I still recall my first experience with Knob Creek. I was with one of my friends at DePauw University and ordered a whiskey sour using Knob Creek. I was a big fan of the spirit in that concoction, but this was with limited experience in the field (only being exposed to Ten High, Evan Williams, and Jack Daniels previously) and with the sample being blended in with a mixer. Luckily…
I must be getting soft in my old age of nineteen. I know what you’re thinking reader, ‘nineteen? psh..’ but in “scene years” I’m as old as dirt and should have dropped out ages ago for a life of courdroy pants and synthesized goodness. Well, I just can’t but after listening to The Pink Spiders latest release sadly but truly I’m getting soft but who would feel all warm and…
(1)What acts would you say are your greatest influences, and how do they factor into your sound as a performer? It´s hard to say, even if look in my CD collection I get confused who I like. It really depends on what phase I was going through in my life. The last couple of years I´ve been strongly influenced by the French band Air. They speak to my soul. It´s…
The Blue Island Tribe link together a chunky bass line, sizzling horns, and a funky outlook in the creation of a ska rock hybrid that is established as an entirely new entity. This means that the Blue Island Tribe are trying to craft their own sounds rather than merely to gain success through the aping of successful bands’ sounds. This also means that tracks like “Ecstasy†are freaking amazing. No…
Todd Snider has never made a bad record. Sure some have been better than others; some take several listens before they finally click and no two records are ever really the same, but none have ever been duds – his latest, the 8-song Peace Queer, included. Snider has always been comfortable doing his own thing, even when signed to a major label for his first couple of releases, he never…
“Eat Your Dinner†is the first track on this self-titled effort, and the three and a half minute run time of the track gives listeners a full range of the styles and influences that play such a major role in Cardamis’ development. “Eat Your Dinner†is a track that has a heavy debt to the dance music of the mid-nineties, all while keeping the camp of a Freddy Mercury or…
Based on the past few years, you’d think every grizzled punk rocker wants nothing more than to be a folk musician. Hot Water Music front man Chuck Ragan put his band on ice for a year or two to pick up an acoustic guitar; Bad Religion’s Greg Graffin went rootsy on his solo record last year; and former Avail singer Tim Barry has been unplugged for several records now.
When we first received this wine I was very excited – I love a good Riesling and also I had never had ice wine before this. I wanted to make this moment a special one. I wanted to try it after a fine meal or with a good friend, but I was so anxious to try it I finally broke down and opened it. I had a minor difficulty opening…
You can go into just about any major city today, toss a bagpipe into a crowd and hit a band playing Celtic punk rock. Over the past decade or so, it seems like everyone wants to marry The Pogues use of traditional Irish instruments and themes with the driving beat and heavy guitars of The Clash. Though not as well-known as The Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly, the Chicago-based six piece…
It’s hard to hear the songs off of Asteria’s self-titled EP over the sound of the final nails being loudly banged into the emo/pop-punk coffin. The paint-by-numbers, overproduced, polished-all-the-jagged- edges-until-they’re-shiny-and-smooth sound from this Indiana-based five piece is so mundane that the only thing to distinguish one song from the next is the titles.
Sonic Bliss begins their “Loved to Death†with “Saharaâ€. “Sahara†is a confident rock track that has hints of Disturbed and Static-X present, even as the band crafts a unique sound that will easily clue listeners in as to the identify of Sonic Bliss. The band is able to create an iconic sound and shift it up enough through the track’s six minute run time to keep listeners firmly planted…
Individuals may know Stack$ as the owner of Sobe Entertainment (the label that released “Crazee N Confusedâ€), along with releases by Brooke Hogan and signing luminaries such as Jah Cure. Bouncing back from a June injury that could have left eir dead, Stack$ looks to reach an entirely new plateau with “Crazee N Confusedâ€. Where a number of newer rappers’ releases are ignored by the mainstream because they do not…
Nettwerk Records and NeuFutur Magazine have entered into a contest for State Radio. Specifically, we are giving out 5 copies of State Radio’s latest effort, “Year of the Crow”, to anyone that either comments on this post or email [email protected] with their name and mailing address. The contest will be active and valid until the end of the month (11/30). Only one entry per contestant, please.
Decades ago, Waylon Jennings earned his spot on the Outlaw Country Mount Rushmore, sandwiched somewhere between Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Anyone wondering if he really deserved that honor just needs to listen to the first few tracks off Waylon Forever, the last album he recorded. His distinctive baritone is as strong as ever and the songs just as memorable. He’s joined on the record by his son Shooter Jennings…
Pernod has a history in the Absinthe business. Their last foray into absinthe, the 20th century effort Pernod fils, was the highest selling absinthe before 1915. The recent legalization of absinthe in the United States market means that there have been a number of absinthes that have flooded into the market. As was the case nearly 100 years ago, Pernod has created the best brand of absinthe on the market.…
While individuals may know of Lady Gaga through eir writing credits (which include The Pussycat Dolls’ “Elevator†and Camden Hart’s “Lustyâ€), â€The Fame†is poised to set up Lady Gaga as a contender for the pop queen crowd worn variously by the aforementioned PCD and Britney Spears. The fact that Lady Gaga has writing credits on all 13 tracks on “The Fame†makes the disc exist on so much higher…
Calling all Radiohead fans, calling all Radiohead fans we have discovered something just for you! Copper Sails hailing from Virginia offer up an album that drifts in and out with a very relaxing sonic experience. Copper Sails taking licks from bands like Radiohead and Dead Cab for Cutie have reached a wide fan base that only seems to get bigger and are ready to strike while I guess the copper…
I’m having a hard time trying to put into words exactly what Hooray For Earth sounds like. I’m completely dumbfounded by their sound it’s a milkshake of forty different sounds in one stretched over twelve tracks. This self-titled has me reaching deep because it really does deserve some recognition. Hooray For Earth take what makes rock and roll so great in its raw form throws in some excellent key board…
This presidential election has caused to me to continuously question what I am voting for and why. In the past I have been a very extreme, nearly anarchistic libertarian, those views have become more and more mild as I realize we are nowhere near intelligent enough for that extent of freedom. As things continue to get worse in our country I tend to wonder what will make things better? This…
The CW’s smash hit Gossip Girl based on the best selling young adult novels thirteen track soundtrack is exactly what’d you’d expect. Remember the days of The OC with their mix of relatively unknown artists in the main stream, although Cobra Verde did play on an episode which was cool, well this disc works in the same vein. Featuring giants on the rise The Kooks, The Republic Tigers ( check…