The Alphabetical Order

Press for “I Am Magically Happening!” by The Alphabetical Order
Release Date: 10/9/2007

From the band:
“I Am Magically Happening!”, the first full-length from Washington, DC’s The Alphabetical Order shows a great deal of DC indie influence, with hints of Fugazi and Jawbox skating across the soundscape. The album is raw and lo-fi, and the songwriting employs ambitious tactics—odd time signatures, unexpected key changes, and non-traditional structure are littered across the 10 tracks. Still, the Order’s love of hooks cannot be muted—”Submarines” boasts a sing-along chorus and the anthemic “Shot From Cannons” tends to get the heads nodding. Lyrically, the writing reflects ruminations into the nature of identity and how the definition of self is distorted in a relationship.

“I Am Magically Happening!” is [The Alphabetical Order’s] most polished and complete work to date. It is the band's signature early 90's alt-rock sound with just enough mainstream pop glaze to raise them up from the underground.... Hand claps and cowbells are introduced early on in “Dress Up/Dress Down” and this percussive hook makes way for “Submarine,” one of the most radio-friendly tracks of the album. The final track, “Gestalt,” comes in close second with an extremely catchy riff midway through the song.
DCist (dcist.com)

Driving guitars launch The Alphabetical Order's “I Am Magically Happening!” and the album takes off from there. The band's first full-length effort (2005 saw “The Unimpeachable EP”), one can appreciate the maturation process this group has gone through in its three years. “Submarines” is a highlight, with spacey synthesizer sounds. “Shot From Cannons” is also a little space-dreamy, before kicking ass. And try not bopping your head to “This Too Shall Pass.” Excellent harmonies accentuate some tracks, and a steady backbeat keeps it all together.
On Tap (ontaponline.com)

Local quartet The Alphabetical Order sounds like it's having fun on its new album “I Am Magically Happening!” Not in a campy, over-the-top way, but in the way that it should sound when four people are making music that they are excited about. And the band should be excited about its full-length debut, an impressive collection of songs that looks fondly back at the '90s—both locally and nationally—without feeling like a mere tribute. Most songs have weird little twists and turns but manage to retain subtle pop charms.
Washington Post (washingtonpost.com)

[“I Am Magically Happening!”] is a little 90s loud rock in spirit (and I mean, didn't we ALL LOVE SMASHING PUMPKINS circa 95? just ADMIT IT.) but it is also one of the most clever, tongue in cheek music in the city. And they can do a pop flourish (see song 2 [“Dress Up/Dress Down”]) with the best of them.
Brightest Young Things (brightestyoungthings.com)

One of the most diverse rock records on the market for both the major and independent circuit for 2007. The Alphabetical Order's first track “Constant State” sets off the tone of a record in one of the best ways. It seems nowadays you can put on any record from any artist and have a hard time telling the difference from track to track—where on “I Am Magically Happening" not one song has that problem through out the outstanding 10 tracks on the record. The music on " I Am Magically Happening" is way over the top.
Nuevo Revolution (nuevorevolution.com)

- Various

"Somehow I missed this DC quartet's 2005 debut 'The Unimpeachable EP,' despite whispers of influences from My Bloody Valentine, David Bowie, Radiohead, and Ride (curses!). But on their inaugural LP, there's precious little of that; instead, it sounds like they've steeped themselves in their own town's rich indie music traditions. In fact, were 'Happening' recorded by J. Robbins, Ted Nicely, or Ian McKaye with Don Zientara at Inner Ear (where AO formerly worked) and released on Dischord, it would be instantly hailed as a great post-punk indie rock burner in the tradition of the third wave Fugazi/Jawbox/Shudder to Think/Highback Chairs/Severin/Gray Matter tradition. It's got urgent, tightwound post-punk guitars, ultra-rhythmic, propulsive bass and drums, Gavin Dunaway's forceful, highly enunciated vocals, and tunes. Not surprisingly, this reviewer digs it, and hopes that its lack of affiliation with the above won't prevent it from wider recognition." - The Big Takeover

“It would be easy to say The Alphabetical Order are the most exciting thing to come out of Washington DC, but when you consider they are only rivaled by a cluster of back-handed old men, that could be taken as a bit of an insult. A ballsy quartet with a bit of divide and conquer in mind, these guys (and one girl) sound like a version of Hole not founded by Courtney Love. Better yet, playing in a world where Courtney Love has never even existed in the collective conscious.

