The Seldon Plan is a Baltimore-based band that plays “tuneful-wistful rock...” (The Washington Post). The band’s live performance schedule has been steady throughout the northeast US over the past two years as they supported their first full-length record Making Circles – including shows with The Stills, Matt Pond PA, Now It’s Overhead, I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, Explosions in the Sky, and Jet By Day. Making Circles has been widely critically acclaimed and made its way onto a number of top-record of the year lists, including a selection as one of “the top 40 releases of 2005” by influential indie-magazine The Big Takeover. Chris Connelly of On Tap Magazine sums up the general sentiment from critics and audiences about this band, saying, “catch them on the ground floor, before this wonderful secret gets out.” THE COLLECTIVE NOW, is an expansive exploration of the band’s on-again-off-again relationship with pop music. THE COLLECTIVE NOW was originally meant to be a dance-pop record with a healthy reverence to early 80’s college radio. However, THE COLLECTIVE NOW evolved into what the band suggests is their own mature, widely influenced brand of modern indie pop. What results is an interesting essay on the tension a band might feel between simplicity, accessibility and artistic expression. Listeners might hear THE COLLECTIVE NOW as a diverse intersection between Maritime, The Little Ones, Band of Horses, Earlimart and The Swirlies. No matter what you hear, you are sure to enjoy this sophomore effort from The Seldon Plan. ___________________________________________________________ Some recent press for "The Collecive Now": “Making Circles, the band’s debut album, was great. The Collective Now is better. The Collective Now is warmer, more focused, and more accessable than their previous effort Making Circles” - The Baltimore Sun Editor's Pick: "Sweet, smooth and sugary, Baltimore's The Seldon Plan knows how to pour on the whimsical treats of pop. Steep rock tunes with nary a heavy crunch to be found...[they] make emotional rock that isn't a bunch of heart string pulling and tears.” - Smother Magazine "Baltimore, Maryland's The Seldon Plan return with their second full-length release. The Collective Now features highly melodic guitar pop that treads in territory previously charted by bands like The Hang Ups and The Lassie Foundation. What impresses us most about this band's music is how unpretentious it is. The smooth, ultra-hummable songs on this CD flow by like big fluffy clouds in the sky. The band presents their songs simply and without overt fanfare. Because of the substance that is inherent in their tunes, these guys don't need to add layers upon layers of instruments to their sound. Their songs stand firmly on their own without the unnecessary support of too much technology. The band consists of Michael Nestor (guitar, vocals), Bobby Landle (guitar), Dave Hirner (bass), and Mike Landavere (drums). After spinning this disc a few times...we can't decide which we like better, the debut...or this? Actually and in fact, we prefer both albums as they are equally satisfying and superb. There are few bands around that can compete with this band when they hit their highs. Cool, ultra-hummable cuts include "Going Nowhere Slow," "This Bedroom Prayer" (our favorite), "Modern Vigil," "Seraphim," and "All the Real Girls." Recommended. (Rating: 5++)" - Babysue "...this album could be the perfect soundtrack for a westside suburbanite's ride home." -SEN Magazine & Any Given Tuesday "The Seldon Plan makes some of the best laid-back indie rock in the region." -Amie St. "...there is a lot of intelligent & catchy pop musicalities and it’s not stale at all. It’s refreshingly potent and catchy. The guitar leads are terrific. And not Eddie Van Halen licks. But Kevin Shields lines and stripes on a different level." -Olympus-Mons.com