It has been over a year since the last time that we had the chance to review The Empty Mirror. Their last release, “Overwhelmâ€, was an impressive piece of work. Their latest album, “Abstracted Catholicâ€, builds upon some of the trends first heard during “Overwhelm†while further evolving their sound. The first track on “Abstracted Catholic†is “Stainglassâ€, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. This…
Each of the twelve cuts on “Whatcha Gonna Do†is an additional piece of the beautiful puzzle that represents Lynch’s own unique skill set. Those that are in the know would be familiar with Lynch’s prior work, beginning with eir work in the underrated Front Porch String Band. Listeners are given a microcosm of what is to follow with the disc’s first track, “Great Day in the Mornin’â€. “Great Day 
Black Mold is the electronic side of Chad VanGaalen, a Canadian artist that has rapidly becoming a force up north. This 19-track album may seem to some to be similar to what Conor Oberst attempted to do with “Digital Ash in a Digital Urnâ€, but I feel that there has been much more work done in crafting this effort by VanGaalen. The disc itself starts out with “Metal Spider Websâ€,…
After “Blameless?†is able to kick things in gear, the first track that really commanded my attention would have to be “World Machineâ€. In this track, a wide swath of the electronic genre is covered, whether it be “Pretty Hate Machineâ€-era Nine Inch Nails, Phil Collins, and New Order. While there is a decidedly eighties flair to the track, Wedlock is able to flex their muscles and make this into…
“Travelin’ Man†may be a cover of the Ricky Nelson classic, but I feel that the richness of Daring’s vocal and the gusto that he has in placing the cover at the beginning of the album turns it into his own song. The vocal quality of Daring here is great, in that he both keeps the sanctity of the original track, he adds his own flair, and is still able…
“Bloom†is the first track on “Incantationâ€, and it showcases a wonderful interplay between the vocal and instrumental sides of Madorsky’s compositions. There is a timeless feel to this track that will ensure that all fans of music will be able to find something that they can appreciate. The pacing of “Bloom†is similarly strong; the more martial types of drums here are moderated by Madorsky’s unique voice. “Broken Artifacts 
There will be a lot of individuals that do not pick up “So This Is Me†because Emo is in the title. However, the music that opens up the intro to the disc is in no way connected to the emo style. “Just Believe†reminds me of a blend between Enrique Iglesias and Marc Antony; this is pop music done with a very light hint of Latin style to it.…
Yet another indie band from Brooklyn? Yup, only this one seems to have placed a stronger emphasis on the songs than their image. In a music scene as cluttered as Brooklyn, it takes a pretty amazing band to stand out above the fray, and In Cadeo just happen to have the songs to back up all the adulation that should be coming their way shortly.
“We Are All Strays†is a tremendous six-minute plus track that may seem daunting to those more familiar with mainstream music, but one needs to stick with the track. The band is able to subtly change their sound throughout the track, with the grandiose atmosphere created by the track ebbing and flowing in a natural way. “Stinngybadly†is a unification of Sonic Youth, The Smiths, The Cure, and even “Cherub…
“She Woke Up To Me†has an utterly infectious sound, with a bit of synthesizers that will worm its way into listeners’ ears and reside there for months after listening to the track. The inclusion of a similarly-infectious drum line and jangly, disco-infused guitar line further elevate this track into something special. All of these pieces unite together to create the perfect foil for the soulful singing that links together…
The title track for “Medicated Empty†ties together LostProphets, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead into something that immediately strives to distinguish itself from the pack. It is during “Your Infection†that the band is truly able to spread their wings, though. The confident guitars unite to splashy guitars and vocals that double dip by both furthering the narrative side of things while adding much to the intricate harmonies…
Christian music has always been a part of my post-youth life. I was first introduced to the music of the Newsboys back in about 2000, and ever since then, I’ve been attempting to find the best and brightest in the genre. Alexandra Celano’s 2009 release “I’m Overcome†came to us just a few days ago, and I have to say that it may just be the best Christian album of…
“Lunar Dance†is the first track on “Naughty and Niceâ€, and it will immediately show that CRGruve is attempting to do something significantly different with the rap genre than has been present in the past. This means that there are hints of Spandau Ballet and New Order even as a rap flow brings current acts (The Dream, Drake) into the mix. Where this initial track is challenging for those that…
“A Patriot’s Anthem†is a great introduction to Prospect Hill, as it allows listeners to see every part of the act work together in the creation of a memorable track. Prospect Hill skillfully moves through emo, rock, and even metal over the course of a few short minutes, all while the extraordinarily charismatic vocals hit on all cylinders. The production, while not as important as the performances of Prospect Hill…
Stephen Kellogg goes a little more country on his latest album, but that is far from being a bad thing. Songs like “A (With Love)†and “Satisfied Man†could have come straight out of Nashville’s Music Row, rather than from the mic of Massachusetts’ native Stephen Kellogg.
It’s easy to forget just how long Blur has been around. Thanks to the handy timeline tucked inside the liner notes of the anthology Midlife: A Beginner’s Guide to Blur, you realize that they started before the EU was officially established, before the Soviet Union broke up and just one month after the Internet was opened to the public. The 25 tracks that make up the release – a collection…
You’d be forgiven for taking the Stone Roses for granted a bit. They only had one remarkable album (their self-titled debut) and it was released in 1989, at the beginning of alternative rock’s heyday, forcing them to compete with everyone from Depeche Mode to Nirvana. But thanks to Legacy Records, the Manchester-based band gets another shot. Because of the infectious, if a bit mopey single “I Wanna to Be Adored, 
The Early November – The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path / 2006 Drive-Thru / 46 Tracks / http://www.theearlynovember.net / http://www.drivethrurecords.com / Reviewed 24 July 2006 In the 1970s, rock gave birth to a child embraced by all called the concept album. Since then, concepts have gone into hiding for the most part only to be resurfaced by The Early November in what could not be called merely a 3-disc…
The Eames Era plays a catchy brand of pop-infused rock that is catchy as all get out starting with “Little Brother†. The track shows The Eames Era as an act that is most comfortable in this earlier genre, while the band still makes the songs salient for the current audience. The band is able to craft shorter songs that make big impressions on anyone listening in. There may not…
“Go To Sleep†is not surprisingly a track that is sedate, a perfect bit of dream-pop that has influences including The Cranberries. “Got Your Note†is another of the same style of tracks but really succeeds in involving a slightly different sound as before with a stop-start sound and activist drums. Each of the tracks on “Double Dutch†is tenderly constructed with instrumentation that only bolster Ashlin’s already smooth vocals.…