Beautiful Bodies - Battles

            It appears that we have a new band in our midst. A band that can kick some serious ass, might I add. Kansas City, Missouri has apparently been hiding rock trio Beautiful Bodies from us for quite some time, and I’m proud that they’re finally getting their time in the spotlight. The band released their debut, Bodies, just a couple weeks ago. I happened to catch the band play two weekends ago at the Vans Warped Tour in Mountain View, right as I was getting ready to photograph another artist. I did a double take after I heard part of the set because I was completely blown away by their musicianship and stage presence. Alicia Solombrino, the vocalist, knew how to command an entire amphitheater of people at 1 in the afternoon. It blew me away that this is a band touring off of a debut record. It felt like I was watching seasoned veterans of the Vans Warped Tour.
                The band’s John Feldmann produced debut album is a perfect, eclectic style of pop rock (with a MUCH heavier emphasis on the ‘rock’ side of the songwriting equation). “Animal”, the first track, presents a perfect example of the band’s sound. “War Inside Your Heart” is passion-fueled, arena-chanting track. “She’s A Blast” and “Lies” keep the energy upbeat and fast. There’s rarely a slow moment on the album until the very end, with the closing song “Gone, Gone, Gone”.
                The standout track for me, and soon to be the Warped Tour anthem, is “Invincible”. Seriously, if the punk kids aren’t singing this by the time the tour ends, something’s wrong. Fueled by intense musical composition, heavy guitars, and a chorus that literally screams “I don’t give a damn about running with the in crowd”, this is just another sampling from a terrific debut album.

This has been another Shameless Promotion. 

Bassnectar - Into The Sun

Set It Off - Duality: Stories Unplugged