February. The happy go lucky single, “The Kite” is present twice on the EP, as a full band recording as well as a stripped down acoustic home demo version. “The Kite” is a perfect pop rock song – bouncy and bright - just a joy to listen to over and over. I prefer the full band version, by the way. “Swing” has a similar sound and pace, but the horns add a dynamic that makes this one a winner too. The lead vocalist in this band is perfect for their sound – he’s got an indie rock streak, but can swing up to a pleasant falsetto. The gentle ukulele and atmospheric vocals make “Drifting” truly feel like it was recorded on a cloud, but the song is kind of boring for me. Finally, “I Have No Reason” is a worthy mid-tempo rocker – not as strong as the first two tracks, but no slouch either. Overall, a very promising EP worth checking out if you like Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T’s, or All-American Rejects. - Now This ROCKS!

THE SOUND OF GROWING UP- DRIFTING- SELF RELEASED- Bouncy pop rock in the vein of Fountains of Wayne. Nice trumpet blasts on “Swing” while the title track was a bit folky. Not bad. www.thesoundofgrowingup.com - Dagger

THE SOUND OF GROWING UP- DRIFTING- SELF RELEASED- Bouncy pop rock in the vein of Fountains of Wayne. Nice trumpet blasts on “Swing” while the title track was a bit folky. Not bad. www.thesoundofgrowingup.com - Dagger

Drifting is a pretty happy record. Lots of upbeat tempos and blaring horns. Drifting is a few breakdowns short of a pop-punk album in an All-American Rejects kind of way. That said, these five songs are really quite good and will see plenty of listens until a follow-up is released. - Manual Dexterity Music Zine

Lucky us! Naked On Roller Skates will be showering Winthrop Square with song after song of spunky, catchy rock. It will be easier if you're inside the club, and you won't be sorry.

I hope The Sound Of Growing Up is going to be playing a bunch of gigs, because they're amped-up, keyboard-heavy indie-pop with horn flourishes and ukulele interludes is rather well-done.

Call me crazy, but upstairs at Tommy Doyle's really isn't that bad of a place to hang out. Heck, this was the original House of Blues. The stage is high, and the room is a good shape. I was watching Irish hurling on TV one time. I bet if you were already drinking there wau before 9:30pm, you wouldn't have to pay the cover... - Cheap Thrills - Boston

The Sound of Growing Up's five song single, Drifting, is a blast of spring loaded pop that will have you jumping all around with joy. This five piece group sounds something like the Get Up Kids in a head on collision with Ben Folds and seem so hyperactive that it's hard to believe that this record is only four songs long.

Drifting is fun, upbeat, and such a sugar rush that by the time the thing draws to a close it's like a sugar crash of such epic proportions you might just need to seek out a psychiatrist. Chunky guitar riffs, sidle up to choppy piano playing, horns and super melodic vocals covering the songs like maple syrup. Drifting is a sugary sweet treat that sounds like the ushering in of summer fun before summer even begins. Short, sticky, and ridiculously catchy indie pop, The Sound of Growing Up's Drifting is the sound of pure pop perfection crammed into a small space dying to be something more. Excellent stuff. - First Coast News

The Sound of Growing Up "Drifting" EP

This one isn't a free download, but it's worth checking out if just for the terrific opening single "The Kite" which bangs away on a piano like a mix of Ben Folds and John Faye of IKE. The following tracks aren't bad either, "Swing" and "I Have No Reason" are also memorable. Both tracks makes great use of vocalist-guitarist Justin Kao. A very promising start and hopefully a full length album is forthcoming. - Powerpopaholic

“Drifting” — The Sound of Growing Up. Charming, ukulele-led mellow pop music. And it’s not like that one ukulele song you’re sick of hearing on the radio. - Stephen Carradini, Oklahoma Gazette

If buzz sold records, the way it did before the internet was invented, Young Galaxy would be nearing platinum status. Instead, they’re probably pushing a million illegal downloads. The Canadian indie-pop trio have killed with kindness, winning over the blogging masses with a serious dose of synths and smiles. You can expect nothing but pleasantries and chill grooves when they appear alongside fellow countrymen Winter Gloves and our very own good-day-sunshine outfit the Sound of Growing Up. - Boston Phoenix

