Of course, anyone that would be picking up this movie knows that 2009’s Fame is based off of the 1980 original. For those that (for whatever reason) did not see the film, a set of performers are joined as they are admitted into the New York City High School of Performing Arts, and are seen to progress through the different years of schooling. A cast that includes real life performers…
There is little present on the introductory track of “Small Songs About Us†besides vocals, guitars, and drums. However, there is a fullness to the sound that issues forth that sticks with listeners long after the track ends. There is a decidedly lo-fi feel to this first track that will be eagerly snapped up by fans of sixties rock, indie rock and even those that still have Simon & Garfunkel…
A synthesizer is omnipresent during “Yes, This is About Youâ€, and the nineties-influenced alternative rock of Gatsby’s American Dream is just merely a facet of the entire force of the band. The opening track mixes the Weezer-like rock that forms Gatsby’s American Dream’s base with pure cheese metal, and the second track, “A Conversation With The Devil†is influenced by doo-wop and fifties and sixties American rock. Nothing can possibly…
“Stay†is an average track on “The Spaces In Betweenâ€, and it immediately treats listeners to a carefully-crafted and very emotional set of instrumental arrangements. In this track, everything has its place, and Brooks takes a slow and steady approach to the creative process. Hints of country, Broadway and classic female pop can all be heard here. “Smalltown†continues with the momentum given the disc by “Stayâ€, shining a spotlight…
“Buffalo Jump†is how many individuals will be introduced to Stellar Vector, and the band is able to take a very strong step forward with the song. The act bounces back and forth between hard rock (Static-X, Him, MSI) and an electronic approach to thinks. These two sides give Stellar Vector a unique sound that is further expounded upon with each subsequent track on “A Flock of Cowardsâ€. “Lacking Self…
Wait, did I just hear The Cardigans? Or is it The Cranberries? Oh wait, it’s The Gathering, a band with a lead vocalist that ties together those two styles with a little bit of Siouxsie Sioux to make something that is bizarre enough to be famous. The fact that nothing more than vocal warbling can be a bridge on a track like “Shortest Day†shows the ability of the band…
Genghis Tron – Cloak of Love / 2005 Crucial Blast / 5 Tracks / http://www.genghistron.com / http://www.crucialblast.net / Reviewed 25 March 2005 Genghis Tron is really what I thought Ed Gein should have sounded like, a bi-polar band cpable of descending into the abyss that is hardcore just as easily as they can surface with very emotive, almost atmospheric compositions. Tracks like “Rock Candy†are perfect examples of this, and…
It happens during “Monument†that Gas Huffer closely parallels The Vandals, using the same vocal inflection and repetitious guitar riffs to get their point across. However, “Monument†is not a cut and dry copy of The Vandals, but rather has Gas Huffer taking up the rockabilly cause (Tiger Army, Nekromantix) for their other influence. Changing up again for their “Another Wafer, Please†Gas Huffer begin to take on the heavy…
Garrison is the type of band that can actually repeat the same 4 words over and over and make it into a three-minute long song – and have it work. While the guitar lines are relatively straight-forward and uninspired, the vocals by Joseph Grillo are clean and soothing on the eardrums. Joseph’s method of vocal delivery is along the lines of early-nineties Soul Asylum (think Can’t Even Tell, off the…
The beginning track on this EP, “Two Wings†is in the vein of the gospel that knows no date. There are literally hundreds of CDs that use the same general sound (that being a early nineties, jazz-influenced style to pander to a larger segment of society). “Two Wings†is not a weak track based on that; but it shows the curiosity of this general sound and its seeming permanence in…
There softly-stated sound of “Castle Time†shows that Garneau is an artist that exists in the nexus between alternative and indie rock. There are hints of radio-friendly sound present in “Music for Touristsâ€, but this is moderated by the strings and other more classic elements present on the disc. The cohesion achieved during the first few tracks on “Music For Tourists†is impressive; individuals know by the time that “Relief 
We were lucky enough to get a chance to review the Ty Ku Sake a few months back, and we were even more lucky to get a second shipment from Ty Ku offices a few days back. Enclosed was a bottle of their Sojo (which we’ll get reviewed in due time) and a 750 of this green-tinted spirit. What purchasers will first notice is the button at the bottom of…
Gargantua Soul is a hard-rock/light metal band that mixes together Deftones, Clutch, Korn, and the like to make a rock stew. The recording on this demo is rough, but not too rough to make the disc unlistenable. However, the distortion on the guitars, which have the typical metal over-distorted crunch to them, are something that could and should have been changed before recording this CD. The songs, including the opening…
Jon Garcia is another individual that tires to make their fame through playing a style of adult contemporary rock that is full of energy and soul. While there is a tremendous amount of emotion shown in Garcia’s own vocals on the tracks of the disc, perhaps more emotional has to be the arrangements that await listeners during tracks like “Sweet Miseryâ€. The inclusion of strings during “Sweet Misery†is that…
The intensity of the industrial drone that is placed behind lead singer, Shirley Manson’s vocals as ey goes through the opening of “Bad Boyfriendâ€, itself a homage to Foreigner, cannot be compared. The very-artificial sound of “Run Baby Run†shows that Garbage, even in their veteran state can take of the dance/synth-rock of bands like The Bravery and The Killers and incorporate it into the same general brain trust that…
The bottle of Black Bush came in a metal tin that showcases its pedigree, which can be traced back over 400 years. There is a rich golden-amber color to Bushmill’s Black Bush that is alluring but at the same time showing the hard-hitting side of the spirit. The initial nose of Black Bush is a little less biting than a Tennessee whiskey, but is not quite as smooth as some…
I was excited as hell when I learned that Gang Of Four were coming out with a new album; “To Hell With Poverty†starts off the disc and seems to have a lot to do with the angular dance-punk of bands like Franz Ferdinand and Electric Six than anything else. Hell, there are even hints of both early U2 tand the Sisters of Mercy during this track’s runtime, so chances…
Sounding like Billie Joe Armstrong’s half-brother, The Gamits’ vocal assault mixes well with the emo stylings of Chris’ guitar work. Nearly together for a decade, The Gamits show that they really know what they are doing, arranging the tracks on “Antidote†with a care that would even amaze the kids from Jawbreaker or Samiam. The building intensity of a track like “Curious Vanessa Black†and the ability of the band…
Another Doghouse band that has the utmost devotion to their sound, ensuring that Four to Go will be the most crisply recorded, that there will be no dropped guitar lines, and that Guy’s bass line continue to assault you throughout the recording. Walking the thin line between power-rock and pop-punk, Gameface follows the path set out by Audio Adrenaline, Nada Surf, and DC Talk in creating an album that will…
The sharp guitar line that starts out “California Jesusâ€, the first track on “All For Youâ€, gives the disc a nice energy with which to work off of. This is needed, especially since Gallucio’s vocals during this track are a little bit slower (while still having an energy of their own, they are bolstered considerably by the guitar work). By the time the chorus hits, Gallucio creates the same type…