The New Left is a term used in different countries to describe left-wing movements that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. They differed from earlier leftist movements that had been more oriented towards labour activism, and instead adopted a broader definition of political activism commonly called social activism. The U.S. "New Left" is associated with college campus mass protest movements and radical leftist movements. The British "New Left" was an intellectually driven movement which attempted to correct the perceived errors of "Old Left" parties in the post-WWII period. The movements began to wind down in the 1970s, when activists either committed themselves to party projects, developed social justice organizations, moved into identity politics or alternative lifestyles or became politically inactive.

After releasing their third album, "More Than You Think You Are" in 2002 and spending the next year touring the globe, the members of mainstream favorite Matchbox Twenty decided to do their own things for a while.

For guitarist Kyle Cook, that meant returning to his rock star roots and reconnecting with former band mates Brett Borges, drummer and bassist John Kibler.

The three met during high school in rural Indiana. Under the name Downpour the group played proms and parties, but parted ways once graduation came around.

Although Cook soon hooked up with his matchbox band mates, the trio kept in touch and recorded demos during Cook's time off from touring. Adopting the new name 'The New Left', they solidified their lineup with the addition of guitarist and singer/songwriter Steve Earmon, a friend of Borges'.

Three years in the making, the group's first EP, "Wallpaper Music," perfected at Cook's studio in Orlando, Fla., delivers six solid original, blues-tinged rock tracks.