Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: December 5, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Marykate O’Neil – 1-800-BANKRUPT (CD)

The opening to Marykate O’Neil’s “1-800-BANKRUPT” album is pretty middle of the road, which the style of music that ey plays not too much different from Jill Sobule, who produced this album. The track could make it onto alternative radio, but there is little more that will endear listeners beyond that small scope. “Stay” is much of the same type of music, although O’Neil has more of a Suzanne Vega…

Posted on: December 4, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ohn – Revolutionary Revolution (CD)

Ohn plays an electronic brand of pop-rock that comes out sounding like it is from a different period of music, especially during tracks like “Dear Prudence”. With hints of Alanis Morrissette and Natalie Imbruglia during this track, Ohn makes a ploy to ensnare listeners of that genre. While the music has been heard in similar ways before, Ohn incorporates newer approaches and styles to turn the track into something relevant…

Posted on: December 4, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Dustin O’Halloran – Piano Solos Vol 2 (CD)

After coming into O’Halloran’s work after listening to different rock and metal CDs, I Have to say that this is a sea change. Even calling this album that is still something of an understatement. What O’Halloran does here is create classical influenced but modern piano solos, of the quality one would expect foor a movie or television shows. Where individuals that are used to lyrical content in music may be…

Posted on: December 4, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The October – …Bye Bye Beautiful (CD)

The jangly guitar work that starts off “Bye Bye Beautiful” is reminiscent of the work that late eighties Cure would release on their album. However, during tracks like “Through the Waves and Stars”, a blend of Blur, Muse, and Oasis is much more the course of the day than anything else. In much of the same way, The October come up with a sound that is very radio friendly. Te…

Posted on: December 3, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sinead O’Connor – Collaborations (CD)

The idea that Sinead O’Connor is merely a one-hit wonder is one that should be abolished. The tracks on “Collaborations” throw this idea out the video, as track after track finds O’Connor working at eir peak with some of the biggest names in music, including but not limited to Peter Gabriel, Moby, The Edge and Afro Celt Sound System. The different tracks elicit something different from O’Connor each time; a…

Posted on: December 3, 2010 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The Mommyheads – Finest Specimens (CD)

You’d be forgiven if you have never heard of The Mommyheads. A definitive example of a cult band, the San Francisco, by way of New York, indie band had a handful of small label releases throughout the 90’s, one shot at the majors with a Geffen release, then disbanded shortly after in 1998. During their time together, the band did manage to collect a slew of positive reviews from critics…

Posted on: December 3, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Tom Petty – Damn The Torpedoes (2 CD Set)

There is no denying that Tom Petty is still one of rock’s best-known performers. “Damn The Torpedoes”, eir third album, was released in 1979 and prominently featured such rock radio standards as “Refugee” and “Don’t Do Me Like That”. Over thirty year out from its initial release, and the album is still getting substantial play. The long life exhibited by this release has brought Interscope to release a substantially upgraded…

Posted on: December 3, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The October – …Bye Bye Beautiful (CD)

The jangly guitar work that starts off “Bye Bye Beautiful” is reminiscent of the work that late eighties Cure would release on their album. However, during tracks like “Through the Waves and Stars”, a blend of Blur, Muse, and Oasis is much more the course of the day than anything else. In much of the same way, The October come up with a sound that is very radio friendly. Te…

Posted on: December 3, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Dustin O’Halloran – Piano Solos Vol 2 (CD)

After coming into O’Halloran’s work after listening to different rock and metal CDs, I Have to say that this is a sea change. Even calling this album that is still something of an understatement. What O’Halloran does here is create classical influenced but modern piano solos, of the quality one would expect foor a movie or television shows. Where individuals that are used to lyrical content in music may be…

Posted on: December 2, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Ocean – Aeolian (CD)

The style of “Aeolian” is fairly undistinguished during “The City and The Sea”. Sure, there is some point where an individual has to go back and say that “yes, this is metal” but beyond this, what else does The Ocean bring to the table? In fact, what The Ocean seem to bring to the table on “Aeolian” is a very long and drawn out approach to creating metal that stays…