The Deal: Locals The Noises 10 independently release new album, The Hammer The Anvil The Stirrup.
The Good: The band sounds more polished on its latest release, which cruises through 16 tracks in just under an hour. Some you may have heard before – for example, fan-favorite "Distance," adds some background vocals and a few new drum fills to give it new depth and redone versions of "Sea Level" and "Stuck in the Backseat" also appear. There's also plenty of new material – the hip, rocking "You're Never Gonna Be That Good" that reminded me of Kings of Leon and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and plenty of other tunes that keep the band's signature laid-back rock vibe intact. Jason Scavone's vocals sound stronger than ever – through the deep raspy moments and higher falsetto peaks.
The Bad: The album was originally being worked on with Jive Records, but the label has since decided not to release it. Details aren't available, but given the sound of the new disc, it's a mistake they'll probably regret.
The Verdict: The new songs are better than anything I've heard from the band so far. It's no surprise the band has gotten so much attention from labels and packs local venues when it plays. Check out the CD release party on Sept. 20 at the Visulite.