Test Your Reflex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Test Your Reflex
RCA promo photo by James Minichin III
RCA promo photo by James Minichin III
Background information
Origin Flag of the United States Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Genre(s) Indie rock/pop, Alternative Rock
Years active 2007–present
Label(s) RCA Records
Website http://www.testyourreflex.net
Members
Ryan Levine - lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Clark - lead guitar
Agustin Sanchez - bass, backing vocals
Andrew Ampaya - piano, keyboard, vocals
Sal Cortez - drums, backing vocals

Test Your Reflex is an indie rock/pop band from Los Angeles, California. Their 2007 debut release was The Burning Hour (released April 24, 2007) on RCA Records. The album has been described as having an 80s sound [1] with hints of U2, The Cars, and Simple Minds[2] as well as The Cure[3][4][5] and The Killers[6].

The band featured on the MySpace Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins album released on MySpace Records and distributed in the July 2007 issue of SPIN Magazine[7]. They liken themselves to other bands on the Pumpkins tribute, such as The Bravery[8]. All tracks appeared on each band's MySpace page from May 14, 2007. Test Your Reflex opened for The Smashing Pumpkins on July 22, 2007 at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Before that, from March 22, 2007 to May 12, 2007, Test Your Reflex toured the US with the Detroit-based band Electric Six.

Television performances include two appearances with Carson Daly. On June 22, 2007 the band appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly and the following month performed on the Carson Daly show (aired July 12, 2007[9]).

Contents

[edit] History and Influences

The group is comprised of five musicians of various backgrounds currently all between the ages of 19-21. Test Your Reflex started out in the rehearsal rooms of a teen center in Thousand Oaks, California. They came together in early 2004.

Having played in various electronic and rock bands since grammar school, lead singer Levine decided he wanted to try something new. Inspired by classic albums like U2’s The Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel’s So and Joni Mitchell’s Blue[10], after experimenting in his garage, Levine gradually developed the sound that would become Test Your Reflex.

It started when Levine met drummer Sal Cortez through an ex-girlfriend. The two then began searching for others to join them. After many months they finally found guitarist RC (a.k.a. Clark), a former guitarist of Los Angeles hardcore band R.O.H. Then came keyboardist Andrew Ampaya, a classically trained piano player with similar musical influences. With innovative and like-minded bassist Agustin Sanchez joining shortly thereafter, the first and final line up of Test Your Reflex was created[10].

[edit] Media Coverage/Online Releases

Last Call with Carson Daly - July 12, 2007[9]
Rhapsody Ones To Watch for May - May 7, 2007[11]
LA Weekly Digital Jukebox – April 19, 2007
LA Times “Buzz Bands” – April 19, 2007[1]
VH1 Hear Music First – April 17, 2007[12]
Artist Direct – April 12, 2007[13]
Pre-RCA Release of “Pieces of the Sun” on iTunes – April 10, 2007
SPIN Magazine/SPIN.com "Artist of the Day" - January 5, 2007[3]
USA Today's Pop Candy Blog – December 5, 2006[14]

[edit] Discography

Albums
The Burning Hour (RCA Records) April 24, 2007

Compilations
Helio Presents: The Smashing Pumpkins Tribute CD

Videos
Pieces of the Sun (YouTube) [15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bronson, Kevin. LA Times "Buzz Bands". LA Times. Retrieved on 2007-04-19.
  2. ^ Fennessey, Kathleen C.. Amazon.com Editorial Review. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  3. ^ a b SPIN.com Artist of the Day. SPIN.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
  4. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. The Burning Hour: album review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
  5. ^ Murray, G.. Pop Syndicate Album Review. popsyndicate.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  6. ^ Harris, Will. Bullz-Eye Album Review. Bullz-eye.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
  7. ^ Test Your Reflex 'Adore' the Pumpkins. SPIN Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
  8. ^ Rhapsody interview. Rhapsody Online. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
  9. ^ a b Last Call with Carson Daly Episode Listing. episodeworld.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  10. ^ a b Atkinson, Dave. The Burning Hour: Review. ACED Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  11. ^ Rhapsody Ones To Watch. Rhapsody. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
  12. ^ VH1 Hear Music First. VH1. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  13. ^ Artist Direct. Artist Direct. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  14. ^ Matheson, Whitney. USA Today Pop Candy Blog. USA Today. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
  15. ^ Pieces of the Sun video. YouTube. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.

[edit] External links