Category: Features

Posted on: August 19, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Breath of Life A Sacred Earth Collection CD Review

Sacred Earth have released a number of titles that have expanded what listeners can expect from world music. The Way Home’s Om Namah Shivaya is a thoughtful start to Real Music’s latest compilation, Breath of Life. The nearly nine-minute track allows listeners to meditate and get into a fruitful mindspace. The subtle shifts in styles that are present during this track will keep listeners focused for the entirety of the…

Posted on: August 19, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Blind Lemon Pledge Interview

Evangeline is your latest album. What does it contribute to Blind Lemon Pledge’s story? “Evangeline” is the fourth album I have recorded under the Blind Lemon Pledge name. And in this album I come full circle back to the style of my first album – creating, recording, producing, and editing all the tracks and instrumentation myself. In 2008, I was able to devote myself “full-time” to my music. As part…

Posted on: August 19, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal’s Debauched Decade by Martin Popoff

If you’re in your late 30s to mid-40s, reading this review and don’t cop to listening to a little Ratt or Bon Jovi in your teens; Slamming a Poison or Motley Crue cassette into your car’s tape deck, then you were either raised Amish or you’re very likely, completely full of shit. There is almost no way you could have been a teenager in the ‘80s and not spent a…

Posted on: August 19, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

DIRTY SOUTH RELEASES NEW SINGLE “UNBREAKABLE”

“Unbreakable” the first single off Dirty South’s highly-anticipated sophomore album “WITH YOU” is out now and available as an instant download to fans who pre-order the album, which is slated for release November 4th in the U.S. on Astralwerks.

Posted on: August 19, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Bradford Loomis / Beth Whitney Interview

The Banner Days is your new album. Can you describe the process of moving from writing to recording the album? Sure. Once we had the components of the songs, and their basic structure, we brought in our Producer Brandon Bee and talked about which songs needed to be on this record, what the instrumentation would be, and how to arrange each song to maximize its strengths. Brandon is great at…

Posted on: August 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jiggley Jones …A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light… CD Review

…A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light… is the latest effort from Jiggley Jones, and contains six slices of his life discussed through music. Walk On Me starts things off, and it showcases Jones as a performer that is able to weave a tremendously interesting narration. The instrumentation that is present during this introductory track provides a very complete and beautiful polish to Jones’ vocals. The slower tempo taken…

Posted on: August 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Xander Demos Guitarcadia CD Review

Right Angles is an intense bit of progressive metal that immediately hits listeners and does not let them go. The arrangements that Demos creates on this album showcase his technical skill, all while creating a narrative that is as rich and fulfilling as any vocal-heavy composition. The same high level of momentum continues with Under a Darkened Sky, an eight-plus minute composition that links together early0-nineties Megadeth with Machine Head.…

Posted on: August 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Class Reunion Feature

Class Reunion is an act that has been around in some form or another since 2007. The constituent members of Class Reunion have known each other for a considerably longer time, meeting at high school in 1983. The act links together a wide variety of styles and approaches to create something wholly unique while maintaining enough ties to current and contemporary music to keep listeners interesting from the beginning to…

Posted on: August 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Bradford Loomis and Beth Whitney The Banner Days CD Review

The Banner Days begins with My Beloved. The track immediately ties together the two constituent vocals to make for a rich and fulfilling sound, while the arrangements that are present during this introductory track pus the effort into an entirely new realm. Loomis and Whitney create a style of music that deftly ties together country, indie, and singer-songwriter formats into something that will keep listeners on the edges of their…

Posted on: August 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Josey Milner Cowgirls Single Review

Josey Milner’s current single, Cowgirls, is a high-energy sort of country track that builds off of the work of Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain, Kelly Clarkson and Kellie Pickler. The track pushes both instrumental and vocal sides to greater heights. It is really a feat of Milner that she is able to create such a musically fulfilling track that is still able to hammer home a clear set of vocals. An…

Posted on: August 16, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Able Danger Escape Single Review

The ferocity of the opening of Escape is something that will immediately draw listeners in, while the initial vocal work provides a considerable level of variety to the track. Able Danger creates a style of rock that touches upon the work of Amy Lee (Evanescence) and Nightwish, while having enough hooks and melodies placed into the track to make a serious play for radio play.

Posted on: August 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 2

Candi Beer Review

Candi pours very light blonde with a white head that sits on top of the beer. The 9.5% ABV of the beer is hidden nicely through the inclusion of a considerable sweet element. What results with Candi is a very drinkable tripel that would be dangerous in large quantities. The burn that Candi does provide keeps each subsequent sip interesting. The beer’s bubble gum and fruit notes can be discerned…

Posted on: August 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Genius Stereo USB Powered Speakers

Laptops have traditionally had poor or otherwise underpowered speakers. This means that individuals that are trying to watch video will have to be right up on the laptop, making it difficult if not impossible to hear dialogue properly. The sub-$20 Genius Stereo USB Powered Speakers are a perfect addition for the laptop bag. The speakers are incredibly light and have a number of distinct colors (for those looking to match),…

Posted on: August 13, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Pike Stout

The beer pours as black as night with a tannish head that takes some time to dissipate. The beer has a malty nose that obfuscates some of the nuances that are resent in the beer. The initial sip yields hints of coffee, chocolate, and a slight sweetness at the end of the sip. There is a little amount of a bready, malt element that can be discerned variously through the…

Posted on: August 12, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Green Head IPA

Green Head IPA pours with a very dark amber / orange coloration, and a small amount of long-lasting, persistent tannish head.  There is a strong hop nose to the beer, while the initial sip yields a decent amount of bitterness and a sweetness at the end. The 7.2% ABV of the beer is hidden well with the bold flavors and thirst-quenching aspects of the beer. Strong grapefruit, pine, and citrus…

Posted on: August 12, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

JENNIFER HUDSON TO RELEASE JHUD 9/23

Jennifer Hudson is set to release her third studio album JHUD on September 23 via RCA Records.  The album will be available for pre-order at select digital retailers on August 19.

Posted on: August 12, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Full Sail IPA

The beer pours a golden brown with an off-white head that sticks around for a decently long time. The beer has only a small noise of grass and light hop elements, a palette that expands considerably with the initial sip. The hops rise up in a nice crescendo, while there is a subtle sweetness that keeps the IPA from getting too bitter. The beer shifts and changes with each subsequent…

Posted on: August 11, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jiggley Jones Interview

Hello, Jiggley. Can you provide us with a little information about yourself? Hi there… I’m Folk/Americana singer/songwriter Jiggley Jones from Southeastern Pennsylvania. I have a new EP out on Lamon Records Nashville.

Posted on: August 11, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Cancers – Fatten the Leeches (CD)

While the major labels are cashing in a second time on the iconic alt rock bands of the 1990s, thanks to the two and three decade anniversary re-releases of their albums, a slew of up and coming bands are launching careers, raised on the music of Nirvana, Soundgarden and the Riotgrrl groups of Washington State. Among the most promising of that lot is Athens-based duo Cancers.

Posted on: August 11, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Hicks Hayride Single Review

Hayride is the latest single from Stockholm’s Hicks, who hits it out of the park with a down and dirty track that is as much Toby Keith as it is Poison. The track blends dirty, dusty nights with big city gloss and polish to provide listeners with a track that will stick with them long after the track has ceased.  The harmonies created by the instrumentation on Hayride are further…