Don Henley in a punk band would be probably the most adequate description that I could give to Ann Beretta. On “Three Chord Revolutionâ€, their new revolution, they use the same type of tempo and strung-out California that Don perfected on eir’s seminal hit, “Boys of Summerâ€. Imagine if Mike Ness was doped up on Quaaludes, and you have an idea of what Rob’s vocals sound like. There is absolutely…
I’ve heard of Animal Collective in the past but have never been lucky enough to hear any of their music. While the first track on this EP “It’S You†starts off in a benign way, the graduate increasing tempo and loudness of the harp at regular intervals really fills the track with a sound that bolsters the operatic female vocals contained within. The song structure is somewhat simplistic (mainly minor…
At first blush, I thought that Angra would be playing a brand of metal that is little different from that of a band like Helloween. However, from the opening track (“The Course of Natureâ€), Angra comes out with something that is miles away from anything that the aforementioned Helloween could play. There is an equal mix of classic and progressive metal, but during different segments of the disc, a funky,…
“Awake†begins of Akron/Family’s side of the disc, and it really does a perfect job of lulling listeners into a false sense of security, something that is shredded by the noise-influenced, oddly-arranged style of “Momentâ€. The multiple-harmonies present on “Momentâ€, hidden away betwixt the different epileptic outbursts of the band, bring listeners fully into the fold of the craziness that is Akron/Family. With the incorporation of this noise, something that…
Each time I review a disc, it gives me a little more information about some facet of life which I had not known before the review. This time, I realized that I was listening to the former leader of the Swans. After having mouth agape at the disc, I decided to forge on and was met with another shock – this music is some of the hardest to categorize (pigeonhole),…
Always impeccable with their choice of arrangement, Angels Fight The City mix early nineties alternative music along with 70s post-punk like Wire to make compelling track. The first track on this EP, self-titled, uses multi-part harmonies and cacophonies to weave a sort of vocal melody that is sadly not explored by many popular acts today. “Out Of Depth on Land†is a track that bands like The Strokes or The…
This is the third time that I’ve been able to review AFTC, and they are still going strong. Bringing back the experimental nature of the late seventies with a timeless meshing of styles, this band is simultaneously a completist’s favorite and possible rock stars. “Like a Dog†is benefited by the sizzling guitar solos and shuffling drum beat that makes this track as equally possible as a disco track as…
While the cover and related promotional information seem to paint Angel as a secular singer, it really seems like Angel fits well into both adult contemporary and contemporary Christian genres. “Absalom†is a track that uses a little bit of jazz and a slower tempo than most pop to really go forth and create a distinct style for Angel’s music. Even if there is nothing sharp or harsh present during…
Angel Blake plays the style of music that HIM would love to be able to play. The style of music that comes throughout on this self-titled album is something that is sultry, but still brutal. This is a fundamentally different beast than either Danzig or Type O Negative because it seems as if Angel Blake is a more serious act than either of the previous two acts.
The style of music that Kyle Andrews comes out with on eir “Amos in Ohio†sounds like a more electronic version of Joseph Arthur. The use of synthesizers in the indie-rock laden opening to the disc gives the track an older feel (almost as if one is in the sixties), while still having the cherubic charms of a Matthew Sweet. The electronic/indie style of Andrews is not just a ploy…
(1) Grand Prize: 6-night trip to China for two (18+) to visit and tour an organic tea garden in China with Numi representatives; air to Oakland, CA, one night lodging, tea training for winner and travel companion at the Numi Organic Headquarters in Oakland; air to China, lodging, ground transfers, $50 cash per day for winner and travel companion for food (on day(s) unaccompanied by Numi representatives only -$10,000). (1)…
It is really awesome to see a print magazine succeed in this down economy, and it just seems to me as if Slug Magazine is doing just that. I could be wrong, but this issue seems heftier and more full than it ever has, with the only detriment being an advert for Natty Light on the back cover (you have to do certain things to pay the bills, I’m sure).…
The laid-back sounds of Rusty Anderson at the beginning of “Undressing Underwater†really is a nice introduction for fans who might not know the artist. This is pretty much removed from any distinct style of music, eliciting pop-rock, indie, frat-rock and Fastball all in one very smoothed-out sounding bundle. The harder edge of “Devil’s Spaceship†is proper concerning the name, and it is through this sea change in style that…
The use of what sounds to be the drum clanking together scores of sticks for “Ame†is an easy way to go and increase the fury of the album without resorting to normal methods. What is immediately noticeable about Anathallo has to be their ability to control the emotional content of their tracks on “Floating Worldâ€. Individuals can be thrown into a rage or made completely excited just by the…
An Angle’s lead singer, Kris still has a Conor Oberst sound that permeates through “We Can Breathe Under Alcoholâ€, but the major difference, that of a solid studio band, really makes a track like “Green Water†shine. “Green Water†is completed with the inclusion of a second set of vocals, something that “A Way With Words†recreates with the inclusion of a very vocal-esque set of guitars. Casting eir vocals…
An Angel’s lead vocalist, Kris, likes eir Bright Eyes albums a lot. An by a lot, I mean that the first track, “For Every Day Brought Up This One†has a deadpan Conor imitation done by the Kris in question. However, unlike Conor’s Lifted album, even though Kris goes and has a host of musicians creating the music, the music sounds impressively professional where everything sounded so raw and unfinished…
An Albatross starts off their “Blessphemy†showing their appreciation for seventies rock. The first track on this disc is “In The Court of the Bear Kingâ€, a track that blends equal parts Judas Priest with Ted Nugent to create something extra special for listeners to be introduced by. Each of the tracks on “Blessphemy†are short almost to the degree of an Agoraphobic Nosebleed. While there are some surface similarities…
Solidly opening “Zoo†with a track that is as impressive in its radio-friendliness as it is for its efficiency and overall virtuosity. The culmination of an entire band instead of a strong effort from one or two members, “Adding Insult to Industry†has strong bass, vocals, guitars and drums, something that portends well for Anadivine. Starting slowly, “Dangerous Mixed With†is deeply-infectious, using loud and hard-hitting drum lines to match…
Starting out playing the same brand of emo that has been all the rage the last few years (sounding similar to Brand New and Senses Fail), Ambry nonetheless comes up during “Better Scene Than Heard” with a compelling first track. The bridge, done in the same sort of style as “Quiet Things”, is a nice connector and differentiation between the two sections of the style. Two things are immediately noticable…
Amusement Parks on Fire play a brand of indie rock that is completely at home with the shoegazing rock of the early nineties. There are subtle hints to bands like Interpol even in the disc’s earliest stages, and even though the music captured on the disc may be sedate, it is very intense and owes much to Phil Spector’s legendary “wall of sound” approach. The mastering feels a little bit…