This up-and-coming groove band, which includes Marin Catholic grad Paul Smith-Stewart on bass, came out of the San Luis Obispo college scene and, with this exuberant new CD, is looking to break out nationally.

“See America,” Still Time's second album, is a good start in that direction. The title track conveys the positive energy generated by the election of Barack Obama with lyrics like, “The future starts with us. Put the pieces back to see America.”

Built around the strong songwriting and powerful vocals of front man Dan Curcio, the band released its debut album, “Stream of Consciousness,” in 2007 with the radio-friendly single “High Tide,” a reggae-ish party tune.

The band

borrowed the money to produce “See America,” recording it in an abandoned boxcar on the Oregon coast, a forest in the Santa Cruz mountains, an empty mansion in San Francisco and an after-hours bar in San Luis Obispo. It was mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Fred Vogler at famed Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood and came out in May.

“See America” contains a couple of potential radio hits with the songs “Old Soul” and “Come Alive.” And the six-member group shows its social conscience with the environmental anthem “Rising from the Ashes,” featuring chanting by some Native Americans the band met at a festival.

Still Time is planning its first national tour in the spring to

promote the new album, a bright, buoyant CD with cool cover art by Kris Doe. This album looks as good as it sounds.

Buy It: “See America,” Still Time, www.stilltimemusic.com; $10.99

 

Tell us about your band! If you're a musician or band from Marin or Sonoma with a recording that readers can buy or download, send your CD and contact information (if you have an upcoming gig, let us know that, too) to Press Play, P.O. Box 6150, Novato 94948-6150.