After being featured on our site in November, Magic Island has placed second in the Open Submissions for our Year-End Poll. This year, the band made noise with its second EP, “Falling Through Space.” Opening track ”Himalayas” is layered with texture, from harmonized vocals, icy keys and gruff guitars, while “Hang High” features groovy riffs and a sneaky-catchy chorus which finds vocalist Drew Valera singing, “I just wanna get you on your own, I don’t wanna leave you all alone.” The band is hard at work on new material, so it’s pretty certain they’ll keep up the momentum in 2014, but "Falling Through Space" is available on Bandcamp and iTunes now. – Jake Reed