Originally an instrumental quartet, Six Gallery was most known for the finger-tapping riffs laid down by guitarists Will Vokac and Ben Schreiber. But, after a few years of growing up, and apart (replacing their original drummer), the band took a different direction and decided to bring in a singer. In 2008, vocalist Daniel Francis joined Vokac, Schreiber, bassist Alex Weinhardt and drummer Benji Miller, to help usher in the new direction the band would take.

With their debut release, Breakthroughs in Modern Art, the Ohio natives officially throw their name in the hat for Best New Artist in my book. Even though this album was originally released in 2009, it’s receiving a label upgrade and therefore a re-release…my advice, don’t miss out a second time!

Following in the footsteps of contemporaries like Minus the Bear, Maps and Atlases and progressive rockers Dredg, Six Gallery bring a lush landscape full of spacious guitar riffs and impassioned vocals that will grasp the attention of any avid fan of rock music. With the majority of the tracks on the album clocking in around the 3-4 minute mark, Six Gallery are able to display their strengths in equal parts - sprawling guitar soloing unified with warm, melodic vocals, all held together by a sinuous rhythm section.

There are no seismic shifts on this record; most of the songs flow uniformly to the next. I really enjoyed all the songs, especially the complexities of “Built to Last,” “Just Hey” and “Edie & the Marble Faun.” The only track that really shows a different face is the instrumental, “Fish Milk,” simply because… it’s instrumental! But, when you listen to the record as a whole, the track is almost just an extended intro, bleeding into the closer, “Smile Like a Switch.”

So, for a quick recap: if you’re into spacious, ethereal finger-tapping with lithe drumming and explosive vocals, then I strongly urge you to give these guys a listen and discover for yourselves everything I’ve tried to convey in words. Now go and check out a great new band!