Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group
Almost one year ago, the up-and-coming rock band The Mylars released its debut album Melody Records to the masses. Released independently by the New Jersey-based quintet, the nine-song record has since gone on to prove itself one of the biggest surprises of last year’s indie field. That is thanks to catchy, radio ready arrangements and lyrical themes that easily match up to the band’s more well-known contemporaries. It goes without saying that keeping this in mind, this light rocking band — which will easily appeal to the likes of Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls, Vertical Horizon and other similar acts – is ready to join those aforementioned well-known acts, and could do so with the right support. This is proven in part through the band’s latest single, ‘Breathe Again.’ It will be discussed shortly. ‘Betty, Buddy & Me’ does just as much to support that statement and will be discussed later. Much the same can be said of ‘Shine,’ which will also be discussed later. All three songs noted here do plenty both by themselves and collectively to make Melody Records a solid start for The Mylars. Of course, it would be unfair to ignore the album’s other entries in examining the record in whole. The almost folksy vibe of ’12 Minutes,’ the early 90s rock vibe of ‘Home To You,’ which conjures thoughts of Weezer, and the equally catchy 90s rock vibes of ‘Forever Done,’ the album’s opener’ do plenty in their own right to show how much this record has to offer listeners. Between those songs, the pieces more directly noted and ‘Wake Up, Virginia,’ the whole of Melody Records proves to be the record that got everything right the first time, and in result, could be the band’s big break, given the right support.
Indie rock band The Mylars’ debut album Melody Records has been out for almost a year. In the almost 10 months since its release, the 33-minute record has given the band some success. However, the record deserves more attention. That is because over the course of its nine songs, it displays The Mylars to be just as entertaining as its more well-known contemporaries who have come before. The band’s latest single, ‘Breath Again,’ serves clearly to support those statements. This is done in part through the song’s musical arrangement. This song’s arrangement instantly conjures thoughts of certain songs from Lifehouse. This includes the very tonality of the band members’ vocals and delivery style. It is so similar to that of Lifehouse and its members and is just so catchy. What’s really interesting here is that that sound in itself bears a certain 80s pop rock vibe with a slightly updated sound. To that end, this song’s arrangement is certain to reach a number of listeners. When that catchy arrangement is set alongside the song’s equally moving lyrical theme, the whole of the song stands out even more. Front man Danny Roselle explained the song’s lyrical theme in a recent interview, saying that the song focuses on taking chances and understanding everything that goes into taking those chances. “‘Breathe Again’ is a song about going up against the odds time and time again and the sacrifices that are constantly being made to follow your dream,” Roselle said. “It’s a song about the reality of going after that dream and how it can really affect everyone else around you. It’s about believing in “that moment” and it’s about realizing how special that moment is. The moment those lights go down and it’s just the five of you making it happen. It’s that moment that keeps me, Quig, Chris, Nashville and Nick all constantly going forward.” That explanation is supported as Roselle sings, “Just give me a reason/’Cause we can’t live like this for long/Someday is over and we’ve barely past holding on/And I get it/All that I want ain’t all that you need/And sometimes we move on/Just give me a reason so I can breathe again.” This simple, short chorus exemplifies everything that Roselle noted in much less space. This is someone saying, “I know now we have to move on. I know now I’m not what you need and we can’t keep living this life.” It is buffered as he sings in the song’s second verse in which he sings, “Counting our missteps/I’m thinking back to what she said/How nothing bad could bring a good man down/When it’s all been done/There’ll be enough of me/to haunt these halls/And empty seats to remind me why you came/To let you go.” This comes across as someone looking back and realizing the cost of everything that’s happened. When the song’s moving musical arrangement is coupled with this revelation, it makes the song in whole that much more powerful and memorable. It heightens the emotion that someone feels looking back on the noted sacrifices and the result (good or bad) of those sacrifices. It collectively makes this song a strong example of how much Melody Records has to offer listeners. It is just one example of what makes the album a strong start for the band. ‘Betty, Buddy & Me,’ which comes later in the album’s run is another supportive example of that statement.
