Middle Distance Runner – S/T / 2007 Self / 6 Tracks / http://www.middledistancerunner.com/ “The Sun and Earth†is the first track on this EP, and it starts out in a sedate way. However, the tempo is something that slowly builds up to give individuals something to get amped up with. The neat composition allow the vocals to take a focal part of the band’s sound, and while the act is…
Chris Botti – Italia / 2007 Sony / 12 Tracks / http://www.chrisbotti.com / http://www.sony.com / Ah , Chris Botti. Before I received a copy of “Italiaâ€, I had no clue who you were. For those individuals that want a short backdrop, Botti is a trumpeter that has released nine solo albums over the course of twelve years. Much of Botti’s work can be broadly categorized as “smooth jazzâ€, but there…
OST: Heartbreak Kid / 2007 Plan R / 14 Tracks / http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com / For those that do not know, The Heartbreak Kid is the latest movie from the Farrelly Brothers (who are known for such “classics†as There’s Something About Mary, Me, Myself and Irene, and Dumb and Dumber). Despite the fact that these aren’t even their “bad†movies (that honor goes to Shallow Hal and Fever Pitch), the brothers…
John Fogerty – Revival / 2007 Fantasy / 12 Tracks / http://www.johnfogerty.com / I was never that big of a fan of Credence Clearwater Revival, but both my mother and my significant other are huge fans. What Fogerty did back in the seventies was simply not my thing, but the revival of the style, infused with a few other elements, is something much more near and dear to me. Fogerty…
Otep – The Ascension / 2007 Koch / 12 Tracks / http://www.otep.com / “Eet The Children†is the first track on “The Ascensionâ€, and while the band comes forth with some hard music and tight arrangements, all I hear from Otep here is a revision of the Coal Chamber, Clutch, and other “hard rock†band sound made famous in the mid nineties. “Eet The Children†may have a lot of…
Rahim – The Same / 2007 Dimension Arts / 2 Tracks / http://www.rahimrahim.org / I thought that Rahim would be a rap artist that used samples from Do The Right Thing. I was wrong. The first track on this single is “The Sameâ€, and it shows Rahim as an act that is well versed in the instrumental style of the trippy, psychedelic (and Persian-influenced rock ) style of the late…
Elizabeth: The Golden Age / 2007 Decca / 20 Tracks / http://www.elizabeththegoldenage.net / Elizabeth: The Golden Age uses an interesting back and forth style between two very established composers (Craig Armstrong and A.R. Rahman) that works despite the two different styles and experiences invoked by each composer. For those individuals that do not know, Armstrong was behind the scores for Romeo + Juliet, The Bone Collector, Cruel Intentions, Moulin! Rouge,…
Aeroplane, 1929 – The Holy Ghost / 2007 Topshelf / 6 Tracks / http://www.aeroplane1929.com / http://www.topshelf-records.com / I swear, I’ve tried to review this album about 8 times, and each time I sit down to do it, life gets in the way. No more; “The Holy Ghost†starts off with “Locomotivesâ€, and it shows Aeroplane, 1929 as an act that starts off meekly and quietly. The walking guitar line that…
David Byrne – The Knee Plays / 2007 Nonesuch / 20 Tracks / http://www.davidbyrne.com / http://www.nonesuch.net / Individuals that are big fans of David Byrne will know that “The Knee Plays†is not a new album, but its release by Nonesuch is the first time it has made it onto CD. This package contains the music from the CD, along with a DVD that has over 400 different photographs taken…
Athlete – Beyond The Neighbourhood / 2007 Astralwerks / 11 Tracks / http://www.athlete.mu / Athlete is perhaps the biggest band that no one has heard of in the United States. Their last album, “Touristâ€, went double platinum, and “Beyond The Neighbourhood†is poised to do the same thing. From the opening strains of “In Between 2 Stateâ€, Athlete shows that they understand how to get individuals involved with their music.
