Meese

"On "I Don't Buy It," Patrick Meese asserts, "Every song I make sounds the same to me/ I can't swallow fake/Give it to me straight." Granted, each of the songs are decidedly piano-heavy and similar in tone and texture, but rather than undermine the proceedings, they add to the album's continuity. Less orchestral than Sufjan Stevens but every bit as sophisticated and engaging, the singer-songwriter deftly fills out eloquent arrangements with his lush vocals, which at times recall the breathy delivery of Fray protegé Isaac Slade ("The Pulse of the Song") and the soft timbre of Paul Simon ("You're Already Here" and "Twice My Weight"). More than half of the songs on this EP appeared on I Don't Buy It, Meese's solo disc, issued earlier this year. Since then, Meese has become a group effort, and with these new recordings, the act has managed to deliver one of the year's most impressive discs. I'm sold, anyway." - Dave Herrera, Westword Magazine

"This local indie quintet, led by brothers Patrick and Nathan Meese, is poised to blow up beyond our city with its irresistible blend of melodic vocals and chiming hooks." - John Wenzel, Denver Post

Brothers Patrick and Nathan Meese, the driving force behind this catchy band, have all the makings of Denver's next breakout act. Unabashed pop-rock, yes, but gloriously so. Just try wresting their MySpace song "Letters" from your head after hearing it a couple times.

- Ricardo Baca, Denver Post

Whereas past efforts were decidedly piano-driven, 'Our Album Year' finds Meese branching out in multiple directions, yet remaining consistently cohesive. "Letters," for instance, is a buoyant track that evokes Fold Zandura applying for the Postal Service, while "Old Enough" plods deliberately and assuredly -- like Death Cab for Cutie driven by Paul Simon. "Audiobody," another intriguing composition, is a primarily electronic track that imagines Imogen Heap playing "Hide and Seek" on Her Space Holiday. The most arresting of the new songs, though, is the Sufjan Stevens-owing "The Champion." - Dave Herrera, Westword Magazine

I could tell a quarter of the way into their first song that this band was not only running tight with a solid foundation of melodic pop and hip shaking rock, but that the band itself beamed with positive energy. Patrick Meese, the frontman for the band, also had quite a wit to him and was a natural with the crowd who ate up every note.

- Kim Owens, InFlux Magazine

If Coldplay were from the Mile-High City, they'd probably sound like Meese. Replace the British moodiness and the drama of a Hollywood wife with a good dose of Rocky Mountain humility and the music seems a lot less morose. It's easy to see why Denver's Meese is being drawn into the spotlight: Credit the strength of their sound, with it's simple, piano-based songs with unhurried melodies. Avoiding the narcissistic self-victimization that seems to typify some emo musicians, Meese-brothers Patrick and Nathan Meese, along with bassist David Vanderhamm and drummer Ben Haley-are the opposite of the brooding whiny artist. Instead, the very personable and humble group of friends makes emotional music with an emphasis on accuracy of both melody and form. If you don't want to have a tune stuck in your head for weeks, don't listen to their debut EP, Oh No. And don't be suprised to see Meese on a much larger stage sooner rather than later. Until then, make a point to catch them at South Broadway's Hi-Dive or the smaller coffee shops they still frequent.
- Jake Schroeder, 99.5 the mountain and 5280 Magazine