|| The Sound Faction (dot com) ||

If you look up Melee on Wikipedia, you'll find two sentences to describe the band. It goes like this: "Melee is a American Alternative rock music group from Orange County in California. They have had success around the world, releasing several albums and many singles." This is misleading. While both sentences are true, there is so much more to Melee than what is being said. Unfortunately for people who are unfamiliar with Melee, info on them is scarce and hidden in rather obscure places on the internet.

Melee is made up of four members, the original lineup was Chris Chron (Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar), Ricky Sans (Guitar, Vocals), Ryan Malloy (Bass, Vocals), and Mike Nader (Drums). However this year, Mike Nader was replaced on drums by Derek Lee Rock, who is also the drummer for Orange County Ska band, Suburban Legends.

Melee has been around since 2000. They self-released their first EP "An Existential Guide to Love" in 2000, followed by "Transmission", another EP in 2001. Following shortly were their self titled EP "Melee" in 2002 and "Against the Tide" EP in 2003. In 2004 the band released their first studio full-length "Everyday Behavior" on Sub City Records. Singles for "Can't Hold On" (2006) and "Built To Last" and "New Heart/Sick" (2007) prefaced their latest studio album "Devils & Angels" in 2007 on Warner Bros. Records.

Melee filmed and released several self-made videos for their singles as well, all of which can be see on their YouTube channel. "Fransesca" in 2003, "The War" in 2004, "Built To Last" in 2007, "Can't Hold On" in 2007, and "Imitation" in 2008. Their YouTube channel also features tons of "Melee Movies" featuring the band goofing around, covering silly songs, and just generally being awesome.

I first heard of Melee in 2004, when I was given a copy of "Everyday Behavior" and I fell instantly in love. It wasn't until 2007 that I got a chance to see them play live, however. They were one of the opening bands on The Get Happy Tour, summer 07 with Bowling For Soup, Army of Freshmen, and Quietdrive in support of their 2007 album "Devils & Angels". Manda had come up from Toronto to go to Boston and see The Get Happy Tour with me and Doctah J. The day before she arrived (with tickets for the Boston show in hand) I found out that the tour was coming to Orono, Maine the night before the Boston show (20 minutes away, versus 5 hours). But I already had the Boston tickets... what to do!? ...Clearly the answer is "buy tickets to the Orono show and see them two days in a row!" I am so incredibly glad that we did, because as it turned out, the Orono, Maine show was the last stop of the tour for Melee, and I was so psyched to see them play!

Melee is amazing live, they put on an unbelievably compelling performance that every fan of Melee MUST see as soon as they possibly can. If you're a "studio album" person more than a "concert person", that's okay too! Melee is phenomenal on their studio albums. They have a piano-rock/rock-out thing going on. They fall into one of those hard-to-place genres, on top of which, they also (personally) fall into the hardest criticized genres for me. I am pretty damn harsh on bands when they fall into the piano-rock/rock-out place, in fact there are very very few bands in that category that I can listen to, and Melee is at the top of the pack there, with no contenders for hostile takeover.

I highly recommend Melee to anyone who needs a good chill-out, sing-along, amazing band to listen to. As always, check out the links at the bottom of the page to listen to samples of Melee's music and learn a little more about them!

As I sit here writing this, I am listening to Melee for the first time. I was sort of nervous about listening to them, seeing as how Derek from Suburban Legends was in the band and I was worried that I wouldn’t like his side project. I’m always nervous about listening to side projects from members of a band that I enjoye greatly. However, I have to admit that I was greatly surprised by it. I found myself enjoying the songs that were presented before me. Granted the first song I heard on the MySpace was a Christmas song and to be honest I am VERY particular about my Christmas music so at first I didn’t think I was going to get into it. To my surprise, however, I greatly enjoyed everything that I heard.

I found my shoulders moving to the beat and enjoying the sounds thumping from my speakers at me. The music as a good pick me up vibe and the lyrics are very well crafted. I especially enjoy the song ‘You Got’, and I think you should all go listen to this track. They also have samples of songs that they are working on and I think New Day is going to be an amazing track once I can hear it in its fullness.

I honestly don’t have much else to say at this point except that Melee is for sure music that I would use as a complete pick me up when I wasn’t feeling in a good mood. It’ll make you smile and shimmy in your seat. So, if you are looking for that sort of music, head on over to their MySpace link below and take a listen. Oh, also head on over to their YouTube and enjoy the videos they have posted there, I am sure you will enjoy them like I did!

Oh and WELCOME TO 2010!

Manda is off on a Carribean cruise and therefore unable to participate in this month's BotM, however, knowing Manda, I can tell you that she would tell you to check them out. And I'm still gonna make her listen to them when she gets back, and we'll post-update this BotM when she returns and is settled back in! - Caity

MELEE!! Pretty much sums up my excitment for Januarys band. Caity introduced me to Melee in late November/early December and I love that she did.

The thing I love most about Melee is that they can have an absolutely amazing ballad like, "She's gonna find me here," and then go to an amazingly dancy catchy song like, "Frequently Baby." I love both of those songs so much. "She's Gonna find Me Here" was the first song Caity showed me by Melee and I was immediately taken by it. The piano is gorgeous and Chris' vocals have the ability to melt your heart just a little bit.

I agree in full with what Doc said about Melee being a mix of Guster, The Maine and Madina Lake. Didn't think about it until she said it, but it really does work.

Melee is definitely a band worth checking out. Whether you want to chill out, or dance it out.

Another year, another month, another band. We kick start 2010 with the amazing band Melee! Melee is a quartet out of California, which Caity already explained in great detail, so I won't go back into it.

Melee's sound is actually the opposite of what you'd expect from their name. Melee implies chaos, struggle, and logically necessitates a harder, more frenzied sound. However, Melee has a pretty chill sound, comparable to if the chillness of Guster combined with the lyrical content of The Maine and the guitar driven sound of Madina Lake (I know, it sounds like an odd combination, but it works, I promise.)

As Caity said, we both saw Melee on the Get Happy Tour in 2007 when they stopped in Orono, ME before hitting Boston. That day was already filled with awesome, so Melee topped the awesomeness. Seriously, they were amazing live, and a great compliment to Army of Freshmen, Quietdrive, and Bowling for Soup. Never was a tour better constructed, and it provided me with a great introduction to the band (I don't have the same Melee listening history as Caity, as I catch onto things a bit later.)

So, if you want an upbeat, chill way to begin the new year (and new decade!), download, legally of course, yourself some Melee, and rock out. Seriously, Melee will wipe your winter blues away.

Melee. I don’t know how anyone could NOT like these guys. On second thought, you CANT not like Melee. Not liking Melee, is like a mortal sin that you can only get away with if you give me 5 good reasons WHY. (Good Luck, by the way)

Their music rocks! In fact, you might find that they somehow sound like Mobile, a band that I treasure quite dearly. What’s not to like? Their lyrics are catchy, their songs are the perfect lengths, and no matter how hard I try, I cant tire of them!

I learned about this band through a desperate search for fun music on YouTube. After a few failed attempts to find something good, I happened upon "Built to Last". It sparked some serious interest in me, and soon enough I was on Melee’s Myspace page, clicking through everything I could; and loving it.

So I’m sure you could imagine my excitement when I learned that they were going to be January’s Band of the Month! I think my favorite Melee track would have to be "You Got", probably because it’s just so catchy. It’ll stick in your head for weeks, if you let it.

I have no debate on whether or not you should check out Melee. In fact, you’ve reached the bottom here! Now would be a great time to do some link clicking!