This Blue Heaven

The Best Ballads in the Land?
New Music from Bands on the Rise

Thursday 9/9 in the City:
TT the Bears - 9pm $8

Fronted by one of New England's most gifted singers -- MacKenzie Outland, This Blue Heaven have a new album called Spinning and Shining. The album has a sort of interesting backstory. This Blue Heaven initially approached Paul Q. Kolderie (Pixies, Juliana Hatfield) to record just one song ("Slow Dance Slow,") but when the producer heard the band play in session, he heard more than just a single. (How does that Tom Petty song go??) The resulting five-song EP was produced and engineered by Kolderie and his crew at Camp Street Studios. Jeff Lipton at Boston’s Peerless Mastering rounded out the all-star team.

THIS BLUE HEAVEN ARE - The band, Outland on vocals, Stu Dietz on guitar and vocal work, Aaron Rosenthal on keyboards, Mark Desrosiers on bass and Brandon Erdos on drums, have been together for three years now. As evidenced by the classic, modern pop and strong ballads on Spinning and Shining, This Blue Heaven's future is very bright. - Ryan's Smashing Life (rslblog.com)

The Best Ballads in the Land?
New Music from Bands on the Rise

Thursday 9/9 in the City:
TT the Bears - 9pm $8

Fronted by one of New England's most gifted singers -- MacKenzie Outland, This Blue Heaven have a new album called Spinning and Shining. The album has a sort of interesting backstory. This Blue Heaven initially approached Paul Q. Kolderie (Pixies, Juliana Hatfield) to record just one song ("Slow Dance Slow,") but when the producer heard the band play in session, he heard more than just a single. (How does that Tom Petty song go??) The resulting five-song EP was produced and engineered by Kolderie and his crew at Camp Street Studios. Jeff Lipton at Boston’s Peerless Mastering rounded out the all-star team.

THIS BLUE HEAVEN ARE - The band, Outland on vocals, Stu Dietz on guitar and vocal work, Aaron Rosenthal on keyboards, Mark Desrosiers on bass and Brandon Erdos on drums, have been together for three years now. As evidenced by the classic, modern pop and strong ballads on Spinning and Shining, This Blue Heaven's future is very bright. - Ryan's Smashing Life (rslblog.com)

"Nova Love" could be the most aptly-titled opener of the month. A short snare fill and This Blue Heaven's latest effort, "Spinning and Shining," explodes to life. It's rowdy and dense, a lead piano line sparkling over tectonic guitar riffs and a powerful rhythm section. There's even a little extra time tacked onto the introduction for a little synth freakout. And when the floor is finally cleared for MacKenzie Outlund's vocals, it isn't long before the band bursts in again and the energy is kicked back into, well, supernovaic proportions.

It's clear as the EP progresses, though, that This Blue Heaven is finding new footing. There's a nice sense of space and pace throughout; the instruments are thoughtful in their involvement, and background layers support the lead lines or vocals without making themselves overly obvious. The song structures are effective - the songs guide or push, tumble or flow, and each has its own character.

The hooks fly fast and frequent; the verse of "Generous Soul" flirts and winks, while "A Serious Mistake" is a dizzying waltz that falls into what almost sounds like a barroom anthem. If the melodies occasionally have trouble keeping up with the music, it only adds to the energy. (Surely, these songs will find themselves as comfortable on a stage as in headphones.) And although "Slow Dance Slow" will have the crowd reaching to get their lighters in the air, step back and pay attention to the gentle build and the bittersweet chorus melody. The swell and culmination may be the most gratifying moment the band has crafted yet.

You can hear This Blue Heaven perform on Thursday at TT the Bear's. We should also mention that the rest of the bill is stellar! See you there.

9pm Apollo Run (from Brooklyn)
10pm This Blue Heaven
11pm The Backup Factor
12pm Apple Betty

$8 cover charge

- Cullen Corley - The Deli Magazine, Boston, 9/7/2010

"Nova Love" could be the most aptly-titled opener of the month. A short snare fill and This Blue Heaven's latest effort, "Spinning and Shining," explodes to life. It's rowdy and dense, a lead piano line sparkling over tectonic guitar riffs and a powerful rhythm section. There's even a little extra time tacked onto the introduction for a little synth freakout. And when the floor is finally cleared for MacKenzie Outlund's vocals, it isn't long before the band bursts in again and the energy is kicked back into, well, supernovaic proportions.

It's clear as the EP progresses, though, that This Blue Heaven is finding new footing. There's a nice sense of space and pace throughout; the instruments are thoughtful in their involvement, and background layers support the lead lines or vocals without making themselves overly obvious. The song structures are effective - the songs guide or push, tumble or flow, and each has its own character.

The hooks fly fast and frequent; the verse of "Generous Soul" flirts and winks, while "A Serious Mistake" is a dizzying waltz that falls into what almost sounds like a barroom anthem. If the melodies occasionally have trouble keeping up with the music, it only adds to the energy. (Surely, these songs will find themselves as comfortable on a stage as in headphones.) And although "Slow Dance Slow" will have the crowd reaching to get their lighters in the air, step back and pay attention to the gentle build and the bittersweet chorus melody. The swell and culmination may be the most gratifying moment the band has crafted yet.

