Or how about "Mars Attacks?"

I dig the name anyway-"Mars Electric," has a certain radiance to it. Billing themselves as something of a second coming of the arena rock sound of the 80's only with a modern approach, Mars Electric's debut "Beautiful Something" takes a dynamic leap forward against the beaten down grain of heavy alternative with a refreshing pop heavy rock sound that's as new as we need it to be.

Had your fill of whiny vocals and anti-everything subject matter that wears itself thin after the first listen?

Or listening to the evening news played live while the singer stomps back and forth like a raging Neanderthal?

Mars Electric isn't about that-they make music fun to listen to… and they find a better use for the majesty of the guitar instead of making a meal on the same repetitive notes to showcase their playing deficiencies!

And by God there still is a use for strings D and E!

By song four, "Your Light," we've gotten past two pretty sound radio friendly crunchers in "Someday" and "Far Away," and easy listening ballads, "Another Day on Top of the World," that hint at a life worth pursuing instead of mad radicalism.

The Alabaman foursome instill the close-to-home country influence in their songs without actually sounding like a country band but they definitely don't warrant a goody two shoes type of label.

Stick around for songs nine and ten, "All the Things" and "Inside" for proof of that-dare I say going off to the blustery grunge direction with "Fear of Falling" without burying themselves in self-pity by the time its half over and out of nowhere the record ends with "Lucid" which puts it about right… times ten!

Even if it may not be reflected in harsh lyrical content and angrily voiced opinions, there's a certain edge to their playing, particularly by the last quarter of "Beautiful Something" that states an emphatic case that they know how to rock hard and conversely, they're not afraid to tone down and let the melody do the talking for them.

Life does indeed exist on our galaxy's red planet and low and behold their invasion of earth is about to begin in conquering fashion!

Released by Portrait Records

Review by Vinnie Apicella