"Their self-released The Unimpeachable EP merge influences from Tin Machine-era Bowie to Radiohead circa Pablo Honey. The loose guitars on “Krakow Krakow” sound like a young Jonny Greenwood, while references to The Bends “Nice Dream” appear on “Mere Space.” All this influence is well-received, but maybe a bit more innovation is in line. The dual guitars aren’t lacking, and the alternating vocals of Gavin Dunaway and Kate Rears certainly leave room for growth. Rears shows she can let it fly on “Super Lonely” and the nearly epic closer “Self Hatred.”

"The Order have the chops to write a great song, and ultimately the real downfall is there are only six songs featured here. That being said, why would you not want to support a band that could potentially rock your ass and that none of your friends have even heard of?”

Derek Blackmon, Indie-Music.com

"Krakow Krakow" ranked in top 25 MP3s of 2006 on indie-music.com.

“In just six songs and a little less than 30 minutes, The Alphabetical Order proves that it is more than capable of walking the line between heavy modern rock and subtle indie rock while still performing catchy original compositions.”

Greg Yost, Music Monthly, www.musicmonthly.com

“Organization is key to succeeding in the crazy world of the rock and the roll. Which is why we are betting heavily on The Alphabetical Order.... The band produces a sound that can be both haunting (‘Mere Space’) and fabtastic (‘Stepping Stone’).”

Dave Nuttycombe, Washington Citypaper

“The Alphabetical Order present what they call 'heavy indie' – liberal use of power chords behind tuneful original songs.”

Mr. Joel’s Show List, www.originalcopy.com/shows/

“The songs they chose to put on [The Unimpeachable EP] are great. I actually felt like I was at a show because of the variety it displayed -- rock to soft, back up to rock again.... TAO is a trip back to the '90s rock most of us grew up listening to with a bit of a 2000s twist.”

GMU Broadside, www.broadsideonline.com

"Remember back in the day when music consisted of high energetic guitar riffs and brash, unapologetic lyrics?... If you miss the old alternative nation days, then The Alphabetical Order is exactly what you are looking for. Lead vocals that lyrically bounce off the walls matched against a riveting guitar performance. This CD rocks.... It’s that one CD you want in your collection that will bring back old memories, and start new ones all over again.”

Heather Corcoran, GoGirls Music, www.gogirls.com

“Someone from the band said something about old Smashing Pumpkins and that's exactly what I was thinking listening to their mp3s. And by ‘old,’ I refer to the first, best album by the Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Gish,’ which everyone should have by now.”

Here's a Hint, www.heresahint.org

“There is something striking about Kate Rears’ unusual vocals, which split the difference between Nina Simone and Colin Meloy.”

Susan Visakowitz, Left Off the Dial

“The most driving song on the EP, ‘Stepping Stone’ takes the title of best track, and at two and a half minutes does not wear out its welcome.”

Jeff Clutterbuck, Daily Vault

“It may sound absurd to say, but Kate Rears somehow invokes Nina Simone (if she rocked out) with her deep, sultry approach, but also has a bit of higher register along the lines of Crissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Rears also rocks the mic, and rocks the mic right, on the closing ‘Self Hatred.’”

Big Yawn, www.bigyawn.net

“In their two years together, local quartet The Alphabetical Order have captured label interest and gigged at almost every worthwhile local rock venue. They’ve only managed to play as far away as Philadelphia, though, because they are young urban professionals with serious careers. They should focus on the rock, because they’re good at it.”

Washington Post Express

“We recommend the Alphabetical Order, who will probably make you say, ‘Hey, these guys sort of remind me of Hum ... and I kind of liked Hum!’”

Washington Post Nightlife Agenda

“If all it had going for it was a clever name, The Alphabetical Order might not be all that great. To the District band’s credit, though, it also happens to have some catchy songs to back up the quirky handle. The group formed in 2004 and began playing local venues within months, releasing a six-song EP last year that can be sampled online. 'The Unimpeachable EP’... highlights the band’s knack for writing the kind of good pop rock that seems all too absent from radio - Various