The 88 is a four-piece indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California. To date, they have released 5 albums and 2 EPs, including their latest EP, Actors, which was released on March 13, 2012, and is available for $4.95 on iTunes. Recently, their music has been found in the Lorax soundtrack.

Actors isa 5 track EP: “Blue Skies Are Black Again,” “Do You Love Me,” “Someday Blues,” “Oh, My Love,” and “My Friend John.” The first track, “Blues Skies Are Black Again” is surprisingly upbeat musically, which contrasts with the more somber lyrics. The second track, “Do You Love Me,” is a much more openly sad song. The vocals grow increasingly more desperate, as the speaker of the song cries out to his loved one, asking “do you need me like I need you?” The music reflects the vocals well, with electric guitar hitting hard chords as the singer screams out. “Someday Blues” is similar to “Blue Skies Are Black Again,” in that the music is fairly upbeat, while the lyrics are sad.

“Oh, My Love” deserves mention, as the presence of a female vocal sets it apart. There is some lovely blending of male and female voices into harmony. Paired with a haunting melody and gentle accompaniment, the song has a very unique feel. The EP ends with “My Friend John,” an interesting ballad, to say the least. It’s a catchy song, but moments in the music are unsettling, for lack of a better word. The melody is unusual, as with some of the other songs, but in a terrific way.

As a whole, the EP is a great piece of music. It has the flair one would expect from an indie rock group, while still standing as a unique work. You can listen to the whole EP on the group’s myspace .

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