My Midi Valentine

My Midi Valentine formed in Ocean City, Maryland, with brothers Anthony and Dustin Milano at the center. They started playing together in the early 2000s, drawing from the moodier side of post-punk and indie rock. The band eventually included bassist Nick Kay and drummer Matt Malpass.

Their song 'Angelica Bella' became their most recognizable track, built around a simple, repeating guitar line and vocals that drift between melancholy and resignation. Other songs like 'Continue?' and 'I Was Trying To Touch Your Heart' follow a similar pattern, sparse arrangements that leave room for the lyrics to sit up front.

They released their first album, 'Autumn Whispers,' in 2008. The recording has a home-studio feel, with the vocals sometimes buried in reverb and the drums sounding like they were tracked in a small room. It's the kind of record that sounds like it was made late at night, which fits the songs.