Trevor Ives (vocals, guitar)
Eric Rykal (guitar)
Dave Power (drums)
Paul Brandt (keys)
Shane Maclaughlin (bass)

Meridene returns for its second round. After a year and a half of lineup adjustments. resulting in a so-close-to-becoming-a-completely-new-band transformation, they're back, ready, and armed with a brand new full-length, You're Not Pretty, You're Worse; the long anticipated follow up to their previously released EP.

The band's sound has morphed on its most recent effort, from its late and familiar banjo-toting alt-country to its current blend of sportive, yet hard hitting at times, indie/rock power pop - replacing the acoustics with electrics, the changy banjo with a rockin' piano, and the kid with the glasses with that dude from The Gentle Guest.

Trevor Ives fronts the band and the new album's songwriting, doing what he's best known for on You're Not Pretty... - writing ridiculously catchy, finger-snappy pop songs that stick with you; the kind you find yourself singing in the first few seconds of the morning, confused as to how the tune made its way to your pillow. And, Ives' best work is on display here, as the album's ten tracks portrays Meridene's best with music that is cheery and joyful, set beneath Ives' images of broken hearts in the green of a Wisconsin spring, a lingering of lost love set to a colorful October funeral, and taking a knife to one's longing for the old, to create a record full of the happiest sad songs you might ever come across.

You're Not Pretty, You're Worse is a settlement on a band redefined and coming into it's own, portraying a much more mature sound still resting in a town that hasn't expected much from them over the years, but has given so much back.

*For a complete bio click here.


Photos:
all photos by: Jacob Mengelkoch.