Alex Hovis has been in and around, singing for the melodic, hook-y Astoria, who released the The Start Again E.P. in 2001, sold some records and ultimately disbanded. Alex floated through subsequent revision of Astoria with JamisonParker, and ultimately got together with Ted Vega (bass), Jarrod Alexander (drums) of Death by Stereo and A Static Lullaby and Dan Hammond (guitar). PAPER MODELS has the same Astoria musical base, but it’s grown up now, it knows where it’s going, there’s a skillful band dynamic that combines anxious, driving songwriting with a somber, sometimes cynical, sometimes sarcastic lyricism that creates a cohesive mix of guy-with-guitar-on-stool and straight-forward pop-song writing that achieves intricacy and power. There’s some Third Eye Blind in there and there’s some soft-spoken Jack Johnson. It’s haunting and it’s sad, and it’s tough and it’s hopeful. It’s a sardonic darkness driven forward by melodies and hooks, which Alex threads in and out of every song. PAPER MODELS has just finished their debut E.P. which will be released late 2005 through Stars and Satellites.