Few bands are able to evade the curse of a sophomore slump. New York-based trio Secret Machines managed to trade that cliched pitfall for another when co-founder/guitarist/vocalist Ben Curtis left the band in early 2007 in the wake of critical praise for their second album, Ten Silver Drops. The band's keyboardist/bassist (and Ben's brother) Brandon and drummer Josh Garza were left with a freaked out record label and doubts about whether they could continue.

Thanks to a friend with a recording studio, a confidence boost in the form of a track called "Dreaming of Dreaming," and a new guitarist, Phil Karnats (who had played with Ben in Tripping Daisy), Secret Machines realized that they were ready not only to go on, but to kick things into high gear, tweaking their earlier sound for something darker and more aggressive on a third, a self-titled album which drops tomorrow. The only hiccup? Warner was not interested in the "new" band.

"When we turned in the record at the end of the process, they decided it was something that they wouldn't be able to pay its full attention to," Brandon has explained. The company gave them the option to license back the material, so they did and opted to self-release the album through World's Fair Label Group, a move which allowed them more creative freedom.

So we're supposed to believe that losing a band member and major label backing is a good thing? "For a while, it took a minute to be what we were without Benjamin. But we're still a band and we're still the Secret Machines. And with Phil coming in, getting used to his personality what he brings to the table, I think it has been really rewarding and exciting. We have this chance to continue and for it to work so well, I think we're really lucky."

Secret Machines play Metro with Dears this Friday; click here for ticket info.

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:live show, new album

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