From the Midwest to the West Coast

FreeHOH.com and www.theautumnfilm.com/share

Believe it or not, there is music that is found on the outside of the music mecca of Nashville. First stop on this week's road trip is Columbus, Ohio, home to House of Heroes. Just weeks away from releasing their sophomore debut, The End is Not the End, the boys in HOH take you on a musical journey that deconstructs preconceived notion of rock. Part of the reason they have had such a tough time finding a label to partner in releasing this record is the difficulty in distilling their music into a comfortable box. Well, other labels loss is our gain as they deliver a free 3-song sampler to whet the appetite before the release.

The hit single from the upcoming album, In The Valley of the Dying Sun, is part of that sampler; think a three-act "sci-fi western" that is told in an anthemic quality to make Queen proud. Hard to wrap your mind around, eh? The rest of the sampler, and the album for that matter, don't let down. Imagine adding Beach Boy harmonies, Weezer style hooks, and lyrics move beyond the superficial and you have a small idea of what HOH can offer. Other gems to look for include By Your Side (on the sampler) and Code Name Raven, both songs that draw on WWII inspiration.

Moving our tour out west, we reach Denver, Colorado and The Autumn Film, a 3-piece band fronted by charismatic lead singer Tifah Al-Attas. Formerly a five member band known as Tifah, the remaining three piece ensemble pushes the limits of drums, a guitar and a piano can do. Though led by the piano styling of Tifah, don't expect Ben Folds or MCU's own Andy Davis piano-pop here; expect something more like a female-fronted Snow Patrol or a Sigur Ros experimental mentality. Of course, all this with Al-Attas's unique vocal styling. When I saw them live, the first question that popped into my mind was, "Where is all this sound coming from? Sounds like 10 people are on stage."

Expect for The Autumn Film to blow up sometime soon; endless touring, rumors of talks with high profile managers, and quality music speaks for itself. But you can be the first to say, "I liked them before they sold millions," by downloading not one, but two free 4-song EP's off their website. Just like any good story, the So Loved EP gives a look back at where they came from and the second gives a look into the future. The Grey EP is at times cathartic, at times hypnotic, and always fascinating. Though often lyrically ambiguous, the songs reflect the bands commitment to beauty and honesty.

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