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Nasty Little Thoughts Artist: Stroke 9  Label: Universal Music Length: 47:52/12 tracks	Sample Little Black Backpack

The alternative rock genre has yet another new act signed to a major label in the form of Stroke 9, a band that has been earning the national attention they've received as of late.  This group sports one of those typical "work hard and you'll achieve your goal" type stories.  It was back in 1993 when the band released debut work Boys and Girls on their own label.  Stroke 9 faced low sales and minimal attendance at concerts, but they were very determined to gain a fan base.  In order to do that, they would go to various shopping malls when they were on tour and ask people to listen to their album on a discman in hopes they could make an on the spot sale.

Such a method worked relatively well and by the time they released their second indie album Bumper to Bumper, the band was raising a whole host of eyebrows.  That project sold 10,000 units, which got the major leagues interested in signing these guys as fast as they could.  The result of the label hunt was the Universal Music release Nasty Little Thoughts, which is a honest look at the human self and the ideas that go through people's minds everyday, with an overall theme of hope and desire for things to work out for the best. Such is the case on songs like "Angels" in which the band seeks peace and understanding.  The group sings "Until the day that the angel comes around, I won't find the solace that I'm seeking."

Musically, Stroke 9 bears similarity to groups like Fono and Bleach, and they stand out in the graduating class of similar bands like Radford, Stir, and Vertical Horizon, who also recently scored major mainstream market recording contacts.  Such a sound shines through their hit single "Little Black Backpack," a crowd favorite with an easy to remember chorus.  "Letters" is a straight out rock and roller, also suitable for radio airwaves.  The disc ends with a song about pain and heartache caused by a relationship gone bad called "Tear in Two."

The biggest challenge Stroke 9 will have is to rise above their peers and stand out as a truly unique rock and roll unit.  Their sound is tight and the quality of the record is wonderful, but no one song really jumps out as a song destined to last for years to come.  As with any new group to the national scene, the guys still have time to perfect their sound, but it's going to take another dose of good tunes after "Nasty Little Thoughts" to prove they are a worthy contender for longevity.

Andy Argyrakis 11/7/2000