The Sound of Growing Up: What is the sound of growing up? No idea, but if it sounds anything like this Boston band, then growing up has one hell of a melody to it. Their debut EP "Drifting" was released on March 8. Catch a glimpse of Boston's soon-to-be new favorite indie pop act.
Thu., March 17, 9:30pm; $10
TT The Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St., Cambridge; 617-492-0082 - City's Best Boston

You hear that? I’m not talking about the rain outside, the traffic on your street, or the sound of your co-worker having that NSFW conversation on speaker phone that he or she probably shouldn’t be having at all anywhere. No, it’s the sound of sweet and sometimes bittersweet childhood nostalgia tinged with optimism, otherwise known as The Sound of Growing Up. The musical vehicle of Justin Kao (pronounced kay-oh) and currently made up of guitarist Thomas Meunier, bassist Steve Tagerelis, and drummer Gerald Beaudoin, the band brings with them a style of power pop that ranges from the shrewdly astute to the super sweet. Kao shouldn’t worry too much about making an impression because while he sings “like a kite hangs from it’s string, please don’t let go,” the bouncy, piano-affected pop that “Kite” dishes out in ample portions will be plenty hard for listeners to let go of. The band self released their new EP Drifting on March 8th.

LISTEN: The Sound of Growing Up – The Kite, from their currently available Drifting EP

The Sound of Growing Up Tour Dates

3.17 • TT the Bear’s (Cambridge, MA)
3.25 • Tommy Doyle’s (Cambridge, MA)
4.13 • The Grape Room (Philadelphia, PA) - Striker Bill

I used to get frustrated with kites. They always made it look so effortless on TV and stuff, but in order to get the thing in the air, you had to do more than just sit there holding a string, looking like you were vaguely enjoying yourself. I am no scientist, but the major components, as I see it, are wind and motion. Justin Kao’s The Sound Of Growing Up supplies the listener with both the gust of wind and the necessary locomotion to take off. “The Kite” is a vocal-centric piece; centered around Kao’s dynamic and energetic vocal melodies.

All of the motion any kite could aspire to is evident in the vocal. It churns its arms and legs, running across the field to get the needed velocity, and then it catches a passing gust of wind and soars off into the wild blue yonder. Kao’s voice makes this trip with a rapid fire low-slung verse that takes flight into the upper reaches of an impressive falsetto. Kao’s dedication to sonorous vocal melody does have a bit of Weezer smart-alecky, “I-can-sing-so-on-key” feel to it, but the bumpy slam of the rhythm may owe a little more to Ben Folds than Rivers Cuomo.

Of course the melody drives this song, doesn’t that drive every song? Aye, true it does; but that’s like saying your driving is as impressive as a Hollywood stuntperson or Mario Andretti or something. Kao’s performance weaves this song’s way expertly, bringing it enough different places to make it an unignorable piece. Not in your face unignorable, but stylish enough that you should want to pay attention. - Boston Band Crush

To celebrate today’s crop of releases, here are new mp3s from Richard Ashcroft, Brooklyn Rundfunk Orkestrata, Buffalo Tom, Carol Bui, Dam Mantle, Dinosaur Bones, Grails, Memphis, Alexi Murdoch, Parts & Labor, R.E.M., RYAT, Shotgun Jimmie, the Sound Of Growing Up, Starfucker, Tiger Bones, Kurt Vile, Alex Winston, Wolf People and Wye Oak. Also, vote for your favorite of today’s new releases. - Magnet Magazine

People often talk about a song “kicking off” to simply mean that a song starts. This usually happens with little to no regard as to what an honest-to-goodness kickoff should sound like. The Sound Of Growing Up’s “Swing” is a genuine kickoff; the song bounds off into the wild blue yonder with vigor and just a touch of reckless abandon.

