This album was another one that I was a little worried about reviewing, as I heard the Dave Matthews-style guitar that opens up the disc, “Supposed to be There Too”. Still, after keeping this disc on repeat in my stereo for the last week has opened my eyes. Dealing incredibly heavily with racism, and hate in general, Mike Park’s For the
Beginning the disc out with a continuation of the title, Park’s “The Ghost You Are” winds down into a signal that disappears from the radar after being so strong just a few seconds before. While each track is skillfully layered by the musicians of Park, the truth is that a simple three-chord vein of punk bubbles just below the skin. The blond from this vein bubbles up at times during…
After having a long career working with Lobster Records, I can honestly say that they have done a lot in their half-decade of existence. From their earliest days with Mock Orange and Joystick, Lobster Records have continued to put out the finest quality of pop-punk and post-punk music. Such is the case with the new Park disc, which has gained some serious fans throughout the numerous punk webzines. However, instead…
Totally inoffensive mess between emo and pop-rock, removing all the energy behind Sum 41 and Billy Talent and mixing it with The Darkness and The New Radicals. Each track is extra-ordinarily antiseptic, sounding more applicable in a hotel elevator than a rock radio station. This lack of power is painfully evident in a track like “Rebel Radio”, where the power of “My Sharona”’s guitar attack is mollified, being mixed with…
The vocals of Hayley really obscure some of the best instrumentation that Paramore can muster, especially when the band opens the disc with their “All We Know”. What is most interesting about “All We Know” are the almost-perfectly sequenced drums of Zac on the track, which are so impeccable that individuals will think that a computer created them. When Paramore creates tracks like “Pressure”, one knows that they cannot be…
From the brooding piano line that starts off “Don’t Belong”, one knows that this is going to immediately be another classic album by Paradise Lost. The use of string-like sounds over the piano further gives the track a fullness that is completed only when the vocals kick in a minute after the track starts. Mix an ample amount of radio-friendly metal with interesting arrangements and a heaviness previously unheard in…
Taptivate recently decided to get into the social network scene with their recent release, “Friends.” Taptivate made a bold claim, to integrate the four corners of the social networking world, and make it easier to keep up with your friends from wherever their data hails. At first I was very interested in this App, but then I realized something very crucial; I don’t have that many friends. Oh well. The…
The sedate sounds of Lisa Papineau remind listeners of The Postal Service. The mixture of ghostly vocals with a slightly more upbeat electronic instrumentation provides an interesting style that is still vibrant and fresh. This bit of sedate sound disappears completely by the time that Lisa comes up with “Shucking. Jiving.” In a sense, I would have to tie Papineau’s work to that done by acts like the Propellerheads and…
Paperface occupies that wonderful position besides popular-emo and the brand of indie-rock popularized by acts like Weezer. Tracks like “Company Soul” do not have the emotional intensity present in current emo, but have a brooding nature to it that belies the feel-good arrangements within. There are hints of acts like Counting Crows in tracks like “Loser’s Game”, where Paperface come forth with a richly-arranged sound that tends to be a…
Hey its country emo! For all those trailer-trash dwelling preteen girls that want to cry without having the parents having them listen to Travis Tritt and Brooks & Dunn. John’s vocals have all the twang of a John Nolan (formerly Taking Back Sunday) and Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria) and the twinkling piano lines are reminiscent of a Brand New. However, and why a musically acceptable label like Kill Rock…
