The Narrows – Benjamin / 2007 Wantage / 4 Tracks / http://www.wantageusa.com / The Narrows start off their “Benjamin†with a heavy bit of drudge and sludge, in “The Sasquatchâ€. “The Sasquatch†has much more of a pop style to it than would be present on a The End Records or Hydra Head Records band, and at points, I can hear a little bit of Audioslave present in the band’s…
Landon – Defying The Stereotype / 2006 Self / 8 Tracks / http://www.landonband.com / “Only 20†is a track that is interesting to me. The Spartan, heavily electronic style of the instrumental segment of the track is good enough, but the vocals only reach their stride when Landon moves from the spoken style of vocals to something much more singing-heavy. “Only 20†has catchy bits, but is not solid enough…
Girl In A Coma – Both Before I’m Gone / 2007 Blackheart / 13 Tracks / http://www.girlinacoma.com / http://www.blackinacoma.com / I’m not sure if Girl in a Coma has changed the title of the Smiths classic for their own profit, but “Both Before I’m Gone†shows a band that is trying their hardest to create their own sound. Obviously, they have some pretty powerful supporters – no less than Joan…
Blake Lewis – Break Anotha / 2007 Sony / 1 Track / http://www.myspace.com/blakelewis / Anyone that knows me knows that I pretty much loathe American Idol. Sure, there have been one or two idol stars I could stand after the show (Clarkson and Aiken, primarily), but the vast majority of post-Idol albums have been drek. Blake Lewis, with eir single “Break Anothaâ€, is trying to change that. What Lewis trying…
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.
Countime – Broken Blinded Betrayed / 2006 No Joke / 7 Tracks / http://www.nojokereordsla / “From The Heavens Above†is the first track on “Broken Blinded Betrayed†and it shows Countime as an act that loves their classic, “tough guy†hardcore. The band produces fast, heavy, and intense hardcore music that has more than its fair share of metal influence. Note that during “From the Heavens Above†that Countime do…
The Good Night Fight – Serpentine / 2007 Brave New Records / 5 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/thegoodnightfight / http://www.bravenewworldrecords.com / The Good Night Fight start off their “Serpentine†EPO with a track in “Conqueror Worm†that is nothing out of the ordinary. What the band does during this track is throw in screaming, metal-like vocals with a set of instruments that would work well in a Fu Manchu or a CKY…
First To Leave – Forging A Future / 2007 Wednesday Records / 12 Tracks / http://www.firsttoleave.org / http://www.wednesdayrecords.com / Man, I had no idea that First To Leave was going to sound like how they end up sounding at the beginning of “Forging A Futureâ€. The cover of this album is very nondescript when it comes to giving clues about the band, so needless I was shocked when I heard…
Silence Is Safety – S/T / 2007 Teeno / 7 Tracks / http://www.teenorecords.com / Silence Is Safety plays a style of rock that has not been heard on the radio for about ten years. There are hints of the Goo Goo Dolls as well as with the Spin Doctors, but the energy present during this track is high enough that individuals can get behind this female-lead band. “He Doesn’t Know 
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…