Biography
Formed in Cleveland as an emo quartet, Brandtson first included singer and guitarist Myk Porter alongside guitarist Matt Traxler, bassist John Sayre, and singer and drummer Jared Jolley. Following their contribution to the 1997 Steadfast Records various-artists release Radiowaves and Gibberish, the band joined Deep Elm and appeared on the label’s samplers Records for the Working Class as well as A Million Miles Away: Emo Diaries, Vol. 2, before issuing their debut album Letterbox at the close of 1998. Their next full-length effort, Fallen Star Collection, arrived in 1999, and the group continued exploring pop-tinged indie rock on the 2000 release Trying to Figure Each Other Out. January 2002 brought the EP Death and Taxes, while the more aggressive Dial in Sounds surfaced that summer and introduced greater harmonic depth along with stronger melodies than earlier recordings; a split release with Camber and Seven Storey Mountain also appeared in 2002.
Once their Deep Elm contract expired, Brandtson moved to The Militia Group in 2004. Working once more with producer Ed Rose, they delivered their label debut Send Us a Signal, which further emphasized the group’s signature melodic power pop and rock. In July 2005 Sayre exited the lineup and was replaced by Cleveland native Adam Boose, previously the frontman of local synth-rock outfit Furnace St. Embarking on their fifth album after nearly a decade without a personnel shift, the band sought to refresh their approach by altering the writing process and incorporating Boose’s electronic-music experience, resulting in the experimental, dance-oriented Hello, Control issued in May 2006.
Once their Deep Elm contract expired, Brandtson moved to The Militia Group in 2004. Working once more with producer Ed Rose, they delivered their label debut Send Us a Signal, which further emphasized the group’s signature melodic power pop and rock. In July 2005 Sayre exited the lineup and was replaced by Cleveland native Adam Boose, previously the frontman of local synth-rock outfit Furnace St. Embarking on their fifth album after nearly a decade without a personnel shift, the band sought to refresh their approach by altering the writing process and incorporating Boose’s electronic-music experience, resulting in the experimental, dance-oriented Hello, Control issued in May 2006.
Albums
