Sounds Under Radio makes you really appreciate great arena rock. It is easy to forget just how difficult it is to maintain a high level of energy in a rock song, while also singing about new and inspiring subjects. While their second album,
Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind, is good, it lacks a certain rawness and power that separate it from bands like
Muse and
Paramore. The band is from Austin, Texas and have enjoyed fame through their songs' appearances in movies like Spiderman 3 and The Wolfman. The band describes this album as being, "about the HEAD versus the HEART and how we choose to cope with their agreements and their disagreements." These heavy themes, however, are not backed with the required musicianship and energy that would make their sound unique. Songs like "The Arsonist" are decent rock songs, but are derivative and bring nothing special to the table. ~ Hannah Epstein