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,…
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…