You can hear This Blue Heaven perform on Thursday at TT the Bear's. We should also mention that the rest of the bill is stellar! See you there.

9pm Apollo Run (from Brooklyn)
10pm This Blue Heaven
11pm The Backup Factor
12pm Apple Betty

$8 cover charge

- Cullen Corley - The Deli Magazine, Boston, 9/7/2010

"Nova Love" could be the most aptly-titled opener of the month. A short snare fill and This Blue Heaven's latest effort, "Spinning and Shining," explodes to life. It's rowdy and dense, a lead piano line sparkling over tectonic guitar riffs and a powerful rhythm section. There's even a little extra time tacked onto the introduction for a little synth freakout. And when the floor is finally cleared for MacKenzie Outlund's vocals, it isn't long before the band bursts in again and the energy is kicked back into, well, supernovaic proportions.

It's clear as the EP progresses, though, that This Blue Heaven is finding new footing. There's a nice sense of space and pace throughout; the instruments are thoughtful in their involvement, and background layers support the lead lines or vocals without making themselves overly obvious. The song structures are effective - the songs guide or push, tumble or flow, and each has its own character.

The hooks fly fast and frequent; the verse of "Generous Soul" flirts and winks, while "A Serious Mistake" is a dizzying waltz that falls into what almost sounds like a barroom anthem. If the melodies occasionally have trouble keeping up with the music, it only adds to the energy. (Surely, these songs will find themselves as comfortable on a stage as in headphones.) And although "Slow Dance Slow" will have the crowd reaching to get their lighters in the air, step back and pay attention to the gentle build and the bittersweet chorus melody. The swell and culmination may be the most gratifying moment the band has crafted yet.

You can hear This Blue Heaven perform on Thursday at TT the Bear's. We should also mention that the rest of the bill is stellar! See you there.

9pm Apollo Run (from Brooklyn)
10pm This Blue Heaven
11pm The Backup Factor
12pm Apple Betty

$8 cover charge

- Cullen Corley - The Deli :: New England, 9/7/2010

by Stoli

These next guests are a local Boston favorite band by the name of This Blue Heaven. They have played in just about every respected live music venue from NYC, Boston & New England. The exciting thing about this group is that they have just released a new full length ‘Quicksandglass’ and they are having a huge release party this Saturday night (4/25/09) at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA. I am a fan of This Blue Heaven & will be at the show so I figured what a perfect time to have them on Skoped out!

Stoli: How did you come up with the name This Blue Heaven?

This Blue Heaven: The most important part of the name This Blue Heaven is “this.” We’ve got this life, this day, this chance to live out our ideals. And we’re not in denial — life (and humanity!) is chaotic and unpredictable and fleeting — but you grapple with it. Many of the songs on our debut album Quicksandglass grapple with the sense that time is slipping through our hands, so how do we grab hold of a life and sculpt it into something true and passionate and good? This Blue Heaven is the reminder: this is the life.

Stoli: How is it for MacKenzie being the only female in the group with 4 other males?

This Blue Heaven: MacKenzie is a good combination of smart ass and nurturing, so it works out pretty well. She brings a lot of warmth to the band (personally, musically, and in performances) but at the same time she won’t hesitate to put the smack down when necessary. She’s been known to sleep through our football parties, but on the other hand her sense of humor can be pretty crude so we get along pretty swimmingly. Sometimes she refers to the rest of the band as her lost boys, and herself as Wendy. That’s about right.

Stoli: How long did it take to write & record the new album, ‘Quicksandglass?’

This Blue Heaven: We had a killer time making Quicksandglass with producer David Messier of Same Sky Productions. It was a defining experience for us, both in terms of our sound and in the sense that it really brought us together as a band. The way David works, the process involved constant listening and creative input from everyone present, so over the course of the six months we were recording and mixing, we learned a whole lot about our collaborative style. It has really informed the way we craft new songs now.

Stoli: Where can readers preview the new album & grab a copy?

This Blue Heaven: Everywhere! Okay, almost everywhere. iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, Amazon mp3, IMVU, Lala, Shockhound, Amie Street. Oh, and at the PARADISE ROCK CLUB SATURDAY, APRIL 25th.

Apr 25, 2009 - Saturday @ 8:00 PM
PARADISE ROCK CLUB - www.thedise.com
967 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA
18+, $12 adv/$15 dos
8pm This Blue Heaven
9pm Elephant House
10pm Parker House and Theory

Stoli: In regards to selling the CD did you focus more on digital or retail sales?

This Blue Heaven: In our marketing, we’ve focused on digital, but we also had a run of discs pressed for radio promotions, giveaways, and selling at shows. We’re currently looking into download cards to sell at shows as well.

Stoli: One of my favorite tracks from This Blue Heaven is “Insomnia.” What does that track mean to you & when did you record it?