Caterpillar Tracks – Scrape The Summer / 2007 Phratry Records / 5 Tracks / http://www.phratryrecords.com / Caterpillar Tracks is an act that we know well at NeuFutur. We reviewed their self-titled album a few years back, and “Scrape The Summer†continues with the same rich style. “It’s Scientific, Goddamn†is a track that has a lot of Replacements and 1986-era Goo Goo Dolls present in the overall sound, but this…
PJ Harvey – When Under Ether / 2007 Universal / Island / 2 Tracks / http://www.pjharvey.net / http://www.islandrecords.com / PJ Harvey has been around a long time, but for the life of me, I’m not that familiar with eir body of work. Regardless, “When Under Ether†is eir new track, and it provides a tenderness of vocals and intricacy in the backing instrumentation that sounds as if Tori Amos differentiated…
Veil Veil Vanish – Into A New Mausoleum / 2007 Self / 6 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/veilveilvanish / Veil Veil Vanish come forth at the beginning of their “Into A New Mausoleum†with a very time tested and true sound, blending together The Cure-like vocals with an energetic, gothic-tinged backdrop. What results is a linkage of old and new, and Veil Veil Vanish can go forth and get newer fans as…
A Step Behind – This Is What We’ve Become / 2007 Self / 5 Tracks / http://www.astepbehind.com / “Kicked Our Fate and Killed Desire†is the first track on “This Is What We’ve Becomeâ€, and it shows A Step Behind as an act that is going back to the style of emo music that was big in 2003 and 2004. The vocal qualities present during this opening track are the…
Midnight – Beautiful Pearl / 2006 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.midnightfalling.com / “Comfort Me” shows Midnight as a band that is tremendously influenced by the deep-down blues of a Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the progressive rock of a Rush. Throw in a little Every Mother’s Nightmare and “Dog Eat Dog”-era Warrant, and individuals have an idea how Midnight starts off their “Beautiful Pearl”. There is an unpolished appeal to…
Band: Lost Eden – Cycle Repeats / 2007 Candlelight / 10 Tracks / http://www.lost-eden.com / http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com / Lost Eden is a dynamic metal band straight out of Japan. They have recently signed to Candlelight Records and for good reason, they are one of the most melodic metal bands to hit the scene. With tracks like “Squeezeâ€, “Forsaken Lastâ€, and “Time Damages Me†they keep you tapping along and longing for…
Anyu – Reasons / 2007 Axent / 10 Tracks / http://www.anyu.net / Anyu has been around the music scene for quite a few years. Individuals that were on the West Coast and listening to alternative music may remember his earlier act The First Thought. The First Thought opened up for acts as wide and varied as UB-40 and Thomas Dolby. After a few years away from the independent music scene,…
Dave Patten – Fly Away / 2007 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.davepatten.com / We here at NeuFutur reviewed Patten’s last album, “Too Close, Too Far†in late 2006. This is Dave Patten’s new album, and we were lucky enough to receive it a few days ago. Patten’s “Too Close, Too Far†was a solid album, and “Fly Away†immediately builds on the successes of that earlier album. “Fly Away 
Fiona Joy Hawkins – Angel Above My Piano / 2006 Self / 13 Tracks / http://ww.fionajoyhawkins.com / Fiona Joy Hawkins is an award-nominated (MusicOz Awards) and award-winning (NAR Lifestyle Music Awards) pianist. “Angel Above My Piano†really starts going with “Flight of the Albatrossâ€. This track presents a wide-open soundscape, one in which no vocals are needed. The rich lines laid down by Hawkins tell more of a story than…
Keyboard Cathy – Sushi Lover / 2007 Self / 7 Tracks / http://www.keyboardcathy.com / Keyboard Cathy began her career in the music industry after watching the impressive 2005 film adaptation of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyâ€. 2006 saw the release of Keyboard Cathy’s first album “Inspirationâ€, and 2007 marks the release of Cathy’s first EP, “Sushi Loverâ€. Despite the fact that these albums are released at a breakneck speed,…