MYPHNH(BS) - The Decoration

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Most of the time I don't find bands, they find me. This is exactly the case with The Decoration. Another Australian duo (damn, I love my Aussies!), these two found me on Twitter and weren't shy about introducing me to their music. And I'm damn glad they did!




I am madly in love with this duo right now. They have apparently been at this for a while (their first release was in 2007), but for some reason I'm just now hearing about them. Their newest single "There With You" is very cute and lighthearted, telling a tale of lovers who simply want to be near each other. Although this comes in a bit short clocking well under three minutes, it still leaves a lasting impression and has me wanting more.

The male/female vocal dynamic has always been a favorite of mine, from my childhood listening to Aqua, to my adulthood rocking out to Young London. The Decoration is made up of two Australian natives, Jake Bosci and Rhian Thomas, who are currently residing in Chattanooga, TN -- which is a hell of a lot closer to me! Haaay. Come play a show in St. Louis, okay? Anyway, they have been busy making music, and they are finally getting some recognition (no, not me having an ego, they actually have almost sixteen thousand views on this video).

Currently you can get their full discography on iTunes. I particularly recommend Me & My Mistakes, a fully acoustic EP that puts their vocals on the front display, and includes "There With You".

MYPHNH(BS) - EMPiRE LIVE

Australians love me, and I love them. Every now and again I get an email from a new act, or even a veteran one, from the great Land of Oz (that's not a racist term, right?), and most often they are amazing! This is no different. Today we will get to know EMPiRE LIVE via their newest single and video, "Stop Time".



Straight out of Melbourne, Australia, EMPiRE LIVE is made up of two incredibly talented youths. Nic Noble is the one making the sounds, and Katherine Tanner is the laying the vocals. They have been known around their local area for the high energy shows they put on, but with their newest single, they are ready to take over the world.

"Stop Time" caught me from the very beginning. I'm not sure whether it was Katherine's Cher-esque vocals, or Nic's pulsing beats, but something drew me into this track immediately. The entire song is a exploration of many turn of phrases dealing with time such as "killing time" and "time to heal". Stopping time is impossible it seems, so now is the time to act. This dance track manages to get across a strong message while still being incredibly fun.

The video may be pretty basic on the surface, but that doesn't stop it from being intense. Katherine spends much of the time looking you dead in the eye while singing the vocals, and Nic is shown playing various instruments that fit into the feel of the song. There are a few visual effects, but too much laid onto it, making it come across more powerful.

EMPiRE LIVE have a great start into the international scene with this song. While it may not be genre-changing, it certainly does set a standard for indie artists everywhere.

As a special bonus, the band have agreed to offer "Stop Time" as a free MP3 download to all the TOTU readers. Grab it while you can and enjoy! Download it here!

MYPHNH(BS) - Ms Trez

When talented singers come around that I feel aren't getting the due respect or attention they deserve, I often times take things into my own hands. Thus is the reason why I started not only this blog, but more specifically this segment, aptly titled Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should). This go around, a girl group from Europe has caught my attention, and this talented threesome could use a bit of press. Meet Ms Trez.

What is it about girl groups that just drives me wild? All my life I have fallen in love with the art form known as the girl group. They have amazing harmonies, pure pop sound, and sexy divas fronting them all. This is also a problem, however, when it comes to standing out. There is a plus side, it would seem. In the US there has been an absence of this type of music. Despite it being still very prevalent in Europe, especially the UK, it is a near dead art form in the United States. This opens up a whole lot of possibilities for those type trying to break through.

The Saturdays may have re-opened the door to the Girl Group in the US, but that doesn't mean they have got it cornered. Enter Ms Trez. A group of single ladies who have a tighter sound than any I've heard in a long time. They may not have a lot under their belt record wise as of now, but they are already making the push from Europe to the states.

The song they have been pushing lately is called "Sweet Liar" and is a song that can reach nearly anyone that is into pop music. Why you ask? Because the went ahead and released two versions. The original released late last year is a slower ballad, while the remix that came out just a few short weeks ago brings it to a faster pace and gives it an electronic sound to get you moving. I prefer the ballad version, but only as a preference. Both songs flow so differently that they are almost completely separate.

Based in Sweden, they are already garnering a lot of attention in their homeland, going as far as to being featured on fellow blog Scandipop. Now they are shifting more of a focus on getting their name out on my terf, so it's a no brainer that I would cover them. They are hot, both visually and vocally, and they make very catchy and fun songs. Why not like them? Their entire discography so far is available on iTunes. I recommend starting on "Beat Is Hot", as it serves as a sort of theme song for what they are all about (being fabulous, of course) and then moving outward from there.

