Big vocal harmonies, ripping guitars, hook-y synths, blasting horns, cheering cheerleaders, and twisty lyrics, all sprinkled over tightly-arranged tunes that run the stylistic gambit from rock to dance to synth-pop to, well, bluegrass. Stir and enjoy.

6 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Modern Rock, POP: Quirky



Details:
Squaretape was formed in 2004 by multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Kirk Hamilton. An accomplished jazz saxophonist and composer, Hamilton started teaching himself guitar in 2003, seeking to find an outlet for his rock writing. A year later, he formed Squaretape with guitarist Dan Nervo; the bandâs personnel also includes Dan Apczynski on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Brian Fox on bass, and Peter Thomas on drums.

The band members capped a successful 2006 by heading into the studio to record this self-titled EP. Their first recording slated for wide release, it is a collection of the driving beats, shimmering vocal harmonies, ripping guitars, and screaming synths that have become inextricable components of the bandâs sound.

The disc opens with âThe Wallâs Gonna Break You Down,â a jittery ode to sexual frustration, followed by the blaring horn section and angular vocal breakdowns of âStanding Offer.â The third track, âRagdoll,â is a brooding Dear Jane letter brimming with deep bass and thick, layered vocals, followed by âOrdinary,â a metronomic, hard-rock portrayal of the grind and grace of everyday life. âMassive Attackâ returns to the dance floor as the band, joined by San Francisco burlesque cheer troupe The Cock-Ts, unleashes a frenetic call to party in the face of paperwork. The disc closes with âShoshana,â a fan favorite from the bandâs theatrical live performances, re-imagined as an acoustic hoedown with bluegrass-style vocal harmonies and a burning guitar duel.