Provocative images, crystalline vocals and impeccably crafted melodies are hallmarks of Weakness Makes You Beautiful, the debut CD from Dream Records/Universal alt-pop band, Petree.

Fronted by lead vocalist Stephen Petree, the four-man outfit includes bassist Dave Eropkin, lead guitarist Aaron Joseph and Drummer Adam Welch.  Petree and Eropkin are fellow Oklahomans whose paths have been crossing for more than a decade.  Joseph and Welch have been long time friends from the musically rich soil of Bakersfield, CA.

The LA-based Quartet is joined on their premiere CD by Chad Petree and Sisely Treasure of Shiny Toy Guns, along with Ronkat Spearman, a veteran of George Clinton and the P Funk Allstars.

“This record visits, seemingly, every season of the soul,” reflects Stephen Petree, the group’s primary songwriter and namesake. “It’s tough nowadays to try and have timeless songs.  I really believe these songs will hold up stylistically and musically over time.”

If early reaction is any indication, Petree’s intuition may be right.  MTV has already featured the track, “She Set It” on the series “The Hills.” Two other songs from Weakness Makes You Beautiful are on the short list for inclusion in MTV’s “The City.”

Stephen Petree comes about his songwriting honestly. As a founding member of Shiny Toy Guns, Stephen co-wrote three singles released by the band in 2007 (We Are Pilots, Universal Records) “Le Disko,” “You Are The One” and “Rainy Monday.”  His co-writes helped the band attain three top hits on modern rock charts, one #1 video on Fuse, and a #1 iTunes song in the U.K.  Petree’s songwriting efforts for Shiny Toy Guns’ We are Pilots album garnered the band a 2007 Grammy Album Of The Year nomination.  Petree also has three co-writes on the sophomore release of Shiny Toy Guns’ Season Of Poison album.  

Petree’s songs have been featured in television shows such as "Dancing With The Stars," "America's Next Top Model,” "So You Think You Can Dance,” “One Tree Hill,” “The Real World” and “Hells Kitchen.”  Honda and Motorola have showcased Petree co-writes in cutting edge National TV commercials, as well.

Not bad for a kid who grew up on a turkey farm just outside the city limits of Shawnee, Oklahoma. His father was a Pentecostal pastor and entrepreneur whose rock manufacturing plant provided a solid backdrop to the motocross practice track frequented by brothers Stephen and Chad. Their mother was a vocal coach and talent scout.

Stephen Petree was drawn to singing as a child; he shined in church choir and school Christmas plays. Later, he took up the bass guitar. In their early teens, Stephen and Chad formed PC Quest, experiencing a taste of major label life on Geffen, Giant and RCA Records. Along the way, Stephen Petree learned guitar and began to nurture his songwriting skills. The Petree brothers helped forge the framework for Shiny Toys Guns before Stephen stepped away to take advantage of other music opportunities.

Shiny Toy Guns co-founder and keyboardist Jeremy Dawson is quick to credit his collaborator. “Stephen was a critical factor in the writing and dynamic foundation of our band,” he says. “His ability to seam together melodies with words reflecting life and its roller coasters is a rare talent.”

With Weakness Makes You Beautiful, Petree’s blended talents are evident and well placed. “Every other song has a different flavor, whether it’s danceable or more mellow or edgier,” notes guitarist/vocalist Joseph. “There’s a lot of youthfulness in some of the music and then there’s a lot of well-seasoned songwriting.”

The album’s first single, “It’s Always Been You,” is an infectious paean. “It’s the popier side of us,” observes Petree. The song has  elements in common with “Memory Lane,” whose video was partially shot on an iphone and debuted at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

Along with “She Set It,” which Stephen Petree describes as “part funk, part English melodies,”  “Memory Lane” was featured on Fox TV’s “Good Day LA.”

“Stars Tipped Over” is a duet between brothers Stephen and Chad Petree, who took time from his constant touring with Shiny Toy Guns to offer guest vocals. “We’re both wailing away on the choruses,” laughs Stephen. “Chad offers up some beautiful screams, too.”

For bassist Dave Eropkin, Weakness Makes You Beautiful offers something special for the discriminating sonic pallet. Eropkin is an audio engineer and inventor by trade. A graduate of The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, AZ, he is credited with creating the group’s beloved telekeyster, a guitar and keyboard convergence.

But there is an additional aspect to the band’s collective motivation that is noteworthy for Eropkin and the others.  “One of the cool things about the label that we’re on {Dream Records} is that it’s attached to a huge outreach in LA called The Dream Center, that helps get people off the street,” Eropkin enthuses. “We’re ecstatic to be a part of that. A Portion of the proceeds from every Petree cd sold will go back to the Dream Center, to help in their cause.”

For a singer and songwriter with unquestionable credibility in the pop and alternative markets, Stephen Petree is emphatic when underscoring the group’s commitment to art driven by faith lived out in all the ups and downs, seeds of hope, beauty and truth. “Our occupation is music. To limit that to one genre would be foolish.  Our music literally explains what we do. It’s our heart and our passion,” he stresses.

The rich and riveting songs comprising Weakness Makes You Beautiful are a convincing testament to Petree’s vision. They prove irrefutably that there’s a place in this world for Alt/pop music that is both smart and fun.