The Noise FM
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The Noise FM

Chicago, Illinois, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | INDIE

Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2005
Band Alternative Pop

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Music

Press


"The Noise FM - Enclave Review"

The six songs of former Kansans/now Chicagoans The Noise FM’s Enclave carom between sounding like a more restrained, much less proggy Muse and less glam, toned-down Killers – which is a good thing to these ears. If only these six originals were a bit more interesting, a tad less repetitive, and had more lyrics like the third cut’s “Of all the mistakes I made/The best was you.” - Illinois Entertainer


"The Noise FM - Enclave Review"

The six songs of former Kansans/now Chicagoans The Noise FM’s Enclave carom between sounding like a more restrained, much less proggy Muse and less glam, toned-down Killers – which is a good thing to these ears. If only these six originals were a bit more interesting, a tad less repetitive, and had more lyrics like the third cut’s “Of all the mistakes I made/The best was you.” - Illinois Entertainer


"The Noise FM - Enclave Review"

“Who we are. Tell us all who we are. Who we are. Make us something real,” beg the recent Lawrence, Kansas transplants of alternative-rock trio The Noise FM on “Who We Are,” the aptly titled closing track of 2010 release Enclave. For a band that spent the five preceding tracks firmly establishing “who they are” as artists, it’s an intriguing choice for a closer, at once confident in their identity, but also seemingly petitioning for feedback. Regardless of personal interpretations towards the track and its placement, whatever it is that The Noise FM is selling, I’m not only alert, but I’m buying.

On Enclave, the trio’s groove-driven rock calls to mind prior appropriate comparisons to acts like Muse and The Killers, achieving a sound that is large, even anthemic, without the preconceived notions of false authenticity that can come with such an assessment. Also acting in The Noise FM’s favor is the album’s length. At six tracks, listeners get just a bit more of a taste than the average EP without additionally falling victim to the filler tracks that can bog down a forced full-length of 10-12 tracks.

With that being said, Enclave finds its peak where many albums falter, in the middle tracks of “Best Mistake” and “In Your Orbit.” While “In Your Orbit” is a darker number with a, dare I say, sexy, pulsating backbeat, “Best Mistake” cheerfully proclaims, “Of all my mistakes, the best that I’ve made was you.” Arguably the catchiest track on the album, it’s nearly impossible to walk away from the number without a shimmy, shake or foot tap and a hit of the “repeat” button. Immediately following the poppy song, “In Your Orbit” tonally channels acts like Nightmare Of You with a touch of the brooding. Successful for entirely different reasons, the two highlight the best parts of The Noise FM – strong vocals, groove-y (not groovy) hooks and songs that are just plain fun. - Chicago Tunes


"Big Beat + Bold Vocals + Rock Bravado"

The Noise FM follows their 2008 full-length Dream of the Attack with the 2010 EP Enclave, a recording that blends big beat rock with curvy dance grooves and bold vocal delivery.

Enclave displays attributes similar to its predecessor; namely, the material on the EP is also radio ready and energetic. The band’s electro rock meets sinuous pop sound is dynamic, intense, full of bravado. Refined production, engineering, and mastering on these six tracks only enhances the sheer talent of Alex Ward, Austin Ward, and Oliver Mosier.

The EP begins with “The Vault,” a taut number charged with energy, crisp drums, and an urgent guitar riff. The band generates a hard-knuckled sound bolstered by programmed effects.

The slinky bass line on the first single “I Can’t Stop” circulates between downbeat percussion and a dance club vibe. 2008 KJHK Farmer’s Ball Champion Hawley Shoffner contributes her pipes to the vocals.

Three tracks in, the band continues to flex their solid, muscular sound and flaunt dramatic pop flair on “Best Mistake.” Listen to Oliver Mosier’s bass romp like a gang of coeds streaking through the streets with not a care in the world. The music is compact and explosive, the vocals intense and emotive. “Time Will Tell” is sexed up with ooh-ooh vocals and expressive guitar work that underscores driving vocals.

What sets The Noise FM apart from other area rock acts––bands with impressive music chops––is a vocal prowess that leaps out of the speakers, that leaves no corner of a dark rock club untouched. Musically, The Noise FM plays with exuberance and confidence on Enclave.

