speed of dark

I admit I have a very soft spot for "little" bands--those extremely talented musicians who are working hard but who haven't made it to the big time, maybe don't even have a recording contract. Thank goodness for the Internet, their music is nonetheless available to us. We just have to find them.

Bel Auburn is an exceptional example of one of those bands. If you like Snow Patrol, and Gary Lightbody and the Snow Patrol crew aren't keeping up with your needs, you should listen to these songs. I actually like them better than the most recent Snow Patrol songs.

Bel Auburn are five guys, including two brothers, from mid-Ohio (U.S.A.) who still have day jobs and just like to play together. How did they get this good in only three years? In that time they have released two full-length albums, with this year's Lullabies in A and C a big leap forward from 2004's Cathedrals as far as songcraft and development of an individual sound.

Any song on Lullabies in A and C would have caught my attention, but "Metropolitan (Watercolor)" is the one that's going on the Favorites of 2006 list. If you like the tracks I have posted here, I encourage you to buy this album. It is ALL good, beautiful without a hint of sappiness anywhere. Cathedrals is not quite as consistent, but there are a bunch of good songs there too.

Bright from Cathedrals (2004)

Just Love from Lullabies in A and C (2006)

A Favorite Song of 2006
Metropolitan (Watercolor) from Lullabies in A and C (2006)

Buy: Both albums are available on iTunes, and Cathedrals is also available at eMusic and at Amazon.

Bel Auburn's official Website
Bel Auburn's MySpace page has pictures, info, and more free downloads.