People come forth as an intense type of band that can take on Journey, Weezer, and The Cars all the space of a few seconds. The band’s unique style comes out perfectly during “Song For The Peopleâ€, a track that shows the beauty of the eighties, captured alongside the angular sound of more current rock genres. The slightly raspy vocals that are present during this track work off the smooth…
It has been a few years since we have had the opportunity to review an act from Israel, and Jive 645 is the perfect continuance of solid acts coming from that side of the world. “Ma Nishar†is how many listeners will be able to learn about Jive 64, and there simply cannot be a better introduction. This dancer track touches upon all forms of the genre, linking together disco,…
The rich interplay that is had during the introduction to “Kiteâ€â€ is something that touches me, while the vocals that enter into the equation are unique, to say the least. This results in a track that is special; with a number of distinct genres and shifts in sound, what results here is something that listeners will not soon forget. It is perhaps the inclusion of the strings during the track…
If I were to pick a wine that anyone could enjoy, I would choose promisQous California white table wine. The wine is sweet and satisfying, yet crisp and refreshing. I have a good friend, who I like to have an occasional drink with, she had never had any white wine to speak of, and the only red wine she had ever had was dry and powerful, so needless to say…
Likely the bastard child of The Replacements and Cheap Trick, New Jersey’s Dipsomaniacs play boozy bar rock and power pop stripped of any pretention. On Social Crutch, their sixth full length, there are few surprises, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. Sure the sound is a little closer to power pop than the garage rock most associate with the band, but the group’s central themes of booze, partying and…
Tinted Windows’ debut is getting here just in time. Every pop-punk/emo band that was too late to jump onto that bandwagon as it was heading out of town, is now calling itself a power pop band, despite not knowing their Cheap Trick from Their Raspberries. With Tinted Windows, there’s finally a stellar super group with the perfect pedigree (including a member of Cheap Trick) to remind the kids exactly what…
Aiden always was that band that the younger set got into and the older set maligned. I believe that the 10 cuts on “Knives” are what Aiden precisely needed to really take their music to the next level, without compromising the sound that brought them fame in the first place. From the introductory strains of “Killing Machine”, what listeners will hear from the band is something that is more mature…
“Fragile†is the first Candella track that I was turned on to, and what is immediately noticeable about the track is the energy that each member of the band brings to the track. While the instrumental intensity of Candella can never be questioned, the emotive vocals bridge the gap between emo and metal, making for a track that goes in countless directions, whether it be resembling Three Days Grace, Trapt,…
“Nonstop†is the focal point on the “This Is Life†EP, and this track is something that acts as a great introduction to Estrella Cristina. This is due to the eclectic composition of “Nonstopâ€, which takes on a wide body of work in the formulation of Cristina’s sound. There are hints of classic alternative artists like Natalie Cole, Jewel, and Lisa Loeb just as there are subtle touches of contemporary…
Smirnoff Melon has some big shoes to fill, considering that their Tuscan Lemonade is one of the best cocktails that I have ever had. This time around, they have bumped up the alcohol content and have given individuals a much different (and frankly ignored) flavor in melon. When individuals first open the twisted bottle, what comes forth in regards to the nose is something that actually smells like it is…
These recordings all came from a time nearly fifty years ago, on a medium (radio) that has been shown to be crackly and hard to hear. However, Yellow / SPV have done a heck of a job remastering these recordings to properly showcase the energy and power that these early rock and rollers brought to the table. This set of recordings is impressive considering the fact that there are introductions…
The quiet, at times deadpan sound of The Flying Change during “Broken Bow†reminds me of the music from Natural Born Killers; the hints of hope that play at the periphery is pretty much the only thing that distinguishes it as being different in terms of general sound. The amount of bass in the track marks the only thing negative about this introductory track; it engulfs some of the band’s…
This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to review a Nervous Records release, and to get an idea of how storied Nervous Records really is, consider the fact that they have had at one point Josh Wink, Armand Van Helden, and Masters At Work. Chris Lake is no slouch: 2002 marked eir first entry into the collective mindset, when ey released “Santiago de Cuba†after a…
Spyro Gyra has really gotten a fire under their collective butts the last few years, releasing a string of memorable albums in as short of a time frame as is humanly possible. Their latest, 2009’s “Down The Wireâ€, is more of the same. The disc starts off with the titular track, which immediately blasts listeners with a tightly-knit bass line that is pushed to higher and higher levels with absolutely…
Before “The Voice†came out, I could have sworn that Mike Jones was destined to be a one-hit wonder. However, the work that ey has put forth on “The Voice†is enough to cement eir in the annals of rap music. On this release, Jones is all business – there is only one skit (the introduction to “Scandalous Hoesâ€) – and nary a weak track to be heard here. The…
“I Thought†is a tasty bit of R&B that draws equal inspiration from all different facets of the genre, tying together Aaliyah, Bow Wow, and even Justin Timberlake. The track itself benefits from a solid backing beat, creating for Kaleo a song that should be played on rotation on R&B radio through the country. “Love Slave†further builds off of “I Thoughtâ€, creating for listeners a track that is truly…
“Incognito†is a track that will ensure that listeners are singing it months after they first hear it. Logue brings to the track a timeless nature that ensures that fans of Wilson Phillips and Taylor Swift alike will love the song. The soft vocals of Logue during the titular track balance with the deftly-crafted instrumentation to make a track that would work well on alt-rock, collegiate, or even top 40…
Depeche Mode, one of Britain’s best known synth bands, has been slammed by fans and critics for abandoning the sound that made them one of the few late 80’s/early 90’s bands that managed to be both cool enough for the hipsters and accepted by the broader public.
Though The Casting Out is led by former BoySetsFire singer Nathan Gray, don’t expect this new outfit to sound anything remotely like the post hardcore band he used to front. On the band’s debut, Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks!, the angry guitars and angsty bellows have been replaced by a more pop/punk sound and a few song-along choruses.
Though not as prolific as sometime tour mate Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan has yet to show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. On his 33rd record, Together Through Life, Dylan has clearly gone back to the old Sun and Chess Recordings for inspiration and the result is fantastic for long time Dylan devotees (another obvious influence is Dylan’s Sirius/XM radio show “Theme Time Radio Hourâ€).