Hit’N’Run is the first track on the Wicked Bees EP, and long-time ska listeners will be able to pick out Mighty Mighty Bosstones, early No Doubt, and The Insyderz in Ska Skank Redemption’s overall sound. The production of this release allows the instrumentation to shine as brightly as the inimitable vocals, ensuring that an effort like Sheila could easily make it onto rock radio. Sheila combines elements as disparate as…
There is something dated about the sound on the debut full length from Philly’s Transitshop. And not in a “cool, this has a real vintage throwback feel to it,” but more of an “I’m gonna recreate an old ‘80s new wave record without really adding anything new to the mix” feel. The result is a bit of an affected Morrissey croon over some old Spandau Ballet tracks, which…
My Heart immediately tattoos a rhythm on listeners that lingers long after the track has ceased. The fullness that this track has is utterly surprising – the guitar, drums, and soulful vocals make this a home run. Dark Bar goes off in a completely different direction, as the slower and more brooding feel of this track takes upon hints of Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, and Barenaked Ladies. I…
Her Bed of Thorns come out of the gates on Alive with some of the most furious hard rock / metal that we have heard this year. There clear and concise style of the band will bludgeon listeners over the head and take them for a ride. Bad Girl continues with this trend, allowing the band’s instrumentation to shine. Whether it is the splashy drums, shredding guitars, or the…
Harveyesmeit is the initial effort from Desire, and it provides listeners with a five and a half minute introduction to Neither. The track tells more in the interplay of electronic, tribal, and organic sounds than most acts can tell over the space of an album. Eumeipass may conform to a traditional song length, but the effort stands separate from what listeners would expect. There is a recasting here of the…
Canada punks The Flatliners have been all over the place musically with their albums in the past, and that’s far from a bad thing. At times focused on aggressive ska, other times rocking a Reggae-vibe (a ’la late era Clash), with Dead Language, the guys opt for straight-ahead punk rock. As a result, they have turned in their most consistently solid release to date. Ignoring overdubs and studio gimmicks, the…
Every Time We Talk is a track that plays on classical music while providing listeners with a current and contemporary feel. The ability of Gouzonis to provide a strong narrative to this instrumental arrangement ensures that listeners will stick with the title long after it begins. Joy of My Heart showcases the many different styles of Gouzonis; there are hints of more eastern musical traditions that are present here.…
Mermaid opens up Altered Reality, and provides listeners with a brief introduction for where the band will ultimately go over the course of the album. While the driving instrumentation hurtles listeners quickly to the track’s conclusion, I feel that there is a very meaty and fulfilling sound that is whipped up here. Black Bones is a track that takes on hints of alternative, goth, and psychedelic rock. The interaction between…
Bittersweet is a timeless bit of alternative pop that contains some alluring instrumental arrangements and catchy vocals. While the initial track on Bittersweet is easy on the ears, Burning is a track that is sultry and soulful. The inclusion of funk and soul into the mix will appease fans of Pink and Christina Aguilera. Play It Down is a very dynamic track that has The SIdleys continue to speed…
Against The Darkness is very heavy and has the same grit and grim determination of Animalize-era KISS or Fear of the Dark-esque Iron Maiden. The guitars cut a bold path that is further trodden by authoritative drums and a set of vocals that are raw and utterly forward. Rip It adds hints of Anthrax and Judas Priest into the mix, speeding up the tempo while presenting a ropy…
Please Don’t Die begins with The Price Put on You, an introduction that provides a microcosm of the styles and approaches that Skeletons in the Piano will utilize on this album. Longpig is a track that has the instrumentation and the vocals struggle for dominance. It is the dynamic between these two elements that push the track into a completely different effort. The shambling, jangling approach taken by Skeletons…
Abomination is an intense track that stands at the juncture between punk, metal, and hard rock. Wiseguys ‘n Scallywags kick things into high gear early, linking together an absolutely brutal sound with an emotional florish. Better Off Undead is a track that touches upon The Early November and Brand New as much as they take up hints of AFI and early Avenged Sevenfold. The disc hits a new high…
Quietly Freaky is a warm and inviting introduction for The Dream Logic, while the narrative brought will ensure that listeners stick around. The dynamic achieved by each of the instruments during Quietly Freak showcases another strength; the bass, drums, and guitars create a dense and fulfilling arrangement. What People Say continues to expand The Dream Logic’s palette as the band takes on bold new arrangements and a panoply of…
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You starts in a very soulful and singular fashion, allowing the band to continue gaining momentum and energy. It is this delightful addition of speed that makes Reckless in Vegas shine; the vocals will call forth individuals like Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) while the guitars twinkle with all of the indie fury of Coldplay or The Black Keys. Reckless in Vegas tackles a…
It takes some balls to call out Tom Waits as a reference point in your band bio; Even more when your music fails to live up to even Waits’ weakest musical output. You can see where the D.C. based indie blues noise band The Torches were going with that comparison; frontman Stephen J. Perron Guidry boasts a purposely off kilter delivery, with a deep baritone matched by a banjo and…
If you’re don’t like the latest Willie Nelson record, just give it a couple of months, as there’s bound to be another one just about to come out. That’s actually not hyperbole, when you consider Willie has put out 68 albums to date, and that’s just counting studio releases, not live albums, compilations, box sets, etc. At 80, the legend (and yes, he has definitely earned that title at this…
This is the new side project of members from Breather Resist. Having not heard Breather Resist, my review of Young Widows will not be tainted by my impressions on the earlier act. However, Young Widows start off their “Settle Down City” in much the same way that a snowball first gains speed. This is done by creating interesting instrumental arrangements during the title / opening track, insinuating a set…
Bob Dylan’s 1970 album Self-Portrait was welcomed by Rolling Stone magazine with the rather succinct review opener: “What is this shit?” Needless to say quite a few Dylan diehards had no idea how to take the troubadour’s tenth album; a double record set featuring mainly covers of old pop and folk hits. It was rightly maligned at the time with it’s puzzling selection of covers and sappy, cluttered string…
Max Gomez certainly isn’t the first to bring together country, pop and folk influences, but he has done a noteworthy job of blending the three seemingly disparate genres for his debut. Like John Prine and Townes Van Zandt before him, Gomez succeeds where many others fail, by being able to turn out interesting lyrics. When you are backed by acoustic guitars and mellow drumming, you can’t hide a weak voice…
I expected another batch of the same bland and generic technical-hardcore that has dominated the central Ohio scene when I first looked at Your Days Are Numbered’s disc. In fact, the front cover even is done in the same style as another local act, The Heartland. Anyways, “Dana Walker Rides Again” comes out surprisingly close to an Against Me! type of sound with “Crazed Romance”. The technical guitar riffs…