Sonic Youth is one of the most influential acts to still be playing music at this point of their career. How can they keep providing a bright light of brilliance to those individuals that will be creating bands in the near future? “Rather Ripped” starts out sedate, with “Reena” using a deadpan delivery by Kim coupled alongside a post-punk set of guitars that at times threaten to go into…
Somerset plays the brand of emo that has been popular for the last few years, throwing in slightly interesting sounds (such as strings during “Clockwork”) that try to bring up listener’s interest, which flags even at the onset. The fact is that there is nothing truly compelling about the music on “Pandora”, as Somerset tries their best to create a product that in no way will offend or otherwise…
There is a lot more in the way of palatable music on “Heaven’s Pregnant Teens”, to the point that Some Girls actually could get a track onto college alternative radio. This is not to say that the band has lost any of the fury of past albums; the band fits in thirteen tracks into a disc that ends before the twenty-fifth minute. Some Girls show another dimension to their…
Talk about stopping on a dime. Maryland’s The Soma Solution can move from Weezer to Korn to so many other musical genres in the space of a song, and it is through incredible talent that The Soma Solution so cunningly accomplishes it. Crunchy guitars come t the forefront in tracks like “Abort”, a System of a Down-style crooned track that bubbles over continually with all the energy that Rob…
T.I. has just released his video for “Go Get It”. Warner’s finally letting explicit videos go through.
Destiny’s Alone is a track that will immediately bring listeners on board with Ellen M. Wilson. This track needs little more than vocals and a piano to shine; the resulting track uses the interplay of human and instrumental efforts to draw listeners into the fold. Shelter Me possesses a foreboding feel to the track that ties together equal amounts Nightwish and Evanescence with Switchblade Symphony. Each element of Wilson’s…
Mourn For Me Like The Prophet is the initial track on My Magic Last Days, and it is a track that blends together the gritty sound of late-eighties industrial with hints of psychedelic and new wave. What results is something that is always nuanced and requires a number of listens before listeners can get a full semblance of what is happening. The track keeps listeners firmly focused in, despite…
Empire Trashed is a track that provides a tremendously interesting atmosphere to listeners. The use of electric and organic sides during this track create a haunting effort that takes on hints of Enigma, Enya, and Massive Attack. The track possesses a number of distinct movements; Drop Electric are able to unite these into one cohesive track. The drum track that kicks towards the bottom of this track adds just enough…
Everything What We Recorded is one of the rare breed of EPs that provide listeners with a solid sense the band’s influences and repertoire. Hammer & Nails is the first track on this EP, and it brings a catchy melody to the fore. The band works together in an incredibly tight fashion, with the vocals, drums, and guitars uniting to make for something that is decidedly greater than the sum…
Night Owl is a hot track; the effort will have listeners singing along after the first spin. Where many have likely heard this track by Ames, I feel that it only provides a small snippet to the mythos that is Ames. The rest of the tracks on Night Owl showcase a performer that is constantly changing and pushing each track to its logical extension. Taken together, Night Owl is one…
Electric Medication shows Vulture Kult as a no-frills rock band. The jangly guitars meet with perfectly punctual drums to craft a track that will immediately tattoo itself into the minds of listeners. Vultures From Above open up with intrepid guitars, to which the drums fresh out the overall beast. No vocals are needed for the first thirty seconds of the track, a tactic that allows listeners to hear the unparalleled…
DOWNSPIRIT, the heavy rock band formed by ex-SYMPHORCE/ex-FREEDOM CALL guitarist Cedric “Cede” Dupont will be releasing their new album Bulletproof? in North America on August 14th. The album is available for pre-order on AMAZON. The band based in Stuttgart, Germany blends old blues roots with a modern, down tuned guitar-feel, their songs are a mixture of typical bluesy 80’s hard rock and a contemporary metal sound, which also includes some…
T HE COMPANY BAND‘s new EP Pros & Cons charted this week on three of Billboard’s Charts. Pros & Cons came in at #25 on the Heatseeker Chart, #52 on the Hard Rock Chart and #116 on the Independent Chart. In addition to cracking the Billboard Charts, THE COMPANY BAND is continuing to explode on the radio scene. The album has reached #14 on the CMJ Loud Rock Chart, which is unheard of for an EP. …
The Como Brothers Band begin their The Speed of Sound with Underneath It All. Underneath It All is a bold opening for the band, but is one that is ultimately matched by tremendous musicianship. The track bounces between an instrumental and vocal focus; the production of the track allows each piece of the band to shine brightly. The chorus will have listeners singing along shortly after their first listening; hints…
For Keeps is the first track on Issues, and it showcases the work of a performer that has distilled a number of musical genres into a concentrated blast of rock. For Keeps touches upon the work of Lita Ford, Heart, and even finds time to take on a little Sheryl Crow. The tracks on Issues are tremendously personal, and I feel that listeners will be able to identify each of…
Themes From Gitar starts off Seen as Unclean, and it provides a blueprint for how the album ultimately will play out. This microcosm of the album will immediately familiarize listeners with Gitar’s inimitable style, and create a different context to enjoy. Eyes of the World showcases the act as ultimately comfortable in their settings. The ability of Gitar to expand upon minutia and create such an immersive track is unparalleled;…
iDrool opens up A Curious Children’s Album, and it immediately shows listeners that childrens’ music can actually be well-written and performed. The track swells and morphs into something considerably greater than its constituent parts. Of particular note during iDrool has to be the absolutely sizzling horns, which are played with an intensity that is a constant presence during the album. Don’t Forget has a solid two-part harmony that further varies…
The blend of rap and soul that begins Everybody is something that is utterly unique, and it shows The Higher Concept an act that would work equally well on R&B, rap, and pop radio stations. The multiple vocalists that are introduced to listeners through this introductory track ensure that the momentum is running high as the disc continues to spin. When It’s Over begins with a heartfelt guitar line that…
To say that “Alpha Males & Popular Girls” starts out oddly is a major understatement. The lead vocals come through in a very poppy vein (almost in the way of the strung-out goth rock of the late eighties), while the instrumentation comes into view as purveyors of a Locust / Lightening Bolt type of noise rock. The use of multiple layers of vocals during the first track gives the song…
King Tuff has taken a number of years off since the release of eir debut album, Was Dead. The 12 tracks on this self-titled follow-up come forth as an evolutionary step forward. Anthem is a jangly, psychedelic-tinged track that is haunting in its overall feel. The drums are right up front with the super-sonic vocals, making for something that is inimitable. Alone & Stoned provides listeners with additional speed,…