So, I'm at home the other day listening to the radio, and a song catches my ear that instantly causes me to pause. The opening notes were more than engaging, and when the tune kicked into its melodic and steady rhythm, I was immediately hooked and drawn inside.
I'd heard the new tune a few times before, but it still took me a few seconds to realize what it was: "Meteors" by Plus 3.
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The song simply sounded great on the radio, and when the steady vocals, picture-painting lyrics and pretty chorus arrived, I simply sat back and enjoyed the listen.
"Meteors" is just one of several gems that grace Plus 3's new album, "Late Nights and Lost Causes," which hits area record stores Tuesday. It is the group's third release and the follow-up to 2003's critically acclaimed "Bad Math," and it's got quite a few moments where the band seems to have developed a new sense of chemistry.
"This one was more of a team effort, with all of us actually having a say in all of the arrangements," vocalist and guitarist Mike Krakosky says. "That helped the songs out a lot, because we had four different styles merging into one final product."
Joining Krakosky in the band are vocalist and lead guitarist Michael Evans, drummer Rick Carr and new bassist and vocalist Joe Whalen. Krakosky says additional collaboration between members wasn't the only difference between "Late Nights" and its predecessor. Many of the tunes, he says, have a darker theme, and when Whalen joined the unit last year, he was soon given a full creative role in the band. Indeed, the group's new thumper even contributes three alt-rock flavored songs to the album: "Nerve," "Prom (This Could Be The Night)" and "Revolving Door."
"He impressed us right from the first moment he came down to the practice room," Krakosky says. "When we were looking for a bass player, he came in, and he not only knew all of our songs but also brought a CD of his own stuff, and we were really impressed with his songwriting skills. We knew it would add to our music, so we decided almost immediately to give him just as much creative say in the band as everyone else."
Though Plus 3's members each have their own musical styles and influences, the album remains cohesive.
"We all take pride in that, and we recognize it," Krakosky says. "There's not too many bands around right now that have that kind of team songwriting in the forefront. We can't figure it out either — how it all ties in at the end — but it ends up tying in, musically. We all kind of have an idea of each other's likes and dislikes, and being aware of each other's styles is a big part of it."
Evans, another gifted songwriter, also helps anchor the CD with the moody "Retrace Your Steps," "Local Heroes" and "Hippie Drug Girl," which provides the lyrical verse that gave the album its title. Interesting enough, some of Evans' best guitar work on the CD appears on songs mainly penned by Krakosky. Krakosky says putting the right touch on a tune is one of Evans' many musical gifts.
"It's almost a natural thing for him to come in and add parts to songs to complete them," he says. "A big part of that is who his icons are, like Johnny Marr from The Smiths. Mike really learned — and again, it almost became natural for him — to come in, hear a song and almost immediately come up with a complementary part to the song. It amazes me."
The new album, like "Bad Math," was recorded at Saturation Acres recording studio in Danville and was produced by Paul Smith. Krakosky's terrific songs include "Meteors," with Amanda Hoffman on vocals, and "Get Up," laced with political overtures.
"It's mostly personal experiences," Krakosky says when talking about his own contributions to the album. "A song like 'Get Up' was inspired by the whole election process this time around. We kind of finally grew up and actually paid attention to everything. And a song like 'Imitations' is almost the antithesis to 'Normaltown' from the last CD. It's just a different look to being stuck somewhere. Whereas 'Normaltown' had a more positive outlook, this one was a little more negative, and that's where the darker themes kind of come in."
Since arriving on the local music scene nearly five years ago, Plus 3 has built a sizable audience by playing much of its own material. In 2003 and 2004, readers of The Weekender voted the group the region's "Best Original Band," and radio also has been supportive.
"We really sometimes can't believe it," Krakosky says. "It's a great feeling to have people connect to stuff that we're writing. Nothing beats looking out and seeing people singing along with our songs."
"Late Nights and Lost Causes" will be available at all Gallery of Sound stores Tuesday. The group will have a CD release party on April 2 at The Waterfront in Plains Township and can be heard Sunday on "The Mountaingrown Hour: Music On The Menu Live." Showtime is 9 p.m. on WDMT, 102.3-FM, The Mountain.
For more info on the band, visit www.plus3music.com