Boston stalwart Baby Made Rebel has released a new video and single, and the potential for Type A Earworm infection has been categorized as high. The CDC recommends anyone who has come in contact with the single or video "Envy" to lock themselves in a garage and run some loud machinery until your life reverts to the state of repetitive boredom present prior to exposure. Symptoms including the uncontrollable humming of the melody, the persistent urge to sing parts of the lyrics, and, in severe cases, the overpowering need to watch the band perform live at every opportunity, which may eventually lead to creepy shrine construction or the mailing of locks of hair, or other inappropriate items, to band members. The single features a haunting melody, infectious chorus and brooding lyrics that sound like a big middle finger to a memory that remains artfully obscured from full view, as if to say "you know who you are." That being said, listen at your own risk. Even a few short moments of the song's soulful strains are enough to cause disorientation, dizziness and an inability to focus on anything but the infectious hook. --Andrew Jeromski
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
