Mandy K - Mandy K (EP)

[Chris Fallon]

Mandy K - Mandy K (EP)
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: April 14, 2009


Who?

The city of Buffalo, located in upstate New York, has given us plenty to celebrate in the music world, with a solid dose of variety: alternative pop-rock pioneers Goo Goo Dolls, metal fury from Every Time I Die, pop blandness in Cute is What We Aim For... and now, Mandy K, a five-piece pop band that is attempting to get recognized in a crowd of hundreds who look, sing and sound just like them. For their second outing, following 2008's full-length debut, The Birds and the Bees, they recruited former Cute bassist Fred Cimato and pop-rock wizard Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Dangerous Summer) as producers, in order to possibly bring their own wisdom to the band's self-titled, six-song EP.


How is it?

Allow me to propose a question: how much do you like repetition? Mandy K may sound like the name of the latest pop songstress or an all-female Relient K cover band, but they are actually your run-of-the-mill pop-rock band that seem to be sprouting out of every corner on the map, sporting great haircuts and a boring name. Take a dash of The Academy Is, mix in a little Forever the Sickest Kids, sprinkle in some of The Maine and Sing it Loud -- voila! Eat up, enjoy and if you feel sick, don't fear: like a bad hangover, some good old-fashioned rest & relaxation will settle that bloated & nauseous feeling (it's common, believe me).

Mandy K might want to incorporate running shoes into their budget, because the hurdles they have to jump in order to truly stand out are currently next to impossible, even with the masterful hands of Leavitt. His ultra-polished sheen is definitely slick enough to choke a baby seal, but behind the massive sing-along choruses and standard musicianship, it's all essentially a collaboration of bands you've heard before (and not even bands that do it all that well to begin with). "Plans" strikes up a worthwhile cause but gets lost in its own catchy hook, unraveling at a rapid pace. "Save Your Excuses" whips out a saucy organ-drenched introduction before swerving off-course with its drawn-out thematic material (which, in case you hadn't figured out, is all about girls in one way or another) and despite it's lame-pickup-line title, "Are You From Tennessee? 'Cause You're the Only Ten I See" finds a good momentum to roll on, giving the middle half a worthy centerpiece (and it proves that lousy pickup lines can sometimes be successful! Take notes, Fresh Prince!). However, there is simply not enough freshness here to keep Mandy K from getting old quickly, and the sappy ballad "Sunflower" is the nail in the coffin at only three tracks in, with it's woefully pitiful refrain of "I love you." Where's John Belushi's guitar-smashing hands when you need them? I mean, honestly -- did William Beckett crawl up into vocalist Anthony Musior's throat and die? It's sincerely painful, and the redundancy continues on "While You Were Out," which endlessly puts itself on repeat for three-and-a-half minutes.

Musior's vocals are not really a problem, per se, so much as they are too familiar already. We've heard this nasally-tinged pitch several times before, and without much originality backing him up, it leaves the songs hanging out to dry. Despite the fact that they've become a tighter unit, the cohesion is still lacking and the band simply does not offer up a batch of memorable songs. Brief moments of hope are dashed by weak lyrics and unoriginal structures/musicianship. Perhaps Mandy K has what it takes to make Buffalo proud -- they just have yet to break any new ground.

The Academy Is' Fast Times at Barrington High; Sing it Loud; Forever the Sickest Kids; pressing repeat; swimming backwards."Save Your Excuses" and "Are You From Tennessee? 'Cause You're the Only Ten I See"

1. Plans
2. Save Your Excuses
3. Sunflower
4. Are You From Tennessee? 'Cause You're the Only Ten I See
5. Come Back to Bed
6. While You Were OutAnthony Musior: vocals
Mike Brady: guitar/vocals
Kevin Scoma: guitar
Trey Hollowood: bass
John Crook: drums

Official Site (http://www.mandykmusic.com) | Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mandykmusic)Amazon MP3 (http://www.amazon.com/Mandy-K/dp/B001W09ZW6/ref=sr_f3_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1239784227&sr=103-1)

[Shroomkilla]

hahah such a good review and verrryyy true

[denissuxx]

Not sure how I feel about this review

[ddb43]

I'm sick of these kinds of bands.

