The Background

t HRC we immensely enjoy finding unsigned bands who have the talent and the personalities to make it big. The Background fits that category perfectly. These guys have the charisma, the talent and the looks to make their dream a reality. Their single “Okay” is extremely catchy, and their music video is quite enjoyable to watch! Fans of bands like Action Item or The Ready Set are sure to fall in love with The Background as much as we have at HRC! - Honest Reviews Corner

The Background, out of Dallas, Texas, provide their own take on Indie Pop, a mix of shout-along tracks and heart-felt ballads. Their second album, Your Friends, has unique ideas for the genre, but can be lacking in production at times. The band seems to be very tight and practiced, and confident in their songwriting.

Ballads like “Baby, Don’t Go” and “Maybe I Fell Into It” seem to have the strongest potential as songs and as lyrical ideas, though they are two of the shortest tracks on the album. The band seems to strive off of making choruses that are easy to sing along with, which they do very well. Backed by pop-heavy riffs the songs are easy to tap your foot to, with very singable lyrics. Tracks like “Run” and “Your Friends” have a lot of energy, and are very easy to get into on the first listen.

Now, the only complaint I have about the album is that some of the production can be a little overboard to my ears. The guitars can sound overly digital and the vocals over-edited. The mix is very bass-heavy and pumps a lot, which can definitely be a plus for some of the songs on the album, but at other times seems over-powering. Overall the album sounds very good, with just a few spots where I feel there could be improvements made.

Overall the album has a good flow to it, with highs and lows in dynamics and lyrics. The lyrical content can grab your attention, and have you singing along on the second listen, even if you don’t remember all of the words. The Background’s Your Friends is definitely very easy to add to your daily listening rotation. - Infectious Magazine

It may be hard to believe, but sometimes the hard working and best bands are actually unsigned. Proving that with their debut album Your Friends, Texas hopefuls The Background are quite clearly heading in the right direction for 2012.

Opening with the excellent title track, it’s clear that The Background are hear to not only make noise (a good one) but also to get everyone up out of their chairs and bouncing around the room like lunatics singing along to their songs. But would that surprise you if you knew they were a pop-rock/pop punk band? Probably not, but it shouldn’t make a difference. However, while this may be the case the acoustic driven Baby, Don’t Go is almost definitely the best track on the album. It’s a far cry from the more upbeat songs like One For The Record Books but as everybody knows, diversity is key.

And lucky for The Background, they have diversity. Whether it be a slow song, a bouncy upbeat song or an acoustic driven song The Background have their heads firmly in place. They know what their fans want to hear and on Your Friends, they give what they can – music that they love playing and people love hearing.

There’s not a bad song on this solid debut, and although The Background haven’t hit their peak just yet and may not for a while the musicverse should be ready for when they do. Your Friends shows that if there’s a band who want to make it, The Background are it. Whereas some bands are simply just background music to parties or nights out, The Background are a stand out class act well and truly in the foreground of things. Your Friends is only the beginning. - Rock Reviews 24/7

After the release of their last album, Your Friends, The Background are getting ready to unleash even more music for worlds pleasure to listen to and the first post-album song they are releasing as an excellent pop-rock tune simply called Okay.

While Your Friends was a pretty damn good album, it’s clear that The Background have taken their sound, worked on it and made it even better than before. Okay is a pretty simple song but sometimes the simplest things are the best. It’s catchy, upbeat and – while maybe quite poppy – still strikes gold in all the right places. Your Friends was a new beginning for The Background but Okay opens up a whole new chapter and they’re ready to take everyone on board. - Rock Reviews 24/7