Photo by Dirk Mai

 

            PWNZ like: The Downtown Fiction, A Rocket to the Moon, Sing it Loud, My Favorite Highway

 

            Tempe, Arizona-based powerpop funk band This Century is something special, and the Maine drummer Pat Kirch knew it. The band–which was founded by drummer Ryan Gose and guitarist Sean Silverman–were quickly joined by Sean’s brother,  bassist Alex Silverman and  vocalist Joel Kanitz, to form a quartet. They were signed to Kirch’s label, the Warner Bros. imprint Action Theory Records this year.

 

            This Century is so dedicated to their craft, the band played almost any show, including gigs at local venues and playing house shows throughout the nation. Their hard work paid off and the band landed a gig at the Chain Reaction and snagged a spot at this year’s Bamboozle Festival. This Century won over fans with their energetic and bouncy melodies, as well as a constant stream of social networking, be it through blog updates on Buzznet or Tumblr or YouTube videos.

 

            Their distinct mix of new-era pop rock and retro funk can be heard on their third release, 2009’s To Love and Back EP, which was produced by Matt Grabe (A Rocket to the Moon, the Summer Set). Their addictive The Downtown Fiction-esque edgy pessimism and keyboard-driven powerpop can get anyone dancing. The songs on the six-track EP are short but bursting with energy like a sugar rush. This Century has a gift for writing simple but meaningful lyrics that can be audacious and daring, but often reveal the band’s inner insecurities and vulnerability, similar to Same Blood Rush With A New Touch-era Cute Is What We Aim For.

 

            The EP starts off with the loud and upbeat “Battling a Heavy Heart”. Kanitz’s impassioned  confident vocals are notable as he croons about longing for love and overcoming the obstacles that get in his way. Gose’s drumming is thunderous and hit the right notes with pin-point precision, building excitement.The keyboards are remarkable and define the overall mood of the song, full of hope and optimism.

 

            The fast-paced “Go Get Her” is about pursuing what you want and not thinking twice about it. “Go Get Her” urges the listener to speak up, like My Favorite Highway’s “Say So”. The lyrics are empowering as This Century vow to  never give up; the persistent guitars are dance-inducing.

 

            This Century is a unique band, with a talent to mix instruments without sounding messy or over-the-top. Most of their songs are vibrant and bright, emotionally-charged and heartfelt. Every This Century song has raw and authentic feelings you just cant fake.

 

Download the free EP 16 (covers) here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?y2zmimv5zmj

and the 16 acoustic EP here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SB1WPKKE