[KingsCrossing]

Tony shoulda had Joe review it. haha

[robotscantlove]

we met this band in line for something and they were pretty nice, i've never actually heard them though

[SamKS]

The review is well written but, I really do enjoy this band a lot more than bands that you've mentioned such as FTSK, Sing it Loud, and The Maine. Although it's not exactly original it at all, I think they are doing that genre a lot better than most are.

[Joe DeAndrea]

Tony shoulda had Joe review it. haha
lolz. I don't really like'em that much actually.

[HometownHero]

This band is absolutely terrible

[losethegirl]

Out of all the bands I know from Buffalo can't say these guys are the most-polished or the most unique. They're good kids though and they are putting in legwork, so props for keeping up the hard work.

[shimmyshakes]

Out of all the bands I know from Buffalo can't say these guys are the most-polished or the most unique. They're good kids though and they are putting in legwork, so props for keeping up the hard work.
Exactly.

[stupidtyonparad]

ha i cant believe this band is being reviewed on this site, my buddy's band used to play shows with these guys hwen they were both starting out, i wanst impressed with either act haha

[IMINABAND]

I think this is a hilarious review Chris! It's the kind of review that almost every single national recording/touring artist that graces the pages of AP deserve. There is very little "original" music going on today - and if a band can be deemed "original, unique and interested" the mass society of young teens listening and spending their money supporting music - don't want to listen to "original, unique" bands.

I've watched Mandy K for years throughout the Buffalo Scene and I give them all the credit they deserve for being a very hard working band - and although their music isn't my cup of tea - in today's music business, it doesn't seem like anyone really cares what bands sound like... including the listeners.

To the boys in Mandy K - Good work and hope your record brings you some success! To Chris Fallon - You're the man and you always will be! To all the kids on AbsolutePunk that rip apart every band that has a post - grow up! This music business, your band, the radio, the internet - none of these will ever get better until bands and people alike start working together and helping each other out. I'm not a hippie. I'm not looking to start a revolution. I'm no one special. IMINABAND.

www.iminaband.org

[WhoSaidThat?]

Nice review, Chris.

[Kurt Retenauer]

I think this is a hilarious review Chris! It's the kind of review that almost every single national recording/touring artist that graces the pages of AP deserve. There is very little "original" music going on today - and if a band can be deemed "original, unique and interested" the mass society of young teens listening and spending their money supporting music - don't want to listen to "original, unique" bands.

I've watched Mandy K for years throughout the Buffalo Scene and I give them all the credit they deserve for being a very hard working band - and although their music isn't my cup of tea - in today's music business, it doesn't seem like anyone really cares what bands sound like... including the listeners.

To the boys in Mandy K - Good work and hope your record brings you some success! To Chris Fallon - You're the man and you always will be! To all the kids on AbsolutePunk that rip apart every band that has a post - grow up! This music business, your band, the radio, the internet - none of these will ever get better until bands and people alike start working together and helping each other out. I'm not a hippie. I'm not looking to start a revolution. I'm no one special. IMINABAND.

www.iminaband.org
lolwut

[sowrongitsryan]

The review is well written but, I really do enjoy this band a lot more than bands that you've mentioned such as FTSK, Sing it Loud, and The Maine. Although it's not exactly original it at all, I think they are doing that genre a lot better than most are.
they actually do the genre worse. sorry buddy.

[SamKS]

they actually do the genre worse. sorry buddy.
Whatever floats your boat dog.

[MusicTalks]

Mandy K might want to incorporate running shoes into their budget, because the hurdles they have to jump in order to truly stand out are currently next to impossible.

Fucking classic. I can actually see you hitting yourself in the face with a frying pan while listening to this.

Oh, and BTW, I think that denissuxx guy hates just about every review I've ever seen him comment about.

