I like music. I have a band. I’m gonna tell you all about it. 

 What I look for in rock: guitars, melody, guitars, energy, guitars, and guitars.

Most of this column is born on the bus. That’s where I listen to music very loud. It creates a Fantasy Island of sonic bliss, a bubble where I can ignore the schizophrenic woman sitting next to me, manically picking at her scars. And as I stare out of the window, away from the tragic microcosm of humanity, I ponder.

Today I pondered The Men.

Note to bands!! This is the era of the Internet! People WILL google your name. Pick one that stands out in search results! PSA over.

These guys probably have received a bit more exposure than many of the bands I’ve reviewed so far, but I’m gong to talk about them anyway. Open Your Heart* came out earlier this year, a loud sonic boom in a sea of same-y releases by contemporary bands, with their quiet, twee strummings. I am going to use direct comparisons for this band, because they’re warranted! The title track sounds like Grant Hart wrote it for Flip Your Wig. Ex-Dreams sounds like Goo-era Sonic Youth. None of this is bad. What it does is make me look forward for their next album when they shake off their youthful exuberance, and sit down to find their own voice. That’s make or break time. And if they end up in the ‘make’ category, everyone wins.

Aside from that slight criticism that sounds way more damning than it should, Open Your Heart has stayed on my iPhone since I bought it. I’ve given it a good workout. Solid album, says I.

You should check them out!!

*PSA stands for album titles as well!