“Fade†is a perfect introduction to Sweden’s latest export, Leo Nielsen. Nielsen (better known as just “Leoâ€), begins “Fade†with nothing more than a twinkling piano. This simple arrangement tells books worth of narrative, uniting with Nielsen’s soulful, softly spoken vocals soon after. The style of vocals that Nielsen contributes to “Fade†is something pretty unique, coming forth as a blend of Coldplay and Lionel Richie. The choir-like arrangement that…
Chances are if you have been involved in the bar scene in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania over the last decade, you have seen the Cosmic American Derelicts play out. Their brand of rock-cum-country is something that can be appreciated by anyone, and with the opening track “Sleepwalking Killerâ€, Cosmic American Derelicts are poised to increase their fan base considerably. This track is a driving bit of country-infused rock…
I can see Zach Raizman coming forth with the tracks on “Zachâ€, his latest EP, on a path that will ultimately place him alongside the Jonas Brothers and Naked Brothers Band as a king of pop. After individuals hear the first track on this eponymous EP, “Superstar†, they will likely come to the same conclusion. “Superstar†links together the pop tradition of a Jesse McCartney and an Aaron Carter…
“Whisper’s Song†begins Martino’s “A Storyâ€. This track is integral in understanding the range of approaches and styles which Martino is capable: in the space of a few minutes, Martino has really done more than many musicians have done in the course of a disc. The track’s five-plus minute runtime places it at the longer end of “A Storyâ€â€™s tracks, but the calming, serene nature of the track will get…
Individuals might not be familiar with Craig Bickhardt from name alone. For film buffs, however, individuals may know of Bickhardt from the compositions that he contributed to the classic flick “Tender Mercies”, that starred Robert Duvall. If the individual would not know Bickhardt from that linkage, he has also penned hits for stars like Pam Tillis and Martina McBride. Knowing that he penned hits for those individuals does not give…
Over The Rhine is an act that shocked me. I was guessing a much more folksy, classical style out of “Discount Fireworksâ€, but I hear something like a slow-baked version of Sheryl Crow. The opening track, “Last Night On Earth Againâ€, is a very radio-friendly song and only goes into a more musical style when the slide guitar plays at the peripheries. This sound continues through “If Nothing Elseâ€. The…
There is a heavy amount of alt-country present during Leeroy Stagger’s “Where I Liveâ€. The vocals seem to blend John Mellencamp and Tom Petty. This means that while the songs are eminently radio-friendly, they have a little bit of grit present that establishes eir as someone completely different from what is pushed at the moment. The material is a little sparse for a nearly-five minute track, but Stagger ends the…
Benea Reach starts off their “Monument Bineothan†in a pretty normal, middle of the road way. There might be a tremendous amount of “heaviness†present, but the first track “Ground Slayer†does little to really compel listeners to focus in. The band is able to make their compositions fit together nicely, and make a play for the Headbanger’s Ball group, but the only thing interesting during the disc’s first track…
Forever in Motion is a band that I was not familiar with before putting on “The Beautiful Unknownâ€. The first track, “Magicâ€, seems to add together equal parts radio rock and emo music. A piano blends together with a set of vocals that itself seems to be influenced by those coming out of bands like Hinder and Linkin Park. The band slowly adds bits and pieces to their overall sound…
Abigail Williams start out their “Legend†EP with “From the Buried Heartâ€. During this opening track, there seems to be a blend of progressive metal with a brand of metal that looks back towards the eighties style of metal. However, instead of Abigail Williams merely attempting to revive a certain period in metal, their smartest move during this introductory track has to be the inclusion of a newer rock style.…
Genre-wise I feel like Motion Picture Demise is kind of all over the board. “Zip. Boom. Hah.” leaves me feeling a little lost as to a genre to tag on them. Mostly, their music is a solid time investment; I think all can find at least one song on here that touches on their style of choice. My largest criticism is to cut the song length down a bit, by…
Individuals know who exactly Elton John is. There is no use describing eir career or the trials and tribulations that marked the music or the style that created the music. Rather, individuals need to know that there are seventeen of John’s hits on the CD, with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Bennie and the Jets”, and “Crocodile Rock” as three of the first four songs that individuals hear. There are other…
Individuals know who exactly Elton John is. There is no use describing eir career or the trials and tribulations that marked the music or the style that created the music. Rather, individuals need to know that there are seventeen of John’s hits on the CD, with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Bennie and the Jets”, and “Crocodile Rock” as three of the first four songs that individuals hear. There are other…
“Unlucky Stars†is the first track on the album, and it paints Point One as a newer type of rock act that blends together hints of Good Charlotte with the slightly harder sounds of a Korn, White Zombie, or Ministry. What results is something that is immediately ready for popular radio, and this same type of sound is present in droves during the disc’s second track, “Oxygenâ€. The band decides…
I like Chelsea. They were present on a number of different punk compilations that I have heard over the years. This album is a new one for the band, and it is important because it features the trio of James Stevenson, Chris Bashford, and Gene October. This trio was integral in creating the Chelsea sound, and they have not been together in the recording studio since 1979.
Individuals that have been around the music scene for a few years will undoubtedly have heard of Jeff Buckley. I know that I got into music a few years too late to hear any of Buckley’s stuff back when it was new, but I heard the legend of Buckley’s name every few months for about the last decade. When I actually received a copy of “So Realâ€, I was able…
It has been a few years since I have heard anything in the way of discussion about Limp Bizkit, or any of the members from that band. Black Light Burns features former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland, as well as members from acts like The Esoteric, Open Hand, Turn of the Screw and From First to Last. “Mesopotamia†is the first track on “Cruel Melodyâ€, and individuals that are looking…
There may not be much beyond a set of vocals and an acoustic guitar to start off “One More Doorâ€, but the skill shown by each piece dwarfs that of practically any other individual or act that has committed music to disc in the last few years. The diverse array of influences that act as a foundation for Cowdery on “One More Door†allow anyone listening in to identify with…
“Girl Like This†begins with the self-titled track; the song is one that brings forth influences from individuals as wide-spread as Carrie Underwood, the Dixie Chicks, and Sheryl Crow. The strong vocals that issue forth from the beginning of “Girl Like This†will ensure that listeners stick with the disc for a good, long time. “Mama Needs A Good Girl’s Night Out†has a guitar that immediately explodes in listeners’…
The Empty Mirror is a self-described “Nightmaricana†act, and have been blowing away live audiences since 2005. This previously Ohio-based act has moved up to Washington state, and have released “Overwhelm†after countless nights spent tweaking this album into what listeners will undoubtedly call their “magnum opusâ€. The disc is broken down into three segments of five tracks, which each track and section establishing a little more of a story.…