This Blue Heaven: Insomnia might be the most literal example of time-angst on the album. When you’re trying to fall asleep but are plagued by the incessant voices in your head — what if? how can I? when will? — every ticking second is palpable. It’s not a big jump in those dark hours to “when I die.” That expression “I’ll sleep when I die” usually means your life is full in a good way, but when you can’t fall asleep, all the wasted minutes seem to swirl around you. So yeah, it’s a grappling song.

Stoli: Who does most of the songwriting for the band and is the band a democracy for the most part?

This Blue Heaven: On the CD, Aaron and Stu each wrote music and lyrics and MacKenzie contributed lyrics to four songs in the album — there was plenty of group editing along the way. But during recording, we learned a lot about each of our strengths, so the process has become even more organic. MacKenzie is writing almost all lyrics now.

Stoli: Your song, “That Summer” was played on Boston’s FNX 101.7 radio. How did that come to be and what effect did that in regards to promoting the band?

This Blue Heaven: Boston’s FNX has played That Summer, My Disgrace, and Innocent Again, and WAAF has spun Bliss and Innocent Again. There have been some other terrestrial and internet radio plays across the country. Radio play so far has come from the traditional elbow grease route–sending promo kits to the stations and doing all follow-up ourselves. We’ve been in contact with a number of publicity companies who specialize in getting bands on the radio. We’ll probably do a college/AAA radio campaign with one of them later this year. So far, the biggest effect radio play has had is to lend us some cred in our - Skope Magazine

Kyle Paoletta
8/4/2010

Relentlessly upbeat and unquenchably positive, Spinning and Shining is a hopeful endeavor perfect for scratching the summertime itch. The pop melodies are blended with sweet vocals, bright piano and indie-style guitar.

While a song like "Nova Love" is a straight-ahead rock & roller, "Slow Dance Slow" starts out with a shimmering, arena-space-rock riff before the chorus blows the windows open when singer MacKenzie Outlund's vocals rush in on a gust of ascending chords. "A Serious Mistake" is a bit of 3/4 rock-electro-waltz that sounds like it could've been lifted straight from a stumbling patron in an Irish pub. Don't know what that sounds like? Neither did we, until we listened to it. You'll just have to hear it for yourself. - Weekly Dig (Boston, MA)

Kyle Paoletta
8/4/2010

Relentlessly upbeat and unquenchably positive, Spinning and Shining is a hopeful endeavor perfect for scratching the summertime itch. The pop melodies are blended with sweet vocals, bright piano and indie-style guitar.

While a song like "Nova Love" is a straight-ahead rock & roller, "Slow Dance Slow" starts out with a shimmering, arena-space-rock riff before the chorus blows the windows open when singer MacKenzie Outlund's vocals rush in on a gust of ascending chords. "A Serious Mistake" is a bit of 3/4 rock-electro-waltz that sounds like it could've been lifted straight from a stumbling patron in an Irish pub. Don't know what that sounds like? Neither did we, until we listened to it. You'll just have to hear it for yourself. - Weekly Dig (Boston, MA)

C.D. DiGuardia ("C.D. on Songs" feature)
8/6/2010

From its very beginning, there is no speck of anything in this song but pure and upbeat musical fireworks. "Nova Love" spends its entire time soaring through infinite (and beyond?), never landing or even looking down at this rumored "ground." And why should they? Nowhere in the band name or the song name is there a hint of anything terrestrial or earthly. You've got heaven, which is up in the sky, and novas (novae?) similarly way up in the sky. It takes a lot of firepower to get to the place that This Blue Heaven seems to operate within.

The band definitely has plenty of fuel to help them slip free of the surly bounds of earth, put out their hands and give God a high-5. The melody is clearing the thing in "Nova Love," and This Blue Heaven seems to make the most out of each and every one. The individual performances are out standing, from guitarist Stu Dietz's free-flying fret-borne fireworks to the velocity of vocalist Mackenzie Outlund's vibrant verbalizations. There is a lot going on in this track, but it all flows superbly.

The members of This Blue Heaven show not only the ability to do their own thing in the song, but to sonically support each other, boosting each other to allow the next little bit to soar even higher. By this point, you're up there with them, riding flying stars and using the rings of Saturn as a treadmill. And humming the hook. By "the hook," I mean whichever one - of many - you choose to make your own. There is quite a selection. - Boston Band Crush

C.D. DiGuardia ("C.D. on Songs" feature)
8/6/2010

From its very beginning, there is no speck of anything in this song but pure and upbeat musical fireworks. "Nova Love" spends its entire time soaring through infinite (and beyond?), never landing or even looking down at this rumored "ground." And why should they? Nowhere in the band name or the song name is there a hint of anything terrestrial or earthly. You've got heaven, which is up in the sky, and novas (novae?) similarly way up in the sky. It takes a lot of firepower to get to the place that This Blue Heaven seems to operate within.

The band definitely has plenty of fuel to help them slip free of the surly bounds of earth, put out their hands and give God a high-5. The melody is clearing the thing in "Nova Love," and This Blue Heaven seems to make the most out of each and every one. The individual performances are out standing, from guitarist Stu Dietz's free-flying fret-borne fireworks to the velocity of vocalist Mackenzie Outlund's vibrant verbalizations. There is a lot going on in this track, but it all flows superbly.

