PARAGON, from the western suburbs of Chicago, brings a new mix to the rock world and local Chicago music scene. The sound, different then what you have heard before, draws you into the song immediately with captivating rhythms, riffs, and beat. With influences the range from Beethoven to Sublime, throwing in a little Johnny Cash and Bob Marley along the way, the foursome puts together a strong presence that captures a feel that makes you want to jump, dance, pound your fist on the steering wheel, and rock… but feel like you have heard the songs before, even though I will admit it isn’t like anything I’ve heard before.

You can hear the strong reggae influences in many of the songs on the CD and as soon as you think it is going to be a strong reggae song it rocks out being mixed between genres seamlessly. While they will tell you 311, Taproot and Primus are other influences, there is a progressive feel in the sound too, again mixed with an “experimental” feel to it – a sound that will make you head bounce, your fist bang and your feet tappin making you want to get up and dance and move to the beat.

With that said, I can pick some favorites off the CD, like No Reply, the third track, which mixes their whole sound together as described above, you will want to move to it… or Can’t Stop the ninth track, that gives you a strong reggae feel that will make ya head bob and want to chill in front of a “smoke” filled room with your eyes closed… and then they surprise you with track 13, that brings that Johnny Cash style guitar riff in, Driveway Song, is the perfect ending to the CD especially if you have been jamming to it after a long day at work and a longer drive home… it brings you back to a mindset like you might want to do while pulling into your driveway at home and “that song” comes on that you don’t want to get out of your car until its over, so you sit in your car and listen to the whole thing.

If you have a open mind to different music genres that cross over with the purpose of rockin you through and through then you have to find this CD and check these guys out live. I was able to check them out live for their CD release party recently at the Tilted Kilt and Highlands Music Lounge in Elgin, Illinois. PARAGON played to a strong crowd and brought a strong presence to the stage that made people dance and rock to every song like it was their favorite song… of course until they played the next song and started the party all over again.

Paragon, the word defined, means a model of excellence, a peerless example or perfection of a kind..."perfection of a kind" they are as was displayed at a North Beach club show recently...on Friday July 23, 2010 which featured three rock bands (the others were Absolutely Perfect and Side Of Beef)...they were first on and led the pack, the other two bands that followed that night did not even come close. The "perfection of a kind" I am referring to is that Paragon has created/perfected a very unique and appealing musical sound...the "kind" of sound?...a very and quite original combination of heavy metal music and reggae rock (they are self-described as an alternative rock reggae band)...heavy metal reggae...there it is, a new form of playing music to my ears.

They are leading the way in this new genre of music here in Chicago...have not heard anyone like them. Paragon opened with an excellent tune original called "The Fire Inside" offering up all the while a visual treat as well...vocals and lead guitar member Nate Emetti established the band's sound (complete with dreadlocks) and when it came to the fourth tune in the set, "Last Call", the drummer Frank Suda led the band throughout the song with an outstanding driving beat, losing his shirt, quite literally, in the process...the Bass Guitarist Andy Felbab would drop over his monitor waist-high from time to time to concentrate on playing his part in this professionally tight and togther sounding band...and to the right of the stage there stood Kiel Tredrea caressing his uniquely-shaped "1980s Cheap Trick-styled" guitar offering up sounds that attempted to rival Nate's savage pawing of the strings, taking turns sharing the lead guitar duties with Nate on the various songs. The twelfth cut off of their album "Paragon", an original tune called "Pancake", is a prime example of their heavy metal reggae rock music sound. Do not miss catching this band as they are a star on the rise in the Chicago rock music scene. They will be appearing in St.Charles, Illinois tonight at Real Time Sports pub.'Nuff Sed.

One of my favorite things to do is check out new bands. Hearing new music, fresh takes on old sounds, the melding between genres that is creating the music we hear today--it's amazing! Every time a promoter or a member of a band contacts me with a proposition to review their band I get this silly smile on my face. I just love it! For this particular review I was extra jazzed just due to the intensity of the people I was in contact with. Good people and great music! Not a bad combination.

Foot tapping, fist pumping beats open your mind to the world of Paragon—Chicago’s self proclaimed Rock Alternative Reggae band. With crisp, mesmerizing vocals (reminiscent of other alternative bands like 311 and P.O.D), Paragon throws their vision of a new kind of music in your face and commands your attention. Their fresh sound and amped up attitude seize the listener and raise expectations for all the other bands out there. Even when Paragon takes it down a few notches, it still makes you want to listen and have a good time. Check them out on their MySpace or see them live this summer at numerous venues around Chicago. Rock out!

Music is always taking on new forms and evolving. Sometimes it works; in other instances, not so much. I'm not going to name names or anything, cough, Limp Bizkit, cough.

Fortunately, Paragon, based in Geneva and St. Charles, knows a thing or two about merging different artistic backgrounds.

Paragon's vocalist/guitarist, Nate Emetti, knows his way around different musical styles, and not just because his band blends rock and reggae. He was once in a metal band and other bandmates came from a more experimental rock background.

"I'm in another band, a reggae band, and I was in a metal band back in the day, and the guitar player (Kiel Tredrea) was in a rock band back in the day, too," Emetti says.

Emmetti and Tredrea, along with bass guitarist Andy Frelbab and drummer Frank Suda, blended those genres when the four friends formed Paragon in 2007.

"We've just all been buddies. Me and the guitar player have been friends for years and we were both in separate bands at one point. We've all just been friends and just decided to jam one day," Emetti said.

Since then, Paragon, which Emetti describes as "modern reggae with rock," has been playing venues in and around the suburbs, including opening for the former lead singer of Stabbing Westward's new band, The Dreaming.

Emetti describes the band's live sound as "clean and powerful." The band members are finishing recording a debut album they will self-release in the spring. With their music, Paragon is trying to produce songs about life experiences that people can relate to.

It is easy to see how the band has been influenced by other groups such as Sublime and 311 on tracks like "Walken," (which is not about Christopher Walken). Other tracks are a little heavier and lean toward rock more than reggae with influences from bands like Taproot, Faith No More and The Deftones on songs such as "Last Call," about the dreaded end to a night at a bar, and "Freight Train," about sticking to your guns and following the path that you're on.

While Paragon is fairly new to the suburban music scene (though its members are not), the band has a following and is playing upcoming shows at venues like T F Boonies in Geneva, Doug's Rockhouse in Aurora, Shark City in Glendale Heights and Chord on Blues in St. Charles.

With a debut album on the horizon, Paragon is quickly establishing itself as one of the freshest new acts to hit the suburbs in an always-evolving musical landscape.