“Anthropology†is the first hit to be had on Daniel Park’s “These Illusionsâ€. Hints of David Archuleta present themselves immediately, along with individuals like Shawn Mullins, and Jack Johnston. The slightly gritty vocals of Park work perfect with the smooth arrangements that operate as a backdrop for the track. There is no reason that “Anthropology†should not be the next big track in the vein of Jars of Clay’s “Art…
The country rock of Dave Lykins has never been done this well by any other artist. This means that the disc’s first track, “Houston”, has a decidedly Warren Zevon influence placed alongside a decidedly strong set of country influences. This unique pairing gives listeners what they need to continue listening to the disc, ensuring that “Greetings From The Riviera” has a similar spark. The track brings a little more country…
“Stuck in a Dream” is Daniel Lenz’ debut album. From the first few seconds of the intro track, “I Do It Again”, I find that incredibly hard to believe. The sound of the song is too crisp, the compositions too intense, for this to be the first solo effort from this artist. This is Josh Wink, this is the Chemical Brothers, but with compositions that are fresh and new and…
“Song F” begins “Truth Be Told”; this track immediately blasts listeners with a wall of sound before settling in that is aggressive and furious, using a set of vocals that draw on artists and acts like Mike Ness and Sponge. The band works well in the hard rock category, but the gritty, swirling sound approached during this track will make this track and subsequent tracks on “Truth Be Told” readymade…
Joey Cape is certainly not suffering for lack of musical outlets. As the front man for Lagwagon, he also bounces between Bad Astronaut, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Afterburner and The Playing Favorites. You can now add solo artist to his every-expanding resume. Though he had a split record with No Use For a Name singer Tony Sly a few years ago, “Bridge†is Cape’s first full length solo…
I must be getting soft in my old age of nineteen. I know what you’re thinking reader, ‘nineteen? psh..’ but in “scene years” I’m as old as dirt and should have dropped out ages ago for a life of courdroy pants and synthesized goodness. Well, I just can’t but after listening to The Pink Spiders latest release sadly but truly I’m getting soft but who would feel all warm and…
The Blue Island Tribe link together a chunky bass line, sizzling horns, and a funky outlook in the creation of a ska rock hybrid that is established as an entirely new entity. This means that the Blue Island Tribe are trying to craft their own sounds rather than merely to gain success through the aping of successful bands’ sounds. This also means that tracks like “Ecstasy†are freaking amazing. No…
Rhett May begins his latest EP, “Calcutta Boy†with “Little White Powder Under Your Noseâ€, a track that sets the tone for the rest of the release. The tone of “Little White Powder Under Your Nose†will immediately elicit comparisons to seventies rock performers, whether it be Jackson Browne or Warren Zevon. The tight instrumentation that is present during this track has an equal in the early releases of Rush,…
Listeners will likely first be exposed to Faces of March when the first track on “Confessionsâ€, “Who’s To Blameâ€, kicks in. That is a good thing, because this track will immediately establish the act as one of the premiere rock acts of 2008. “Who’s To Blame†has the same emotional intensity of a Skillet or Evanescence, while the female vocals that will immediately hit listeners go beyond those artists, even…
“Freedom†is the first track on Fiona Joy Hawkins’ latest album, “Blue Dreamsâ€. The emotive piano work of Hawkins is immediately sown during “Freedomâ€, a track that dovetails nicely into “Feeling Sunshineâ€. “Feeling Sunshine†has a quicker tempo that will get listeners’ hearts beating as Hawkins attempts to emote through her piano. However, the strongest track on the early reaches of “Blue Dreams†has to be “From The Outsideâ€. The…
“My Disgrace†is an interesting track. During this song, This Blue Heaven crafts a style that has not been heard previously in music. This means that there are vocals that link together Elton John, Elastica, and even a little bit of the Scissor Sisters. The bouncy arrangements will remind listeners of acts like The Sounds, while there is a disco style that plays at the periphery of the track. It…
“Carolina Free†is a touching song, ensuring that all that listen in to Michael Anthony Milton’s “Follow Your Call†will focus in for the long haul. Nothing more is needed than a sincere set of vocals and a guitar for Milton to spread his message, while the added elements (Drums during “Carolina Free†only make this message more palatable. The slower tempo of “Still My Little Child†is perfect, allowing…
Todd Snider has never made a bad record. Sure some have been better than others; some take several listens before they finally click and no two records are ever really the same, but none have ever been duds – his latest, the 8-song Peace Queer, included. Snider has always been comfortable doing his own thing, even when signed to a major label for his first couple of releases, he never…
“Eat Your Dinner†is the first track on this self-titled effort, and the three and a half minute run time of the track gives listeners a full range of the styles and influences that play such a major role in Cardamis’ development. “Eat Your Dinner†is a track that has a heavy debt to the dance music of the mid-nineties, all while keeping the camp of a Freddy Mercury or…
Based on the past few years, you’d think every grizzled punk rocker wants nothing more than to be a folk musician. Hot Water Music front man Chuck Ragan put his band on ice for a year or two to pick up an acoustic guitar; Bad Religion’s Greg Graffin went rootsy on his solo record last year; and former Avail singer Tim Barry has been unplugged for several records now.
You can go into just about any major city today, toss a bagpipe into a crowd and hit a band playing Celtic punk rock. Over the past decade or so, it seems like everyone wants to marry The Pogues use of traditional Irish instruments and themes with the driving beat and heavy guitars of The Clash. Though not as well-known as The Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly, the Chicago-based six piece…
It’s hard to hear the songs off of Asteria’s self-titled EP over the sound of the final nails being loudly banged into the emo/pop-punk coffin. The paint-by-numbers, overproduced, polished-all-the-jagged- edges-until-they’re-shiny-and-smooth sound from this Indiana-based five piece is so mundane that the only thing to distinguish one song from the next is the titles.
Sonic Bliss begins their “Loved to Death†with “Saharaâ€. “Sahara†is a confident rock track that has hints of Disturbed and Static-X present, even as the band crafts a unique sound that will easily clue listeners in as to the identify of Sonic Bliss. The band is able to create an iconic sound and shift it up enough through the track’s six minute run time to keep listeners firmly planted…
Individuals may know Stack$ as the owner of Sobe Entertainment (the label that released “Crazee N Confusedâ€), along with releases by Brooke Hogan and signing luminaries such as Jah Cure. Bouncing back from a June injury that could have left eir dead, Stack$ looks to reach an entirely new plateau with “Crazee N Confusedâ€. Where a number of newer rappers’ releases are ignored by the mainstream because they do not…
Decades ago, Waylon Jennings earned his spot on the Outlaw Country Mount Rushmore, sandwiched somewhere between Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Anyone wondering if he really deserved that honor just needs to listen to the first few tracks off Waylon Forever, the last album he recorded. His distinctive baritone is as strong as ever and the songs just as memorable. He’s joined on the record by his son Shooter Jennings…