“Swing” is ushered in, as swing songs usually are, by a bright and cheery horn section. The horns introduce the song’s brazen melody over a rollicking rhythm, starting off a snowball of song that does not stop rolling until, well, it’s damned good and ready. The vocal track acts as forefront and cheerleader for the song, working their dynamic-yet-totally-harmonious melody to perfection, always rising to just the right altitudes and then landing exactly where they want.

The trick to this particular track is the degree of precision that the party has. It sounds like people are driving around in circles at top speed on wacky, Pee-Wee Herman bikes, but they are also driving in tight, concentric circles. And they are not going to fall. The energy and locomotion in “Swing” enables it to not only swing, but swing for the fences.
- Boston Band Crush

Have you ever heard, or possibly even considered what the post-modern doo-wop sound might be? Especially if it was backed by what sounds to be an oddly-amped ukulele? Is this truly The Sound of Growing Up, or is this the sound of the last human in future world, a human who has taught his robotic companions how to clap in rhythm, use a tambourine and of course play that weird electro-uke.
Ignoring the grim reminder of humanity's future demise, one realizes that one can really get into the oddly off-kilter sound of the appropriately titled "Drifting." The sound of youth is tempered by the "Oh, well" tone of the vocals, as if the singer is somewhat exasperated. You want to help him, but you also delight in earnest, chin-up spirit of the performance. Maybe he'll survive after all, with a little help from the robots, God knows there are plenty of them hanging around at the Stata Center, so hang in there, little buddy. - Boston Band Crush

Welcome back, kiddos! Most music industry folks turned off their laptops over the holiday break, meaning we didn’t have much new music to fill our last two weekly mixtapes. But with everyone now back online and our inbox once again overwhelmed with quality new sounds, we return the first Friday of a January 2011 with a mix that’ll surely make up for the last two weeks. Below, you’ll find this week’s best new singles and remixes, Cover Me‘s favorite new covers, and a batch of mp3s from up and comers you just might want to check out. Contributing artists include Monotonix, Akron/Family, Justin Townes Earle, Kurt Vile, Cut Copy, and more, so go and enjoy your latest soundtrack:
NEW Singles:

* “Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?”
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by Acid House Kings
* “So It Goes”
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by Akron/Family
* “My Father’s Eyes”
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by Ben + Vesper
* “Who’s In Control?”
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by British Sea Power
* “All Those I Know”
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by Eric & Magill
* “Sea Salt”
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by John Vanderslice
* “Harlem River Blues”
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by Justin Townes Earle
* “Jesus Fever”
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by Kurt Vile
* “What Took So Long”
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by The Moondoggies
* “Before I Pass Away”
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by Monotonix
* “How Dark It Is Before The Dawn”
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by Starlings, TN
* “Gawad Teriamo”
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by The Sway Machinery
* “It Goes Down”
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by Tape Deck Mountain
* “Been Caught Stealing”
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by Yip-Yip

COVER Me Songs:

* “Truman Sleeps” (Philip Glass Cover)
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by Carlo Castellano
* “Wrong Piano” (Vic Chesnutt Cover)
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by Cowboy Junkies
* “Factory” (Bruce Springsteen Cover)
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by The Deep Dark Woods
* “Ventura Highway” (America Cover)
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by Fort deClare
* “I Keep Mine Hidden” (The Smiths Cover)
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by Janice Whaley ft. Thomas Lennon
* “Kid A” (Radiohead Cover)
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by Kitzu
* “Too Afraid to Love You” (The Black Keys Cover)
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by My Drunken Haze
* “Manic Depression” (Jimi Hendrix Cover)
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by Noa Babayof
* “Runaway” (Kanye West Cover)
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by Wonder Bear
* “The Bright New Year” (Bert Jansch Cover)
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by Yair Yona

Remixes GALORE:

