Album Notes

mike horn & the method


The boundaries are non-existent. In the blur of an ever-growing music industry full of formulaic talent and short-lived careers – Mike Horn and the Method are speeding by and ignoring the exit signs. Blazing their own trail with enthusiasm and exceptional talent on the highway towards success, Mike Horn and the Method are here to stay.

Horn, the bands creator and front man, originally from Queens, NY, continually manifested his creative side while attending the University of Connecticut. In between working shifts as a barista at the Starbucks near the University campus, Horn spent many late nights next to at-home recording equipment, producing two full-length self-produced LPs and a seven song EP. Max Bakke, a staff writer for the Hartford Courant concluded that, “Horn’s music fits nicely into that ‘Starbucks sound’ of listener-friendly, introspective singer-songwriters trying to articulate something deep and personal in their music.”

The same undeniable determination, added to a stage presence capitalized with hilarious facial expressions, landed him and cousin Spencer Gallop performances at a wide range of venues, ranging form Arlene’s Grocery and the Continental to the stages of New York’s famous CBGB’s and The Lion’s Den. His summer consisted of making a name for himself while playing venues spanning the New York area.

Speed bumps suddenly diminished for Horn after being signed to the UConn student-run record label, Husky Entertainment, mid-December of 2006. Along with the new recording contract came a whirlwind of rehearsals, Thursday night meetings, studio sessions, an instant fan base, sore throats, various press and soon enough – a full band.

The Method, consisting of Adam Rosenfeld, Gallop and Adam Pennarola, infuses Horn’s songs with talent that is inimitable.

“Between the Borders” is the band’s first venture into the professional music world. Its high intensity rips the pants off conformity with a unique sound unlike any of today’s talent. “Borders” is a combination of musical attitudes that compliment the band’s wide range of genres, but is also relative to any type of audience.

There is still plenty in store for Horn – who’s looking to expand upon not only his list of venues, but identifying with a specific musical genre and a sound. With all eyes set on developing their sound and growing more as a group, the future is an open book for Mike Horn and the Method. The borders are ready to be broken.

Written by Emily Abbate
Emily.Abbate@UConn.edu