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,…
West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Recording / 2007 Decca / 20 Tracks / http://www.westsidestory.com / Pretty much anyone that has watched their fair share of movies or stage performances is at least familiar with “West Side Storyâ€. Since West Side Story originally opened in 1957, the individuals related to the show, along with Decca’s Broadway imprint, thought it necessary to come out with a re-imagining of the score.
Modern Life Is War – Midnight In America / 2007 Equal Vision / 11 Tracks / http://www.modernlifeiswar.net / http://www.equalvision.com Modern Life is War has been around for about five years. I know that NeuFutur is not unfamiliar with the act, as we have covered them on the Iowahardcore compilation and have picked up a few of their albums in the past. Saying that, it seems as if the band has…
Mekons – Natural / 2007 Quarterstick / 12 Tracks / http://www.mekons.com / http://www.touchandgorecords.com / The Mekons have been together for a period longer than most current youthful fans of music have been alive. While it may seem like an eternity to individuals just getting into music for the first time (this year marks the thirtieth since the band was founded), The Mekons are able to create in “Natural†an album…
Junkyard Prophet – The Price / 2007 Self / http://www.youcanrunbutyoucannothide.com / Junkyard Prophet has been under intense scrutiny for the politics that they espouse, especially those that are provided to individuals that are captive, stuck in a high school assembly. However, this review focuses on the music of “The Priceâ€, rather than the politics that surround the band. To get a good idea of how the band has evolved over…
Sound The Alarm – Stay Inside / 2007 Geffen / 12 Tracks / http://www.soundthealarmmusic.com / http://www.geffen.com / Even though the members of Sound the Alarm are young (they are in their twenties), the band has been around for quite a few years. The act formed when the members were still pre-teens; since then, they have been tearing shit up in Pennsylvania. With their album “Stay Insideâ€, released this year on…
Leo – Nightmares / 2007 DreamMakers / 14 Tracks / http://www.leotheband.com / http://www.rockridgemusic.com / Leo is a band that has been able to reach the tars without truly breaking it big yet. While “Nightmares†will change that, Leo has made somewhat of a name for themselves opening up for bands such as Breaking Benjamin and Sick Puppies, along with doing a live set at this year’s South by Southwest.
Monster In The Machine – Butterfly Pinned / 2007 Emotional Syphon / 12 Tracks / http://www.monsterinthemachine.com / Pretty much anywhere an individual looks, Monster in the Machine has some sort of ties to legendary rock acts. The label that they are on, Emotional Syphon, is owned by Munky from Korn. Josh Freese (Vandals) and Doug Ardito (Crawford in Cellophane) are captured in different roles during the tracks on “Butterfly Pinnedâ€.…
Iller Than Theirs – S/T / 2007 Embedded / 11 Tracks / http://www.embeddedmusic.net / “Razorbumps†is the first track on Iller Than Theirs’ self titled track, and it brings an intense style of rapping to a more classic backing beat. Where it would make sense that there would be tension between these two styles, the combination of the flow with the backing beat makes for a strong first effort by…
Parsley Flakes – We Need Friends / 2007 Self / 8 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/parsleyflakes / I’ve seen the Parsley Flakes live about five times, and I was a little afraid that they would not be able to capture their live magic on this studio album. However, after the first few seconds of “Ladyloveâ€, I was reassured. The style of music that the Parsley Flakes play is an electronic-cum-punk rock blend…
Mark Olson – The Salvation Blues / 2007 Hacktone / 11 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/markolsonmusic / http://www.hacktone.com / “The Salvation Blues†is a weirdly-packaged album. When I first opened up the package from Hacktone, I thought they had screwed up and sent me a book instead of the latest Mark Olson CD. A quick check later, and I was on my way to listening to what is one of the more…
Operation Ivy – Operation Ivy  / 2007 Hellcat Records / 27 Tracks/ www.hell-cat.com/ Hep, hep, hep, pick it up, pick it up! Even after their short existence as a band Operation Ivy’s influence can be seen within the Ska/Punk scene as they set the bar for the next platform for a new generation’s angst to be expressed. The reissue of Operation Ivy’s twenty-seven masterful tracks allows a new generation who…
Zigmat – S/T / 2007 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.zigmat.com / Zigmat plays a brand of electronic-infused indie rock that will get individuals up and on the dance floor as soon as the first bars of “Light of the Moon†start up. The band blends together the rigid structure of the synthesizer perfectly with the much more airy, indefinite sounds of the vocals. What results is a track that…
Megadeth – That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires / 2007 Image / 22 Tracks / http://www.megadeth.com / http://www.image-entertainment.com / Megadeth has been releasing a lot of different material in the last year. There was their “Warchestâ€, and there is also this 2-CD or 1-DVD release called “That One Nightâ€, which covers the band’s trip down to Buenos Aires, Argentina in May of 2005. Apparently, Megadeth plays long shows as…
Necro – Death Rap / 2007 Psycho+Logical / 14 Tracks / http://www.necrohiphop.com / Individuals that are into horrorcore rap will undoubtedly know who Necro is. However, for those that don’t (but may know other rap), Necro is the brother of Ill Bill. Furthermore, ey has worked hand in hand with a number of metal artists, in particular Obituary, Voivod, Hatebreed, and Slipknot. “Death Rap†is the title of this album…
Soulja Boy – Soulja Girl (Feat. I15) / 2007 TVT / 2 Tracks / “Soulja Girl†is the latest track by (you guessed it) Soulja Boy. In an attempt to further get the name of I-15 out to the masses, they are featured on the track. This track is a slower, more grind-worthy track. Hints of Jodeci and K-Ci and Jojo are present during this track, even as the more…
Megadeth – Warchest / 2007 Capitol / 66 Tracks / http://www.megadeth.com / http://www.capitolrecords.com / Megadeth is one of the bands that I first learned about when I got into metal. In fact, one of the CDs that has stuck with me for over a decade (the only other one is Marilyn Manson’s “Antichrist Superstarâ€) is Megadeth’s “Rust in Peaceâ€. It makes sense that Megadeth should get a box set since…