This is the sound of things coming together. Well, truthfully, it's not. It's the sound of someone typing. Hoping to come up with the right descriptions and exaggerations to make Paradigm's bio stand out. I could trot out music magazine adjectives: earnest, heartfelt, passionate, professional, moving, authentic. But the thing about adjectives in band bios is that you can't trust that they're true. Band bios are tricky things. On one hand, you're reading it, so you believe that it has something to offer. And by the same token, we've written one. We believe that it can help. And while all that's true, you can't believe everything you read and we shouldn't rely on this bio to do a thing for us.

There. We've said it. It's good to be honest with each other. But where does that leave us?

Ideally, you should listen to the album. See them live. Tell me it's not true. It would do a lot more for you than reading these words. But if we've got to start with words, we might as well trust each other, at least a little. There isn't a better place to start.

Back to that sound - the sound of things coming together. That's Paradigm's latest record: Thirty Stories High. Paradigm's had it all working for years now, that's nothing new. Fronted by a female vocalist on par with anyone in the industry, and with hooks and melodies to spare, they've been playing songs the way you're hearing them on Thirty Stories High for years. Think Gwen Stefani on a first date with a more muscular Coldplay. Their previous release, Standing In Line, has sold 3,000 copies, received airplay on over 60 college radio stations, as well as Sacramento's KWOD-FM 106.5, and been supported by a tour that's covered 19 states. They've played shows with Maroon 5 and John Mayer. Their talent, songs, and dedication are nothing new. What was new was the commitment to make, and completion of, a first-rate record from a production standpoint.

To that end, Paradigm tapped producer-engineer Joe Zook (who has previously recorded Anna Nalick, Marc Broussard, Remy Zero) to come alongside them in the process. "Joe's vision massaged our songs from 'good' to 'undeniable,'" says singer Shannon Curtis. "He came with fresh perspective on the music and was able to draw out the best in each of us in the studio. My experience with him was amazing - I felt challenged and rewarded by what we created."

The quality of the performances and songs on Thirty Stories High isn't a revelation or surprise, so much as it is a release - not so much a new start, as it is a culmination. The care and dedication that's been in years of rehearsals, songwriting, and touring was coming together in front of their eyes - their open soaring choruses, layered guitars, and driving energy had been realized on a circular piece of plastic 1/16 of an inch thick for anyone to hear.

While Thirty Stories High is a beautiful record and a nice piece of production, it also isn't a sham. They'll back up every note, chord, and beat on that record and prove it night after night on the road because it's what they love to do, just like they have been for years. Believe it. Listen to the album. See them live. Tell me it's not true. And get in while the gettin's good. Sooner or later, somebody's going to realize what's here. It might as well be you.