Stellastarr* is a four-piece (three boys, one girl) from New York City. They’ve been around for about three years, released an EP on Tiswas Records, and quickly got scooped up by RCA to record their debut album with Tim O’Heir (Dinosaur Jr., Superdrag, The All-American Rejects). The four members of the band met while attending the Brooklyn-based Pratt Institute Of The Arts and much of the art-school, art for art’s sake mentality finds its way into their music. Stellastarr* is dancy, poppy, dark, melodic, and haunting. Frontman Shawn Christensen’s quirky vocals are impossible to forget and unlikely to be confused with anyone else. The album opener, “In The Walls,” shows this perfectly. It begins with a soft, repeating guitar riff and a quietly delivered verse that builds into a powerful wall of sound. Christensen’s voice quickly gains strength and, backed by a fuzzy lead guitar and girl backing vocals, erupts into a force to be reckoned with. The album is filled with tracks like this – ones that catch you by surprise, hold your attention and have you wondering just how the band managed to squeeze all of those diverse influences (new wave, electroclash, Brit pop, garageÖ) into one stellar debut album.
MATT DUFOUR

Stellastarr*
RCA

1. Longwave and Stellastarr* Join Forces For Summer Trek
2. Stellastarr* Handpicked For Jane’s Addiction UK Tour
3. Stellastarr* US Dates Announced, Free Demo Download
4. Live – Stellastarr* @ Bottom Of The Hill | SF
5. Stellastarr* Gets Prime Spot Opening For Placebo On East Coast