This is definitely a group I will keep my eye on in the future.

MYPHNH(BS) - Amy Weber

All too often, the talented artists out there are constantly bordering on stardom, but can't seem to make that one last leap into the big leagues. They may be on the charts and causing a stir on the net, but they haven't found their way onto the radio. This is exactly where most of my favorites seem to be -- in a musical limbo. It's my job to help them as much as I can. With that being said, let me introduce you to one of my new favorites -- Amy Weber.



Amy has this undeniable beauty that is often people's first draw to her. Seeing as she's doing her best to balance her music with her budding film career, it's no wonder why this is the way it is. She actually reminds me of Nicole Scherzinger, having a very racially ambiguous look, and having a wide appeal to men (and women, for that matter).

But let me go ahead and say that she isn't just a beauty. As shown by her most popular song to date "Let It Rain" (shown above), she has a great voice to go along with her image. The song is a very soft sounding pop track, summoning thoughts of The Saturdays from my days when British music was everything to me. This girl, though? She is straight out of Illinois, from a city that isn't too far from the place I call home. That makes her even better in my book.

Her newest song, "Dance of Life" is a much more electronic song, catching her up to the present day's radio-ready singles. This song is actually a lot like what you would hear on the radio, quality included, which really surprises me that it hasn't blown up yet. The song has been out since November of 2012 and has only wracked up a few hundred views on YouTube. Let's correct that by watching it now!



With a beat as catchy and voice as strong as that, it seems it is only time before it catches on. I am simply doing my part in spreading the word. With a new movie premiering on DVD this month and no signs of either her modeling or music careers slowing down, I'm sure that things will only go up for Amy from here.

Check out her body of work on iTunes.

MYPHNH(BS) - Spray

It's back! Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should) is back, bringing you the most underrated artists around! This time we have a UK duo known as Spray. Their name may be strange, but their sound is anything but. Let's get into this hot dance group.

I bet you are wondering what the hell is going on in that picture. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. I do know that it coincides with their biggest single to date, "Everything's Better With Muppets". The song is a catchy romp through the world of electropop, and it came back in 2010 before the market became over saturated with the genre.

What really astounds me is that these two have been going at the music scene for over a decade and have yet to blow up. They have all the right ingredients for an amazing musical act and they've released a string of amazing albums, but still fall shy of five hundred likes on Facebook. Not even I, the one who scours the interent for days upon days to find obscure and interesting music, knew about this group until they were brought to my attention by a friend.

Spray has become rather notorious for their odd song titles. If you thought "Everything's Better With Muppets" was strange, you should check out titles like "Sparks Called And They Want Their Ideas Back", "You Gotta Belieeeeve" and "Squabble At The Rotary Club". See what I mean?

Recently, they have released a new song entitled "You Can Always Come Home", a slower electro-ballad. The track is a very sad song, but in a good way. Instead of dwelling on the bad times, the track is all about letting them go while letting them know they still have a place in your heart. This song is by far one of the most realistic songs I've heard in a while, giving the listener an honest reaction to a very real situation.

The bottom line is that Spray has been a hard working group for years, and it's about time they got featured on your favorite blog, Taking Over The Universe. Can I get an Amen?

MYPHNH(BS) - Tokyo Black "Steal The Night"

Black Friday is always a killer. Moreso this year than any before, I was completely exhausted when I got home. Instead of updating my blog, I got on Facebook like the lazy bitch I am at heart. Upon hovering about, I found myself another "black" that was much more appealing (damn that sounds racist, doesn't it?) -- much more dancey that this Black Friday I'd suffered through. And her name is Tokyo Black. This is Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should).




Let me just say that both this video and song are everything to me right now. I have no idea how I hadn't known about her sooner, and why she hasn't exploded everywhere. The song is very much a dance-pop track, tinged with that extremely New York sound that comes packaged with many arits from the area (not that it's a bad thing!). I've had this song on repeat for a little over a day now, and I don't plan on letting up any time soon.

What is amazing about Tokyo herself is that she came out publicly as a transgendered woman. Being an avid member of the LGBT community, I know that often the "T" in "LGBT" is overlooked. The fact that she is putting out music, performing, and going harder than any other new artist I've seen in a long time all the while identifying herself as transgendered is brave and commendable. Let me also say that I was completely sold on the song, under the assumption that she was a drag queen, so this wasn't a gimmick for me.

