The 88

About me

With their second album, Over and Over, The 88 refute the myth that art and the three-and-a-half-minute pop song can't get along. While the new record shares the same rollicking spirit as its predecessor, Kind of Light, it
also marks a leap forward for the Los Angeles-based quintet. The buoyant melodies and general jollity that characterized album one infuse all 12 tracks of their sophomore release, only this time with an expanded sound, a result, no doubt, of the group's artistic growth and constant gigging.

Since Light debuted in early 2003, the band have been playing practically nonstop throughout their native L.A., with tour dates throughout the United States and Canada. Once word of The 88's irrepressible harmonies and hopping pianos, not to mention Keith Slettedahl's warm, saturated strains began to spread among club-goers, Light slowly found its way to radio DJs and rock critics.

The band became a staple on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, a clearinghouse for rising indie rock outfits, world music composers and underground acts on the verge of crossing over into the mainstream. Ultimately, 12 of the album's 13 cuts made the spin list at NPR's flagship station, opening the floodgates to movie and television offers. Today, the group's TV resume includes segments on NBC's Extra and ABC's The Jimmy Kimmel Show, though it's arguably their appearance on Fox's hit series The O.C., whose soundtrack sales have now topped 300,000 copies, that put the troupe on their younger fans' radar. Then, this year, the live track "Coming Home," which makes its studio debut on Over and Over, landed a plum spot in a nationally broadcast Target Commercial. Meantime, amid all the fanfare, The 88 quietly earned themselves a nod as L.A. Weekly's Best Pop/Rock outfit in the city.

While The 88 have earned a reputation as first-rate musicians, they're also renowned for their tireless gigging, which has included performances alongside Elliott Smith, Dave Grohl and The Thrills. More importantly, they've won props for their easygoing nature and their grassroots marketing, which starts with their official site www.the88.net. There, fans can chat with the band members, meet other 88 devotees, post messages, and check concert dates.