By Xander Rich

Imagine yourself floating in an abyss of horrible music. Pieces of shrieky garbage fly past your arms. Images of men in flashbulb suits and girls wearing telephones for hats bombard your every impulse. No matter how hard you try, soul-less, empty drivel is playing in your inner ear, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.

Then, imagine you’re transported to an otherworldly, eclectic, aggressive progression of modern music in which you’re actually listening to lyrics that have a message.

Ladies and gents, I introduce Stockholm.

Stockholm is one of Orlando’s newest entries into a genre that’s thriving globally, forcing you to recall overtones of monster successes like Coldplay, Jimmy Eat World, U2 and many other largely pertinent bands. “Don’t Stop Now”, a 5-song new release by the band, is evidence of both relevance and the ability to involuntarily tap your feet along to it, while the girl you’ve been eyeing all night at Latitudes is smiling at you upon noticing this.

“Goodbye Tomorrow” is a song about having passion in an instant, on-demand world, told with upbeat tones that linger. Probably my favorite song on the album is “Sweeter Side”, in which lead singer and keyboardist Chris Arter pleads, “Underneath is a boy with a dream… underneath is a sweeter side of me”.

There are moments of great seriousness in “The End” that are hypnotic and force you to listen to the words rather than get lost in a ballad that musically has a less-is-more approach, which the song warmly calls for.

Stockholm has it right. They entertain, they pull you in with infectious sound, they tell you a story with conviction and sincerity, and they get out in melodic and grand fashion. I don’t anticipate a long stay in Orlando for these guys, so get out locally and see them, and definitely grab this cd. Check out more of the band’s stuff at .