The song's lyrics seem to be about Tokyo herself, as she was once homeless on the streets of New York, but has since climbed her way back up to the top and is now a respected recording artist in New England, and is expanding her music to conventions and other countries. I'm definitely excited to hear more from her. Tokyo Black's debut album was due out this year, but we all know in the world of independent recording, setbacks happen, so I will keep waiting patiently.

In the meantime, grab her debut single off of iTunes.

MYPHNH(BS) - April Kae

It's been a while since I've done a segment of Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should), mostly because it's been a while since I've found a really great artist that needs more recognition. My mindset was originally set to think of groups or people who had been around for a long while and needed the boost, but what about people who just started? April Kae may only have one single out so far, but you should still keep your eye on her.

April Kae was in the spotlight briefly as she appeared as part of "Hollywood Week" on American Idol's tenth season, but after she left the show, she vanished for a good while. Now, thankfully, she is back with her debut single "The Writings On The Wall". April may not have made it far on her season of Idol, but she is definitely proving herself in the industry today.

The thing about this song is that it deals with a serious topic, moving on from a relationship after everything has ended, but it deals with it in an upbeat manner. Not every song about a serious topic has to be dark and brooding, which is what sets this song apart from the rest. The song also showcases her confidence, not needing a man to be herself. The over all message of the song is that of positivitiy and progressiveness.

The most addicting part of the whole track is April's raw talent. The easiest way to prove that somebody has talent is to watch them from before they have a major record deal. No autotune; no million dollar recording studio; just talent. If they can sound amazing without all the expensive editing and touch-ups, they definitely have what it takes to make it. April has just that -- and all at the young age of 21 (looks like we are both prodigies! There goes my ego again).

Help support this budding artist by buying her debut single "The Writings On The Wall" on iTunes.

MYPHNH(BS) - John Rowley

I just can't get enough Australian pop. It's getting to the point to where the more I post, the more contact me and let me know about their music. This time around, the very persistent John Rowley has stuck by his music and showed me his single "Guilt Trip." Needless to say I loved it.



The song is a slower type of pop, but doesn't seep over into the ballad territory. Instead it takes a much more Depeche Mode approach, keeping the bmp low and the vocals hypnotic. The lyrics of this particular track struck me, with its passive aggressive approach to love, giving it a tongue-in-cheek approach to telling a story without having to resort to slapstick.

Rowley has released a few songs in the past, and like many indie artists today, he releases it all for free, even despite the costs of recording. Along with original music, he also does mashups of popular songs, and does them quite well. He may not have sold tons of records or been at the tops of charts, but he has a lot of talent and a lot of drive. He also has a lot of patience for a certain blogger who forgets to post stuff a lot!

You can keep up with all of his recent releases on his Facebook page. Give him a "like" and check out his original and mashup music. I doubt you'll be disappointed!

MYPHNH(BS) - Polaris At Noon

Sometimes people email me. Sometimes people tweet me. Then there are times that I randomly stumble upon new music. And it is glorious. I wasn't sure of this group at first. Usually the groups with "Insert Three Words Here" style band names are emo and terrible. This guys is not. Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should) : Polaris At Noon.

This "group" is comprised of solely Jason Suwito,  and he creates some very nice dance tracks with very haunting vocals summoning thoughts of Depeche Mode. The new EP may only have three tracks, but it leaves a lasting impression. "Pleasure and Pain" may be one of the most under rated songs of the year thus far, sending all it's listeners back to the golden age of the 80s while remaining distinctly modern and new.

Currently unsigned, Polaris At Noon is an amazing solo project, producing quality music. Many indie artist fall prey to lack of budget or resources. This new EP was obviously the culmination of hard work, as it sounds great and has a lot of emotion and drive behind it that is missing from a lot of more quickly produced mainstream tracks.

He is currently on tour with British sensation Sam Sparro, who has a very similar musical sound. It might just be  a perfect combination, and I can only hope that the two of them have some kind of collaboration in the works.

You can pick up the EP for yourself on iTunes. Be sure and fan him on Facebook to get a taste of the EP for yourselves. It is pretty rad.

MYPHNH(BS) - Scarlette Fever

A little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll, and a little bit... dance pop? Yet another singer from the good ol' UK has risen to the surface making an impact on the music world. Her name is Scarlette Fever. Haven't heard of her? Well then, let me introduce you to her so you can get in on the next big thing. Welcome to Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should).

