What Lies Beneath the Parkway North

So many great artists have gotten their start in the legendary Asbury Park, NJ such as Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, and Bon Jovi.  The talent, however, doesn't end with them.  Asbury Park-based alternative rock band Flammable Animals is one to look for.

[Photo: AM Productions]

This quartet consists of Guy Battaglia (vocals, guitar), Kevin Houston (vocals, guitar), Pat Napurano (bass), and Joe Enright (drums).  I had the amazing opportunity of hearing them audition for Monmouth University's Blue Hawk Records' Spring compilation album back in February and they sound just as incredible live as they do in the studio.  In a nutshell, they are not what some would think a college band would sound like, I'll tell you that.

Their individual talents mesh together perfectly, making their presence sound similar to that of a band like Brand New and The Wonder Years.  It's pretty rare that I actually feel music, but I feel it with this group.  From every lyric, to the instrumentals of each track, their passion for music is very evident in the recordings, as they convey feelings in ways that no pop or R&B group ever would, and that's what makes them a true pop-punk band.

[Artwork: Michael Burke, Summerlyn Astrom, Alexis Morrison, & Erin Holmes]

Their debut EP, What Lies Beneath the Parkway North, isn't what you would expect from an alternative/pop-punk band . . . It's so much more.  There is an intro track called "Initium" that sets the extended-play of on a great start, and each song is perfectly placed on the album, making it flow very nicely through the ears of the listener.  As put by Guy himself, "This record is a culmination of New Jersey sounds, spirits, and smells that were recorded in Steve Kellner's (Van Atta High) basement as a result of a horrible Christmas."

Here's a video of them performing the second track of their album, "Frozen Grapes."

[Source:  YouTube]

Their album is available pretty much everywhere.  You can buy it from Bandcamp here.  Or if you're more into iTunes, you can buy it here.  And for those of you who like CD Baby, click here.

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