CEDAR FALLS - Ben Lievens and Travis Huisman have been making music together since middle school.

The friends, now in their early 20s, formed garage bands in their native Aplington and even attended Minneapolis' McNally Smith College of Music together after graduating from high school.

So it seemed only fitting that when guitarist Huisman started experimenting with new harmonies, he asked Lievens to add vocals. The pair, now based in Cedar Falls, formed the power pop duo Make This City. Last month they released their debut album "Live, Love & Lies."

It was the first time either musician had experimented with pop music.

"A lot of bands when they make a CD they'll spend maybe a month in pre-rehearsal - we spent about eight," said Lievens, 24. "We wanted to make sure that it was music that everyone, all ages, could love. We wanted it to be fun and upbeat."

"Live" fits that description with catchy rock riffs and sentimental piano pieces. The pair delve into classic pop fodder - infatuation, flirtation and heartbreak - with just the right mix of sincerity and swagger.

"Cause it's winter in Chicago/City lights, cold nights, and soft snow/We talk about the spring coming soon/How great it is to share it with you," Lievens sings in "Winter in Chicago," showcasing the band's softer side. While in the upbeat "Da Da Da," the vocalist channels righteous anger, chanting: "I woulda made you feel, like you could love again/But then here's the deal, you don't care who I am."

The nine-track album was produced locally at Catamount Recording, where Huisman, 23, works as an engineer. His position allowed Make This City to cut and recut tracks until they were completely satisfied with the final product.

"(I liked) the whole process, from building a song with the guitar and the vocals to writing the song (lyrics) and watching it unfold in the studio," Huisman said.

Hired musicians added drums and backup vocals, enriching the duo's sound.

"Make This City is really just Travis and I, and when we practice we can hear the drums and the bass in our head(s)," said Lievens. "But to get in the studio and to hear how everything fit together was just amazing.

"It turned out a lot better than what even played in my imagination."

For the past two months, Make This City has visited area music stores to promote their disc. The CD now is available in a handful of the region's independent shops and online at www.myspace.com/makethiscity.

This spring, the band is planning a Midwest tour. Releasing the album and maintaining an updated Web page has helped the duo connect with fans across the nation. The band has racked up more than 200,000 plays on their MySpace music player since they created the site last summer.

Still, Make This City is anxiously counting down the days until they hit the road to share their live sound with fans.

"We took a lot of time with this album and put a lot of heart into it," said Lievens, who also plays piano and keyboard on the disc. "We're ready to get it out there."

Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482

or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.