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Makar: 99 Cent Dreams / Rough Mixes
[self-released]

New York City has done it again. Take a bow, because everything good just seems to gravitate towards the Big Apple. Makars imaginatively titled, 99 Cent Dreams, is one of those things. With a band name that means poet in 15^th-century Scotland, their sound is described as poet-pop-art-rock. The band was given birth by band members Mark Purnell and his wife Andrea DeAngelis, both of whom write the lyrics and sing. Ben Slomovic rocks the bass and Jorge Arias seduces with percussion. The four make beautifully interwoven songs together.

As I listen to their songs on my beat up Discman, I feel as though I have gone through a series of flashbacks and have crash landed on the TV show, The Monkees. Zany, I know. Maybe its just because one of their songs is titled The Monkey? I have a strange thinking process. Yet, what makes their music so huggable? Their live CD was taken from a show at CBGBs Gallery, and amidst the random clappings, it made me want to dance. With their crazy, switching time signatures, its one of those red light, green light dances, where at one point the music sways, and the next moment you realize your feet are tingling. I was especially impressed, because the songs were not professionally mixed or mastered. The tracks Damion Day and I Hate My Job are recommended for good times.

Their 18-song, full length debut is due out this summer, including the songs I Hate My Job, The Monkey and All I Know.

This album can be purchased at CD Baby

Makar Official Website

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