Pleasant Grove so named for a Dallas, Texas suburb, was formed by co-vocalists / guitarists Bret Egner and Marcus Striplin. They were drawn together by a vision to write and play music that captured raw melancholy melodies laid out over slow spacious rhythmic harmonies. With a revolving door of drummers and bassists, Pleasant Grove released their debut album, Pleasant Grove, on Last Beat Records in 1999. The album oozes the down-and-out ache of Texas country yet still flows with the sonic outbursts of an electric Neil Young, the Flaming Lips or an out of control Alex Chilton. "Shimmering majestic pop or lethargic country music. Take your pick. Slow and tranquilizing but not hushed and quiet, Pleasant Grove's brokenhearted epics are full of emotional potency and eccentricity along with sonic depths and textures." - AllMusic.com Germany's Glitterhouse Records caught Pleasant Grove's stunning SXSW 2000 Music Showcase. The label quickly snapped up the band and released their self titled cd in Europe. "One of the most compelling records of the year, songs of broken hearts and broken voices, the sound of someone picking himself up off the floor, hoping he won't fall down again, and knowing he will." Dallas Observer Pleasant Grove's line-up has solidified with the addition of Jeff Ryan (drums), Tony Hormilosa (bass) and Joe Butcher (pedal steel). With the new rhythm section on board they began work on their next album. As the album took shape it was evident to the band that the music was going in a new direction. The original vision, however, was not lost, but rather expounded upon. "Pleasant Grove's crop is a cruel harvest of guitar worship, gospel harmonies, and romantic Southern personal hells, which when combined crank out a unique music storm." - The Met Pleasant Grove's new album, Auscultation of the Heart, will be released on Glitterhouse in January 2002. Recording was done at 70 Hz Studio in Argyle, Texas w/ Matt Pence (centromatic) at the controls. The evolving creativity of the band has added a new shape and texture to Pleasant Grove. Auscultation 's... is distinctively different from Pleasant Grove's debut cd, yet maintains an aesthetic continuity between them both. It's a mesmerizing set of songs - gut-wrenching, sophisticated, pared down to the barest arrangement while echoing dense layers of sound and meaning. In the spring of 2002 Pleasant Grove plans to extensively tour the US and Europe to promote the new record.