Anders & Kendall may be a new band, but it’s comprised of a duo of music vets: Anders Parker, a solo artist and also former member of the Indie experimental band Varnaline, and Kendall Meade from Sparklehorse, Mascot and a handful of other groups. Wild Chorus, their debut, is a beautiful, bordering on precious (but not quite there thankfully) collection of nearly a dozen mellow, brushed drum, melody-drenched folk rock…
Cappadonna has continually been crafting music through eir career, with 1998’s The Pillage being a modern classic. Fifteen years have passed, but Cappadonna’s flame and desire to create stellar rap music has not faded. Eyrth, Wynd & Fyre is a two disc effort that does not suffer from the same problems that multi-disc albums have. This means that there is a good array of distinct efforts that touch upon…
Fat or skinny, Elvis put on one hell of a show and nowhere is there a better example of just how great he was as a performer than the Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite recorded in 1973 (ok, maybe with the exception of his 1972 Live from Madison Square Garden shows). It’s an amazing example of just how bad ass a performer he really was (for the record, despite the…
So Many Times Before is a cool effort, linking together Lynyrd Skynyrd-quality guitar riffs with a tremendously introspective and emotive set of vocals. For those that would doubt that this style would work, the honky-tonk strut of Right in Front of Me will convert. The style created by Hornyak on Marigold is something that is striking, in that it takes hints of Tom Petty, Hank Williams Jr., The Wallflowers…
13 Questions is an album that feels absolutely epic in scope. The beginning track, Turn of the Century, ties together a masterful narration with bombastic instrumentation and a lavish production. The Busker utilizes an early country and western style; Cannon’s vocals pull double duty in telling a story and providing additional harmony to the song. True Eyes is an effort that is inspired by “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”-era Warren…
Never Come Down is catchy and compelling, blending equal parts singer-songwriter pop with reggae. Fans of Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews can find something to appreciate. Touhill is able to distinguish himself from the rest of artists in the soul / reggae style as there is a decided effort to make each arrangement pop. One Thing builds off of the work crafted by The Police while infusing the track with…
Perfect Girl is the introductory track to Sterling Loves U, providing listeners with a catchy bit of alt-rock in the vein of Cake, Weezer, and They Might Be Giants. The chaotic energy that the track thrives on separates this introduction from other similar efforts. With a full head of steam, Witt is able to enjoy additional success with Help Yourself. This track builds thematically on the introduction while bouncing…
Don’t Give Up On Me is the first track on Nothing’s Permanent, and its poppy, female-led vocals will immediately provide listeners with a timeless, torch song-type of feel. The production present on this album is admirable, allowing each element of the band to shine on their own. No matter how clear the horns, guitars, or drums might ultimately be, there is a cohesion that makes the songs resound well…
Doesn’t Really Matter is a track that is able to build off of the goodwill established by Tried and Tried, forging a bold new path with a blend of folk, country and intensely emotional crooning. The rich instrumentation will immediately draw listeners in, while the slight shift in the vocals provides a much different feel to this composition. Sandbox is an act that can create a very close scattershot…
Cold Wind is a track that will immediately provide listeners with a microcosm of the styles and influences that will be presented to listeners on 1977. What results is a bouncy, soul-filled rock track that absolutely soars when included on the vocals. The arrangements presented on Cold Wind will immediately draw listeners in and keep them focused through the first half of the album; Quietly is an effort that…
