Biography

Hooks, Harmony and Heart.
Lush American Rock and Roll.

An American rock and roll band, The Rationales have been noted for their instantly memorable anthemic songs, their lush arrangements full of soaring harmonies, guitar pyrotechnics, swirling keys and evocative pedal steel. Bringing in aspects of alternative rock and americana, powerpop and a hint of weird, the Rationales bring to mind such acts as Wilco, Radiohead and Cracker and the Jayhawks, while always sounding entirely like themselves.

Formed in 2007 by singer-songwriter David Mirabella, The Rationales have been evolving in both sound and lineup for the past 7 years. Their debut 2008 EP THE GOING AND THE GONE was called "one of the finer local CDs of the year" by the Boston Globe. Following a successful fan-funding kickstarter campaign in 2010, The Rationales released the LP THE DISTANCE IN BETWEEN in 2011 to high praise, both locally and internationally. The band kicked off 2012 with an appearance as semi-finalists in Boston's esteemed Rock-n-Roll Rumble. The Rationales kicked off 2014 by releasing fan favorite EP: DREAM OF FIRE.

Extensive live shows and preview singles in advance of the next record filled 2015-16 and now the Rationales announce the August 2017 release of their new album: UPSTREAM.

Released in late 2017, UPSTREAM is the most collaborative and diverse collection of songs The Rationales have recorded yet, the record marks the debut of newest Rationale Adam Hand on Pedal Steel, features songwriting contributions from several members of the band reinforcing singer-songwriter David Mirabella's anthemic material.

New Songs include album centerpieces such as the 'Big Star meets Greg Dulli' rock of "Trade You," the seven minute "Climb the Ladder," (featuring lead vocals by drummer Mike Mirabella during a sprawling breakdown section) and the epic "Dulcinea", (a song exploring the location of the line between regret and fantasy), the quiet urgency of "Under the Gun" and the R.E.M. meets Cheap Trick rock of "Ready to Go" - along with the previously digital-only released advance popular singles "All the While" and "Take a Ride with me" both of which feature additional recording and remixing.

The Rationales On the Web

Photo by Danny LeBlanc
(Click to download full resolution picture)

The Rationales' Lineup is :
David Mirabella: Vocals, Guitars
Mike Mirabella: Drums, Vocals
Sean Black: Bass, Vocals
Chad Raleigh: Guitars
Dave Lieb: Keyboards, Vocals, Bass
Adam J. Hand: Pedal Steel

SOME RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

"Ready to Go" nominated for a BOSTON MUSIC AWARD as "Song of the Year", Sept 2017
The RATIONALES nominated for a BOSTON MUSIC AWARD for "Best Americana Act" Sept 2017
"Ready to Go" on U.K. Internet Radio top 10 week of 9/11/2017 & 9/18/2017
"Take a Ride with Me" from new album UPSTREAM was played for 37,000 fans on the Ballpark Organ at Fenway Park during the Red Sox vs Twins game on June 27, 2017 by Fenway organist Josh Kantor.
"Dream of Fire" named among the top 14 albums of 2014 by Ryan's Smashing Life and appeared on "BEST OF" lists The Boston Herald, and Summer Aviation
"Radio" Named '2012 Standout Jam of the Year" - WFNX Radio - Boston Accents
"Radio" Voted '2012 Local Song of the Year' - WMWM Salem Radio Listeners Poll
The Rationales were semi-finalists in the 2012 Rock n Roll Rumble, Boston, MA
The Rationales "The Distance in Between" appeared on several "Best of 2011 lists including Twangville, Clicky-Clicky, Nanobot and more.

Some recent praise for The Rationales and their CDs includes:

Finely wrought, lushly layered pop that sounds effortless in its execution… a power pop flair fringed with alt-country detail."
-The Boston Globe

One of the best songwriting outfits in New England music today. This new effort, from start to finish is one that belongs in your record collection.
- Ryan's Smashing Life

These guys know their way around a power pop hook, serving ‘em up by the barrel with choruses that stick in your head for days on end.
- Twangville.com

A heady mixture of West Coast harmonies and jangly guitars that steers to the right side of edgy to keep the songs interesting and even.
- Alan Harrison, Maverick Magazine (U.K.)

Textured melodic rock, [that] fizzes with an energy that becomes increasingly difficult not to let yourself wholeheartedly sink into.
-Ian Fildes, Americana U.K.

Pure and powerful rock songs are beautifully interspersed with rootsy rock. American rock and power pop, carefully crafting seamless melodies punctuated by fantastic guitar riffs.
Rootstime, (Belgium)

More press reviews...