Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: December 15, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Future Us We Are Future Us EP Review

No Good is an innovative blend of rock and electronic music, allowing the track to immediately catch listeners and keep them interested through the whole of this seven-track EP. A strong set of female vocals works alongside an emotive and technically brilliant instrumentation. The guitar that whips up at points during No Good provides additional narration to an already dense and detailed track. On My Mind has a slower burn;…

Posted on: December 15, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

XO Lover’s Blood CD Review

  Love Me Inside is a track that builds off of the foundations laid by a variety of electronic styles – there is ambient, chillwave, and trance all present here. The band is able to create something fresh and vibrant off of the works of acts like Morcheeba, Massive Attack, and even Homogenic-era Bjork. The band creates an infectious track that does not sound like anything that is currently being…

Posted on: December 11, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Eamonn Karran Distant Sun CD Review

Autumn Fall begins Distant Sun, and the sheer amount of emotion that is showcased in this piano composition is impressive. There are no vocals here, but Karran is able to imbue this introduction (and the subsequent works on Distant Sun) with a nuanced and alluring sound. The four minute-plus run times that are commonplace on Distant Sun provide Karran with more than enough time to properly express himself. Dance of…

Posted on: December 9, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

PepperDome False Words About Large Days CD Review

  The band cultivates a sound on False Words About Large Days that links together rock bands with sounds as disparate as Ween, Primus, Suicidal Tendencies, and the Butthole Surfers. The ability to change their style on a dime is comparable to Zappa’s Mothers of Invention work, while each of the tracks possesses a radio-ready production and an intimate feel that draws listeners in. Picture Box establishes a solid clip…

Posted on: December 9, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Deborah Crooks Little Bird CD Review

Like An Earthquake is a tremendously dynamic and intricate effort; the vocals are provided a proper boost through Crooks’ backing instrumentation. Crooks boldly comes out with her own style, creating an exciting overall backdrop for Little Bird. Turn the Key gives listeners the chance to hear another side of Crooks; this track takes on elements of Melissa Etheridge and early Sheryl Crow. Crooks represents a step forward for the singer-songwriter…

Posted on: December 9, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Michael Cullen Love Transmitter CD Review

  Do You Believe? Is the first track on Love Transmitter, and it provides listeners with a solid introduction to the styles and approaches that will be presented on the remainder of the album. Taken separately, the track is something that could easily be on rotation at alternative and modern rock stations. All Used Up is a track that touches upon the work of Franz Ferdinand and an earlier new-wave…

Posted on: December 8, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Xi.me.na Borges Joyful Noise CD Review

There are very few holiday albums that look to do anything special. Joyful Noise is an album that will shatter all conceptions that listeners will have about holiday music. The album begins with Crunchy Drummer Boy, a much more eclectic and bouncy version of the classic Christmas track. The music here does come from left field, but it is done in a fashion that is absolutely catchy and hard to…

Posted on: December 5, 2013 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Big Star Playlist The Very Best of Review

Likely one of the most underrated rock bands to come out of the ‘70s, a decade that inexplicably made everyone from Journey to Styx famous, Memphis-based rockers Big Star always seemed on the edge, (but just not quite there yet)  of making it big. Their debut, 1972’s #1 Record, arguably their best, boasting songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “Don’t Lie to Me” and “In the Street” (sadly, best known…

Posted on: November 30, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Down Home Band featuring Jeff Estes Monrovia CD Review

  Cajun Queen is a catchy bit of blues-rock that unites a strong instrumentation with a narrative that is weaved through the entirety of the album. The smooth, soulful vocals that listeners experience through this introductory track buttresses well with Broken Road. Broken Road has considerable pep and stands at the juncture of country and rock. Fans of the sixties C&W heyday, CCR, or contemporary acts like Mumford and Sons…

Posted on: November 26, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Made in America All My Money Single Review

All My Money is a track that would work perfectly on rock rotation, as the band’s overall sound ties together the disparate works of acts like Papa Roach and Our Lady peace. The vocals touch upon a rich tapestry of influences including  Kid Rock, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Moot the Hoople, and Cinderella, while the accompanying arrangements take up the standard of acts Foo Fighters and Guns ‘N’ Roses. All My…

