The Exit Strategy – City of Microphones / 2008 One Percent / 12 Tracks / http://www.onepercentpress.com / The Exit Strategy have not been around for too terribly long; they formed in 2004. Considering that they were working on this album likely in 2006 and 2007, that does not give them all that much time to perfect their sound. However, individuals just need to listen to a track like “X-Rays†and…
Bayard Russell – Selftitled / 2006 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/bayardrussell Individuals that concern themselves with the indie NYC scene may know Bayard Russell. This is due to the fact that ey is the lead vocalist and bassist for the seminal NYC act Negative Ken. If you have went to a show at places such as Arlene’s Grocery, Snitch, or the Orange Bear, there is a good chance you…
Blackmore’s Night – Paris Moon / 2007 Steamhammer / http://www.blackmoresnight.com / Individuals that are unsure exactly who the eponymous “Blackmore†is in Blackmore’s Night, it is Ritchie Blackmore, who may be more well known for eir stints in both Deep Purple and Rainbow. While the seeds for Blackmore’s Night were first laid in 1990, the act did not come up with a full length album until 1997. However, since 1997,…
Putumayo Presents Latin Reggae / 2008 Putumayo / 11.Tracks / http://www.putumayo.com / This is another one in the compilation of different world music CDs that Putumayo has put out in the last few years. For those individuals that are not in the know, what Putumayo does is pick a specific set of musicians, whether they be Middle Eastern, Eastern European, or the like, and then find a strong set of…
The Berzerker- Animosity / 2007 Earache Records / 10 Tracks / www.theberzerker.com The Berzerker used to wear masks and dress up as demons. Now they don’t do that. They’re from Australia; headquarters to some of the most brutal and unrelenting Grindcore bands in the world. The Berzerker is no exception. It is fast, It sounds like a Nintendo game and it is very mean. Its very true to the origins…
Lord Belial – Revelation / 2007 Regain Records / 11 Tracks / www.lordbelial.com When true kvlt Black Metal comes to mind, one often thinks of the greats: Mayhem, Emperor, etc. The Church Burnings in Norway, and everything that goes along with that great scene. Well, if you’re into that then you’re going to love this record. From start to finish it is epic and unrelenting. They aren’t reinventing the wheel,…
Belay My Last – The Downfall / 2007 Mediaskare / 13 Tracks/ http://www.myspace.com/belaymylast I had heard a lot of buzz about Belay my last through Myspace and the other various means that metal buzz travels through. I honestly was expecting a fairly generic metalcore band; but was pleasantly surprised to discover upon popping this record into my CD player that this was essentially one of the best new death metal…
Alabama Thunderpussy – Open Fire / 2007 Relapse / 11 Tracks/ www.atprva.com Alabama Thunderpussy is a band that I have heard about for several years. I had heard them on several occasions prior to listening to this record but have never given them the time to honestly give their material a listen. Upon popping this record in I was pleasantly surprised at what I heard. This record shows the band…
Ephel Duath – Ephel Duath / 2007 Earache / 9 tracks / http://www.myspace.com/ephelduath Having not listened Ephel Duath previously and realizing right away that this is a remixes record I decided to check out this band before listening to Pain Remixes the Known. Upon giving them a listen it becomes clear quickly that this band draws its sound from very influential American bands such as Converge, Botch and Coalesce. So…
Fiona Joy Hawkins – Ice: Piano Slightly Chilled / 2007 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.fionajoyhawkins.com / Fiona Joy Hawkins is rapidly becoming a household name. One just needs to look at the hit count for her music video or “Penguin Whispererâ€, which has exceeded 11,000 plays on popular video service Youtube. “Iced Rain†starts off the disc, and it shows Hawkins as immediately bringing listeners into the fold. The…
Lawrence Blatt: Fibonacci’s Dream / 2007 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.lawrenceblatt.com / Lawrence Blatt is one of a few contemporary individuals and groups that are trying to add a little bit of mathematics to music. The other group that comes to mind that works with the Fibonacci sequence is Tool, but the clearer sounds achieved by Blatt on “Fibonacci’s Dream†more closely link this mathematical sequence to established forms…
Keram – Box / 2007 Self / 9 Tracks / http://www.keramsongs.com / Individuals may know who Keram Malicki-Sanchez is, but perhaps not for the reason that one things. Sure, he has provided tracks for “Uptown Girlsâ€, “Brokenâ€, and “Happy Campersâ€, but Keram is better known for the roles that he played on American History X, CSI, 24, ER, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. For individuals that keep up to date…
Jason Johnson – Pseudocide / 2007 Self / 4 Tracks / jasonj0678@yahoo.com / This disc starts out with “Leavingâ€, which is a tinny little track that has an earlier set of influences to it. I mean, it sounds as if Johnson is pulling from the pre-electric Dylan days more than anything, but this could just be because Johnson wasn’t able to grab an electric. In all seriousness, there is a…
Kenny G – Rhythm and Romance / 2008 Concord / 11 Tracks / http://www.kennyg.com / “Rhythm and Romance†marks Kenny G’s ninth solo foray in 26 years, after ey parted ways with previous band Cold, Bold, and Together and The Jeff Lorber Fusion. The previous eight studio discs, three holiday albums, two live albums, and other material that Kenny G has released as a solo artist have together sold over…
The Photographic – Pictures of a Changing World / 2008 Galaxia / 11 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/thephotographic / Many bands nowadays just go and dramatically enter their CD with a punchy and bombastic track. The Photographic do not do that with their “Pictures of a Changing Worldâ€. Rather, during their “Inceptionâ€, they create a very atmospheric track that singlehandedly sets the tone for the rest of the album. Thus, it is…
Shawn Fogel – One Day In The Desert / 2007 The Sleepy West / 5 Tracks / http://www.shawnfogel.com / The first track on “One Day In The Desert†is “The Season I Love Bestâ€, a sunny track that rides strongly on the harmonica that opens up the song. Hell, if there was nothing else but the harmonica acting as the vocal component to the track, Fogel would have started off…
Hills Rolling – Sweet Tea / 2007 Whiskey Child / 9 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/hillsrolling / Hills Rolling is the latest project of Trey McGriff. Individuals may not be immediately familiar with McGriff’s work, but chances are good that they have heard McGriff’s music in the past. This is because McGriff’s music has been played in some capacity on The Real World – Denver, XM Satellite Radio, and different shows created…
Charles Laster II and Silvia Pratesi – Journey of Life / 2007 Self / 11 Tracks / http://www.charleslasterministries.com / Charles Laster II has been around the gospel scene for a number of years, but even before that, was crafting jingles for Ford Motors and songs for the Detroit Pistons. The other half of this act, Silvia Pratesi, cam to composing music much later – in 2007, but by the time…
Counting Crows – You Can’t Count On Me / 2008 Geffen / 1 Tracks / http://www.countingcrows.com / http://www.geffen.com / It has been 6 years since Counting Crows came out with their last album, “Hard Candyâ€.  The band last charted for their contribution to the Shrek 2 soundtrack, “Accidentally in Loveâ€. “You Can’t Count On Me†has a tremendously different sound from practically anything else that the Counting Crows have released…
Soundside – Seconds From Sunrise / 2008 Mystery Sound / http://www.soundsideband.com / It is sad that at this point, the vast majority of fans of Soundside are in New York. The band’s music, especially during “Seconds From Sunriseâ€, should be known by a fan base that is thousands deep in every state in the United States and every country in the world. The band is slowly expanding this fan base,…