For five years, Audio Out Send has been wrapping ethereal strokes of space pop around the ears of Bay Area enthusiasts. They are both a powerful and unassuming band, as eager to play San Francisco’s premier rock venues as they are to set up in the cozy confines of East Bay cafes for intimate, mind-blowing shows. Their 2003 debut, …or Does It Explode?, was a striking introduction and their 2005 EP, A Broad Connection, was a short but impressive stopgap release in between full-lengths. With the upcoming release of Sharpen the Hours, Audio Out Send has positioned themselves as one of the most important groups in the area. The album is an excellent collection of well-rendered songs and an honest representation of an impressive live band.

Musically speaking, Sharpen the Hours strikes a balance between the glacial movements of the Radar Bros. and the lush pop of Rogue Wave. Specifically, the band is more precise – constructing clear and well-paced song structures – where the Radar Bros would be abstract and edgier – with overdriven guitars and powerhouse drums – where Rogue Wave would settle for the innocuous. In a song like “Mission of the Week”, which methodically builds to noisy a climax, there’s even a hint of contemporary Radiohead. Acoustic guitar strums are plentiful and echoing keyboards crawl into every corner of this mix. Singer/guitarist, Ben Jennings’ voice guides us through the band’s carefully arranged soundscapes, striking up memorable melodies.

For a band that has been so good for so long it’s not surprising that this, their second full-length, is one of the best albums of the year but rather that they’ve kept such a low national profile. Perhaps with Sharpen the Hours they’ll get a little more attention but whether they do or they don’t it won’t change the fact that this record is downright awesome.
- Andre Perry