‘Betty, Buddy & Me’ stands out in comparison to the other songs included in this album in part because of its musical arrangement. The up-tempo, guitar-driven arrangement takes listeners back to the mid 1980s with a sound that can be likened to works from the J. Geils Band, Rick Springfield and other similar acts. Of course, that is only this critic’s take on the song’s arrangement. Others might hear something else. That aside, the song’s arrangement is catchy in its own right and is certain to stick in listeners’ ears and minds. It’s just part of what makes the song stand out. In its own way, this song is lyrically a tribute to an age gone by. This is inferred as Rosell’s band mate and fellow vocalist Quig sings, “Sunday morning/Betty’s waiting outside in the drive/She’s my 57 Chevy, and I’m taking her out for a ride/Push in my Buddy Holly 8-track/I love how it squeaks and squeals/We’ll drive real fast or we’ll go real show/’Cause we ain’t got nowhere to go/We don’t need to place or show tonight.” He goes on to sing in the song’s chorus, “With the radio up and the windows down/Ease the seat back, tip my hat/As we drive through this old town/White lines are all we see/Today it’s just us three/ooh, Betty, Buddy and me.” This is someone driving down the road, just enjoying life and the music on the trip. The imagery here is so vivid, and it, coupled with the song’s uplifting story, shows why the lyrics are just as important to note here as the song’s musical arrangement. The story eventually reaches Monday, in which “Betty” is covered up but just sitting, waiting for another Sunday drive. It is a great song and one that is certain to become a fan favorite if only for this content. When it is coupled with the song’s musical arrangement, the whole makes the song stand out even more. In turn, the song shows even more why Melody Records stands out overall. It still is not the last example of what makes the album stand out, either. ‘Shine’ serves to support that statement just as much as the already noted songs.
‘Shine’ is another relatively self-explanatory song. As it notes in its lyrical theme, “Escape the fate before you/Make the most of your one life/Ignite the strength inside you/And take passion for a ride/Start your run for freedom and shine.” Simply put, this song is a piece the encourages listeners to find their own way in life and to make the most of life in the process.. This is pointed out just as much as Roselle sings, “If your life ain’t all you’re thinking/Not satisfied with shallow glow/Take some time and do it your way/You’ve gotta find the things that make you run.” This is such an uplifting message that any listener will appreciate. When it is coupled with the song’s almost Bruce Springsteen-esque arrangement, its impact is heightened even more. Keeping this in mind, this song, when considered along with the overall impact of ‘Betty, Buddy & Me,’ ‘Breathe Again’ and the album’s other songs –including the equally notable ’12 Minute,’ ‘Home To You’ and ‘Forever Done’ – the whole of Melody Records proves to be a record that could make The Mylars one of the next big names in the Top 40 rock realm. That all depends on the album getting the right support, though, and it deserves that support.
The Mylars’ debut album Melody Records is a record that is full of great, catchy melodies (and lyrical themes) that easily make it just as enjoyable as anything turned out by The Mylars’ more well-known counterparts. It is a record that could make the band just as well-known as those other noted acts, too, depending on the right support. It deserves that support, too. That is proven in part through the music and lyrical themes exhibited in ‘Breathe Again,’ which takes listeners back to the 80s while also providing some deeply contemplative lyrics. ‘Betty, Buddy & Me,’ with its far more light-hearted musical arrangement and lyrical theme, is just as radio ready as any more well-known song. The positive lyrical and musical energy of ‘Shine’ does just as much to show what makes Melody Records enjoyable. When all of this is considered along with the impact of the rest of the album’s entries, they collectively make Melody Records a strong start for The Mylars and hopefully just the start for the band. It can be downloaded and ordered online now via iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. More information on The Mylars’ new video is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
Website: http://www.themylars.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.comthemylars
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheMylars
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