[Chris Fallon]

Fucking classic. I can actually see you hitting yourself in the face with a frying pan while listening to this.

Oh, and BTW, I think that denissuxx guy hates just about every review I've ever seen him comment about.
Haha for some reason, I actually thought to myself, "Jason will love this line."

Yeah, that kid is quite negative. Just needs a big ol' hug from Blake.

[more heart]

I like them but they're nothing special though.

[HoAx007]

Since i live in Buffalo and go to lots of shows and have seen these guys so many times there is ALOT more better acts around i would say The Boy And His Machine > Mandy K :)

[Soupy]

I think this is a hilarious review Chris! It's the kind of review that almost every single national recording/touring artist that graces the pages of AP deserve. There is very little "original" music going on today - and if a band can be deemed "original, unique and interested" the mass society of young teens listening and spending their money supporting music - don't want to listen to "original, unique" bands.

I've watched Mandy K for years throughout the Buffalo Scene and I give them all the credit they deserve for being a very hard working band - and although their music isn't my cup of tea - in today's music business, it doesn't seem like anyone really cares what bands sound like... including the listeners.

To the boys in Mandy K - Good work and hope your record brings you some success! To Chris Fallon - You're the man and you always will be! To all the kids on AbsolutePunk that rip apart every band that has a post - grow up! This music business, your band, the radio, the internet - none of these will ever get better until bands and people alike start working together and helping each other out. I'm not a hippie. I'm not looking to start a revolution. I'm no one special. IMINABAND.

www.iminaband.org
So, you're saying that no one should question any of the bands that come out sounding the same? By that logic man, we should just except and love anything spoon fed to us. You're fucking right you dont want to start a revolution. I think that the only thing saving the scene right now is kids that are willing to voice dissenting opinions on sites like this one. A lot of bands get butt hurt about kids on the internet "talking shit" while they're "not doing anything better" but fuck man, they arent supposed to be doing something better. They aren't in the bands. You are. You're supposed to be producing something better and if what you're producing isn't being well received you have two options as I see it. One, you could go on doing what you want to do because its the music you love creating and you're doing it strictly for yourself or two, you could listen to what kids have to say instead of complaining about it and make the changes in your music to put something out that is well received. Anything else seems like a waste of time. The kids ripping bands apart shouldn't grow up. You should. Punk rock was built on questioning the status quo. Keep talking shit on what you don't like. Keep supporting what you do.

[Etrain4242]

pretty catchy.

They are called Mandy K and they released a cd last year called The Birds and the Bees.

and

Relient K released a CD last year called The Bird and the Bee Sides.

[SamKS]

So, you're saying that no one should question any of the bands that come out sounding the same? By that logic man, we should just except and love anything spoon fed to us. You're fucking right you dont want to start a revolution. I think that the only thing saving the scene right now is kids that are willing to voice dissenting opinions on sites like this one. A lot of bands get butt hurt about kids on the internet "talking shit" while they're "not doing anything better" but fuck man, they arent supposed to be doing something better. They aren't in the bands. You are. You're supposed to be producing something better and if what you're producing isn't being well received you have two options as I see it. One, you could go on doing what you want to do because its the music you love creating and you're doing it strictly for yourself or two, you could listen to what kids have to say instead of complaining about it and make the changes in your music to put something out that is well received. Anything else seems like a waste of time. The kids ripping bands apart shouldn't grow up. You should. Punk rock was built on questioning the status quo. Keep talking shit on what you don't like. Keep supporting what you do.
Hey man, I love your band but don't really agree with what you said.

Bands like this aren't making music like this just to get famous, to get girls, or any other of the superficial bullshit. They are making the music they make because that's what they love to do and that's the kind of music they listen to. Just becuase they aren't different doesn't mean they are terrible musicians, it's just they do what their musical passion is and I respect that as well, they're not trying to be a band that they really aren't. I mean if you'd like the current bands such as The Maine, Sing it Loud, etc.. to be the "high point" of this type of music then that's crazy. I'd rather have a ton of bands trying to surpass those bands in talent and success then just always have the same bands being as popular and succesfull as they are right now rather then the same amount of bands trying to do so many things differently just so people on AP.net and other websites don't rip on them.

