Sports (MySpace) are a local band hoping to make it big, having opened for such blog favorites as Stars and Ra Ra Riot. The five-piece’s music draws easy comparisons to Elvis Costello & The Attractions. They mesh jumpy pre-punk with harmony and keyboards into an agile, sweaty set. The songs aren’t flowery or drawn out; the longest track on their self-titled debut clocks in at three-and-a-half minutes. Not that they need to be: the band writes great pop songs, and they allow them to speak on their own without dressing them up in extended jams. You can stream a few more tracks over at their MySpace as well, so check them out and see what you think.
(Sports coverage on Tympanogram)

[BUY] Sports – Sports on CD or vinyl direct from the band

Sports – Aeroplane

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These Electric Lives (MySpace) hail from the other side of Lake Ontario in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, so their introduction to the local scene in Rochester was a natural fit. A small local radio station picked up one of the band’s singles several years ago and upon hearing it my attention was instantly grabbed. After making that very track “We Should Be Believing,” the subject of one of the first blog posts I had ever written, I developed an internet rapport with the band’s bassist/pr man/manager du jour, Gary. We brought the band in for our first ever concert promotion experience last year for our first birthday, and we liked them so much we are bringing them in once again for our third concert promotion experience that’s coming up in a few days. Authors of an infectious brand of indie electro-rock, they deserve your attention, so be prepared to give it.
(These Electric Lives coverage on Tympanogram)

[BUY] These Electric Lives – These Electric Lives EP direct from the band

These Electric Lives – We Should Be Believing

These Electric Lives – We Should Be Believing (Sta Remix)

Blogger Picks Home & Away is our way of showcasing 12 of the best music bloggers around as we move towards 2011, and getting out of them a favourite band from their home town alongside a more international act they would like to hear more from. This post was written by Dave LaBarge of Tympanogram on which he’s also joined by Andy Klingenberger. It’s two dudes, one blog and a hell of a lot of great music.