Tom Lynch

Originally championed by 93.1 WXRT in 2005 after a mere self-released EP (the station named the record a "Top 5 of ‘05"), Sunday Morning Chameleon was put under a spotlight at an early age, before the band truly had time to grow into a sound, or, at least, a certain chemistry. The band has now done so: "More Human," the group’s new six-song EP, aided by the production help of mastermind Brian Deck, is expressive, powerful, engaging, a stepping stone to bigger, greater things and instantly impressive, from the opening notes and tribal-beat of "Impulse Disorder." The gorgeous waltz between two lightly distorted guitars on the classic indie-rock-sound of "Back and Forth (In My Mind)" should be enough to win over anybody. And the pretty, kind-hearted title track, led by an acoustic rhythm guitar, is memorable to say the least, mostly for singer Ryan Flagstad’s perfect vocal melody.

Sunday Morning Chameleon plays October 19 at Subterranean, 2011 West North, (773)278-6600, at 9:30pm. $8. (2007-10-16)

Also by Tom Lynch

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New York City’s Matt Pond—who started in Pennsylvania, of course—has been a criminally underrated songwriter for some time now, in both his ability to pen simple, charming pop songs and complex, piece-weaving tomes of despondency. I’ve always enjoyed his work for his lyrics first, more poetic than the phoned-in "I need you"s you normally get from similar material. He tells story. He uses colors
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While the pieces surely add up on paper, it’s difficult to categorize Jose Gonzalez simply as a singer-songwriter. With just a classical acoustic guitar and his soft, humble voice, the musician creates a tidal wave of sound that’s as affecting—viscerally and emotionally—as any band
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