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. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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€). John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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. John…
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! John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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…
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…
Cincinnati’s favorite sons, 500 Miles To Memphis, obviously have their share of Willie and Waylon CDs in constant rotation on their tour bus. Probably best described as country punk, the band blends the noise and energy of Social Distortion with the song writing of the Highwaymen. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
Throughout the years since they formed (around 9, if people were checking), Black Lips have continued to refine the sound that was first heard on their 2003 self-titled debut. “200 Million Thousand†is their follow-up release to their 2007 Vice debut, “Good Bad Not Evilâ€, and immediately gives listeners a fresh slate which to appreciate the band’s music. “Take My Heart†is a bit of retro, taking together the psychedelic,…
The Number Twelve Looks Like You is one of the few bands that have continually evolved and added to their sound over the course of their career. “Worse Than Alone†marks their fourth album and first since 2007’s “Mongrelâ€. The disc itself starts out with “Glory Kingdomâ€, and immediately hits listeners with a more fluid dynamic, manifested through increasingly intense and intricate time signatures. The fury in which they craft…
While I would normally write two distinct reviews for the new Leonard Cohen release, I find that the full experience of Cohen’s performance is essential to understand the context behind each and every inclusion on each of these two releases. Each song performed by Cohen during this 2008 concert at the O2 Arena should further solidify eir place among the pantheon of the best performers of all time: the recording…
I had no idea that Black Label Society had been rocking for a decade, but “Skullageâ€, their greatest hits DVD/CD collection (to be released on Tuesday) is evidence providing that point specifically. The CD itself is a blend of the band’s best known hits and rarities, while the DVD is a collage of different material from all periods of the band’s length history. The CD ends with a qyuartet of…