If there is a weak spot on this EP, then it’s the lack of a song that wholly breaks from the path established with Dream of the Attack and treads into daring new territory, that sheds the skin of a well-defined sound to introduce new wrinkles. Perhaps if this release were a full-length with two or three more tracks, then we might discover three minutes where the band took some more chances creatively. That said, The Noise FM have a polished repertoire that squarely conveys a solid sound, musically and vocally. - Present Magazine


"Big Beat + Bold Vocals + Rock Bravado"

The Noise FM follows their 2008 full-length Dream of the Attack with the 2010 EP Enclave, a recording that blends big beat rock with curvy dance grooves and bold vocal delivery.

Enclave displays attributes similar to its predecessor; namely, the material on the EP is also radio ready and energetic. The band’s electro rock meets sinuous pop sound is dynamic, intense, full of bravado. Refined production, engineering, and mastering on these six tracks only enhances the sheer talent of Alex Ward, Austin Ward, and Oliver Mosier.

The EP begins with “The Vault,” a taut number charged with energy, crisp drums, and an urgent guitar riff. The band generates a hard-knuckled sound bolstered by programmed effects.

The slinky bass line on the first single “I Can’t Stop” circulates between downbeat percussion and a dance club vibe. 2008 KJHK Farmer’s Ball Champion Hawley Shoffner contributes her pipes to the vocals.

Three tracks in, the band continues to flex their solid, muscular sound and flaunt dramatic pop flair on “Best Mistake.” Listen to Oliver Mosier’s bass romp like a gang of coeds streaking through the streets with not a care in the world. The music is compact and explosive, the vocals intense and emotive. “Time Will Tell” is sexed up with ooh-ooh vocals and expressive guitar work that underscores driving vocals.

What sets The Noise FM apart from other area rock acts––bands with impressive music chops––is a vocal prowess that leaps out of the speakers, that leaves no corner of a dark rock club untouched. Musically, The Noise FM plays with exuberance and confidence on Enclave.

If there is a weak spot on this EP, then it’s the lack of a song that wholly breaks from the path established with Dream of the Attack and treads into daring new territory, that sheds the skin of a well-defined sound to introduce new wrinkles. Perhaps if this release were a full-length with two or three more tracks, then we might discover three minutes where the band took some more chances creatively. That said, The Noise FM have a polished repertoire that squarely conveys a solid sound, musically and vocally. - Present Magazine


"Review of Dream Of The Attack"

"Dream Of The Attack...rivaling anything released by The Bravery or The Killers..." - KCInk Magazine


"Review of Dream Of The Attack"

"Dream Of The Attack...rivaling anything released by The Bravery or The Killers..." - KCInk Magazine


"The Noise FM Rocks KC"

"Though informed by the FM radio euphemisms classic rock and modern rock, the Noise FM strives for a considerably more intelligent sound. The Lawrence trio does, however, maintain rock radio’s polished accessibility. Tight and technically proficient, the Noise’s music is often aggressive but always closely calibrated, with equal attention paid to searing melodies and killer riffs..." from Pitch.com - KC Pitch


"The Noise FM Rocks KC"

"Though informed by the FM radio euphemisms classic rock and modern rock, the Noise FM strives for a considerably more intelligent sound. The Lawrence trio does, however, maintain rock radio’s polished accessibility. Tight and technically proficient, the Noise’s music is often aggressive but always closely calibrated, with equal attention paid to searing melodies and killer riffs..." from Pitch.com - KC Pitch


"Lawrence Natives The Noise FM"

"The Noise FM is a polished trio that moved to Lawrence last year after spending their teenage years in Fort Scott, KS. The group's melodic, kick-ass rock tunes take inspiration from top-shelf woodshedders like Muse and Queens of the Stone Age..." from Lawrence.com - Lawrence.com - Lawrence, KS


"Lawrence Natives The Noise FM"

"The Noise FM is a polished trio that moved to Lawrence last year after spending their teenage years in Fort Scott, KS. The group's melodic, kick-ass rock tunes take inspiration from top-shelf woodshedders like Muse and Queens of the Stone Age..." from Lawrence.com - Lawrence.com - Lawrence, KS


"The Noise FM at The Record Bar"

"Recent Lawrence, KS transplants, these new kids on the scene play an emotive indie-pop informed by the likes of Placebo, Muse and David Bowie..." from Therecordbar.com
- The Record Bar Blog - KC, MO


Discography

Attraction - 10 song - 2014 - released on The Record Machine

Photos

Bio

Brothers Austin and Alex formed The Noise FM in Fort Scott, Kansas, a town of 8,000 in southeast Kansas. Now we live in Chicago, but everyone knows were from Kansas because of our accents. Alex sings, plays guitar and keyboard, and does most of the computer stuff. Austin plays drums, sings and writes a lot of the music on bass guitar, but he doesnt play bass guitar at live shows because hes better at drums. We found Barry Ray Kidd on Craigslist and put him on bass because of his rad name.

