Noisy, loud, and oddly catchy, Scotland’s Sluts of Trust play a style of rock that is not immediately recognizable as being influenced by any one specific band. Breakneck tempos meet with screeching leads and brutal rhythm guitars. Moving through a similar sounding style in “Piece O’ You”, which makes the first two tracks join together in some bizarre ritual. Each track is different enough that one’s interest is piqued,…
Commando is the band’s stand out track and is one that will be garnering significant play as listeners find out about it. Far In Between is a track that ties together bits and pieces of a wide array of musical genres. Hints of Weezer, early emotive rock, and punk all unite during this introductory track. Sprinkle a little bit of Psychedelic Furs on the resultant mixture and one will have…
The style of electronic-infused indie rock put forth by Slow Runner reminds listeners of The Anniversary and The Red Hot Valentines. Essentially, Slow Runner would have fit in perfectly with the band scene as of 2000”Break Your Mama’s Back”, the track that opens up the disc is something that is more than just a smart rock song, but something that also is deep in regards to the arrangements that…
The mixture of sludgy rock (a la Foo Fighters) with the polished rock of a band like Weezer and just a hint of emo rock makes Slowride hit off strongly with “A New Day Is Upon Us”. The splashy drums during the track continue the chaos given by the uncertain guitar work that dominates the track. “The Year of the Snake” mixes a pop-emo sensibility with a punk fury that…
Down and dirty with seventies rock is something that a number of bands are trying to do nowadays. Some bands, like The Strokes and Kings of Leon, fail miserably and have to have major label pushes to save any amount of face, while bands like Slowride incorporate rock with bubbly three-chord punk and are overlooked by popular media. Maintaining this balance is hard to do, but D.H. as well…
The style of music that Slow Motion Reign starts out their album with is something that one would not necessarily tie to Serj (from System of a Down). However, one thing does link the two bands, being the ability to rapidly change styles and have that gambit work. Even if Slow Motion Reign has a slow start, they do kick into something much harder during “Twilight Skylight”. This is not…
Even though I have heard of Slow Gherkin before, I had never heard of them until Asian Man sent me their latest CD, “Run Screaming”. Slow Gherkin are definitely a trandescendent treat, as they have weathered the storm that ravaged all of the typical Ska acts of the mid 1990’s. This is due to the fact that Slow Gherkin is no typical band, as they successfully modified indie rock, ska,…
Slick comes out strong, there is no doubt about it. The authoritative “Creased Up” comes through as a fairly Spartan track, with the backing beat that Slick is flowing over not really doing much besides playing at the faintest of registers. What is a definite plus about Slick’s style is that individuals can decipher exactly what ey is saying easily; this is not because of a lack of lingo but…
Summer Wind Descendent is a laid-back track that will immediately draw listeners in through coy instrumentation and captivating female vocals. As the track spins, Flowerglass is able to add and otherwise bolster their sound into something incredibly dense. As listeners continue to listen to the track, more about the band comes into focus. It Takes A Dream To Kill A Dream establishes a down-home and cozy feel to this part…
Tomko / Marsh is an act that work together at all points during their CD, ensuring that each distinct part of the title pushes all others to a higher plateau. The titular track provides listeners with a solid education about the band’s influences, overall styles, and with a roadmap for how the title will ultimately lay out. Listeners that are fans of a wide array of styles will find something…
“She Comes To Me (So Easily)” is the first single off of Ray Tarantino’s self-titled 2012 disc. The track is incredibly smooth and polished, but the resulting effort is not distant. Tarantino’s lyrics will transform listeners, while the track’s instrumentation will have them absolutely amazed. Futureblind is a track that puts the musical side of things to the fore. While the human / vocal component does not slack, I…
Blue Skies is the first track on Love & Colour, and it provides listeners with groundwork for how the title will ultimately play out. Derek Stroker creates in Blue Skies a track that speaks directly to listeners; the unity between guitar and vocals pushes each to greater heights. The different genres that are broached during this introductory track (rock, soul, and even a little funk) unite to create a wholly…
“Anonymous” starts off a pretty catchy CD, where there are middle-of-the-way guitar lines with Jimmy Eat World and “Sing the Silence”-era AFI style vocals. Sleep Comes Down is actually not afraid to let the bassist take the spotlight, in that there are audible bass lines that sound not unlike the legendary Geddy Lee’s. While some of the guitar lines do not stray much from one style, one level of…
The Daydreamers are an act that attempt to forge their own bold path in music. With Your Love is their new effort, and each of the efforts on this release are integral for understanding the act. Antarctica starts off things; the pop meets rock sound of the track allows listeners to get on board. As listeners become familiar with the work of The Daydreamers, the act’s efforts begin to stretch…
The opening of Sleepaway’s self-titled album may not be the most hard-rocking thing individuals have ever heard, but the one thing that is pure delight is the skill in which they construct a track. The dreamy vocals mix with a tambourine and a very-present bass to make something that works both in the current emo context but also in a mid-nineties alternative context. The band works best in this…
“Take a deep breath ’cause it all starts now when you pull the fuckin’ pin.” The opening line of Slayer’s new record Christ Illusion let you know that they haven’t lost any of their intensity some 25 years after first forming. Slayer’s first album since 2001’s God Hates Us All, and also first album with original drummer Dave Lombardo since 1990’s Seasons in the Abyss, shows that Slayer is…
New-rock in the form of The Strokes and The Hives that does not use clichéd guitar lines and arrangements lifted off the Rolling Stones to maintain relevancy, The Slats seem honest and hard working. They are able to create compelling, well-arranged and well-mastered tracks that do not seem insincere in the least. For example, “The Diabetic Coma” simultaneously mixes The Ramones and Weezer, allowing for a seamless move through genres.…
This is one of the few EPs that we have had the opportunity to review that showcases the variety of different sides to a band. Where there are introductory efforts that are typically presented to listeners, the five cuts on No Man’s Land provide listeners with a sense of what each member brings to the table, how these different influences and styles interact, and where the band may take listeners…
The Slats “Boom Patrol” is weird. The music is dancy while their lyrics are repetitive and sometimes grating. Overall, I think fans of powerpop and indie alike will appreciate the album. But I felt confused and not overly impressed by the disc. I don’t really like the vocals, it is not my style. The music has the potential to catch me, but never really does. It doesn’t sound much…
I believe that live albums typically a little more than greatest hits recorded through a tin can> Sure, there are solid live recordings but a great many are extraneous at the least. Peter Gabriel has done a tremendous amount of footwork for Live Blood, essentially re-writing some of eir greatest hits and providing roles to an expansive group (over 40 players). Gabriel has taken tracks from all parts of…