Just to mention, I hate the whole neon look trend but if a band dresses like that and plays better music then another I'm not going to deny that. It's dumb to dress like that, I think so atleast, but if that's how they feel comfterable dressing then more power to them!

There's so much you can do to sound different, but it's all been done so if you do something the same way as a modern day scene band does then you get bitched out but on the other hand if you do something that has been done in a while but was popular at one point you get the same response, it's a never ending process.

There's only so much originality you can have in music, don't get me wrong I'm sure there's a ton of things out there that bands could be doing to switch it up, but almost everything has been done once so in a sense everyone but the originators are just following some type of trend.

Most all bands play the music they love and would like to hear. If I love hardcore music and love all the bands playing hardcore music right now then that's the type of music I'd want to play in a band, you can try and be different but no matter what you do someone's done it before and it'll just be looked at as un-original by at least one or more people.

Trust me, I respect people so much more as musicians that try and change it up and that succesfully do something new that sounds good to me. Though I respect those musicians I'd rather not listen to their music on a regular basis as I would with Mandy K.

I hope I got some kind of point across and maybe made someone rethink their outlook on this, I don't intend to but if I do that's awesome.

I'd love to hear another side of the story on this topic.

[Soupy]

Brother, I think you misunderstood me. I said that if Mandy K is playing the kind of music then want to, then they should continue to and it shouldn't matter that kids are ripping them up. If they are playing music to get popular, then they should listen to the kids opinions because those are the kids you want to buy your record. Either way, the kids have a right to talk shit and to say that they shouldn't be allowed to say that is the anti-thesis of everything this was all founded on and while I think that we are a community and that we should support each other, you shouldn't be asked to support something you don't like just so that they can feel good about it.

[SamKS]

Brother, I think you misunderstood me. I said that if Mandy K is playing the kind of music then want to, then they should continue to and it shouldn't matter that kids are ripping them up. If they are playing music to get popular, then they should listen to the kids opinions because those are the kids you want to buy your record. Either way, the kids have a right to talk shit and to say that they shouldn't be allowed to say that is the anti-thesis of everything this was all founded on and while I think that we are a community and that we should support each other, you shouldn't be asked to support something you don't like just so that they can feel good about it.
Ah, I got you man. I see what your saying.

Well I'd say you don't have to support it, but you don't have to come in and be a belligerent asshole and say some really messed up things to a band who are trying to do what they love. Know what I mean?

I guess what I said earlier was really just towards people on AP.net that think the opposite of what I say, it's an everyday debate about that topic.

[EchoPark]

Fallon you are hands down the best reviewer on this site.


And I couldn't agree more with you about this album, a big sopping pile of greasy fail.

[Chris Fallon]

Fallon you are hands down the best reviewer on this site.


And I couldn't agree more with you about this album, a big sopping pile of greasy fail.
I don't know about that, but thank you! I do appreciate your kind words! Means a lot, really!

[skubala]

opinions are opinions. i think the review was a little harsh but, regardless... i've seen these kids grow into the band they are now. they work hard. they enjoy what they do. and they do it because they love it. they always put on an awesome show and kids come out to support them. compared to their last record the new self-titled is one step in the right direction...and thats all it takes.

[FallOut_Academy]

excellent.
(:

[mikeysaysmikey]

My band has played with Mandy K almost everytime they've been to Canada. It's been great, they are amazing guys, working their ass off. Say what you want about their music, I personally enjoy it for what it is, fun sing along pop music written by friends of mine.

Just because you may not necessarily like their music, that doesn't mean they aren't doing the right thing with their lives, I have a lot of respect for anyone who puts as much effort as them into music, no matter what brand of music they play.

Mandy K <3

[MSIndulgence]

went to warped today, and one guy from the band handed me this CD.[free obviously] i'll give it a spin.. nice review chris, though.