The Smiling Strangers – All The Way / 2007 QCGS / 12 Tracks / http://www.thesmilingstrangers.com / While it wasn’t a major release by any stretch of the imagination, I believe my first experience with The Smiling Strangers came not when I received the copy of “All The Wayâ€, but was when I picked up a copy of “The Big Indie Comeback, Volume 3â€. Their track “Smile On Your Face†was…
Glenn Patrik – Mr. Blues, Jr. / 2007 Self / 8 Tracks / http://www.glennpatrik.com / Glenn Patrik is an institution of Kansas City. Individuals that are in the know with music from that area will know that he has been around in one form or another in Kansas City for over 40 years. However, this marks his first trek into the recorded realm. What is amazing from the onset of…
Daryle Ackerman – Attention To Detail / 2006 Self / 14 Tracks / http://cdbaby.com/cd/dsackerman / Daryle Ackerman has been around for about a decade; he made his first singing debut a decade ago, in 1998. His second album, “Not of This Worldâ€, was released in 2003. “Attention To Detail†is his second album, and it shows an expansion of the styles and sounds that were first broached during “Not Of…
Sally Anthony – Goodbye / 2007 EMI / 19 Tracks / http://www.sallyanthony.com / http://www.emicap.com / Individuals may not remember exactly where they remember the name Sally Anthony from, but if they saw a show with Natalie Merchant, Chris Isaak, James Taylor, Tom Petty, or Enrique Iglesias in the last few years (since 1998, when Anthony released eir first EP), there is a chance that they have seen Sally Anthony perform.…
Frederik Magle – Souffle Le Vent + The Hope / 2007 Self / 2 Tracks / http://www.magle.dk / http://www.magle.dk/music-mp3-downloads.html / Frederik Magle is rapidly reaching prominence in the field of classical music. This is due to the fact that Magle’s compositions have reached a level of sophistication and skill that have brought him accolades, including having The London Philharmonic, The Danish Radio Sinfonietta, and Nikolaj Znaider play his compositions. However,…
The Limit – Reinventing The Sun / 2007 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.thelimitmusic.com / The style of music that The Limit create on the opening strains of “Reinventing The Sun†is nothing that can easily be categorized. Sure, there is a lot of eighties rock influence that marks the band’s “House of Sandâ€, but there are other defining qualities that are harder to unravel. The act blends together the…
Creepy – The Triple EP / 2007 Teeno / 13 Tracks / http://www.teenorecords.com / “The Triple EP†starts out with “The Lostâ€, a traditional emo track that has equal parts Appleseed Cast, Good Charlotte, and The Red Hot Valentines present. The vocals are compelling as all get out, while the inclusion of a fuzzy synthesizer to the mix fills up the track nicely. The band has made a big splash…
OST: Beowulf / 2007 Warner Brothers / 17 Tracks / http://www.beowulfmovie.com / http://www.warnerbros.com / Beowulf is one of the oldest stories that is still being told; while it is not as old as the myths that am movie like 300 were taken from, the age on this story is considerable. It is thus the duty of Alan Silvestri to make a soundtrack that fits in well with the action. Individuals…
The Mumlers – Thickets and Stitches / 2007 Galaxia / 11 Tracks / http://www.themumlers.com / http://www.galaxia-platform.com / The first minute or so of The Mumler’s “Thickets & Stitches†seems very dark and brooding, owing to the horns that are present. However, as “Dice in a Drawer†opens up, the catchy nature of The Mumlers comes forth. There are not direct comparisons that I can make for how The Mumlers sound,…
Kate Walsh – Tim’s House / 2007 Blueberry Pie / 10 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/katewalsh / Kate Walsh is yet another one of those individuals that have a great career in the United Kingdom but have not made it over to the United States yet. For some reason, the United States release date for Walsh’s 2007 album is in late January. I never understood why record labels hold on to albums…
Einsturzende Neubauten – Alles Wieder Offen / 2007 Virtual / 10 Tracks / http://www.neubauten.org / Einsturzende Neubauten is one of those acts that have been high on my list to check out for years, but I have not had a chance to listen to them until a copy of “Alles Wieder Offen†came to me. For those individuals that are similarly ignorant about Einsturzende Neubauten, the band came together in…
Cold Dead Hands – Novelization / 2007 Self / 5 Tracks / The band first lurches in a Fu Manchu o Monster Magnet direction, with the opening calling forth the same general style of stoner rock that those acts (along with early Sugar Ray) created. The vocals kick in and give the track much more of a Foo Fighters sound, while the bass line (linked to the lead guitar) finishes…
Ice Nine Kills – The Burning / 2007 Red Blue / 7 Tracks / http://www.iceninekills.com / “The Greatest Story Ever Told†is a track that links together the work of bands like Brand New and Taking Back Sunday with the screamed out hardcore of Coalesce and Maroon. The bouncing back and forth between screaming and intensely catchy vocal lines, especially during “The Greatest Story Ever Told†is fun as all…
The Spoon Benders – Resurrecting the Giants / 2007 Self / 8 Tracks / http://www.thespoonbenders.net / The Spoon Benders craft a style of music that brings me back to the early days of the nineties. The disc’s first track is “Making My Nameâ€, and it has The Spoon Benders linking together the works of Rusted Root, the Dave Matthews Band, and hints of more current (Maroon 5, Matchbox 20, and…
A Third Wish Granted – The Lost Art of Conversation: Vol. 1 / 2007 Self / 6 Tracks / http://www.a3wg.net / If you have been around Los Angeles in any serious sense since 2001, and followed the local music scene at all, chances are good that you have heard of A Third Wish Granted. Hell, I’m from Ohio, and I had heard them before I was sent “The Lost Art…
Aaron English – The Marriage of the Sun and Moon / 2007 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.aaronenglish.com / It has been a few (5) years since Aaron English first hit the music scene with “All The Waters of This Worldâ€. “The Marriage of the Sun and Moon†is his second album, and by the time “Moon Murmurs†(the disc’s last track) peters out, it is clear that English has…
Cheryl B. Engelhardt – Craving The Second / 2007 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.cbemusic.com / 2004 marked the first Cheryl Engelhardt album; “Shoes Off and Run†provided individuals with a sense of Engelhardt’s pop-laced style. “Craving The Second†is so much more; “Keep†uses a melody that could be created by a Scarecrow and Tinman with a set of vocals that touches upon all of the famous female singers,…
Adam Gilbert – Fishing For Water / 2008 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.gilbertmusic.net / “Fishing For Water†is Gilbert’s second foray into independent music. His first album, “K-16â€, provided an introduction to the styles and influences that shaped Gilbert’s sound. “Fishing For Waterâ€, his latest album, expands upon themes first heard on “K-16â€. “Break Through Today†starts out the disc with an interesting blend of vocal and piano, with…
Jesse Rubenfeld – Let It Go / 2007 Self / 4 Tracks / http://www.jesserubenfeld.com / This EP begins with “Nose to the Grindstoneâ€, a track that showcases the diverse array of influences present in Rubenfeld’s life. The vocals will remind listeners of individuals such as Neil Young and James Taylor, while the instrumentation has hints of Chicago, The Eagles, and Cat Stevens.
Peter Bloom Band – Random Thoughts (From A Paralyzed Mind) / 2008 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.peterbloomband.com / By the time individuals get through the 10 tracks on “Random Thoughtsâ€, individuals will understand why the Peter Bloom Band has received accolades from places like the Ontario Independent Music Awards. The disc starts off with “Afraidâ€, a track that shows a confidence in the Peter Bloom Band that is rarely…