I wasn't sure what to think about this lady upon first finding her. She isn't exactly one genre or another. He debut album "Medication Time" had some amazing sleeper hits on them, as well as a few scattered gems.

She recently released a music video for her song "Hour of Sunshine" and I have to say that I am totally digging it. It has a Reba McEntire vibe to it, making you want to clap and sing along. I may try and hide it, but I was born and raised in the south, so whether I like it or not, country music is in my veins. I'll deny it up and down, though!

The album version of "Hour of Sunshine" has a totally different vibe to it than the single, having a tinge of electronic and pop pushed into it, making it feel completely different. It is amazing  what a slight change in backtrack can do to the feel of an entire song. Either way, "You're my favorite waste of my time" is one of my favorite lines. Like ever.

Recently, Scarlette announced the release of a new live EP entited "The Great Expectations". Included are the new single "Hour of Sunshine" as well as "Cheatin' Man" and "Good Day". The EP will be released worldwide on April 8th. Until then, you can buy her debut album "Medication Time" and get yourself amped for the versions of the tracks.

MYPHNH(BS) - Pob

This one is gonna be a short one, guys. There just isn't a lot of info out there on this guy yet, but when I get an email from a new artist who is not only talented but making some awesome music, how can I not make a post about them?

This cute Brit is a new singer trying to break through in the music biz. He only has two tracks out so far, but according to his Youtube channel, new music is on the way later this month. What he does have out so far is quite enjoyable. Let me introduce you to Pob.

"Shout It Out Loud" is a very upbeat and poppy track that fits right in with the current state of pop music. He has a nice voice and great production backing. His second song, "I'm The One" is a bit less up beat and a tad more dark, showing two vastly different directions he could go in.

Having so few songs out makes him hard to pin. I certainly want more, but only time will tell if he is going to be a break out star. Why feature him on this section if things seem risky? Because what he does have out so far is great and refreshing.

Now who do I need to threaten to get him to put up a bio on his site?

Check out my favorite of the two, "Shout It Out Loud" below.

MYPHNH(BS) - Cristal Snow

I'd been on the fence with this one for a while. I love Cristal Snow. I have since his try at getting on Eurovision back in 2008. The only problem is that his music isn't exactly readily available in the United States. Then the thought crossed my mind -- maybe if his US fanbase grows, he will be able to put his new music up on iTunes. So let me introduce you to your newest obsession.

Cristal Snow is a Finnish electro-pop singer. His music was on the forefront of the late 00's electronic music movement, but due to his location, he didn't get a lot of credit. He has had two albums out, "The Prophecy" and "God You Made Me Wicked". Both albums explored pop music to all of it's limits, and spawned a great deal of singles and videos.

The biggest selling point with Mr. Snow is his look. Being a former drag queen (predictable, I know), he pays great attention to his makeup and visual style. He always has some form of exaggerated eye make up or design on his face. Each of his looks get more and more drastic and over the top, pretty much meaning they get better and better.

His videos are a work of art. Many of them have storylines, such as "Killing Me" where he slowly reveals he burned down his ex's house. Others are simply breathtaking, the most prominent being "Scarred" where he sings atop a Finnish mountaintop with gorgeous scenery.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, give him a chance. His stuff is all over YouTube, and he is actually a really nice person, responding to his fans on several occasions. I'm hoping that his next album will be released internationally online, at least. Until then, we will just have to admire what we can see online. I'll wrap this little article up with my favorite video from him to date - "Wicked."

MYPHNH(BS) - Silveradio

Music comes in all forms. It's not always about the singer. Often times, there is a hidden face behind the beats, or it has been completely revamped by a talented remix artist. My point is, you don't always have to be a vocalist to express yourself artistically. With that being said, lemme introduce you to Silveradio.

To be honest, I wasn't even aware that my friend was making music. I had known him for at least a year before I knew he was seriously making music, and at the time I was rather skeptical about listening to music that wasn't headlined by a vocalist. What can I say, I was naive. I did, however, have faith in my friend, and finding talent in the wasteland we are from is rare, so I gave it a shot. I can honestly say that even if I had not been friends with him, I would still enjoy his music immensely. How can I say this with such certainty?

One day, while riding in a car with his sister, a hot jam came on the radio via her driving playlist. This song was a very amazing remix of E.T. by Katy Perry (A song that under normal circumstances I cannot stand). This was around the time that I was really getting into remix EPs, so I asked: "Who's version is this?" Of course, it was the Silveradio mix. It was then that I started to look at his music more seriously, and I have to say that he really did impress me.

