I The Mighty is an Indie rock band out of Bay Area, CA. They are relatively new to the scene and are set to drop their debut album, We Speak, in March. I’m usually a fan of a little more aggressive style of music; however, I do have a soft spot for catchy alternative rock, so I was open to the venture. As I dove into their record, I found these guys to have a somewhat captivating sound. They definitely have more bounce than a bra-less Hooters girl on a trampoline, and based on what I hear, I The Mighty should settle in nicely on the charts next to fellow indie rockers like Anarbor and Death Cab For Cutie. The only question is, will they be lost in the sea of Indie rock bands consistently coming out of Cali like a tsunami, or stand out like a beacon to spark a fire in the scene?

From track one, you get a very comfortable feeling from these guys, like they have been doing this for a while. They have a very pop indie, carefree style that should appeal to a large variety of audiences, and give plenty of hipsters a soundtrack for cruising in their Volvos. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing Indie. I’m actually a fair-weather fan of Indie rock, but I’m just really picky. I like certain bands and I usually don’t go outside of listening to those select few. However, when the opportunity comes around to hear a new indie/alt rock band, I usually jump on it, because you never know when you might find the next band that will push Jack White (The White Stripes) off the charts for good. I don’t know if I The Mighty are quite on that level, but they are definitely worth a spin because they aren’t hard on the ears by any means.

I have to say that We Speak is a good album. The music is solid, the melodies are catchy and inspiring, and the majority of the tone is positive and upbeat – everything you want out of this type of artist. The record kicks off with some really bright, finger snapping tunes that kind of make you feel like opening up all the windows and pointing your speakers outward into the quay so everyone can hear your style. In other words, college kids will love these boys. Track two, “Technicolor,” has a very Panic! At The Disco feel to it; whereas track five, “Street Lights,” has a grungier Wolfmother feel to it, only with dirtier vocals and that quick fender strum (where the guy has his strap so short that the guitar is right under his chin). You know what I’m talking about, the same guy who rocks the out of control Jew-fro and tight jeans with the v-neck white tee. That’s not a description of guitarist Ian Pedigo, I’m just making generalizations from what I’ve seen in videos. Anyway, the songs were good, well put together, and fun to listen to.

Somewhere around track seven, you get a somewhat darker, more gothic tone in their music. It’s still got that same pop and bounce, but the overall feeling is a bit more melancholy. Track eight, “Just Drive,” seems be about drug abuse, so I understand the fitting somber tone. Tracks nine and twelve are very atmospheric, dreamy ballads that would make good nightcaps.

As a whole, my impression of I The Mighty was fairly good. For an alt rock band out of California, they might have their work cut out for them. They have a good arsenal to take on the masses, and if they push themselves, they should be able to stand proud next to their more successful peers before too long. Fans of Minus The Bear and Jack White should give I The Mighty a listen. They are a little more mainstream and pop than I normally like, but they have a dark side that give them an edge. If you like underground garage bands, this album is a don’t miss.

3.0/5