Count Your Lucky Stars Records is embracing an approach to releasing music that is at once a throwback and also embracing the trend away from constant LP releases. In this case, four bands get a chance to showcase a song. We will break down the review by song:

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) – “Everything Small is Just a Small Version of Something Big”: Make it through that artist and title? Good. You’ll be relieved, maybe, to know that the band’s music comes in smaller, simpler packages. Like this song. What we get is a emo/scene sounding voice on a decidedly indie-sounding backdrop of musicianship. I might even call it a bit shoegaze-y. But, the song is over nearly as soon as it began. The listener’s appetite ought to be sufficiently whet.

Mountains for Clouds – “Does it Really Antimatter?”: Indie rock bursts through again, but with a bit more going on – particularly in the first minute or so of the song. The instrumental bridge in the midsection of the tune is where it really grabs me. Soft, melancholy plucking amidst dreamy vocals crescendo to a satisfying crunch. I can dig it.

Two Knights – “Solo Swimming”: This is undoubtedly a “love it or hate it” track. A groovy bass line gives way to a drum section that seems fitting, but slightly off at the same time. I feel like if an indie sci-fi film where to ever be made, this song would play in the opening credits. The vocals are grating and will not be for everyone.

Driving on City Sidewalks – “For You, Celeste”: After the mixed response I had to Two Knights it was refreshing to hear this mostly instrumental band (in the past featured in Relevant Magazine, I might add) play a haunting post-rock love song. The band stylistically reminds me of Columbus, Ohio’s The End of the Ocean (who are getting around too). There are vocals, but they don’t come in until over halfway through the song and by no means do they take center stage.