Who? Formed in 2004, you can still get hints of that new-band smell off of the Stiletto Formal and its members; vocalist Kyle Howard, guitarist Jimi Lamp, cellist Sunny Davis, bassist Paul Neely and drummer Patrick McCarthy. Despite their relative youth, TSF have already released two EPs -- 2005's Masochism in the Place of Romance and last year's This is My Boomstick -- both of which debuted in iTunes in late October. A full-length debut, tentatively titled Renaissance and produced by Grammy Award-winner Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, OutKast) is in the works for 2008.

What's the Deal? Howard's vocal histrionics are easily the first thing to grab listeners' attention -- with words pouring out in rushed, almost stuttered yelps he gets plenty of comparisons to ex-At the Drive-In mic man Cedric Bixler -- but they're far from the only selling point. Davis' cello and vocals add a moody undertone to songs like "Murder at the Stiletto Formal," at least when the rest of the band isn't creating a groovy racket while Howard rails against "blood on the hands of the crown" or laments how "contrails dissolve our correlated steps."

Fun Fact: Prior to his days fronting Stiletto Formal, singer Kyle Howard was accepted to Cambridge University to study creative writing. Instead, he opted to stay in Arizona to study English Literature at Arizona State before committing to the band full-time. 

Now Hear This:
The Stiletto Formal - "The Fall of Ambrose Bierce" DOWNLOAD MP3

On the Web:
The Stiletto Formal at MySpace

Talk: Is the Stiletto Formal ready to take their big step?