The members of This Blue Heaven show not only the ability to do their own thing in the song, but to sonically support each other, boosting each other to allow the next little bit to soar even higher. By this point, you're up there with them, riding flying stars and using the rings of Saturn as a treadmill. And humming the hook. By "the hook," I mean whichever one - of many - you choose to make your own. There is quite a selection. - Boston Band Crush

Another great group to come out of Massachusetts is This Blue Heaven, an Indie Rock/Pop quintet who released their debut album, Quicksandglass, in December 2008. With a layered, richly toned resonance, vocalist MacKenzie Outlund has the confidence and control to take time with the lyrics, thus imbuing more meaning into them. "That Summer" is a standout - classic, yet unique and beautifully arranged with sweet harmony about regret at what could have been. This Blue Heaven has no trouble pulling us into their melodic world, especially on "Innocent Again," using an accomplished piano and a captivating beat, and on "Insomnia," which draws us into its alternate reality of a dream- scape, complete with mesmerizing vocals. They are able to keep a listener interested with a variety of unexpected, appealing musical and voice elements within each song, all the while staying focused and on track. "Any Other Way" leans further to the rock side with a strong rhythm and cool electric guitar, while "Future World" is a personal, honest, one on one anthem. The last track, "Where The Living Starts," leaves you laughing with its countrified, no-holds-barred, tell it like it is attitude. Well-done, This Blue Heaven!

***** Excellent

Visit and experience This Blue Heaven at www.myspace.com/thisblueheaven. - 5 Stars/Excellent, by Lily Emeralde & Emma Dyllan

http://skopemag.com/2009/02/10/this-blue-heaven-quicksandglass

Hailing from Boston, This Blue Heaven is bringing the indie rock/pop scene to the forefront. Composed of five players: MacKenzie Outland taking the reigns on vocals, Stu Dietz jammin’ on guitar/vocals, Aaron Rosenthal hittin’ those keys, Brandon Erdos bangin’ those drums and Mark Desrosiers finger-pluckin’ that bass. This quintet is bringing a simple yet unique sound with extreme melodic catchiness.

I love the look of the album cover with a depiction of the sun in the far right along with fresh sand and bright, blue water in the horizon. On the back, you see two members from TBH standing within an actual ocean just up to their ankles. The strange part is that they are dressed like they’re going to some formal event: one brown dress for the lady and one dress shirt with vest and brown dress pants for the lad. One other odd detail is that they are holding an umbrella and a suitcase while looking into the deep sea. Maybe the two individuals are thinking deep thoughts of life on the ocean, but to carry an umbrella so they don’t get wet on the way! (Lol) On a serious note, it seems there is much to be said about the cover art and seems to hold a true meaning to both of these people. Art isn’t just pictures filled with STUFF, it is real SUBSTANCE that speaks truth. This Blue Heaven has captured true art here revolving around a beach setting, the wonderful blue, ocean water and two or more human beings setting out on a journey. What is the meaning of all this—this water, beach and this journey I speak of??? That, my friends, is in the eye of the beholder. The beauty and true essence of art is that pictures can speak differently from one person to the next.

On the record end of things, Quicksandglass captures emotion, rockish beats and pop sensations all wrapped up into one finely-crafted package. I simply love what Outland has to say on this record both in word and in spirit. She sings in a very passionate and solemn fashion that invites the listener into her world. She incorporates catchy and meaningful lines such as: “In the end, what’s done is done. Focus on the inside and look at the bright side”. Move on to the extreme and plainly blunt lyric on the ending track, “Where The Living Start”: “Everybody in the world is an asshole. But underneath has a really good heart”.

This Blue Heaven has created a fine piece of work with Quicksandglass. Definitely worth more than a simple listen! For more on TBH and their new record, SKOPE out www.myspace.com/thisblueheaven. - 4.5 (out of 5), by Jimmy Rae

http://playgroundboston.com/2009/08/18/show-review-tlo-tbh/

My night at TT’s really started with the indie pop quintet This Blue Heaven. They were very poppy, very happy, very danceable – you could hear the smile in frontwoman Mackenzie Outlund’s voice and couldn’t help but find yourself in a better mood as a result. The electric red dress and white boots she was wearing helped too – the crowd in front of the stage seemed enraptured as she danced and sang her heart out, and clearly reveling in the spotlight and seeming to have the time of her life up on stage! The prominent keyboard stylings of Aaron Rosenthal really capped off this band’s sound – sometimes upbeat chords, sometimes intricate arrangements, always appropriate at the time – he made each song that much catchier and made you want to start dancing all the more. It was a little early for everyone to truly become encompassed in their music, however. I think if the crowd at TT’s had some time to throw back a few more drinks there would have been a whole lot more dancing, and and I think the clap-a-longs the band tried to entice the crowd with would have worked out much better as well. I could see TBH flourishing with either a later set time, or perhaps if they were included in more of a new-wave type of lineup – tonight’s bill seemed a little too rock-oriented for them to fit in properly.

