Thanks to SOMA FM and KNRK 94/7 too for the airplay!

8/12/2010 David Bash, International Pop Overthrow Festival, founder:

Up now at IPO Portland is The Contestants, a very cool power pop band from these here parts! They played IPO Portland in year one, as a fill in band, and they turned out to be one of the most impressive bands of the festival, so I'm really glad they're back. Stellar harmonies and hooks are their stock in trade, and they're plying that right now on the stage of East End!

Portland Mercury, Up and Coming, July 2010

The Contestants know their role and excel at it. Their brand new full-length, Can Die in a Fire, glistens with a power-pop sound fitting of comparisons to Velvet Crush, the Posies, and the always underappreciated the Wrens. Here, harmonies rule the roost, as the quintet's tempered delivery and pace show a band with a deep respect for their chosen genre. While the Contestants aren't much for range on Can Die in a Fire, they let loose some in the bouncy "Strangers," which sounds like it was unearthed from the Argybargy recording session. I suppose when you do something as well as the Contestants do here, there's really no point to forcing a change. - Ezra Ace Caraeff