What do you get when you combine a little bit of reggae, hip hop, rock and a little bit of pop? The excellent combination that is Emblem 3! Emblem 3, consisting of brothers Wesley Stromberg, Keaton Stromberg, and friend Drew Chadwick, competed on Simon Cowell’s team in the 2012 US version of the X-factor where they made it to the final four before the were eliminated. Since then, these boys have been hard at work. Their debut album Nothing To Lose is an excellent showcase of what these guys are all about, not to mention it is the perfect album for this summer and it fills a special place in the industry!

The first track on the album “Just For One Day” showcases their reggae/pop sound to a t. This is such a fun, summery type song which once again showcases the reggae feel. You literally feel like you’re on an island listening to this track. As it talks about getting away just for one day, the tune of this song makes you feel as if you’re doing just that.

“Spaghetti”, is another carefree and very reggae/pop sounding song. Talking about how everything is going to be alright and “don’t fear tomorrow let that be the motto” and “let’s ditch this party, ignore everybody, and go make spaghetti” is a good reminder to just let go and be carefree!

“XO”, is (obviously, considering the title) a classic love track.  All about how they want to be everything a girl needs and that their saving all of the x’s and o’s, this track puts the love in the air for sure.  

From there, the album goes to the first single off the album “Chloe” (vote for 'Chloe" on The Countdown). This track is one of my favorites on the album because of its encouragement and upbeat sound. With lyrics like “I know your sister turns everyone on but I have no doubt that you’re the one that I want,” this song is for the underdogs and I’m all for that! This track is definitely a fan favorite as well, and every girl wants to be a Chloe now!

“Girl Next Door” is another upbeat song that is sure to make you dance. This is probably my least favorite track on the album in comparison, but it is still sure to be a crowd pleaser because who doesn’t love the girl next door?

“Sunset Blvd”, the song the band auditioned with on the X-Factor, is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. It captures the sound of Emblem 3 really well and the lyrics are really clever and California-y. Similarly, “I Love LA” is another fun Cali track. This tune captures their reggae sound once again and captures listeners with all of the cliché California words and things. It’s pretty stereotypical Cali and that’s what makes it great, or should I say gnarly?

From there, “3000 Miles” is next and it’s probably the most sentimental track on the album.  The track reminisces on memories with a loved one and talks about how they’re not ok being 3,000 miles away. It’s definitely a heartfelt song that recalls the past and shows a little bit more sensitive side of the band.

“Teenage Kings” is just that, a teenage anthem. This song is another perfect song talking about teenage kids pretending they’re famous. Teenage years are the years most look back on, and this track paints a picture of all the cliché teenager things that make you feel alive. This track could easily be played in a movie with a bunch of teenagers pulling a bunch of teenage shenanigans. Another really fun track!

The last track on the album, “One Day” is a cover of the original song by Matisyahu. This track very accurately captures the sound of Emblem 3. It was a hit when they performed it on the X-Factor, and it’s still a hit now. Perfect, for their voices, sound, appearance, etc., this song is easily one of my favorites of the ones they’ve performed.

It’s pretty easy to see that these guys have a lot of talent. With killer mixes of many different styles of music, Emblem 3 fills a spot in the industry that no other band can. Nothing To Lose is the perfect debut album to show what they’re all about and what the industry was missing before they were in the picture. Stay tuned to what Emblem 3 is up to by following them on twitter at @EmblemThree and check out more of them by visiting youtube.com/Emblem3VEVO. Be sure to purchase Nothing To Lose in stores or on iTunes now. You definitely won’t regret it!