Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Acute performs in LA on June 20

I like this band! Read my interview with them at www.sgvn.com on June 15 and go see the show, you might become a fan too. ~M

ACUTE
LOS ANGELES SHOW

Wednesday, June 20
The Troubadour
9081 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Los Angeles buzz band ACUTE-who're earning acclaim for their mix of gorgeous pop melodies with finely etched landscapes of sound-have launched their cross-country North American tour with singer-songwriter Jesse Malin.

ACUTE released their debut album ARMS AROUND A STRANGER via Help Records (May 1). ARMS AROUND A STRANGER is already garnering early critical praise on the heels of their 2006 EP Selections, which the Washington Post said "...maintains an impressive flair for songcraft..." (12/06).

ACUTE is vocalist/guitarist ISAAC LEKACH (formerly of Poulain), drummer PATRICK EDWARDS (ex-Ozma), and keyboardist/backing vocalist JASON "The Professor" BORGER (a multi-instrumentalist who plays strings on the upcoming Earlimart album) are joined by touring bassist Matt Herman.

Check out ACUTE's new quicktime mini-movie:
http://www.imanddmedia.com/Acute/AcuteBalloon.mov.

Check out what critics are saying about ACUTE:

"Isaac Lekach's ministrations as a melody fiend were on full display in his old band, Poulain, a project that never scored any hits except those that found the sweet spot of a few Los Angeles pop fans. Now his fixation has become Acute--the name of Lekach's new four-piece founded with ex-Ozma drummer Patrick Edwards. The songs [on Arms Around a Stranger, Acute's debut] boast lavish orchestration-strings, horns, backing vocals (including a cameo by the Like's Z Berg), pedal steel and Wurlitzer-that gives the record a cinematic quality."
-Kevin Bronson, LOS ANGELES TIMES (May 3, 2007)
To view the whole article click here: http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-wk-bands3may03,0,6564817.story?coll=cl-music-features.

"Armed with fuzzy guitars and sharp as Ginsu-songcraft, these veterans of underrated never-weres Poulain and Ozma are the latest gold medalists in Los Angeles' continuing power pop Olympics."
--Jennifer Edmondson, SPIN, May 2007

“…This Los Angeles trio do pull it back from the orchestra pit on the rockers, from the tuneful Zombies-esque piano pop of “Trouble” to “The City,” where Cars-flavored keyboards and chugging guitars were apparently just what they needed. But the band really work the Wall Of Sound on the ballads, bringing chamber strings, pedal steel, harpsichord, flute and a whistling solo to “Saint” and making the most of a moody cello on the melancholy “Rush To It,” where no one’s rushing anywhere.”
--Ed Masley, ALTERNATIVE PRESS, July 2007

“Acute traverse that dark and rich territory occupied by gloomy vocals and plodding guitars that are so bass-y they bring you down, but comfort you after you hit rock-bottom.”
--Lily Moayeri, MEAN STREET, May 2007

"...crafting gorgeous, diverse melodies that burrow into your memory and make a home. Exquisite in every possible way, each song a blooming pop flower hiding thorny hooks, Arms Around A Stranger introduces you to the many sides of Acute in crunchy, fuzz-toned rockers ("Follow You Home," "Take A Step Back" and the Cars-like "The City"), Burt Bacharach-meets-Gram Parsons laments ("Saint"), heartbreaking, baroque love songs ("Rush To It" and "When We're Alone") and vibrant piano pounders ("Trouble"). Alternately sunny and cloudy, cheery and ebullient, but also depressing and sad, Arms Around A Stranger avoids the preciousness that plagues many of its contemporaries. Acute nods to Grandaddy, the Beta Band, the Beach Boys and a host of other pop luminaries on Arms Around A Stranger, fleshing out its arrangements with pedal steel, piano, spiraling string arpeggios and lonely brass that marry melody and counter melody together in uniquely irresistible patterns. Already, Acute is ahead of the curve."
--Peter Lindblad, GOLDMINE, May 2007

"Produced by Dave Trumfio, who worked wonders for My Morning Jacket and Wilco, this debut full-length is a solid step forward. Building on the eclectic songwriting Acute displayed on its 2006 EP, the act continues to craft catchy pop hooks that hit home like a late-afternoon caffeine buzz."
--Brandon Daviet, WESTWORD (Denver), April 5, 2007

"...Acute goes about penning memorable alt-pop the good old fashioned way-- that lasts the full duration of an entire album. With the majority of up-and-coming rock bands seeming concerned primarily with getting their look just right for photo shoots rather than penning an album's worth of memorable songs, 'Arms Around A Stranger' shows that Acute is one of the few exceptions."
--Greg Prato, ALL MUSIC GUIDE, April 2007.

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