Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: May 21, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 2

Tinted Windows – Self-Titled (CD)

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…

Posted on: May 19, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Aiden – Knives (CD)

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…

Posted on: May 19, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Candella – EP (CD)

“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,…

Posted on: May 19, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

Estrella Cristina – This Is Life EP (CD)

“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 “Nonstop”, 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…

Posted on: May 18, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Smirnoff Melon (Vodka)

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…

Posted on: May 17, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Eddie Cochran / Gene Vincent – Rock N Roll Rebels Live (CD)

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…

Posted on: May 15, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

The Flying Change – Pain Is A Reliable Signal (CD)

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…

Posted on: May 15, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Chris Lake – Crazy (CD)

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…

Posted on: May 11, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Spyro Gyra – Down The Wire (CD)

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 Wire”, 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…

Posted on: May 11, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Mike Jones – The Voice (CD)

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 Hoes”) – and nary a weak track to be heard here. The…

Posted on: May 9, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Kaleo Futuristo – The Future Is Now! (CD)

“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 Thought”, creating for listeners a track that is truly…

Posted on: May 9, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 1

Jennifer Logue –Pretty EP (CD)

“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…

Posted on: May 6, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe (CD)

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.

Posted on: May 4, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The Casting Out – Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks! (CD)

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.

Posted on: May 2, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life (Columbia)

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 Hour”).

Posted on: April 28, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Steve Kilbey – Painkiller (CD)

As bassist and front man for Australian rockers The Church, Steve Kilbey has had a hand in turning out some of the more influential psychedelic pop songs of the late 80’s/early 90’s alternative scene. On his latest solo offering, his sixth, however Kilbey is running out of steam. The Aussie rocker known for penning classics like “Under the Milky Way” and “Metropolis,” simply sounds conflicted with this uneven record.

Posted on: April 24, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! (CD)

A cappella is not supposed to sound this good. The vocals-only genre exists solely for our amusement and ridicule, right? Andy, the dork from The Office was in a college a cappella group, so it’s gotta be uncool, right? Ben Folds may have finally made the oft maligned musical form hip with the release of Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!

Posted on: April 22, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Life & Times – Tragic Boogie (Arena Rock) (CD)

Proving loud and beautiful can coexist, Missouri’s Life & Times has been able to live up to the hype surrounding their 2003 EP. The trio, including former Shiner founder Allen Epley, manage to sound a lot bigger than just three guys. Tragic Boogie, the group’s latest full length, though not perfect, is still a solid step in the right direction. With its swirling guitars and light industrial feel (Think My…

Posted on: April 22, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 1

Pretenders Guitar Givewaway from NeuFutur and LP33.tv !

If there’s one thing that legendary Pretender’s front woman Chrissie Hynde swears by, it’s a good Fender Telecaster. Now’s your chance to enter to win this one of a kind autographed guitar from NeuFutur Magazine, LP33.tv and the Pretenders. You can enter once a day, so the more you come back–the better your chances. The contest ends on May 13th, and if you’re the lucky winner, you’ll get an email…