Bedouin Soundclash – Street Gospels / 2007 SideOneDummy / 13 Tracks / http://www.bedouinsoundclash.com / http://www.sideonedummy.com / “Walls Fall Down†really put Bedouin Soundclash in a position that reminds me of a modern Clash. The act is able to make a track that will come forth easily and naturally on rock radio, but does not lack in any sense in regards to the smartness of the instrumentations. There is an eclectic…
June – Make It Blur / 2007 Victory / 12 Tracks / http://www.junerock.com / http://www.victoryrecords.com / I have known about June for a few years now. They played with some of the bands around the Greencastle area right before or after signing with Victory Records, but I never had the chance to hear or review them before receiving “Make It Blur†in the mail. The disc starts out with “No…
V/A – Reggae Gold 2007 / 2007 VP Records / 15 Tracks / http://www.vprecords.com / I do not get much in the way of reggae albums. Pretty much the last one that I really think we received was probably the last Shaggy album, and that has been a few years ago. It doesn’t mean that I do not like the style, but that we here at NeuFutur do not get…
The Spoken X – Wild Child / 2007 Metro / 13 Tracks / http://www.thespokenx.com / The title track to “Wild Child†just exudes cool. From the spoken narrative that starts out the track (think the opening to “Shaftâ€) and the ropy, cop-drama bass line present, and an individual would have a good idea of what The Spoken X are trying to do with this album. Instead of just sticking with…
Alaria Taylor – Bread or Water / 2007 Self / 5 Tracks / http://www.alariataylor.com Alaria Taylor is perhaps the most decorated musician that you have never heard. Among these accolades are winning the VH-1 Song of the Year Contest and the Billboard Magazine World Song Contest. The five tracks that are on “Bread or Water†show the reason why Taylor has received all of these accolades. While the guitars start…
Brown Shoe – Vanity / 2007 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.brownshoemusic.com It is a hell of time trying to find a band when you’ve screwed up their name. For the longest time, I thought the band’s name was “Brown Shoes†instead of “Brown Shoeâ€. After I got that problem worked out, I was able to hear the powerful indie rock of the band. Brown Shoe reminds me a lot…
Matt Woods – Something Surreal / 2004 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.mattwoodsband.com / Most the time when I receive CDs done by a band with the name of an individual (typically the leader of the band), what I am “treated†to is something that is quiet, singer-songwriter styled, and is something that essentially rehashes the collected works of artists like Dave Matthews and John Maher. However, Matt Woods and…
The Campbells – The Kid From Gillette, Wyoming / 2007 Self / 8 Tracks / http://www.campbellsrock.com / The Campbells start out their “The Kid From Gillette, Wyoming†with a very early nineties type of alternative rock sound “My Silly Sparks†is a track that sounds as if The Campbells took equal amounts of Polaris and Soul Asylum and linked them together. There is still a little bit of fuzz coming…
Charlie Beresford – The Room is Empty / 2005 Self / 14 Tracks / http://www.charlieberesford.com / The dissonant opening that Charlie Beresford places on eir “The Room Is Empty†will provide individuals with a challenge. The artistic style of this track may be lost on some, but Beresford’s dedication to making “If Only†work will endear more than a fair share of fans. “Nosfer†is a twenty second string-heavy track…
Fjord Rowboat – Saved The Compliments for Morning / 2007 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.fjordrowboat.com / This is Fjord Rowboat’s first full length album. After individuals listen to “Carried Awayâ€, they will marvel at how mature the band is. “Carried Away†is a track that has the same type of instrumental coolness and disaffected vocals that have been present in countless Franz Ferdinand and Interpol tracks, but what Fjord…
