Starting out with fairly simplistic guitar riffs and double-bass pedals for their first track “Lipstick”, Monarch’s lead singer Dan sounds almost too grizzled to be effectual. “Lipstick” is only three and a half minutes long but the only thing that stands out in the slightest for me has to be the guitar noodling that marks the mid-point of the disc. The second chunk of guitar work on “Lipstick” is much…
“All of You” is a track that could easily be enjoyed, regardless of whether the listener was from 1880, 1920, 1950, or today. There is little more to this first track on Sissita’s self-titled disc than vocals, but her chops are such that any fan of music will be happy with what issues forth from their stereo. “Nightmares” continues this train, but gives the backing instrumentation a little more of…
It becomes hard to establish a coherent and cogent sound with an EP. While many acts like coming out with these shorter recordings, I feel that LPs are typically the way to go. VTG looks to change my opinion on the matter with their “Love Is Letting Go”. The disc’s first track, “I Lie Pretty”, defies convention. This is due to the fact that there is a little bit of…
“Tragedy Holds The Hand Of Hope” was not very impressive; Monarch’s new self-titled LP starts out with a tad bit more promise. Dan’s vocals stand a little farther out from the instrumentation, and the instrumentation is a little more varied between tracks. This time there is a certain ability of the band that shows through: the ability to connect with their audience. Monarch’s music, especially the very linear “Apparition” could…
Most acts give listeners a few tracks to properly get their footing and understand where the band is coming from, but Ceramic immediately comes forth with two intense salvos. These tracks, “You Give More Than Enough” and “Who’s Gonna Guide The Night”, are ones that will tattoo themselves on anyone that listens in, and that is primarily due to the intricate musical arrangements that are present. Little more is needed…
Let’s admit it, Moments In Grace’s first EP was pretty weak. However, opening up “Moonlight Survived” with a radio-friendly and intense “Stratus”, the band starts off on a strong foot. Even though the breakdown seems a little too drawn-out and cheese-ball, the chorus meshes well enough with the instrumentation on the track that most mistakes can be forgiven. “The Patient” uses a lot of the same guitar lines that immediately…
Listening to “Taco Blessing’s” first track “Zero Kid” really brings individuals back to the heydays of Gilman St; Modern Machines come through with the intensity of a band like early Descendents while still having a pop-punk edge a la Pinhead Gunpowder and “Blue Room-era” Unwritten Law. The recording might be a little fuzzy, but the sizzling guitars and catchy lyrics of the band still shine through as bright as day.…
Sounding at times like Yellowcard and all of those emo-rock bands that are continually charting in these late days of the genre, Moments in Grace create a palatable sound that yet has little in the way of substance. Jeremy’s voice is remarkably similar to Rivers Cuomo, and in tracks like “Broken Promises”, the guitars swirl around to give the entire track more of a Tool track. While everything seems to…
Beginning “The Endless Retreat” with a straight-forward punk assault, albeit with more harmony than the early punk bands that influenced the track, the Modern Day Urban Barbarians spare no time into getting into fast melodies and ever more chaotic breakdowns. Moving from “T.V.” to “Waiting For A Break”, MDUB show over and over that their music is a direct descendent from the Stooges and the Velvet Underground, being strained through…
For those that may have missed it, Video Games Live is a set of concerts that were created by long time video game music composers Tommy Tallerico and Jack Wall. A performance consists of the orchestra providing their own take on music from titles as famous as The Legend of Zelda, Silent Hill, and Sonic the Hedgehog along with slightly lesser-known titles like Headhunter and Advent Rising.
