try this: the rocket summer (of men and angels)

The Rocket Summer’s Of Men and Angels just came out, and I’ve been loving this band’s sound ever since I heard the bright, emo-tastic Hello Good Friend. Bryce Avary is a one-man wonder, playing all of the instruments himself while recording. This allows him to truly get the sound he wants and envisions. He released the You Gotta Believe EP to give a taste of the new material when his first full album in 3 years was delayed. Bryce’s voice seems more mature and a little lower on this album. Maybe it’s something about piano rock, or the optimism that radiates from most of his songs, or the energy of his live shows…but TRS is just a good time all around.

First off, 15 songs is a pretty good number for an album; having only 10 or 11 songs that make the cut isn’t unusual these days. The leadoff track “Roses” shows off his drum talent, and the sound seems tighter and fuller than on his previous albums. “You Gotta Believe” is the feel-good single. The soul in Avary’s voice is unmistakable, and everything from the guitar solo to the Michael Jackson-like quick breaths makes this an awesome song. But it’s not quite as awesome as “Hills and Valleys,” which has an infectious hook with amazing piano. The lyrics are sweet, simple, and happy; a dedication to touring and the ups and downs of life on the road. Probably my favorite moment on the album is when it all kicks in on “drove out to California…” The hand claps come in and it’s all over. I absolutely love it. Ok I’m done…but it’s SO good. Sorry.

Known for often getting spiritual on some songs, “I Want Something To Live For” tunes into a deeper theme of life and death, while “Of Men and Angels” is a track about Bryce’s relationship with God and the conflicts of fame. “Walls” is another single, with a beautiful piano rhythm that opens up into orchestra-accented rock. A reoccurring topic for TRS, Bryce digs into the corporate music industry on “Nothing Matters.” “Japanese Exchange Student” also dives into his experience being on the brink of fame, saying that it’s all about who you know and that he feels out of place. “Tara, I’m Terrible” is a short dedication to Avary’s wife, who goes on the road with him wherever he goes. The acoustic sound is a nice break, but doesn’t have the same power as his previous acoustic songs like “That’s So You” or “Goodbye Waves and Driveways.” A few other weaker links are “Pull Myself Together (Don’t Hate Me),” “I Need a Break…,” and “Let You Go.” They’re not filler by any means, but nothing to write home about. “This Is a Refuge” is a powerful wake-up song, although it’s titled like something that Dashboard Confessional would make. “Light” as a final track sadly doesn’t compare to the soul of “So, In This Hour…” on Do You Feel, but it is a strong, spiritual finale that fades out with an acoustic “I will trust that it’s not the end, but a great beginning...”

Rock-n-roll count-offs, “whoas” and “ohs,” multi-level harmony, deep personal lyrics, big choruses, great simple solos, and endless energy makes this an amazing album. It is different than Hello Good Friend and Do You Feel, but not in a bad way. He’s getting a bit further away from any genre of “emo.” Bryce is getting older, so his subject matter also matures—and so does his talent. Why hasn’t The Rocket Summer totally blown up into top 40 radio play? As he puts it, “I know it’s not too sexy that I’m singing about the blessings that we get…” And I’m pretty sure he likes it that way.

Listen to Of Men and Angels free on myspace.com >>>