Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Seconds Before Landing The Great Deception CD Review

What Could It Be? is the initial track on The Great Deception, and it provides ample background for listeners. Touching upon the Roswell alien crash, What Could It Be? links organic and human elements with a more tranc-y, out of this world instrumentation. Instructions immediately brings listeners into a style that fans of Styx and Utopia would appreciate. Seconds Before Landing touch upon a wide array of influences from the…

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Newland Volume 3 Mixtape CD Review

There is a high amount of energy that is present on this mixtape, and a considerable portion of that comes from the work of DJ Malone. Where the most common mixtapes around have DJs touting themselves at the expense of the songs that listeners want to hear, there is a much more organic feel to the compilation of cuts here. What DJ Malone Productions does here is blend the hottest…

Posted on: June 27, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Kelsea Little Personal Myth CD Review

Kelsea Little begins Personal Myth with Blue Feather, a track that has a delightful sound. Little allows the instrumentation on this introductory effort to keep up with her effervescent and bubbly style. What results with the beginning of Personal Myth is nothing less than impressive – It Hasn’t Gone Away looks back into fifties rock just as much as it touches upon a current and contemporary singer-songwriter sound. Little’s vocals…

Posted on: June 26, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ayron Michael Unleashed CD Review

Have It Your Way is a track that touches upon the work of Akon, Ne*yo, and Chris Brown. There is a certain twinkling nature to the track that will appease any fans of R&B. Michael’s vocals here could easily make it onto pop rotation, while the production pushes his vocals into an entirely separate realm from the average R&B fodder. One Night brings things back to a more time-tested tradition,…

Posted on: June 23, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Howard Salmon and Deborah Martin-Lemmon Old Habits are Hard to Break CD Review

Old Habits are Hard to Break is the latest effort by Howard Salmon and Deborah Martin-Lemmon, and it represents an album that is continually hooky and infectious. Take Me Down is a current take on the halcyon days of nineties countries. The lively arrangement of the track allows for a walking bass line, dual vocals, and strings to push each other to a higher plateau. One of these Days slows…

Posted on: June 22, 2013 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Born Cages Don’t Look Back 7″ Review

Razor & Tie has been stocking their bull pen lately with a slew of metal and hard rock bands, so the recent signing of punk-tinged, synth indie rockers Born Cages was a bit surprising, in that they sound nothing like a majority of their label mates. But if this two song 7” is any indication, someone at Razor & Tie A&R needs a promotion or at the very least an…

Posted on: June 22, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sucka Brown Extra Medium CD Review

  Sucka Brown plays a style of dance-punk that recalls the supersonic vocals of many emo bands while the music contained on “Extra Medium” really drives near to both dancemo bands like Head Automatic and indie-cred dance like Fischerspooner and The Postal Service. The incorporation of reggae influence on tracks like “Public Transportation” seems to be a little out of context; while it bookends the dance elements, it becomes prevalent…

Posted on: June 21, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sucka Brown Demo EP CD Review

Its almost like Scott Stapp has came and started playing with the rest of 311 – at least, that’s what the first track, “Save the Fool” sounds most similar to. The interesting drum arrangements on “Save the Fool” look back to the long list of genre-bending bands like Janes Addiction and Crazy Town for inspiration, and while the track is fairly versed in the mainstream, it enjoys much greater agency…

Posted on: June 20, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Babble Bread and Circuses CD Review

Tied To The Machine is a funky bit of electronic-infused rock, ensuring to please fans of acts as disparate as Nine Inch Nails and Siouxsie and the Banshees. There is a certain tribal element that further fleshes out this effort; Babble creates a track that crosses easily across thirty years of gothic-tinged music. Yeah Sure No Problem allows the tribal element to become dominant, allowing for a world music flair…

Posted on: June 20, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Submarines Declare A New State CD Review

  “Peace and Hate” is the perfect opening for The Submarines, as it shows their ability to create a catchy indie-rock track that continues pushing on listeners even though the tempo is slower than many comparable songs. The inclusion of airy guitars during the track will make individuals remember acts like The Red Hot Valentines, while the blend of vocals scream The Anniversary. While the second set of vocals drops…