Sweet Japonic Two O'Clock Sirens CD

Something different, something that takes you outside of the routine, the norm, the societal expectation, something that makes you know you are alive with nothing left to lose.*2006 Jammie Award winning CD for best local rock album!Review's on 'Two O'clock Sirens'•Grand Rapids Press:The music: One of Grand Rapids' most talented bands ever maintains its spotless reputation with eight tracks of smart, often rootsy rock, bolstered by tight musicianship and expressive, harmony-rich vocals. •Sweet Japonic releases new CD, Two O'clock Sirens Advanced Newspapers:It has been an interesting couple of years for the Grand Rapids-based band Sweet Japonic. The band has sort of changed drummers, added a keyboard player, and is about to release their second CD titled Two O'clock Sirens. A CD release party is planned for 9:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Billy's Lounge, 1437 Wealthy St. SE in Grand Rapids. Bass player and founding member Ryan Braman said the changes have moved the band forward. "We have always been serious about our music but I think that this CD has helped us to define our sound a little more," he said. The band added former Mission Orange drummer Roy Wallace and keyboardist Davy Tyson to the band in the last year, which has added another dimension to the band Branman said. "Wallace works as a studio engineer when not working with the band which has helped us in the recording process and everybody in town knows Tyson who regularly plays at piano bars in Grand Rapids," said Braman. The self-produced album will be available at Schuler Books and at the band's Web site www.sweetjaponicmusic.com. Braman said while the band has always been pleased with their self-produced efforts, a number of record labels have contacted the band about a possible deal. "There have been discussions but so far, that's all there have been," he said. "You never know what will happen but we are really happy with this new CD." For those unfamiliar with the band Sweet Japonic they sound much like bands like Counting Crows, Train, and OAR. Their music can best be described in the genre of frat rock. Frat Rock not being a derogatory term in that it would have a large appeal to many college age students, with its catchy hooks and sing-a-long lyrics are perfect for the Saturday night on campus They blend a comfortable mix of piano and guitars to lull the listener into a nostalgic feeling that reminds listeners much of earlier Jimmy Buffett and Jackson Brown. The musicianship on the album is better than most in the other bands in the same category. They have tightness within in the band that shows in the structures of the songs and how each song is constructed. It is mildly predictable in their song structure: verse, chorus, verse, solo, chorus, but why mess with what works. They also use the pedal steel effectively enough to also attract those who listen to pop-country to their shows. Sweet Japonic offers a blend of middle-of-the-road rock music, with catchy choruses and danceable songs. •How does it feel Northeast In-TuneHow does it feel to be driving down the road and all of a sudden you hear your song on the radio? "It's cool! At first I called everybody I knew; now I just smile inside. It's a great feeling," says Ryan Braman of Sweet Japonic.Sweet Japonic got its start five years ago, picking the name on a whim. "One of the guys saw a shampoo commercial with the ingredient Japonica. We wanted a two-word band name. We thought japonica was a "sweet" (as in cool) word. We dropped the "a" and made the name Sweet Japonic." And thus the mixed-genre band from Grand Rapids, Michigan was born. Though the lineup has changed over the last five years (Lucas and Ryan being the only original members left), their music is still as diverse and memorable as ever. Lucas Wilson (lead singer/guitar) and Ryan Braman (bass) founded Sweet Japonic after Lucas said one day "I can sing, let's start a band." New additions include Matt Young (lead guitar, Mandolin, pedal steel, a