NYLON: "You can dance to it. You can drive to it. You can really, really like it even halfway through the first song." SELF PORTRAIT: "Together, they have created a wonderfully strong collection of catchy pop melodies that are as danceable as their lyrics are pertinent." After listening to The Americans EP, almost speechless, Mark Ronson simply told the 19 year old singer/songwriter Charlie Klarsfeld, “You’re a bad boy.” Click HERE to listen to December Blues! The Americans self titled EP available NOW on iTunes! Who are the Americans! Klarsfeld’s brainchild appropriates a pastiche of pop influences to form something entirely new. Not strictly an R&B, Garage Rock, Doo-Wop, Funk, Blues or Dance group, Klarsfeld writes intensely personal pop songs in a palatable manner. His songwriting has already inspired established musicians to lend their hands in the realization of his visionary musical undertakings. Sean Lennon’s production of “Requiem” adds an air of tragedy to the song. The Dap Kings horn section (Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Al Green) arranged by producer Jeff Peretz gives a classic soul feel to the lover’s dialogue taking place in the duets “Sleeptalking” and “Talking to Strangers,” featuring the smoky R&B vocals of singer Julia Tepper (solo artist, Frances). The songs catch your attention from the outset, maybe because beneath the layered instrumentals is a melodic base that enables the experimental production to breathe without obscuring the listener’s attention. Klarsfeld’s music grips the audience with baroque multilayered tracks where every bell chime seems to have a purpose, married with literary lyrics delving deeply into his own consciousness. While Klarsfeld’s privileged New York City background (not to mention being signed to V2 at 16 years old with Hysterics) could have limited his lyric depth, he yearns to negotiate his intense romantic sensibility with the superficial world he inhabits with a sense of malaise. This struggle in many ways seems to be the source of his restlessness that propels his musical ambition, and complicates his lyrical output enough to toil with over and over. While there have been many amalgamations of the band in the short time since their arrival on the musical scene at Santo’s Party House, the heart and soul of the band (Klarsfeld and Tepper) at last have the backing of classically trained musicians to evolve the band rather than inhibit it. Along with Tepper, the beautiful Sissy Clemens helps with the principal vocals. The Texan singer/songwriter Matt Sheffer takes the reigns on the keyboard sections and also hailing from Texas, Corey Dozier plays bass with uncommon virtuosity and energy. Jazz composer Kyle Olson fervently bangs with drums, against the backdrop of a classically trained brass section, with Paul Brana on the trumpet and John Stanesco on the saxophone. The band ranges from twenty to twenty four year olds, with musical snob roots, uniting for the common purpose of making great pop records and putting on mind/body/soul blowing shows.