decoded

The people of LA get a bad rap for being too materialistic, but only about 70% of them are. But it’s people and bands like Decoded that give LA a good name, because they care. Throughout May they used their residency at Amplyfi to give back to the community. Every Thursday the show was aimed at a different organization. So how could we not give them a shout out in review formation for their new EP The/Split? Exactly.

Only four songs, it’s a quick and easy trip of rock to get through and it’s worth the ride if you’re a fan of bands like Sugarcult and like pop rock antidotes that Mitch Allen has been a part of. “Open Season” was a throwback to when Sugarcult stickers covered my walls. It had this upbeat rock feel to it that was filled with words of a dude sad over a girl. His heartache masked only by the optimistic music surrounding it. While that was a very happy go lucky sounding track, the rock was picked back up in “Lost No More.” It comes on stronger and lets you have it, without being too coarse.

The angst never lets up as “I Really Hate You” kicks in…Instantly older folks will start singing Puddle of Mudd and to keep this free of bad words, I’ll let you just follow the link to find out why. Like the Puddle of Mudd karaoke favorite, this song it one to sing with friends after a few shots and a lot of bad times. Once you get to “Imperfect for Each Other” you’re like okay…Was the same girl the cause of every tune? Because in the end their differences are something this dude wants…Whatever floats your boat. The crazy thing about love, is just that…love.

When you’re browsing the interwebs after a bad breakup, do yourself a favor and get down to Decoded’s The/Split and let them put song to your ordeal. They’re just another LA band trying to make the world theirs, but they’ve taken it a step further and out their heartbreaks to good use giving back to those who need it. Again, The/Split is out now, so remember Decoded and get it. And even if you’re not going through relationship drama…”Open Season” is suggested for anyone who likes to hum the same song all day. It’s that catchy and fun. - Kendra, Golden Mixtape

The people of LA get a bad rap for being too materialistic, but only about 70% of them are. But it’s people and bands like Decoded that give LA a good name, because they care. Throughout May they used their residency at Amplyfi to give back to the community. Every Thursday the show was aimed at a different organization. So how could we not give them a shout out in review formation for their new EP The/Split? Exactly.

Only four songs, it’s a quick and easy trip of rock to get through and it’s worth the ride if you’re a fan of bands like Sugarcult and like pop rock antidotes that Mitch Allen has been a part of. “Open Season” was a throwback to when Sugarcult stickers covered my walls. It had this upbeat rock feel to it that was filled with words of a dude sad over a girl. His heartache masked only by the optimistic music surrounding it. While that was a very happy go lucky sounding track, the rock was picked back up in “Lost No More.” It comes on stronger and lets you have it, without being too coarse.

The angst never lets up as “I Really Hate You” kicks in…Instantly older folks will start singing Puddle of Mudd and to keep this free of bad words, I’ll let you just follow the link to find out why. Like the Puddle of Mudd karaoke favorite, this song it one to sing with friends after a few shots and a lot of bad times. Once you get to “Imperfect for Each Other” you’re like okay…Was the same girl the cause of every tune? Because in the end their differences are something this dude wants…Whatever floats your boat. The crazy thing about love, is just that…love.

When you’re browsing the interwebs after a bad breakup, do yourself a favor and get down to Decoded’s The/Split and let them put song to your ordeal. They’re just another LA band trying to make the world theirs, but they’ve taken it a step further and out their heartbreaks to good use giving back to those who need it. Again, The/Split is out now, so remember Decoded and get it. And even if you’re not going through relationship drama…”Open Season” is suggested for anyone who likes to hum the same song all day. It’s that catchy and fun. - Kendra, Golden Mixtape

Back in April we got a dose of Decoded. The temptation of “Lost No More” from, what was then, the forthcoming The Split EP was enticing and addicting. So much so, I’ve found it hard to get out of my head for the last few months.

Well the wait is over and it was worth it.

2012 has been a big year for the Los Angeles based Alternative band Decoded. From finely tuning authentic rock, crafting and fronting Rock for a Difference Los Angeles and finally releasing The Split I’m baffled as to how there is any energy left in them.

Derek Jordan fronts the rock with imagination and ingenuity. Always striving to raise the bar on his personal talent, the future of Decoded is packed with endless possibilities. The four track EP is self-described “catchy garage rock,” but this is a sound beyond such a simplistic title. For those who have seen them live know that the violin-on-guitar solos transcend simplistic genre monikers.

Though humble on the surface, Decoded is much more. The Split opens with two previously released tracks (“Open Season” and “Lost No More”). Of the four tracks I couldn’t help but think we’d heard the best. There was the always present assumption that perhaps we had peaked on the singles and had nothing to look forward to on the EP. I was wrong; dead wrong. “I Really Hate You” and “Imperfect for Each Other” sling heavy riffs and catchy lyrics in top form. I should have known better. All four tracks are equally addicting. It’s the kind of album you put on the background until your friends ask “who is this?” to which you smugly smile and answer “oh, let me tell you…”

With a solid foundation of diehard followers and unwavering talent, Decode has just scratched the surface of greatness. The Split gave me an audible slap on the hand for even hesitating. Falling into the vocal style of A. Jay Popoff and instrumentally on par with the best alternative rock has to offer, Decoded has crammed pure addiction into four three minute tracks. A sure addition to my regular music rotation, I can’t help but feel it only gets better live. - Greg Shaw, Nanobot Rock Reviews

Getting a residency at a club or bar is often a great opportunity for an up-and-coming band, giving them a chance to gradually build a following. But Derek Jordan -- whose band Decoded plays Amplyfi every Thursday in May -- also saw it as an opportunity make a difference. - Nicholas Pell, LA Weekly

Every Thursday in May, the band Decoded is having their residency at AMPLYFI with Rock for a Difference Los Angeles, and when I saw them last Thursday, they were rocking for HeARTS Giving Hope, an organization driven to transform kids’ lives through music and art. A few local bands were playing (The Lost Colors, Ballerina Black) and I arrived a little bit before Decoded’s performance: one thing is certain, for a band that hasn’t been around for very long, they truly rock hard. - Alyson Camus, Rock NYC Live and Recorded