“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Richard Swift has the sound, voice and influences an artist who’s been around for at least the past three decades. Lyrically, you have to go all the way back to Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman in the 70’s to find an appropriate contemporary and his music picks up where Jeff Lyne left off, boasting a brilliant knack for weaving literate pop sounds that go down smooth.
What a difference two years make. On Trio B.C., the band’s sophomore record, San Antonio’s Girl in a Coma has matured greatly, both musically and lyrically. It’s not that their debut was bad, just very clear that the band grew up listening to The Smiths and not a whole lot else.
“Dr Jekyll†is a perfect track. I had not heard of Naree before receiving a copy of their “Jekyll & Hyde†disc for review, but after hearing this song, I am hooked. The style of music that this female-led act puts out is something that moves between alternative rock, pop, and even punk at points. This means that lead singer Naree simultaneously sounds like Avril Lavigne, Natalie Imbruglia, and Hayley…
“Krazy†is a bit of strong guitar-driven rock-infused music that takes on all genres and musical styles equally. This means that there are hints of hard rock and even alternative placed alongside the dominant rock/country mélange that first hits listeners. “Krazy†is destined for radio rotation; with high energy and Young following on a musical tradition that goes all the way back to Cat Stevens and Jackson Browne, the track…
What The Swamphouse do on “The Fade†is create a completely unique style of music that will have listeners’ turning their heads when the first notes of “The Fade†come on. “Break Down†ties together funk, soul, and rap into something that really stretches over the course of the last thirty years in music. The flow that is achieved during the track is tight as all get out, providing an…
It has been nearly a decade since Capitol Records released what individuals still hold up as one of the best collections of Sinatra’s music specifically, and of how to create a definitive collection generally. The current leaders at Capitol are trying their hands at capturing lightning in a bottle twice. First off, all the songs that are on “Classic Sinatra II†have been digitally mastered, no matter whether they are…