* “Take Me Over” (Thee Loving Hand Remix by Tim Goldsworthy)
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by Cut Copy
* “Living in America” (Remix) (feat. Gucci Mane)
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by Dom
* “Reluctance” (The Tallest Trees Remix)
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by Keegan DeWitt
* “The Things That You Notice” (Max Tundra Remix)
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by Marnie Stern
* “Fruitcake” (YACHT Remix)
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by The Superions
* “On Breathing Water” (Kelly Wyse Remix)
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by X-Ray Press

Something to CHECK OUT:

* “Ignition Slated For Eight”
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by The Asteroid #4
* “Geisha’ Means ‘Open-minded”
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by Carol Bui
* “Light Into Branches”
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by Christopher Willits
* “Don’t Believe In You”
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by Derby
* “No Romance”
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by Mind Spiders
* “I’m Da Bes”
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by Shunda K
* “You Don’t Have To Drive”
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by Sleeping In The Aviary
* “The Kite”
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by The Sound Of Growing Up
* “Eager For Your Love”
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by Tristen
* “Equestrian”
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by U.S. Royalty
* “So What”
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by Ursula Rucker
* “We Are The Goer”
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by We Are Hex - Consequence of Sound

GRADE: B-

With very colorful album art by Alison Shepard, I was drawn to Drifting. The upbeat, censored and rhyming first track, “Kite,” had me in anticipation of what else was to come from this band. Vocally, Justin Kao reminds me of Will Pugh of Cartel. Music-wise, The Sound Of Growing Up reminds me of Summer Obsession with their pop-rock vibe. However, the short guitar solo in “Swing” has a classic rock feel to it, which threw me off a bit. Like the previous track, there are plenty of “woahh ohhhs” to go around. A ukulele, handclaps and a shaker are present in “Drifting,” which turns off the poppy tempo and replaces it with a mellow, melancholy atmosphere about moving on and growing. Much like the title suggests, “Drifting” is about growing apart from someone and letting life work itself out.

The final track, “I Have No Reason,” brought back the summer radio hit feel but with a punch. “I Have No Reason” has spunky lyrics and a bit of attitude in its delivery. An acoustic and uncensored version of “Kite” appears as a secret track. I personally like this version better because it is simpler and you can really hear Kao’s voice, and the use of a glockenspiel really helps. In a nutshell, the album is pretty good, especially if you’re into ukulele-infused pop rock.

In A Word: Decent

—by Roz Smith, February 16, 2011 - The Aquarian Weekly

The Sound Of Growing Up is the moniker of singer/songwriter Justin Kao (kay-oh). A Boston transplant via Long Island, NY, Kao moved to Boston shortly after finishing college to pursue his career in music. Having played small shows and open mics in the local area, Kao began building up a network of fans, friends, and musicians with his catchy melodies and earnest lyrics.

The band’s aptly titled debut EP, Drifting, due out March 8, 2011, is a sweeping range of emotions that travel from uncertainty and apathy to hope and promise. This is total nerd core intermingling with indie pop and as a result sounds like Ben Folds Five in a fist fight with Weezer after several shots of espresso.

Keep an eye out for their album in March and in the meantime enjoy The Kite. - The POP! Stereo

Smart, jazzy piano-driven pop is The Sound Of Growing Up. Justin Kao's Boston band releases its debut EP today, Drifting, a short yet powerful collection of songs filled with punchy vocals, ukulele and horns.

The sound is simple, and yet the simplicity is the beauty. It's honest and bare, kind of like we all are before we develop our adult personas. Kao wrote a number of the songs, including "The Kite" in his college dorm room, and the breezy sound captures the essence of life before it's all 'figured out.' "The Kite" talks of newfound freedom and independence and the near terror that can come along with such things. It's a really fun song. To me, it's like Ben Folds Five- super fun piano pop with great opportunities to sing along. At the end of the EP, listeners are treated to an acoustic rendition of "The Kite." I can't decide which one I like better.

"Swing" adds horns to the mix and feels a bit edgier. I like that this EP's songs are highly thematic. All of the songs speak of aimless wandering, holding on- and letting go. It truly is the sound of growing up.

