With just seven songs, the Black Whales manage to make a damn fine introduction to the world. With influences that are as varied as The Clash, The Beach Boys, Talking Heads and The Kinks, Origins manages to incorporate a myriad of influences while still sounding starkly original. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
As someone that was born a number of years after Skyriders was released, I had to do a little bit in the way of research before I could pop in the score. The film itself is well over the top, using a well-trodden plot device (the lead character’s family is kidnapped by baddies) and resolving the conflict by nothing less than hanggliding to save the day. It seems to me…
Though not exactly prolific, Australia’s Sick Puppies know how to pace themselves. Though the band has been around since 1997, Tri-Polar marks only their second full length. With a dozen songs, the band makes the most out of the time they are given in the studio. Reminiscent of mid-to-late 90’s alternative rock – mixing everything from metal to pop rock – the band sounds like a blend of Silverchair and…
“One For Katie†is the first track on “We’re Gonna Have A Parade!â€. Immediately, what comes forth is a band that is confident and technically skilled; the act’s overall sound here touches upon The Ataris, MxPx, and even NoFX. Pop-punk, rock, and even mid-nineties emo are all here, and “We’re Gonna Have A Parade!†has just started. With each subsequent track, Alert the Press adds something new to their toolbox.…
“Estranger†is a track that could easily be played on any hair metal station, but Vangough really makes the track germane for today’s listeners through a perfect balance of theatric metal with a power and fury that cannot be denied. One has to also look at the length of the compositions that are on “Manikin Paradeâ€; many of the tracks are in the five to nine minute realm, showcasing one…
“Indestructible†showcases Play The Angel as an act that can shoot between rock, emo, punk, and hard rock in the course of just a few seconds. The act has a sound that is similar to what other bands have placed on the radio in the last few years, but Play The Angel look to increase the odds significantly. After listeners take in just one of the five cuts on the…
“Let Me In†is the first track that listeners should focus in on when they want to educate themselves about Gaby V. The touching guitar work that opens up the track acts as the perfect entry into the Paul Simon-like allure of his vocals. There is a vibrant sound here that will ensure that listeners remember this track, no matter how long it has been since listeners would have put…
It’s been six long years since their last release, but Reno Divorce has made the wait more than worth it. On Tears Before Breakfast, their third record, the Denver-based foursome plays blistering punk rock better than most of their contemporaries. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
There are a number of things you can criticize about Arthur Kane’s posthumous memoir, but being frank is not one of them. In his decades in the making book, Kane, the bassist and co-founding member of the New York Dolls, is certainly not shy about opening up and telling off those he feels have slighted him in the past, from New Your Doll’s front man David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter)…
Toronto-based musician Steve Singh has taken the DIY ethos to heart. On his latest, Heavy Metal Sunset, the singer/songwriter wrote, performed, mixed and produced all 10 songs. Mining a stellar list of influences as varied as Stevie Wonder and Glenn Tillbrook, Singh makes pop music like no one else performing today. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
Just seconds into Cool Device’s self-titled debut, through the blistering gnash of distorted chords, its clear front man/guitarist Jason Frederick has some demons to exercise. You can’t blame the guy; the whole reason he started Cool Devices was a reaction to news that his old Columbus, OH-based group The Means were getting back together without him. Now based in Chicago, Frederick’ new band Cool Devices manages to rip through seven…
British Sea Power is one of the acts that, despite all the fame that they have received in the 6 years since their first album, The Decline of British Sea Power, we have not had the chance to cover here for NeuFutur. Luckily enough, Rough Trade US sent us on over a copy, and we were quickly floored by the band. “Man of Aran†starts off with a titular track…
A Skylit Drive has just released their second full length (their third release) in “Adelphiaâ€. This June release has expanded considerably the band’s sound from 2008’s “Wires…and the Concept of Breathing†and 2007’s “She Watched The Skyâ€. The disc itself begins with “Prelude To A Dreamâ€, a track that sets the tempo of the disk with clear guitars, rocking drums, and a set of vocals that both attack and smooth…
Despite releasing seven studio albums, and a catalogue of truly great alternative country songs, The Jayhawks were never able to move past the cult band status before going on hiatus in 2003. Listening to their just-released anthology – 20 songs culled from all of the band’s records – it’s a bit surprising that the Minneapolis band never reached rock star status. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
Dream Theater was always a band that a number of my friends like, but that I never found myself getting into. I was tapped to review this, their latest album, and am glad that I had a chance to review their tenth studio album. The album is expansive, with the band approaching progressive rock, traditional metal, and even more instrumental and ambient sorts of compositions over the course of the…
It seems that 2009 may just be the year of Ohio bands breaking it big. Where Bobaflex first flexed their muscles on a national stage years ago, this year, both Kid Cudi and This Is A Shakedown look poised to make some major splashes in their respective genres. “Radio†starts off with solid interplay between the guitar and drums, while the vocals fit in to the mix in a way…
“STFUppercut†is a fast bit of hardcore punk that never lets listeners take a break. However, unlike many of the bands that bring fury but little in the way of harmony, The Blackout is able to tie all constituent elements together to make for a sound that will appease all. “Save Our Selves†has all the trappings of a track that will be played on any rock station this summer.…
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has shown that sequels can do better than originals in all formats, whether it be special effects, storyline, or sheer amounts of money taken in at the box office. The same thing can be said for the soundtrack, which links together old and new, rock and emo, and keeps the energy up high through the entirety of the disc. Jay NeuFuturwww.neufutur.com
It took a few albums, but Chapel Hill’s reining alt country heroes Roman Candle have just turned in their iPod killer – not a single track is worth passing over. Oh Tall Tree in the Ear is 11 tracks of beautifully-crafted, well-written country-fused, roots-based indie rock reminiscent of some everyone from classic Big Star to the first couple of Wilco records. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
I believe that The Dear Hunter may be the only band to undertake such a massive story arc; “Act III†is the third part of six that former The Receiving End of Sirens member Casey Crescenzo began with 2006’s Act I†(reviewed at https://neufutur.com/Reviews/thedearhunter.html ). The disc begins with “Writing on a Wallâ€, a track that is tremendously important for both establishing continuity with the other two releases in the…