We released the full-length record Dream of the Attack in 2008 at a basement show in the vintage mansion we rented while going to school in Lawrence, Kansas. Our landlord called it vintage but it really just meant it was a fire hazard.

Dream of the Attack is a mix of synthy indie-rock and dance beats. People seemed to like it, and a few tunes found their way into video games and television shows:

The synth-rocker Simple Simone is featured on the European-only release SBK 09 Superbike World Championship on X-Box. The games not available in America, so were not sure if it actually exists.

Only Human is on Tap Tap Revenge 3 for iPhone, but none of us have iPhones.

The riff-heavy Iron Lung is featured in the Fox College Sports Best of 2009 television special. We think its a sports show.

In 2010, we released Enclave, which is a better record but was NOT featured on Fox College Sports. Still, Enclave was enough to get us named one of the top 25 artists to watch by Indie-Music.com and earned us the title of Best Indie-Rock Band 2010" by Pitch magazine in Kansas City, an incredible honor. We moved from Kansas the following week.

The single Time Will Tell is featured in an episode of MTVs Made. We dont have cable so we havent seen it.

Time Will Tell is also featured in a season 2 episode of the rebooted 90210. The episode features an all-girl rock band AND Rumer Willis, and its probably the greatest 41 minutes of television ever. The episode is called Sweaty Palms and Weak Knees. Look it up on Netflix.

Weve toured the country several times over, playing SXSW, Summerfest and the occasional fashion show. One time we opened for Presidents of the United States of America. They stayed on their tour bus while we played.

At SXSW we opened a sold-out show for surprise guest Nick Cannon. THE Nick Cannon of Drumline and Mariah Carey. It was a weird show.

After 3 years, a move to a city where we knew no one, and a couple mid-twenty existential crises, the band's latest full-length record "Attraction" was released on January 28, 2014 on The Record Machine label.

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"Dream Of The Attack...rivaling anything released by The Bravery or The Killers..." from KC Ink

"Whatever is is that The Noise FM is selling, I'm not only alert, but I'm buying..." from Chicagotunes.net

"I would give these guys a big stack of speakers, sit back, and watch them explode..." from KCConfidential.com

"Though informed by the FM radio euphemisms classic rock and modern rock, the Noise FM strives for a considerably more intelligent sound. The Lawrence trio does, however, maintain rock radios polished accessibility. Tight and technically proficient, the Noises music is often aggressive but always closely calibrated, with equal attention paid to searing melodies and killer riffs..." from Pitch.com

"What sets The Noise FM apart from other area rock actsbands with impressive music chopsis a vocal prowess that leaps out of the speakers, that leaves no corner of a dark rock club untouched..." from Presentmagazine.com

"The group's melodic, kick-ass rock tunes take inspiration from top-shelf woodshedders like Muse and Queens of the Stone Age..." from Lawrence.com

"Enclave contains catchy hooks, clean riffs, and easy-to-digest vocal and lyrical content, all accessible to a casual, mainstream listener. But rather than simply appealing to a mass audience, the groups incorporation of different musical elements adds much more to the mix..." from InkKC.com

"Enclave may be accessible and radio-friendly, but its also a crisp document of excellent songcraft..." from Pitch.com

"The Lawrence, Kansas trio...make rock noise thats interesting, muscular, and unapologetic for its proficiency at laying down a groove..." from Presentmagazine.com

"The Noise FMs lyrics brought to mind Kings of Leon, which is never a bad thing in my book. 'No End' was of particular note, with the repeating, 'Why dont you tell me that you want somebody? That you want somebody.' There arent too many bands that manage to catch my attention lyrically when live, so kudos to these guys for being a standout..." from Popwreckoning.com

Band Members