Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: April 5, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Celadon Candy – S/T EP (CD)

“Sweet” is a track that comes forth with a number of distinct and unique styles. With a funky backdrop and a Mick Jagger-esque (think “Emotional Rescue”) approach taken by the vocals, listeners will immediately be enthralled by the band’s output. The electronic-infused arrangements that are present during “Sweet” will hearken back to the New Romantic movement of the early and mid-eighties, while there is a little bit of a harder,…

Posted on: April 5, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong (CD)

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart lit up a terribly dark first half of 2009 with their self-titled debut album, and were able to keep interest in the band high with their EP Higher Than the Stars. About 18 months later, and the band has just released what I feel to be their magnum opus, Belong. “Belong” acts as a microcosm of the different styles and feelings that are…

Posted on: April 1, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Teak Feature

We here at NeuFutur do not get many Australian bands sending us material for coverage; despite possessing millions upon millions of citizens, this continent seems to be particularly barren when it comes to bands that possess the fire to become something bigger than mainstays at their local bar or venue.

Posted on: March 31, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Jay Aura – iParty EP (CD)

“I Won’t Remember Much!” is the first track on the iParty EP, and it immediately will hook listeners of individuals like Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, or even Owl City. With a blend of electronic and pop sounds present, “Remember Much” will ensure that listeners stick with Jay Aura through all of the four tracks on this EP. At a svelte three minutes, this track opens the iParty EP nicely and…

Posted on: March 29, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Free Music Downloads Galore Via Bearshare

The Internet browsing experience is never complete without putting on some music. A rousing playlist, after all, sets the tone for not just your social networking activities, but for the entire day as well. The easy accessibility of music online allows you to get tons of free music downloads, and perhaps the most ideal source for such is Bearshare. Bearshare presents a highly functional, user friendly interface for you to…

Posted on: March 28, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Kiseleff – A Sound Seal (CD)

It seems almost as if a number of musicians and bands take a few tracks to introduce themselves and come to the creation of a hit, but Kiseleff’s first effort on “A Sound Seal” is downright jaw-dropping. This track, “Quicksilver Universe”, builds off of the work of bands like New Order and Depeche Mode even while possessing a tempo that would make acts like Tiesto and Daft Punk jealous. “Savannah”…

Posted on: March 28, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Daniel Masson – Frequencies (CD)

World music has a number of distinct sounds and styles that comprise the overall genre, but Daniel Masson stands tall as one of the most unique musicians in the format. This is particularly true in his new album, “Frequencies”. From the first track, “Bluecolor” all the way out to the disc’s concluding cut, “The Backwaters”, there is no limitation to the different approaches and overall styles broached by Masson. “Jam…

Posted on: March 23, 2011 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Billy Joel – Live at Shea Stadium (Legacy/Columbia)

Billy Joel’s decades long career has mirrored other pop musicians, most notably Neil Diamond: starting out a thoughtful writer/performer churning out one great song after another, before sliding into the over-produced slickness of the late 80’s, early 90’s churning out basic, paint by number radio ready hits with little effort or thought (“The River of Dreams”), laying low for awhile and finally hitting legendary status embraced by everyone from the…

Posted on: March 15, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Tools of Creation – Adventures in Chaos (CD)

The heavy bass line that begins “Adventures in Chaos” is reminiscent of Anthrax’s version of “Got The Time”. This properly-energetic track is the perfect introduction of the band to fans, and represents just one of the many high points that the disc has to offer. Intense vocals, splashy drums, and driving guitars all unite to create a track that straddles the line between rock and metal. “Bridge Too Far” switches…

Posted on: March 14, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Blues Magoos – Psychedelic Lollipop (CD)

I absolutely love when there is a good remaster or reissue of a forgotten disc. Sundazed’s 2011 version of the Blues Magoos 1966 classic is without fault. A quick glance of this 1,000-print limited edition disc showcases absolutely brilliant and vibrant cover art, while sticking the album into one’s player will show a similarly intense quality. This is due to the fact that Sundazed has procured the Mercury master reels,…

Posted on: March 13, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

OFF! First Four EPs (4×7”)

After faltering in the late nineties and early oughts, it seems as if vinyl has finally vanquished one challenger (cassette) and is looking for a tag team victory with iTunes against the flagging CD format. This blend of old music format and cutting-edge digital representations of music is mirrored perfectly in OFF!. OFF! is the new project by Keith Morris (Circle Jerks and Black Flag), taking up residence with Dimitri…

Posted on: March 12, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar (CD)

A great many of the bands that come from the United Kingdom possess a certain musical pedigree that presents itself audibly during their music. It becomes an easy feat for a great many of these bands to succeed based on this pedigree along, but a special kudos has to go out to any sort of band that looks to break free of this style. I have to contend that The…

Posted on: February 28, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Last Act – Still Standing (CD)

The Last Act is a bluesy, metal-based act that immediately assaults listeners with their own blend of Metallica, Motorhead, and Dimmu Borgir. While absolutely brutal in its execution, “Still Standing” is a track that will have listeners singing along after their first listen. With a head full of steam, The Last Act continues to kick ass with their “No Chance…Again”. Despite blazing through the track with a grim grittiness, this…

Posted on: February 27, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 1

Wolfe Gang – Read the Fine Print (CD)

“Read the Fine Print” begins with an absolutely smooth bit of funk, blues, and jazz that will ease listeners into the unique sound presented them by the Wolfe Gang. With an absolutely lush production, the Wolfe Gang have a tremendous amount of momentum going into “Everyone”. “Everyone” changes things up considerably, with a bit of punchy percussion that allows for a sultry, almost Tom Waits meets John Morrison type of…

Posted on: February 23, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Disney Pearl Jazzseries: Volume 1 (CD)

The range of different styles broached during this disc is simply fantastic, and is even more impressive given the fact that all of the artists here subscribe to some sort of jazz music. The album begins with Roy Hargrove’s take on “Ev’rybody Wants To Be a Cat”; pulling deep from the Disney archives, I content that Hargrove is even able to reclaim the track for eirself to those that are…

Posted on: February 23, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Telepath – Crush (CD)

World music is such a cop out in terms of the musical styles and approaches contained within. If the music cannot be easily categorized into a major genre tag, such as rock, dance, or pop, it usually has a “World Music” label stamped on it. Telepath is Michael Christie, and despite being located in the United States, the fifteen compositions that compose this album showcase a truly world-wide mindset. To…

Posted on: February 17, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Revolution Mother – Enjoy The Ride (CD)

The angular sound of the the guitar and how it interplays with the drums during “Goodbye” makes this opening track sound like it was influenced by Rage Against The Machine. The set of influences of Revolution Mother also include heavy amounts of Fireball Ministry and a little bit of Coal Chamber. The band has a hard feel to them, but the one thing that individuals need to take into consideration…

Posted on: February 17, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Revelation Theory – Truth Is Currency (CD)

So, let’s see. Revelation theory mixes Nickelback with Disturbed. “M367”, the first track on “Truth Is Currency”, is created with the same bi-polar structure that without much warning busts into something much more spastic and loud. The paradox here is that the music contained on the track is sweet and sensitive; the acoustic interlude during the track sounds much more Finger Eleven than Slayer. While it is true that this…