Everything Collide

Personnel: Pat Brown (vocals, guitar); Kieren Smith (guitar, background vocals); Ben Peterson (piano, keyboards).
Audio Mixer: Jordan Schmidt.
Recording information: Studio Melmac, Minneapolis, MN; The Terrarium, Minneapolis, MN.
In the two years since their debut record, Come Around, was released, Sing It Loud have done some growing up. You can see it in their promo photos, where in place of Day-Glo colors and wacky hairstyles the group is shown in earth tones and leather with sensible haircuts. The album cover shows the shift too, from Come Around's new wave-inspired design and color scheme to a somber sunset photo of a deserted beach and boardwalk on Everything Collide. Most importantly, the sound of the band has changed from a barely contained, bursting-with-energy blast of fun to a more restrained and warm, often melancholy, almost adult feel. The keyboards have shifted from cheesy synths to organ and pianos, the guitars are less prominent and more layered, the vocals are less adolescent, and there are almost as many ballads as there are good-time rockers. ~ Tim Sendra