The Duke Spirit – Neptune / 2008 Shangri-La / 12 Tracks / http://www.dukespirit.com / There is no reason why the opening track, “I Do Believeâ€, should be on this disc at all. The track does not give individuals any sense of who The Duke Spirit are or what they are intending to do on their “Neptuneâ€. In fact, the repetitions of the phrase are something that will actually draw individuals…
Life In Bed – Passed and Presents / 2008 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.lifeinbed.net / The style of music that Life in Bed plays during the first track on the disc (“Idealism Is A Conceptâ€) is a style that reflects a heavy influence by bands like Radiohead, Stone Temple Pilots, and The Cure. The band meanders around during this first track, and I feel that a more authoritative track…
OST: Bonneville / 2008 Lakeshore / 15 Tracks / http://www.lakeshore-records.com / The style of “Bonneville’s†soundtrack is interesting. The first half of the disc consists of tracks by a number of individuals both famous (Donovan, Amos Lee) and either forgotten or less popular (Chelo, Nick Kershaw). The second half of the disc consists of tracks by Jeff Cardoni, an up and coming composer that has scored things as diverse as…
Anarchy Club – A Single Drop of Red / 2007 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.anarchyclub.net / Hey, I didn’t know that White Zombie recorded songs under the moniker Anarchy Club. Seriously, the band starts out “Graveyard Stickshift†with a type of rock music that blends together equal parts Monster Magnet, “La Sextorcistoâ€-era White Zombie and Fu Manchu. This blend of style allows the band to keep current music fans…
Fanny Grace – Rise and Shine / 2008 Self / 14 Tracks / http://www.fannygrace.com / This Oklahoma act has shared the stage with luminaries as well-known as Merle Haggard, and even a cursory glance at “Rise and Shine†will show listeners why they were tapped for that honor. The band has been recognized before – they have won KZLA’s songwriting contest, and have played with other country stars – Willie…
Little Beirut – High Dive / 2008 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.littlebeirut.com / The style of music with which Little Beirut start off their “High Dive†is somethignt hat is emotionally intense but full of the same jangly, guitar-driven indie rock that individuals have heard from acts as wide as Coldplay and Radiohead. The band starts the disc with “She’s A Martyrâ€,  a track that links together these two…
Lemuria – Get Better / 2008 Asian Man / 12 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/lemuria / http://www.asianmanrecords.com / Lemuria excites me. I had little expectations for the band coming out of just looking at the CD, but it really took me sticking the disc into my player and hearing “Pants†to really get behind the act. There is not really a referent to any of the band’s unique style. Two vocalists –…
OST: Bonneville / 2008 Lakeshore / 15 Tracks / http://www.lakeshore-records.com / The style of “Bonneville’s†soundtrack is interesting. The first half of the disc consists of tracks by a number of individuals both famous (Donovan, Amos Lee) and either forgotten or less popular (Chelo, Nick Kershaw). The second half of the disc consists of tracks by Jeff Cardoni, an up and coming composer that has scored things as diverse as…
Nik Freitas – Sun Down / 2008 Team Love / 10 Tracks / http://www.nikfreitas.com / http://www.team-love.com / Freitas has been around for a few years before signing on to Team Love. That means that there are three other albums that individuals can pick up if they like what is happening on “Sun Downâ€: Here’s Laughing At You, Heavy Mellow, and Voicing The Hammers. The first, titular track is an example…
The Wombats – S/T / 2008 Kids in America / 6 Tracks / http://www.thewombats.co.uk /  http://www.thekidsinamerica.net / Man, if there was a band that sounded like the prototypal act that has rocketed up the Popworld charts in the last two years, it would be The Wombats. This is not a bad thing, and the band’s brand of pop-cum-indie rock is really catchy. “Backfire At The Disco†sounds as if it…
Flogging Molly – Float / 2008 SideOneDummy / 11 Tracks / http://www.floggingmolly.com / http://www.sideonedummy.com / “Requiem For A Dying Song†is the first track on “Floatâ€, and it shows that Flogging Molly have taken the years in between 2004’s “Within A Mile of Home†and this album to create songs that are very intricate but still have the same blend of catchy Irish and punk genres. The three and a…
Holy Rolemodel – The Sum of Our Parts / 2006 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.holyrolemodel.com / “Bleed America†is the first track on “The Sum of Our Partsâ€, and it shows that Holy Rolemodel is a punk act that links together a number of punk sub-genres. There is not a specific set of acts that the band tries to ape, but there is a heavier influence on the band…
Intodown – Brave New World / 2007 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.intodown.com / Intodown is an act that loves their long tracks. This means that the shortest composition on “Brave new World†is 5 minutes, while the next (the eponymous track) is 7 minutes long. In the middle of the album, there is a 21 minute track. Now, whether the band will succeed or fail is really dependent on…
Great Northern – Sleepy Eepee / 2008 Eenie Meenie / 5 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/greatnorthern / http://www.eeniemeenie.com / Eenie Meenie has tagged this as “The Prequel For Trading Twilight For Daylightâ€, and these five tracks do a damn good job in giving individuals a good idea what Great Northern sounded like from 2003 to 2004. The dreamy brand of indie music that they play is given a rough form here. The…
Quiet Life – Act Natural / 2008 Safety Meeting / 11 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/quietlife / The bluesy rock style that Quiet Life starts off their “Act Natural†with is something that could easily break the band big as soon as the right individuals find the album. It is not only the catchiness of the act that will sell listeners on this album, but their ability to create order in chaos…
Miwa Gemini – This Is How I Found You / 2008 Rock Park / 9 Tracks / http://www.miwagemini.com / “Picnic†is the first track on “This Is How I Found Youâ€, and it shows Miwa Gemini as an individual that really wants to take eir path in light. There is little present on this introductory track that will establish eir as following in a specific musical tradition. If anything, the…
The Lady Tigra – Please Mr. Boom Box / 2007 High Score / 12 Tracks / http://www.theladytigra.com / I really didn’t know what to expect from “Please Mr. Boom Boxâ€, but after hearing it, I would have to say that The Lady Tigra will be the next big rap thing. This means that “I’m Back†plays on the styles of rappers like Lil’ Mama, Gravy Train, and even Fergie. The…
Rose of Jericho – These City Lights / 2008 Self / 9 Tracks / http://www.roseofjericho.com / The Rose of Jericho is a plant that is found in the Middle East; imagine a tumbleweed that can come back to life a number of times. The band Rose of Jericho is a band that has been around since 2002; 2003 saw their debut album, “Applause of Wingsâ€, released. “These City Lights†originally…
Victims of Circumstance – Do It Yourself / 2007 Financial / 13 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/victimsofcircumstance / Victims of Circumstance play a blend of ska/punk that has not really been heard much since the late years of the nineties. This means that the act blends together equal parts The Vandals and Less Than Jake. Despite the fact that the band plays a style of music that is not that common anymore,…
Crisis in Hollywood – Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea / 2008 Financial / 13 Tracks / http://www.crisisinhollywood.com / Crisis in Hollywood consists of a number of members from acts that have all gained some sort of notoriety in their respective region’s music scenes. This means that there are members that spent time in From Adam to Atom, Timebomb, Ask Me Later, and The Staredown. While each of…