Being a pop music freak, I was much more quickly drawn to his remixes of pop tracks. He has given his own spin to Adele, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears. Recently, however, he has decided to go bak to his roots with his music, and has begun to focus more on his original material to release on online retailers. His iTunes debut "Rain (11 Remake)" is available for purchase here. Let me give the disclaimer that for full effect you should listen to the song with some great sub woofers, such as heavy-duty computer speakers or a car stereo. It sounds so much better that way.

The Silveradio style is called Techn-Trance. In line with this genre is a steady build up in the music, starting out with just on or a couple of tracks of music and building up as the song continues. By the mid point of the song, each bit of the song is going full force. The style allows for people to see what all goes into a song, and creates more of a movement than offering everything upfront.
 
He may have taken down his remixes, but three of his core songs, "Tempo", "Destinox", and "Winterspring" are still up on his official site Turboturbo. I have also bullied him into entering a remix contest to potentially be on a remix album for a rising star in the pop world, Kwanza Jones. I have heard an initial version of his Silverado mix of "Time To Go", and it was sick.

Lyrics are not always required to convey a feeling or an emotion in a song. In fact, being able to express yourself without lyrics can be even more impressive and impacting . Then again, who knows? Maybe one day I'll talk him into letting me add some lyrics to one of his tracks.

If you don't have the cashflow to buy music, please go die another mix of his debut single is available to download for free (at leas to the next 99 people) on SoundCloud. So listen below, download, and enjoy. Or else. This is the internet and I can't get in trouble for threatening.


Rain (11 Chill Mix) by Silveradio

MYPHNH(BS) - Mason Black

Welcome to another installment of the only recurring segment on my blog! Seriously, though, everybody has that one friend with so much talent but not getting the attention they deserve. That is where I come in. Shoot me a line and if I like your stuff, I'll give you a shout out right here. This time around, I'm throwing my good friend Mason Black into the spotlight. Now, my minions, make him feel welcome.

Let me tell you, Mason and I go waaaay back. Yup. Way back to like May of this year. He found my blog, and shot me some of his tunage, and since then we have become fast friends -- and better yet he's actually really talented! He already has two singles on iTunes (Showdown and Cruel Embrace), and he has plenty more in store for you all!

Mason's genre is really hard to define. The way he put it is he is showing people all aspects of himself and seeing which sides of his musical personality people really pick up on. His most notable singe, Cruel Embrace, has a very strong Adam Lambert-esque pop feel to it, singing about the hardships of love. "More To Me", a track off his upcoming EP, has a more country sound to it. Each track is like a page out of his journals, taken from life experiences, and I really think that is what makes his music feel so genuine.

His musical range is actually what drew me to him in the first place. The first song I heard from him was "Showdown", a very sexy and dark pop song. I really liked the song, but I didn't see him really stand out until I heard more. "Cruel Embrace", followed by "More To Me" and quickly "Jack The Ripper" all show very unique, and sometimes a bit scary, faces of this multi-talented song writer.

Perhaps my love for Mr. Black is a bit biased. He is a very awesome and nice person and he is very real. If you fan him on Facebook, chances are he will respond to your posts! He is a big supporter of Jango, but I don't really use it. IF THAT IS YOUR THING, HIT HIM UP! Otherwise, check out this song fresh off his new EP "The Sinner EP", due out November 1st!


My First Time by MasonBlack

MYPHNH(BS) - JohnBoyCool

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I don't really care that much for rap music. That is why I have to hide it in between electronic and dance beats, and toss in some autotune. Sound familiar? No I'm not talking about Ke$ha again (She needs to release a new single, but that's another story). I am talking about newcomer JohnBoyCool. Not exactly techno and not exactly rap, this guy knows how to work it, and best of all, he's doing it all for free!

I can't even accurately explain why I like this guy so much. The lyrics themselves aren't complex and he sounds like he is singing through a T-Pain mic half the time, but it just works. The synth beats paired with his ability to flow off songs in league with today's best rappers is pretty impressive. I don't usually buy into the whole rap scene, but something about this guy is different. Calling himself the son of "Morticia Adamas", he sure did get my attention real quick.

I didn't expect much from the EP. Usually when I grab free music off the internet, it is just a few rough demos that don't sound in the least bit professional. This, however, was not the case. These tracks are very polished and professional sounding. This unexpected surprise started the fire that is quickly becoming an obsession with this new artist.

