Thoughts and Acquisitions

Music Review - Noise & Rhythm - 1848

2012-01-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

Noises & Rhythm started as a three-piece band, but has since become the solo project of Ryan Schumann. The sound itself is similar to the low-fi sounds of the mid to late 70's, mixed with some influence from the post-new wave era. 1848 is a collection of the work Ryan has completed, with the assistance of a revolving set of musicians, over the last six months.

"Tongue in cheek" are the first words that come to mind when considering the lyrics of Noises & Rhythm. "Let's Go to England" stands out as having that feel of watching someone or something else being insulted facetiously, but being in on the joke. It isn't the cruel kind of call out either, it's more a shared deprecation. On other songs, such as "Occupy Oscar", shots are taken at current events and society in general, showing Schumann is more than one-dimensional.

Instrumentation on this album seems to range a bit. The vocals are always well done, the keyboards and bass hold up their end as well. Guitars (with the exception of "Eat Our Oranges") seem a bit basic and not as strong when compared to other instruments. The drums and percussion hold-up but just as a simple back beat. This isn't much of an issue as the music is pop and has a rhythm of dancing, making the need for percussion less a necessity to emphasize the movement of the music and more relegated to being a supporting actor.

A very fun listen!

Where to find them:

Noise & Rhythm site has the album as choose your own price. Always a way to give a talented group or individual a leg up!
The album is now available on iTunes
On Spotify in February

RIYL: The Kinks, Beck, Nick Lowe

Music Review - American Stories

2012-01-12T08:01:00.000-05:00

American Stories is not the expected output of Buffalo, NY's punk and indie rock heavies Tim Nixon and Jesse Rejewski (Sleepy Sparrows, Dr. Dirty Sanchez), but that said, it is a pleasant sort of unexpected. Their new release, Prelude shows diverse song writing mixed mith lyrics of life and loss.

If we were to follow the liner notes on this, American Stories is "americana", but this label misses a lot of what their music actually has to offer. There are still elements of punk rock and just the hint of the Emocore songs of the late 90's and early 2000's. The songs are well crafted melodies put to the words of a musician observing his own life from an outside perspective.

This album was recorded with a good deal of care towards striking a balance between guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. The sound itself is blended excellently, and the songs leave a listener yearning for something a little bit better than their day to day, humdrum life.

There is some americana on this album, next to the more punk-esque songs, with tracks like "War Profiteers" and "Day Jobs and Sunsets". Standing next to these country tinted songs though are stand outs "Halfmast", "Forgetting the Clock", and "Happy New Years". These are nice combinations of the upbeat melody juxtaposed with lyrics of loss without redemption (hey...just like real life).

When all is said and done, we need to hope Tim and Jesse will continue to put more American Stories out soon.

N.B. special thanks to Scott Howard for letting me know about these guys

Where to find them:

BandCamp

At the moment it's pay what you want...which makes it only fair to pay at least something.

RIYL: Sledding with Tigers, Paul Westerberg, Sinners, Repent!

Top 5 of 2011

2011-12-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

Another year has gone (or nearly). This list is in no order, it's just the albums I've most enjoyed this year. I haven't reviewed all of them here, but I would have liked to if I got the jump and the music came to me early enough (hear that, musicians? Get me your stuff!!).

This was a great album for a great cause. A combination of folks you wouldn't expect to perform together and, as an added bonus, Neil Gaiman sings!

Donald Glover used this EP to come out in a big way as one of the most talented MCs the rap game currently has to offer while at the same time taking a shot at the game itself.

I tried not to like this album. I was afraid all the hype surrounding it would lead me to disappointment. Well...in short, it didn't. The album is brilliant and I thank Josh of Sinners Repent for showing me the error in my arrogance.

Young the Giant was a surprise that seemingly crept slowly up. Call it a come from behind victory. A great album of lament and life day-to-day.

