Iridesense

For those unfamiliar with the local music scene in Long Island, New York (circa the early 21st century), it's one that appears to be split evenly between older groups that hone in on crowd pleasing covers, while the younger outfits are usually in the emo, hardcore, or punk vein. But of course, there are exceptions to the rule, such as Iridesense. Slugging it out since the early '90s, the group has carved a niche for itself with their tuneful pop/rock, which is very much in the vein of such renowned chart-topping artists as Michelle Branch and Nelly Furtado (due largely to the melodic vocals of Tara Eberle). And, as evidenced by their sophomore effort, 2002's Iridesense, the group is every bit as good (if not better). You'd think that a major label would swoop in and sign the quartet, as such tracks as "Obvious" and "Love or Hate" have no problem fitting into the current pop landscape. Iridesense is highly recommended to fans of the aforementioned acts.