Get Awkward is the sophomore full-length from Nashville foursome Be Your Own Pet. Making it presented new challenges for Jonas, Jemina, Nathan, and John, and yielded some surprises. The songs remain fast and loud, totally wired and tantalizingly brief. Applying the dubious word "mature" is open for heated debate – string arrangements and soppy ballads are blessedly absent – but the music definitely reflects a sharp increase in experience.

Working once again with producer and Redd Kross veteran Steve McDonald, the quartet savored the recording experience more on the second pass; overdubs and screaming matches were in shorter supply. "Being in the studio really magnified the songs, so you could see and hear details a lot closer," admits John. Not that they hunched over the mixing desk like tech nerds all day; in between takes, Nathan and Jemina still made time for bike rides.

As for the title … "We called it Get Awkward for a reason," concludes Nathan. "There has been some definite awkwardness in learning what being in a band is about." Graduating from basement parties to touring with Arctic Monkeys, or dividing press time between homemade fanzines, Rolling Stone, and a bazillion blogs. Where the music is concerned, though, any growing pains have only served Be Your Own Pet well. That first third album can't come fast enough.

So, if you would like to win one of these new CDs, just answer this easy question: Jemina celebrated which birthday recording "Super Soaked"?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these wonderful new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before May 15th with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: BYOP CDs to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

CD Purchase Link

Windows Media:
“The Kelly Affair” Audio Stream