Waldorf, MD - DCide recording artists Downtown Singapore are gearing up for the release of their debut album, Don't Let Your Guard Down on February 21, 2006. The follow-up to their 2005 EP, Understanding a Guarantee, this album marks a major shift in the band's songcraft towards a fully-realized and closer musical connection to who they are as a band. "We're extremely excited for this record," replies vocalist/guitarist Jerry Scott. "We've been meaning to do a record like this for a long time and we're all so proud of this because we finally have a solid line up after years of members coming in and out of the band. We can truly relax, sit back and look at this project without having to tie up any loose ends."
Produced by Matt Squire (Panic! at the Disco, The Receiving End of Sirens), Don't Let Your Guard Down expands the band's signature melodic indie rock with a formidable triple guitar attack and creates a cleaner, crisper sound that doesn't sacrifice any of the band's power or impact. "We've never worked with a producer before, so it was great seeing Matt Squire really play with our songs," adds drummer Matt Thorsen. "He really opened our minds to different ideas, and gave us a different outlook on the writing process."
Jam packed with songs like the quiet ballad of "Teresa Rizal" to the thumping power chords of the title track, Don't Let Your Guard Down is a diverse collection of 12 tracks that explore and build upon their past. "We're especially happy with the song 'Don't Let Your Guard Down' because we didn't write it before going into the studio," explains bassist Josh Louge. "Towards the end of pre-production, Squire told us to go into the studio and write a song, we were kind of stumped at the time of what to do, but we took one of [guitarist Jake Rabadi's] old riffs from earlier in the summer and reworked it. We never thought at the time that this would be one of the more standout tracks on the record." Among the other signature tracks on an album filled with epic tracks is "Choir Boy" (on which Larry from My American Heart guests). Citing its "cinematic feel," Matt "Spud" Van Gasbeck says, "when we were in the process of writing it we kept thinking about how this piece kind of sounds like a song you would hear in a James Bond Soundtrack."
Downtown Singapore have already been making major waves in the post-hardcore scene and building their buzz wherever they go. Their debut EP, Understanding a Guarantee charted in CMJ's Top 100 and the track "Velvet Divorce" was featured on popular compilation Punk the Clock Vol. 2. The band has lots of big touring plans scheduled for early 2006 which will be announced shortly. Jerry concludes, "There isn't really any story we are trying to tell. The lyrics are basically about life experiences and personal convictions. The music itself is and simply always has been music that we want to hear."
TOUR DATES
1.21 Springfield, VA The Space
1.28 Madison, CT Madison Arts Barn
1.29 Lemoyne, PA Championship
1.31 Richmond, VA Nanci Raygun
2.1 VA Beach, VA Peppermint Beach Club
2.3 Augusta, GA Sector 7G
2.4 Valdosta, GA Vito's R n' R Pizzeria
2.5 Clearwater, FL 688 Skatepark
2.7 Orlando, FL Will's Pub South
2.9 Tallahassee, FL Beta Bar
2.10 Chipley, FL Blue Lake Comm. Cnt.
2.12 Knoxville, TN Corner Lounge
2.20 Baltimore, MD Fletcher's
2.22 Cambridge, MA T.T. the Bear's
2.24 Hollywood, MD Hyperspace
2.25 Springfield, VA The Space
2.26 Bloomfield, NJ Bloomfield Cafe
2.27 Rome, NY The Generator
More dates to be announced!
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