Though This Blue Heaven’s set was primarily a dancing and stomping affair, they did slow it down for a few tunes. When they did they developed this ethereal quality that was, well, beautiful! Outlund’s voice intertwined seamlessly with guitarist Stu Dietz’s spectral riffs for an otherworldly sound that filled hearts to the brim with equal parts hesitation, trepidation, and exhiliration. Again Rosenthal served as the perfect cherry-on-top to TBH’s sound, this time chipping in with haunting piano melodies that truly filled out these songs. The best example of this part of the band’s repertoire is “Insomnia,” give it a listen and just try not to be moved.

Clearly the highlight of TBH’s set, at least for the majority of the crowd, came right as bassist Mark Desrosiers began to strum the oh-so-familiar intro to The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” [Note: video of this performance is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAkN4owza-o] With this, everyone ran onto the dance floor and would stay there for the duration. TBH kicked in to a very clean and well-rehearsed cover of a song that everyone knows and loves. My only complaint was that the vocals were a little too cute for a Cure cover – maybe I’m just so used to Robert Smith’s melancholia that I can’t picture their songs being done any other way. Outlund more than made up for it, however, by dancing wildly throughout the entire song a la Molly Ringwald in the Breakfast Club. Can’t go wrong with that. Overall This Blue Heaven put on a strong set, if a little poppy when considering they were paired on the bill with Aloud and The Lights Out. They’re certainly a band poised for great things though, especially in the face of this indie new wave / dance-pop renaissance Boston seems to be experiencing with the likes of Freezepop, The New Collisions, Passion Pit, and other such bands. They’ll be playing again in Boston on September 18th at Copperfields in Kenmore Square, check them out! - PlaygroundBoston.com

http://www.thenoise-boston.com/content/blogcategory/3/17/

THIS BLUE HEAVEN
Quicksandglass
12-song CD

Bubbly, entertaining and, as stated in their one-sheet: “…melodic yet cerebral, catchy but never canned, This Blue Heaven has exorcised the pose from pop, ascending to an awesome afterlife somewhere between introspection and celebration…” The album, an invitation into the passionate and only occasionally solemn world of the quintet (lead vocalist MacKenzie Outlund, guitarist Stu Dietz, keyboardist Aaron Rosenthal, bassist Mark Desrosiers, and drummer Brandon Erdos) is melodic and therefore, highly enjoyable in every sense of the word. The theme is time—the past, the present, the future, and our ongoing attempt to make peace with it all. With influences ranging from Tori Amos and 10,000 Maniacs to Aimee Mann, Elvis Costello and the Police, the result is quite impressive. The album’s opener, “Bliss,” in which Outlund sings, “It don’t get much better than this, I’m telling you now, so you, you’d better enjoy it, you’d better enjoy every moment of bliss” is especially welcoming and pleasantly carefree. One thing is clear, with such a relatable, radio-friendly, crowd-pleasing effort, This Blue Heaven could very well be the next big thing. (Julia R. DeStefano) - The Noise, Rock Around Boston

http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x1098182855/MUSIC-SCENE-A-piece-of-Heaven-in-Boston

The Boston quintet This Blue Heaven blends a lot of influences to craft t its pure pop, channeling the sweeping 1980s rock sounds of 10,000 Maniacs, and the anthemic rock of U2, while nodding to contemporary indie rock with edgy dynamics amid gorgeous melodies.

Yet the band, whose debut album “quicksandglass” is just out and will be celebrated with a performance April 25 at the Paradise in Boston, might be most notable for its upbeat aura. Even when songs might delve into darker areas, the music is always bright and shimmering.

“I guess it’s about an optimism we all share,” said keyboardist Aaron Rosenthal, who splits songwriting credits with guitarist Stu Dietz, and singer/lyricist MacKenzie Outlund.

Drummer Brandon Erdos, and Marshfield native Mark Desrosiers on bass round out the group.

“In the face of everything, good or bad times, there is good in the here and now,” Rosenthal said. “Whether there is an afterlife or not, there is definitely a heaven right here if you care to notice it. A lot of things may occasionally cover it up, but maybe all it takes for you to see it is a great sunset, or a quiet time with a person who’s special to you. There are songs about breakups and, even, horrible things in some respects, but the overall theme of this album – and our music – is an appreciation of what we do have.”

If that sounds like a bracing antidote to some of the downbeat, depressing, navel-gazing indulgence that passes for rock these days, it certainly is. But the new album also stands out for the inventive arrangements that infuse nearly every tune with unexpected twists and turns.

“My Disgrace” starts off as a softly lilting apology before attaining a muscular rock affirmation. The arena rock dynamics of “As Ever As Always” are so well done they seem far too tasteful for that genre. The surging profession of love on “Any Other Way” leads to dynamic switchbacks that are compelling in themselves.

“But As Hard As You Try” might be the most reminiscent of 10,000 Maniacs, as Outlund’s voice matches the dreamy quality of Natalie Merchant’s, before some meaty riffs begin to bubble up.

