Name: OFFICE

Domicile Location: Chicago, IL

Catalog: Q & A LP (2005), forthcoming LP A Night At The Ritz (Scratchie/New Line)

Accolades: Reviews in SPIN, Magnet, Billboard, NPR. “Free Download of the Day” on iTunes garnered 300,000+ downloads and landed the band in the iTunes Top 20.

Two months from now, OFFICE will probably not qualify for a profile as part of OU. A Night At The Ritz, their third studio effort and first for Scratchie/New Line Records, will be unleashed on the hipsterati music community on September 25^th and there’s little doubt that the rest of the country will catch the same fever for the band as their hometown of Chicago has.

Scratchie is an imprint owned and operated by former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, who took notice of the band last summer as they were racking up the cred: “Wound Up,” from the self-released Q & A album, was the iTunes “Song of the Day,” reviews and features on the band graced the pages of Billboard, SPIN, and Magnet magazines, and the band took full advantage of a last-minute inclusion on the ’06 Lollapalooza bill. Buzz surrounding OFFICE has been consistent since leader and visionary Scott Masson first enlisted the services of his current bandmates, Tom Smith (guitar), Alissa Noonan (bass), Erica Corniel (drums), and Jessica Gonyea (keys and percussion) in 2004. A sold out, month-long residency at Chicago’s beloved Schubas Tavern last fall solidified the band’s readiness for its close up, and A Night At The Ritz’s calculated songwriting and interesting instrumentation builds upon OFFICE’s reputation for nonstop energy on stage and Masson’s undeniable penchant for head-turning hooks. Think new wave pop sense with a healthy dose of crunchy rock and a sprinkling of soul.

OFFICE has always reminded me of Dexy’s Midnight Runners in a way, and it’s entirely possible that A Night At The Ritz will deliver their “Come On Eileen.”

OFFICE - The Ritz

OFFICE - Wound Up

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