Sittin’ In My Room is a track that has so much soul to it that listeners will immediately be singing along. The track has it all, whether it is a solid production, a hot flow, or an instrumentation that properly highlights all points of T.O.N.E-z’s output. Where the lyrical content of a great many rap songs are lost in the mix of red-lined synths and guitars, I feel that…
The energy that resides barely beneath the surface on the Silversun Pickups’ “Kissing Families” is something to behold. Lead vocalist Nikki finds the skill to show that ey has the desire to completely snap and lash out against the world, but tempers it to a T and really makes everything fit underneath the Breeders-meets-System Of A Down like sound that “Pikul” has. This is unrepentant, angry indie-rock that breaks…
The hopeful opening of “Carnavas” puts listeners into a good mood. The fact that Silversun Pickups play such an interesting brand of indie rock should keep listeners in that mood. The fuzz present on the guitars is unnatural, but Silversun Pickups can couch it in a compelling way. During tracks when this type of distortion is present, such as “Melatonin”, the guitars (and distortion) are the key emotional force…
The sad thing about this recording in that in no way captures the intensity or impressive nature of the band, especially after one has seen them live three or four time. However, this is a strong step in a direction where a great many of these nascent local scenes need to go in cataloging their music, even if it is only on a CDR (as Nothing Special is). The…
The opening to “Something Pretty Something True” is in the same vein as acts like Fiona Apple and Joan Osbourne, but there is a less bland instrumentation that is flittering behind Silver’s vocals. For this opening track (the title track), there is a heavy Hispanic influence to the track that gives the track a certain international flair. “Flame I Should Fear” has much less of this innovative sound, and leaves…
One of the first acts to be signed onto the Tiberius Records roster that does not personally involve one of the Tiberius owners, Silo the Huskie have a lot to prove with their Tiberius debut, Sons of Columbus. Sounding at times like Jawbreaker, Smoking Popes, Soul Asylum and even early R.E.M., Silo the Huskie plays well with the newly reenergized Tired Anchor-era Thistle. Having the average tempo of any Sons…
In on It begins with Good Kiss (From A Bad Girl), a track that touches upon a wide array of styles and genre. In the course of the first minute, hints of Bauhaus, Tom Waits, and even Soft Cell can be heard. Marc James is able to make this track germane to current listeners due to intelligent instrumentation and an always-catchy arrangement. Out of Touch keeps fans listening, with a…
The drums that start off “Rebirth of the Temple” are tied to a heavy, deep brand of chanting. Imagine if the soundtrack from Xena was mixed with a tribal beat and the Benedictine monks. That is how the opening selection “Call To Arms” starts off the disc, before Silent Civilian starts off the meaty side of the disc with “Funeral”. The track is a blend of classic metal a la…
The title track for “Takk” is very atmospheric, using synthesizers to really add a bold, brooding body to the beginning of this disc. Incorporating melodic, almost-instrumental sounding vocals to “Glosoli”, the most curious thing about Sigur Ros on the track is that everything sounds so experimental but the track is truly beholden to typical tempo and progression (in terms of arrangement). Sigur Ros puts forth a challenging face but really…
The accessibility of this song really made me wonder; all the discussion I had heard about Sigur Ros in the past was that they were a difficult, trying band to truly like. Still, the way that “Saeglopur” opens is nothing less than commendable; where the track begins in a dreamy way, the musical (and rock-influenced) explosions that the band inserts into various intervals of “Saeglopur” shock listeners into a much…
So, New Line sounds like they dug up a early sixties rock band’s long-lost debut and have pandered it off as a rock-revival disc. The presence of very active synthesizers really adds a certain veneer to the early tracks (I’m Going To Live…”, “Circus”) and makes the chipper vocals of Eddies stand up even more. The fact that The Sights have been around for 7 years explains the solid, confident…
True Punk, as this tape is markered, with a masking tape label. Recorded on a tape deck the quality isn’t the best, but the fury that the Slutz play is simply awesome. The bass parts during the first song “Anal Cunt…” are great, with a sense of raw urgency about then. These guys seem to have a sense of humor, as evidenced by the title of the songs and the…
The Showdone come with a brand of hard rock that is tremendously tied to both the hair metal genre and the earlier (not the power metal releases) of Pantera. During “Fanatics and Whores”, The Showdown add a little bit of the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band to the mix, allowing for something that is current but is tremendously educated on the forms of hard rock that preceded them. The shredding that…
The picture of Showbread on the back of “Age Of Reptiles” gives little idea for what style of music will come forth during tracks like “Naked Lunch”. What ultimately results during the disc’s opening track is something that can only be called rock. There is more than a fair share of seventies-looking rock riffs, while Showbread aligns themselves with the general sound of acts like Buckcherry (although, with nothing…
Parisian duo Total Warr delivers an irresistible blend of energetic pop set to danceworthy electro beats and commanding percussion. Having received accolades from FADER to Stereogum, the band recently released the first track from their upcoming EP, Corbay, out June 11th. Today, they release a live video for the track, “xxx HATE xxx,” one of the EPs slower, more reflective jams. Check out the live “xxx HATE xxx” video where…
We were able to review The Second Time Around last year. I believe that the tracks on As We Go ‘Round the Sun build off of the successes of the previous album, while allowing listeners ample chance to hear a more mature and polished title. The CD starts off with the titular track; Desimone sets up where the album will go as well as where he has been. This sunny…
There is an eclectic sound that is fostered on This Is Our Time that will immediately impress. Rather than merely tracing over the styles and genres that are popular, Kevin Gullickson is able to create something bold and new with each of the 11 tracks on this album. The first track, Rising, is the perfect microcosm – in the nearly five minutes of the track, listeners will be provided with…
It’s been awhile since Willie’s put out an album free of themes. His last few, his partnerships with Asleep At the Wheel and Wynton Marsalis (those are two separate pairing, by the way), while good, seemed to be more about changing things up after 60 or so studio albums (and that’s not a typo) than continuing his legacy as one of this country’s greatest musical treasures. Hyperbole aside, you could…
The sheer power which the band puts into Bombshell far outstrips other pop acts on the scene. The track is more varied fare than what typically is played on the radio; the track’s rich production allows hints of girl group pop, rock, and R&B all to be heard. As Petrel moves towards the hook, this sister trio is able to harmonize and drive the melody deep into listeners’ minds…
We’ve been keeping an eye on Hazy Flow for a while now. This Cleveland rapper has just released his new video for the cut “Bass Go Hammer”. Footage was captured during the Kent, Ohio College Fest riots April 21st.