The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library’s “Amylee” music video, the first music video by the indie ensemble pop band, was released this week. "Amylee" is the lead track on MJEML’s debut LP, Volume One.
Watch as the Michael J Epstein Memorial Library leads the battle against dolphin invaders as they launch an attack to try and take over the Earth (there's also a space shark thrown into the mix). Documentary filmmaker Dan St. Germain has brought to life yet another in a long line of madcap/eccentrically brilliant ideas of Michael J Epstein. The song is pretty damn good, too. --Chrissy Prisco
Friendly People’s debut, self-titled 3-song EP gives a concise taste of a promising young Cambridge, MA-based band. Their jangly indie pop is peppered with hints of Americana, roots rock and folk with vocals that owe a debt to Neil Young. The EP’s clear highlight is its opening track—their namesake song—“Friendly People”. It’s a tremendous, positive track buoyed by a horn section in the bridge which lends a mariachi feel. “A Lot of Work To Do” brings out Harvest-era Neil Young, starting as a plaintive acoustic ditty which builds slowly into a passionate electric number. Closing track, “Branches”, follows the same acoustic-to-electric path. As the song builds, it introduces tribal rhythms that are reminiscent of 80s indie-punk legends, the Volcano Suns. Friendly People are scheduled to record their debut full-length in March. If the Friendly People EP is indicative of what we can expect from this young group’s next batch of tunes it will be a record to keep an eye on later in 2012.--George Dow
