The swirling rock music that issues forth from the beginning of Art Kenyon’s Cocoon EP showcases his unique vocal styles. With an equally active instrumentation bolstering each line, what results in an introductory track like Cocoon is rock-radio gold. There are hints of Placebo and the Stereophonics present here, but there is simultaneously a grit that calls back to the down and dirty days of rock. The production of the…
‘Cause You’re Mine is the first track on Here On In, and it immediately introduces Trysette as a powerful force, with an overall style that builds off of the work of Natalie Cole and Sheryl Crow. The instrumentation, which normally fades into the background on current albums, properly bolsters and otherwise highlights these vocals. The momentum generated by this introductory track continues into The Right Thing. From the introductory…
Joe Cocker has one of the most unique voices in rock music. Hard Knocks is an extremely personal tale, and the overall album showcases all sides of the veteran performer. Whether it is showing off a fondness for precursor genres like blues and jazz or boldly forging through in new directions, Cocker ensures that listeners will not be bored. The set of musicians tapped to lay down hooks, drum lines,…
Shine is an immediate introduction to the band, and it will be what keeps one listening in. This is due to the fact that the band is able to fully insert themselves into this track. This emotive rock contains high energy and smart musicianship. While the genre seemed to be on its last legs a few years back, Act Thirt33n may single-handedly promote its revival. One need only listen to…
My Oh My is a track that spreads out over a number of different genres. There are hints of country, Broadway musicals, and the up-front vocals will draw listeners’ attention. The eclectic opening to Orly leads into Boy On A Hill. This track is more introspective and pensive; the pre-grunge created by Neil Young has a referent in the overall tack the song takes. The harmony between the instrumentation and…
It is rare to hear such a narrative-heavy album. Hints of Donovan, Phil Ochs, and Simon & Garfunkel can all be heard in Blood and Thunder’s first track, Mister D. The instrumentation on the track has a similar gravity to it. Strum takes an interesting tack during this album; rather than having the instrumental arrangements continually red-line a listener’s speakers, there is a careful consideration for how each part fits…
The guitar work is what will immediately bring listeners in to FlyPaper’s self-titled release. The titular track is the perfect introduction to the band, as this guitar is found alongside a rich and emotive set of vocals and utterly on point drum work. Taken together, what listeners will find is something unique, while still touching upon blues and rock. Is It Just Me slows things down, and allows FlyPaper to…
Before understanding that this is a side project of Dandy Warhols’ Taylor-Taylor, I originally thought The End Records had picked up a collection of rare tracks from the late modern period. While this is ultimately not true, One Model Nation is an act that calls back to the rich German musical tradition. This means that the band takes on Can, Kraftwerk, and even later acts like Joy Division during…
I personally thought the choice to put 20th century tracks in A Knight’s Tale showed the utter excess and lack of tradition that the movie industry had for period pieces. I think that Air’s commission to generate a soundtrack for the recently-restored Le Voyage Dans La Lune represents an entirely different beast. This is because Le Voyage Dans La Lune is a story about a trip to the moon, while…
On Better Luck Next Life, Royal Baths are able to take strains from two distinct rock styles (the more psychedelic rock overtones of Faster, Harder with the pre-grunge workings of a Neil Young). While other bands would have problems creating their own distinct musical style separate from these two musical styles, every track on Better Luck Next Life is an ode to how the band marches to their own drummer.…
Exciter speed metal’s bad boys from Ottawa Canada released “Death Machine” the group’s tenth album way back in 2010 and it’s finally coming to North America almost a year and a half later. Band members are John Ricci – guitars Kenny Winter – vocals Rik Charron – drums Clammy – bass. This is a band that’s been around for a long time and have managed to keep their original style…
Seattle’s Quintet Death Metal band “BLACK BREATH” Have just finished their second LP. “Sentenced To Life” and are ready to release it on an unsuspecting public March 27th on Southern Lord Records. This is the sophomore release from them following the band’s 2010 debut album, “Heavy Breathing” Band members are Neil (Vocals) Eric (Guitar) Mark (Guitar) Elijah (Bass) Jamie (Drums) Recorded at God City Studios with Kurt Ballou, and had…
I believe that it has taken The Duke Spirit a few years to get a proper amount of traction. This is not to say that their previous albums have been weak, but that Bruiser represents a coherent effort that exemplifies what the band is and what they want to do on their releases. Cherry Tree is the opening effort on Bruiser, and its blend of Blues and rock will appease…
Pastel Reflections is a delicate track that immediately invites listeners in to Kern’s inimitable style. With each composition building with craftsman-like precision, listeners will be touched. There needs to be nothing more than Kern’s piano to create a richness of sound that emanates through rooms. Kern’s greatest strength on Enchanted Piano is in the arrangements. Each of the album’s cuts works well as an isolated track, but they provide ample…
Frank Steiner, Jr is a brave performer. On Into Forever, Steiner’s new title, things get started with a ten-minute opening track (Love’s Whisper). It is due to Steiner’s ability as a musician and as a composer that this gambit pays off. Love’s Whisper has a panoply of different elements, establishing the track as something scintillating. Different movements provide listeners with a constantly-changing experience; the one constant that Into Forever possesses…
The opening track to Stellar Connection, Portal Quest, does a tremendous job in setting up the rest of the album. The haunting melodies and urban soundscapes that issue forth provide a foreboding sense of dread. David’s ability to speak directly to his listeners is why this disc gets off of the starting blocks with such momentum. Plenty of Space builds off of Portal Quest, and it is this six-minute track…
The sheer amount of different bands that are trying to make a name for themselves creating some variant of metal is astronomical. One would be shocked if they saw the sheer amount of flotsam that we had to wade through before picking up Psycroptic’s latest album, Inherited. I believe it is the determination of the act that makes this album so strong. Carriers of the Plague is the album’s first…
There is a sense that jazz as an art form is something that is stale and stagnant. Metta Quintet looks to challenge this conception of the genre through their Big Drum / Small World EP. This disc, which collects five distinct tracks, is the best way to familiarize oneself with the music and style of the act. Big Drum / Small World begins with From Here Onwards, an expansive effort…
Thomas is a performer that has been tirelessly doing their work for over a decade. On With Love, eir newest album, Thomas is able to reinvent eirself and keep the following 10 tracks as fresh as possible. This is done by sticking one of the disc’s most memorable tracks, Where Was I, up front and center on the release. By sticking a hook into listeners, Thomas is able to take…
New Jersey’s Dark Empire returns with their third release, “From Refuge to Ruin” On March 27th Via Nightmare Records. Band members are Brian Larkin (vocals) Matt Moliti (guitars, vocals) Randy Knecht (bass) Produced by Jeremy Krull and artwork by Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Firewind, Morbid Angel) . If you were to ask me what genre they fall under it is hard to explain (progressive, power, death, and thrash) is this…