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101X Homegrown Live Presents the CD release party for the Black and White Years' sophomore Lp, 'Patterns.' After three years of sporadic studio time working on the followup to their 2008 eponymous self-titled debut, the band scrapped most of the material (remnants of this recording can be found on 2009's Nursery Myths EP) and moved into singer Scott Butler's garage and bedroom.

With Patterns, The Black and White Years return with their signature oddball-keyboard sounds, driving drum rhythms and quirky lyrics that they've become known for. One considerable change is their shift away from driving guitar and bass lines. “It's a little rough around the edges,” said songwriter Scott Butler. “We take more chances with the arrangements and style with Patterns than we did with the debut album.”

Outside of a few key moments, Patterns manages to be a much more hopeful record than their previous efforts. In particular, "Perfect" sounds almost saccharin, featuring a nearly unrecognizable sample of Burt Bacharach's "Blue on Blue" and telling listeners, "You make the world better - not perfect. No, dear-heart, but it's a start.."

Patterns concludes with the John Hughs-esque love ballad “Promises,” which shrugs off the rest of the world in pursuit of one’s own heart, adding a level of identity, yet uncertainty to the listener. Patterns is a record about a writer struggling with swinging back and fourth from passion to apathy, being unable to climb out of his rut.

“Unlike previous albums, I’ve tried to steer clear of paranoia filled lyrics about the destructive habits of humans,” said Butler. "Ultimately, this is a feel good record. I want people to listen to it and have a good time without feeling like I'm trying to get some important point across. I'm not."a

Sip Sip and MoTel Aviv will open the show.  Lighting and color tubes provided by Houndstooth.

Click HERE for the single, "Up!" on iTunes.

The Black and White Years
Patterns
(Self-Released)
Street Date: Nov. 16, 2010

1. Up!
2. Thick as Thieves
3. Patterns
4. Animal Behaviors
5. Perfect
6. Luck and Timing
7. The Quintessential Twenty Something
8. Cold
9. Silence is Our Medicine
10. Unwritten
11. Helen
12. Everything's Eventual
13. Promises