Long Island Sound: Locals gone national
Taking Back Sunday, back row, from left, Adam Lazzara, Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell and front row, from left, John Nolan and Eddie Reyes. Credit: Warner Bros., 2010
With the major-label successes of Dix Hills' Ryan Star, Patchogue's Chrisette Michele and East Meadow's Stereo Skyline in 2010, the Long Island music scene was once again attracting attention nationally, especially after Taking Back Sunday surprised everyone by reuniting its "Tell All Your Friends"-era lineup.
There was sad news with Envy on the Coast, As Tall as Lions and Crime in Stereo calling it quits this year, but there was still plenty of great independent-label music from Long Island this year.
Here's a look:
1. Lion of Ido, "Lion of Ido" (Unsigned)
Ido Zmishlany has already co-written a hit with Ryan Star ("Start a Fire"), but the three-song EP from the Valley Stream band is so catchy that they will likely have one of their own soon, with either "Day by Day" or "Hard to Love."
2. Hoodie Allen, "Pep Rally" (Unsigned)
The mixtape debut by the Long Island rapper features some inventive uses for samples from V.V. Brown and Black Keys, as well as a great flow and rhymes so memorable that he won't be a secret much longer.
3. The Sleeping, "The Big Deep" (Victory): Sometimes, the Massapequa band hits harder than ever; sometimes, it shows a softer side, but it's always well-crafted.
4. Alexa Ray Joel, "Notice Me" (ARJ)
Oh, they will, Alexa. This is too good.
5. Gambit, "This Town" (Gambit)
Synth-pop merged with indie-rock that really sticks with you. And the video!
HONORABLE MENTION
Swear and Shake's "Swear and Shake"; Patent Pending's "I'm Not Alone"; The Narrative's "The Narrative"; Crime in Stereo's "I Was Trying to Describe You To Someone"; L*A*W's "Tha Planet 12 Syndrome"
Contact The Long Island Sound at glenn.gamboa@ newsday.com or follow @ndmusic on Twitter.
