Reasons Be has an indie rock-pop sound that is has been compared to John Mayer and Eric Hutchinson, but for me they fall more in line with what would happen if The Dispatch and Jason Mraz magically conceived a child together.
Review by Danielle Boise
What’s most surprising about the Los Angeles-based Reasons Be, is that it’s just a duo, Scotty Dickert and R.E.L. Belkin, that creates a fulfilling sound that not only shimmers but also shines on the debut 4-track EP, Hands Up, which was released on June 26. Producer Lee Miles, the man behind such acts as Rise Against, Puddle of Mudd and Shinedown, worked with Reasons Be to really allow Dickert and Belkin to come into their own, both as writers and musicians.
Reasons Be has an indie rock-pop sound that is has been compared to John Mayer and Eric Hutchinson, but for me they fall more in line with what would happen if The Dispatch and Jason Mraz magically conceived a child together. As vocals and acoustic guitar collide with heavenly success, a wonderful blend of chemistry exists between Dickert and Belkin. Reasons Be creates songs that are relatable to the listener, filled with optimistic charm that doesn’t leave one in a diabetic coma when done listening to the tracks.
The Hands Up EP starts off with “Care Me Home,” an upbeat song full of harmonies and guitar melodies, but it’s the words that are truly magical, as the duo performs in a way that make the listener wish the song lasted longer than 3:52.
“Hands Up” is as good as pop gets, with lyrics like “You’ll find a place where everybody knows your name” – what’s not to love about that verse?
“Love The Way” has a softly romantic twist of words, matched only by the reverberations of the guitar with touching harmonies.
The last track, “Voice of Mount Mary,” rounds out the EP, bringing it full circle and probably my favorite track on the bunch, with sweetness and an almost innocent quality to the song, it leaves the listener lighter and more at peace when done listening to the song.
Reasons Be’s talents seems to have been written in the stars, as fate brought them duo together through a Craigslist ad, in a non-serial killer sort of happy ending kind of way. The future is truly theirs for the taking. I look forward to hearing more from this duo in the near future.
For more information Reasons Be, visit www.reasonsbe.com.