His debut EP "Too Cool 4 School Vol. 1" is available for free streaming on Soundcloud as well as for download in full. Built around the idea of being in high school, a lot of the songs deal with him being in school while still trying to party. Songs like "King of the Parking Lot" may sound like some immature Lil Bow Wow song, but in reality, he's being rather dirty about -- threesomes and all. His frank attitude towards his life experiences and inability to sugar coat anything make his songs feel more real.

King of the Parking Lot (Produced by The Klassiks) by JohnBoyCOOL

The idea of releasing your music in the beginning stages for free is a brilliant idea and a way to gain quick fans. He certainly won me over by offering top notch music free of charge. It takes me back to artists like Colette Carr, who gained tons of fans by releasing her debut mix tape for free. It also doesn't hurt that there isn't a single crap song on the album. Every one of these songs are party ready, which was no mistake. JohnBoy's attitude is pure party -- pure patron.

If I had to put him in a category, it would be grouped with LMFAO in this new electro-rap movement, but even that doesn't set well with me. He is his own style. A little Ke$ha, a bit of LMFAO, a dash of Lil Wayne. This all melds together to make a really great style of fun music that you can dance to, as well as still come off pretty sick rapping to.

You gotta check this guy out. With less than two hundred fans on Facebook, I'm sure he would appreciate it. That may not be a fair assessment, though, seeing as everything is moving to Twitter now, but even there he only has around four thousand followers. Let's fix that, no? You can download his album for free on his website here. Oh and did I mention he is having another EP coming out next month. Straight from the man on Twitter -- "Sunday School" will drop on Halloween.

MYPHNH(BS) - The Vibrant Sound

Welcome to the first installment of my new sporadic installment (I promise I'll do this one more often), entitled Music You Have Probably Never Heard (But Should) -- or MYPHNH(BS) for short. This is my excuse to go all out fanboy for a singer or group making amazing music, but just not getting too much attention. It happens all the time. Unfortunately in today's world, talent doesn't always lead to success.

Now let me take a second to say, contrary to popular belief, I do listen to music other than pop music on occasion. I have my favorite metal bands and a few alternative or singer/songwriter people I follow, but this blog is all about pop music and (occasionally) drag queens. Let me prove this by introducing you to a band that I've come to love over the past few weeks. They are called The Vibrant Sound.

I'm not sure exactly how to describe these guys. The only group that even comes close is the pop/rap group The Gorillaz, but that doesn't even do them justice. The diverse group, residing in Utah, manages to mix pop, funk, soul, rap, and jazz all into one nice package. Their sound shifts from song to song, and yet they still have a distinct sound that you can always identify as The Vibrant Sound.

A big plus for this group is definitely their musical topics. Their debut album "Downtown", released in 2009, deals with everything from politics and racism, to growing up and finding love. As much as I like to party my ass off, I find it amazingly refreshing to hear a song with a serious message. The track "The Proletariat" explores poverty and inequality in a very frank and raw manner. It's a political statement -- a call for change. Similarly,  "Abolitionist Newspaper" features clips of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Had A Dream" speech spliced in between McKay flowing like a pro, spreading a message of racial equality.

The biggest part of the Vibrant Sound charm is their frankness. The music may be chill and relaxed, but the lyrics are very upfront. They know exactly what they want to say, and they are going to make you listen. The message for these tracks is very serious -- but that's not all that they offer.

These guys also have a very carefree side to them. "79th & Flight" is all about their lives growing up in the 80s. The video, a small party with close friends as they skate and dance together, may not be the most groundbreaking thing ever, but it really makes one miss the late 80s and early 90s. The title track "Downtown" is another one of the more lighthearted tracks on the album. It deals with the later days of a relationship, past the "honeymoon" portion of the relationship and straight to the part of the relationship that requires the real work.

And just when I had thought I had heard all the sides of this group, they came out with another big surprise. "Golddigger" is their newest single, and it is unlike anything I've heard from them so far. Heavy on the trumpets and 70s funk, this one sounds like the soundtrack to an exploitation film of the days gone. Even stranger, the song focuses a lot less on rapping, and a lot more on singing.

If any of this has caught your attention, check them out! They have less thank 1500 fans on Facebook right now! I find that insane. Why don't you fan them? All of their music is available on their fanpage, and you can even download two exclusive tracks there! You can buy their new single on iTunes here. Oh and they are totally on Twitter, too!