Freed from the shackles of the major label machine, Eastern Conference Champions has had a big 2010. With a September residency at Los Angeles’ Spaceland to landing a coveted spot on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, ECC has been very busy. But it was their freedom to record and release their latest EP, Akustiks, on their own that should make the Philadelphia-natives proud. This release should tie over fans before the band releases its next full-length, SPEAK-AHH, in 2011.

Akustiks sounds very similar to the brand of the indie rock that the trio is known for. However, what makes this different than anything band has released before since this is their first ‘acoustic-only’ album. Also notable is the maturity in the band’s songwriting, which is evident from Josh Ostrander’s vocals to Melissa Dougherty’s guitar down to Greg Lyons’ drumming. ECC explores different genres including indie pop, alt-country and the blues.

Another highlight is “Bristol Road,” which is a much slower song and sounds a lot like Ryan Adams. The bluesy sound with a splash of alt-country, combined with singer Josh Ostrander’s vocals add an element of pain and regret that are reflected in the lyrics. The guitars are haunting but are the complement to the lyrics.

“Summertime” is bright and sunny as the song would reflect. California influenced pop has influenced this up-tempo, indie pop tune. Its poppy vibe along with its brisk pace make you feel as if you sitting on the beach while listening to the track. It is the strongest track on the album and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this placed on a TV show in the near future.

The EP will be a digital only release and will be available on December 7 and will be celebrated with a gig at Hotel Café in Hollywood. Overall, if Akustiks is a preview of what is to come with SPEAK-AHH, then not only will ECC fans be delighted, but fans of good music as well.

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