"Drifting," with its ukelele accompaniment, is dreamy and sweet. I was having one of those grown up 'moments' before listening to this EP. You know, where you're stressed and you just want to go home and lie in bed and watch TV? Well, I listened to "Drifting," and its hopeful refrain of 'It will work out eventually/It will all work out eventually' really brought things into perspective. I felt better.

"I Have No Reason" touches on the more frustrating side of life. It's angry and powerful, but laced with defeat and acceptance. It's a testament to the struggle of growing up.

The Sound Of Growing Up wrote a clever and sweet EP. I'm curious to see what they come up with in the future, as they do, actually grow up.

The Sound Of Growing Up is currently playing shows on the East coast. They'll be at The Middle East in Cambridge, MA on February 23. Check them out! Here's a video of "The Kite" for your viewing pleasure, in the meantime. - BestNewBands.com

The Sound Of Growing Up es el proyecto musical del músico de Boston Justin Kao. Sus primeras canciones, inspiradas en el power pop de bandas como Jellyfish o Weezer, verán la luz el próximo mes de marzo con la edición del Ep Drifting. - Planeta Pop

ebenfalls auf eigenen beinen stehen muss justin kao, also erscheint seine debut ep "drifting" am 08. märz unter eigener regie, live allerdings, da wird er von freunden unterstützt, bis man ihn hierzulande live erleben wird können, gehen noch viele vollmonde vorüber:
the sound of growing up - the kite
- das klienicum

Every day, Daily Downloads offers 10 free and legal mp3 downloads, plus free and legal live sets from around the internet.

Today's free and legal mp3 downloads:

Ben + Vesper: "Knee-Hi Wall" [mp3] from Honors (out January 25th)
search for more Ben + Vesper posts at Largehearted Boy

Easter Island: "Proud" [mp3] from Better Things (out March 1st)
search for more Easter Island posts at Largehearted Boy

Guitaro: "Come Get Sums" [mp3] from JJ’s Crystal Palace
search for more Guitaro posts at Largehearted Boy

Lady Lazarus: "Sick Child" [mp3] from Mantic (out January 18th)
search for more Lady Lazarus posts at Largehearted Boy

Lubec: "Your Magic Wand" [mp3] from Nothing is Enough (out January 18th)
search for more Lubec posts at Largehearted Boy

Middle Brother: "Me Me Me" [mp3] from Middle Brother (out March 1st)
search for more Middle Brother posts at Largehearted Boy

The Sound of Growing Up: "The Kite" [mp3] from Drifting (out March 8th)
search for more Sound of Growing Up posts at Largehearted Boy

STRFKR: "Bury Us Alive" [mp3] (e-mail required) from Reptilian (out March 8th)
search for more STRFKR posts at Largehearted Boy

Various Artists: free and legal Buffetlibre: The Remixes album [mp3] (zipped folder)

Young Circles: "Sharp Teeth" [mp3] from Bones (out January 11th)
search for more Young Circles posts at Largehearted Boy


- Largehearted Boy

Things are picking up. People are waking up from their post-holiday hangovers and the inbox has begun to bear a more normal load. So today’s Pick Your Poison looks pretty promising. I can recommend tracks from Ben + Vesper, The Sound Of Growing Up, Swimclub, and Tape Deck Mountain. You should also take particular note of the band Middle Brother, which is comprised of members from Dawes, Deer Tick and Delta Spirit. Sex Beet’s cover of Sonic Youth’s “Dirty Boots” isn’t half bad either, and that’s something you might want to try out.

Ben + Vesper – Knee-Hi Wall

THE DiSCiPLiNES – KiLL THE KiLLJOY

Easter Island – Proud

Middle Brother – Me Me Me

Mind Spiders – No Romance

Sex Beet – Dirty Boots (Sonic Youth cover)

Some Community – Random Words

The Sound Of Growing Up – The Kite

Swimclub – She’s A Teaser

Tape Deck Mountain – It Goes Down

Wake Up Lucid – Sugar

Win Win – Releaserpm ft. Lizzi Bougatsos (Nadastrom Moombaton Remix) - Faronheit