Posted on: November 25, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Taylor Alexander Art EP Review

The Art EP may only have three tracks, but the variety of styles and approaches chosen on the CD ensure that listeners have a good idea about whom Alexander is and what he may do in the future. Emiline is a track that could easily make it onto top 20 rotation. Alexander’s vocals built off of the work of Adam Levine and Chris Martin, imbuing their easy-going style with more…

Posted on: November 25, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Ryan Cassata – Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3 CD Review

Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long begins with I Don’t Really Wanna Go To College, a track that provides listeners with some semblance of the styles and approaches which Cassata will broach throughout this effort. Liberation is a track that touches upon the work of Contravene, The Devil Is Electric, and even Defiance, Ohio. There is a certain catchiness present to this effort that will make this a good fit for…

Posted on: November 25, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Addicted to Pop S/T EP Review

Formerly of Broken Poets, Lana Antropova has just released new music as Addicted to Pop. Over the course of five tracks, the mystique behind the new act is explored and Antropova is able to forge a bold new course with her musical career. This self-titled EP begins with Outcast. Outcast has a high amount of energy and immediately privileges the instrumental side of things. When Antropova’s vocals kick in, the…

Posted on: November 25, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Vaudeville Vendetta CD Review

The Messenger is a soulful track that deftly blends the instrumental and vocal sides of Vaudeville, creating a statement that is much greater than the sum of its constituent elements. The production of this track (and is present on the whole of Vendetta) allows the strengths of Vaudeville to be highlighted; V represents a distinctly different side to the act. Soaring upon hints on indie-rock, peppered by hints of surf…

Posted on: November 23, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Stryper No More Hell To Pay CD Review

  Stryper is an act that has came back strong, while still maintaining the same concern for quality and engrossing music that has made them such a lauded band over the course of the last thirty years. The band’s rendition of the Arthur Reid Reynolds class Jesus is Just Alright completely changes the overall sound of the track while keeping the positive message present, providing listeners with the momentu Jesus…

Posted on: November 21, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Casinova What I Need Single Review

Casinova is an up and coming artist from New York that changes what listeners will expect from the R&B genre. What I Need has a very funky and soulful style that will appease fans of Chris Brown and Trey Songz. There is a certain dynamism that is present in this track that makes Casinova’s output into something that touches equally upon the nuances of a rich genre. Whether it is…

Posted on: November 15, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Krokus – Stampede Vinyl Review

Fashion-wise, the early ‘90s was a sad, sad time for metal bands. Fighting, and ultimately losing, the good fight against flannel-waving grunge bands from the Pacific Northwest, they were still opting for the painted on jeans or ridiculous spandex and sleeveless t’s. But music-wise, once you strip away the hair metal band that were standing in the spotlight, there were still some old guards of the metal scene that were…

Posted on: November 11, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Soraia In The Valley of Love and Guns CD Review

/ 2013 Self / 10 Tracks / www.soraia.com/‎ http://soraia.bandcamp.com Love Like Voodoo is a track that immediately kicks things into high gear. The vocals laid down are reminiscent of The Runaways and The Distillers. There is a certain allure to this introduction that ensures that listeners will stick around with the band long after the track ceases. Like A Woman Would showcases the technical ability of Soraia. While the vocals…

Posted on: November 6, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Giant Flying Turtles Self-Titled CD Review

Giant Flying Turtles are an act that blends a wide array of different genres and styles in the creation of an utterly unique album. Run for Your Life has the Giant Flying Turtles take up the countenance of seventies rock, tying a strong set of vocals with pleasant guitars and on-point drum and synth work. Utterly ready for radio rotation, GFT is able to keep things going well with Keep…

Posted on: November 2, 2013 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jupiter in Velvet Screaming The Love Behind The Scars Review

Jupiter in Velvet is able to cultivate and provide listeners with an inimitable style on his latest effort, Screaming The Love Behind The Scars. So How Could They Know? Is a track that looks back into the halcyon days of late eighties rock, all while the act impresses through stellar arrangements and a production that allows each constituent element to shine. Monkey See Monkey Do is a high-energy track that…