For the past few months Passion Pit has been acclaimed by critics and a large crowd of people that have since become their fans. Who or what is Passion Pit you ask? Passion Pit is an American Electro band that formed in 2007 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The five gents that make up the group are Michael Angelakos (lead vocals/keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth/samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass) and Nate Donmoyer (drums). It’s funny how people who do not have an understanding of this group always tend to say oh they’re trying to be Coldplay. Looks of disbelief form in milliseconds because the person’s limited knowledge of music outside a few genres really makes an appearance of a fool. That’s similar to saying Whoopi Goldberg is Oprah Winfrey, Kobe Bryant is LeBron James or Matt Lauer is Anderson Cooper. Um, I don’t think so.

Their debut was an EP entitled Chunk of Change which was released last September. It’s an unexpected story for them as the EP was written for Michael Angelakos’ girlfriend for Valentine’s Day but instead received the public treatment. The six song tracklist is filled with raw energy combined with the countless synths and falsettos that elevates it to a level of 110. Each and every song delivers and eargasmic experience to the listener.

Then it’s time for the debut full album, Manners, to arrive and usually when the quality is so high the first time around the second helping in no way lives up to the first. A surprising thing happened, the album was on par with the EP. After the first play it has you hooked, there was no need to loop it over to persuade your opinion to yay or nay. You see Chunks of Change is like the design process of a car; all the enthusiasm you put into the shapes and lines of the exterior and details of the interior waiting for the rest of the world to share your happiness. Then Manners skips a few steps and is the finished product driving on highways being admired by every on-looker who wishes to have a chance with it.

Most bands have a signature quality about them, with Passion Pit its Michael’s falsettos and their pop/electro synths. Some may feel that Michael’s falsettos sound like a chipmunk, may even ruin the music to some but it’s all a matter of taste.

Overall Passion Pit is a great band to listen to if you want to expand your musical horizon, if you want to confine yourself to just a few genres that’s fine as well. Do check their debut Manners when it hits stores on May 18, 2009. We’ll have the links up for them for a short while.

CHUNK OF CHANGE (EP):
1. I’ve Got Your Number
2. Smile Upon Me
3. Cuddle Fuddle
4. Live to Tell the Tale
5. Better Things
6. Sleepyhead

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MANNERS:
1. Make Light
2. Little Secrets
3. Moth’s Wings
4. The Reeling
5. Eyes as Candles
6. Swimming in the Flood
7. Folds in Your Hands
8. To Kingdom Come
9. Sleepyhead
10. Let Your Love Grow Tall
11. Seaweed Song

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