If the band reflects varied influences, it’s because the five musicians come from a panoply of places and backgrounds. All now live in the Boston area, but only Desrosiers, the former Marshfield High drum major and jazz band member, is a New England native. Outlund comes from Iowa, Rosenthal from Virginia, Dietz from Nebraska, and Erdos from Long Island.

The initial versions of the band featured four guys reluctantly trading off vocal duties.

Outlund talked about it at her day job at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she and Dietz work in the biology department office.

Outlund mentioned that she’d been voted “Most Likely to be in a Rock Band” by her high school class. She’d never actually had the experience, but was eager to try.

“Mackenzie went home and recorded a vocal of a U2 song for us, on her Mac,” said Rosenthal. “She sounded really good, and we were really impressed that she wanted to do it that badly.”

Acquiring a bassist was, as Rosenthal dubbed it, “the last piece of the puzzle. We had taken out an ad for bass players, and finding Mark Desrosiers really cemented this band. We definitely waited the longest time to find a bassist, but he was the perfect fit. The lineup has now been together two years. We ended up letting Mark name the band.”

Desrosiers had gotten a little away from his musical endeavors while attending Boston College, but he was looking to get back into something solid. Desrosiers, who graduated in May with an economics degree, was even a bit awed by his first band meeting.

“I wanted to find a band where the musicians were serious – not just kids into the rock star thing,” Desrosiers said. “When I went to my first rehearsal – Aaron has a master’s degree in music composition, you know – I thought ‘these guys are so good, no way I make this band.’” But the other four members thought Desrosiers was their man, and at 23, he’s the youngest musician in the quintet.

“There are essential things, like being able to play and keep time on the bass,” Rosenthal said, “but we also liked that Mark had the same kind of musical sensibilities as us. We also all just hit it off as people, and it became like a family kind of feeling. I think he was also looking for a band he could believe in.”

Desrosiers points to the band’s sophisticated arrangements and bright melodic content as prime reasons he’s loving the ride.

“Our songs try to take people to different places,” Desrosiers said. “There is definitely something interesting going on at every moment. We all have very different musical backgrounds, but all very traditional beginnings, too, in either jazz or classical music. It makes it easy for all to mesh into something special.”

This Blue Heaven s - A Piece of ‘Heaven’ in Boston, by Jay N. Miller

11/23/2008. http://neufutur.com/?p=5729

“My Disgrace” is an interesting track. During this song, THIS Blue Heaven crafts a style that has not been heard previously in music. This means that there are vocals that link together Elton John, Elastica, and even a little bit of the Scissor Sisters. The bouncy arrangements will remind listeners of acts like The Sounds, while there is a disco style that plays at the periphery of the track. It is this eclectic nature that demarcates THIS Blue Heaven from the rest of contemporary acts, and provides one of many reasons to give the band a proper listen.

Another one of these reasons comes during “Bliss”. The snapping opening to the track may throw the song back to the fifties, but the progression of the instrumentation during the early part of the track makes the track into something that could possibly have been on the soundtrack to “Grease”. THIS Blue Heaven has a rare ability, being able to create a retro-sounding style that still speaks to fans of current music. That turns “Bliss” into a track that could have easy made it onto rotation in any decade, whether eighties, nineties, or now. “Insomnia” is, for my money, the best track on “Quicksandglass”. Listeners will immediately fall in love with the pacing of the track, which gradually gains steam after a slow start. The metronome-like drums that are the backdrop for the vocals on “Insomnia” create a foundation which the guitars can then build off of for the intense chorus that ultimately follows.

The back and forth between slow and fast, quiet and loud, and dark and light sounds shows a diversity in the space of one track that THIS Blue Heaven cultivates over the entirety of “Quicksandglass”. As the track leads out, pay extra attention to the strung-out guitar solo that will do nothing less than send chills up your spine. A simply fantastic track, “Insomnia” gives me hope that subsequent releases will build upon the massive goodwill granted by “Quicksandglass”. Before ending the disc, spin “As Ever As Always”. During this track, THIS Blue Heaven links together eighties rock and New Wave into a track that would make Heart and Fleetwood Mac proud. As always, THIS Blue Heaven finds a way to speak to music fans, and ends “Quicksandglass” as strongly as they started it. Pick this disc up.

Top Tracks: As Ever As Always, My Disgrace

Rating: 8.0/10

THIS Blue Heaven – Quicksandglass / 2008 Green Door Six / www.myspace.com/thisblueheaven /
- 8.0/10, by James McQuiston

This Blue Heaven at Wonder Bar.
9/11/2008.
http://joegrav.livejournal.com/126086.html

[excerpt] Speaking of not being 21 yet, I was then snuck into Wonder Bar by the awesome and talented members of my favorite local band, This Blue Heaven, who went on to play yet another outstanding show.

I don't want to overly exaggerate just because I really like them. They're not the Stones or the Beatles and they're not going to overturn the entire music world. But there is something special about them. They're easily the second best live act I've ever seen, after Muse. And this special quality is really simple and easy to define: They write and perform really, really interesting, original songs. There are plenty of good musicians out there, but let's be honest: a lot of them write really, really crappy songs.

I tried to explain to a friend, and the best I could come up with is this: when I saw a proper show of theirs for the first time, I felt like some of the songs they played must have been covers, since there's no way a brand-new, local band has such dynamic songs with such interesting and thoughtful lyrics and melodies. Listen to My Disgrace and tell me it doesn't make you think you must have heard it on the radio before.

But on the flipside, I can't really think of any comparisons to them as far as who they sound like - again, not because they are TEH INCOMPRABLE BEST EVAR!!11, but because they don't base their identity on trying to sound like others, they clearly have a wide range of influences, and they come up with songs that are fresh and fun and witty and very much original.

I guess if there's one thing I like more than anything in music it's music that's layered - you can unpeel it in future listens and hear more layers of the piece and pick up on different things that you may have missed in the past. And that's what they have. I've seen them four times now and it's not getting old one bit; I look forward to following their career and hope all three of my loyal readers will go out and buy their CD when it comes out soon...

***

This Blue Heaven at Great Scott.
5/14/2008.
http://spiritfans.blogspot.com/2008/05/something-different-music-review-this.html

As you all know, most of my entertainment budget goes toward attending local sporting events. It's not that I don't have other interests, it's just that I often find the alternatives aren't worth the time or money - particularly when it comes to musical performances

The big time acts are so expensive that it needs to be someone that I really enjoy - and among major modern acts that list is pretty much limited to U2 and Muse. And the small local rock shows aren't really my scene even though I like indie rock just fine. For the most part I find most of the bands to be pretty good, but very noisy - and very few of them actually stand out from the rest.

But in October, I stumbled across a local band that truly did distinguish itself. This Blue Heaven, a Boston-based quintet, put on a splendid show at Boston College and instantly struck me with their deep, introspective lyrics and sweet melodies.

It's rare that I find a band that truly reflects my mood, but This Blue Heaven does just that. Their mixture of melancholy and bliss struck a chord with me. Their songs have the kind of lyrics that make you think and re-think their meaning for hours, combined with catchy hooks that also linger with you long after the show.

Thus, I sprung at the chance to catch them in person again at Great Scott in Allston. They did not disappoint.

This Blue Heaven are led by lead singer and songwriter MacKenzie Outlund, whose voice is powerful yet sweet; it sounds equally likely to come from a major radio star or the girl down the street who sings a mean national anthem.

She comes across as an awkward yet friendly, deep-thinking person, whose interactions get the crowd involved from the get-go. Her philosophy major background is evident in lyrics such as "the philosopher says there's no deeper despair / than remembering a future that will never be there."

Any group on the rise needs a likable leader, and Outlund is just that -she has the type of contagious on-stage personality necessary to help a small band from Boston take off.

To me, the backbone of the band's music is Aaron Rosenthal, the keyboard player, who adds effects whose moods can be chilling, relaxing, or very upbeat.

Stu Dietz does a solid job on guitar, while also occasionally contributing a deep, rich counterpoint to Outlund's lead vocals - most notable in the song "Insomnia," in which his voice helps create the ominous mood of a song about sleepless nights.

The group is rounded out by Mark Desrosiers, bassist and BC '08 (woo!), and drummer Brandon Erdos.

The band can rock with the best of them: they performed the dance number "Where the Living Starts," which almost sounds like it's ripped from a hoedown, and the piercing "My Disgrace." where Outlund sounds almost - Joseph Gravellese

11/23/2008. http://neufutur.com/?p=5729

“My Disgrace” is an interesting track. During this song, THIS Blue Heaven crafts a style that has not been heard previously in music. This means that there are vocals that link together Elton John, Elastica, and even a little bit of the Scissor Sisters. The bouncy arrangements will remind listeners of acts like The Sounds, while there is a disco style that plays at the periphery of the track. It is this eclectic nature that demarcates THIS Blue Heaven from the rest of contemporary acts, and provides one of many reasons to give the band a proper listen.

Another one of these reasons comes during “Bliss”. The snapping opening to the track may throw the song back to the fifties, but the progression of the instrumentation during the early part of the track makes the track into something that could possibly have been on the soundtrack to “Grease”. THIS Blue Heaven has a rare ability, being able to create a retro-sounding style that still speaks to fans of current music. That turns “Bliss” into a track that could have easy made it onto rotation in any decade, whether eighties, nineties, or now. “Insomnia” is, for my money, the best track on “Quicksandglass”. Listeners will immediately fall in love with the pacing of the track, which gradually gains steam after a slow start. The metronome-like drums that are the backdrop for the vocals on “Insomnia” create a foundation which the guitars can then build off of for the intense chorus that ultimately follows.

The back and forth between slow and fast, quiet and loud, and dark and light sounds shows a diversity in the space of one track that THIS Blue Heaven cultivates over the entirety of “Quicksandglass”. As the track leads out, pay extra attention to the strung-out guitar solo that will do nothing less than send chills up your spine. A simply fantastic track, “Insomnia” gives me hope that subsequent releases will build upon the massive goodwill granted by “Quicksandglass”. Before ending the disc, spin “As Ever As Always”. During this track, THIS Blue Heaven links together eighties rock and New Wave into a track that would make Heart and Fleetwood Mac proud. As always, THIS Blue Heaven finds a way to speak to music fans, and ends “Quicksandglass” as strongly as they started it. Pick this disc up.

Top Tracks: As Ever As Always, My Disgrace

Rating: 8.0/10

THIS Blue Heaven – Quicksandglass / 2008 Green Door Six / www.myspace.com/thisblueheaven /
- 8.0/10, by James McQuiston

http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2009/04/review-this-blue-heaven-quicksandglass.html

Boston quintet This Blue Heaven has one foot in the 1980's golden era of pop/rock and the other in the neo-folk/rock of bands like Rilo Kiley and Death Cab For Cutie. With a new wave sensibility and a stack of melodies that just won't quit, This Blue Heaven grabs hold of the listener by the ears and won't let go. Their debut album, Quicksandglass is a throwback to a not-too-long-ago time when bands wrote albums, not just a series of disjointed singles for dissemination into the ether.

Quicksandglass opens with Bliss, hearkening back to a sound originated in the girl vocal groups of the 1960's and revived somewhat in the early 1980's. MacKenzie Outlund has an exceedingly warm and pleasant voice that is perfect for this material. The guitar work sounds like Brian May is sitting in, a credit to guitarist Stu Dietz. My Disgrace is a classic unrequited dysfunctional love song wrapped in a wonderful new wave arrangement and a sing-along vocal line. As Ever As Always continues in the New Wave vein with a slightly repressed rocker that would have been Top-40 material circa 1985. Any Other Way is another classic dysfunctional relationship pop song, wonderfully melodic and upbeat in spite of its somewhat dark lyrical nature.

But As Hard As You Try is a song that, released 25 years ago, would have been a monster hit. There's still strong commercial potential here, although obviously the musical mores of the day have change some in a quarter century. Think Corey Hart around 1985 and you have an idea of the sound here (with a female vocalist). Be sure to check out Insomnia, easily the darkest song on the album with a fuzzy soundscape that is memorable. Other highlights include This Time, Future World, When It Feels Like You've Never Been Gone and personal favorite Where The Living Starts.

This Blue Heaven has crafted a highly listenable and intriguing sound. Quicksandglass makes quite an impression, and there's every reason to think This Blue Heaven is here to stay. Make some time to check these guys out, it'll be worth it.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) - 4 Stars (out of 5), by Wildy Haskell

by Ken Soto
http://realbostonadventures.com/2009/11/30/go-see-this-blue-heaven/

So I caught this band at Great Scott last night and the songs are still stuck in my head right now. Too often local shows have the feel of just watching a couple guys play songs, but watching This Blue Heaven is a Rock Show for sure. Even +dev who “HATES POWER POP!” liked them last night. They sort of give you the feeling that the stage is too small for them, even though they never seemed in danger of falling off.

They dress like the Wiggles and may or may not have taken their band name from a Rick Moranis movie, but that’s not even close to the best part about them. On their website they list bands like DeathCab and Arcade Fire as influences, but they aren’t nearly that gloomy. In fact, it was there pop tracks which were really strong and they deserve a bigger crowed of dancers than they had last night.

Anyway, go see this band, they’re playing at Middle East (upstairs) on Dec 12th. That stage isn’t big enough for them either, but go check them out and have some falafel(Just kidding, never order that falafel).

PS. The Keyboard Player does a remarkable Nick Rhodes impression, and not just on Hungry Like a Wolf.

PSS. The Bass player bares an uncanny resemblance to Tom Cruise. It’s almost distracting, but its not. - RealBostonAdventures.com

Some of the best local rock bands Boston has to offer were joined at the Middle East by the Philadelphia synth-pop trio Conservative Man. The bill was a celebration of the release of CM’s brand new self-titled EP, subject of some serious buzz over the last few weeks from various media outlets.

‘This Blue Heaven’ took the stage right around 9:30pm and were a pleasure to hear. I came away from their set thinking Cyndi Lauper meets melodic pop-rock/punk. I couldn’t help but feel a little ‘Motion City Soundtrack’ influence as well due to the distinct retro keyboard sound. Lead singer MacKenzie Outlund hit all the right notes, and she knew how to engage the crowd by moving around on stage. Guitarist Stu Dietz blew me away, both with his vocal harmonies and the amazing sound that he got out of his tele-shaped guitar. I couldn’t grab the name of his gear, but his board of about 30 pedals created this huge sound, some of the better sounding guitar I’ve heard in town – almost like U2 meets The Cure meets Eric Johnson. ‘Insomnia’ was by far the best tune of the set – a melodic masterpiece with a huge crescendo preceded by an epic build that made this a standout tune leaving both myself and the crowd plenty satisfied.

(show review continues...) - PlaygroundBoston.com