The metal album of the year goes to Mastodon. Well played, technically salient, and their first non-concept album to boot.

Hopefully, 2012 will have even more to offer. Happy New Year!

Music Review - Sledding with Tigers/KIDS Split

2011-12-14T07:59:00.001-05:00

This review is for a split release, therefore "Have Fun, High-Five and Stuff" will be a split review. For the first half: Sledding with Tigers!

SWT is nothing if not prolific. The great part about finding them so early on is having the chance to really see them evolve. When I first heard SWT, I was reminded me of a talented young man striving to get his punk images of his own life out on an acoustic guitar. But now, they've become more than that.

What we find now is much more reigned in acoustic guitar sound playing rhythmically and melodiously with a voice that has grown stronger and more sure of itself. Additionally, we hear the return of, and more prevalence of, violin, the inclusion of a banjo, and some nice texturing with an ambient electric guitar. The instrumentation is well balanced and well played, simple without being easy. It could be said these tunes are less punk and moving in a bluegrassy direction, easily seen on "Southbound!!! Northbound!!! Partybound!!! Dead", which also sneaks in some Charlie Brown-type whimsy.

The main stand out here is "Pizza Party! 1, 2, 3!!!". Here is a song that says, "we're growing up, and we're not 100% sure we're ready for that". The emotions of day to day life and the overwhelming feeling which can be felt is conveyed in such a way it becomes easy to remember being twenty-something all over again. With "They Sure Are Going All Out For Labor Day This Year, Aren't They?" we see a return to the poppier/punkier style we've come to know from SWT and it's reassuring to know, yeah, they still got "it".

RIYL: Greg Graffin, Paul Westerberg, Conor Oberst

Part 2 of this review is, conversely, for a band I'd never heard before. Rumor has it these two bands are close and play quite a bit together. It's easy to see why when listening to the "second side" of this split.

With a full band (guitare, keys, drums, bass), KIDS has a slightly different sound, a mixture of mid-90's meets mid-50's feel. Dual (but not dueling) singers makes for a nice change of pace from song to song. The male and female vocal intertwine in a nice echo of each other that isn't simply call and response, but a conversation between two good singers. This is especially obvious on the cover, "Do you wanna dance?", which is really a re-interpretation of the song than a cover, strictly speaking.

With straightforward lyrics, KIDS seems to be striving to have a good night out. The songs are upbeat and the toil of the day-to-day is left behind. Songs such as "Monkeys" really pull out this feeling subtly whereas the final track, "Where have all the dancers gone?" Really point out that no one wants the party to end.

Tanya Donelly, She and Him, Coyote Shivers

Where to find them:

This album is pay as much as you want, but that's all the more reason to pay $10 or so. Support independent music!

Music Review - Florence + the Machine

2011-11-22T07:33:00.001-05:00

Florence + the Machine caught quite a few people by surprise. Whether it was during the vapid, worthless film lucky enough to have a song on the the soundtrack (Twilight), or when the sonic assault of the song "Dog Days Are Over" hit the airwaves, Florence + the Machine made a it clear that a rich, powerful voice and some less-than-usual instrumentation could combine for some very good music.

On their first album, Lungs, FTM (for brevity) were all over the musical map. With near-punk songs like "Kiss with a Fist" to soul throw-backs like "You've Got the Love" to goth-esque songs like "My Boy Builds Coffins", the album was best labeled as eclectic. This is less apparent on their follow-up, Ceremonials, where find a more matured Florence and a more robust Machine

Bringing in more traditional rock elements has not hurt this album in the slightest. Florence Welch's voice is still the main focus, but focus is a key word. Where Lungs was a few of Flo's favorite things, Ceremonials is a more honed experienced. The songs still vary from quiet and subtle to rocking and raucous, but seem to move in a similar vein.

Standouts are the nearly religious "What the Water Gave Me", a romp with power and overtones of self-redemption, "Never Let Me Go", a slower, softer tune seemingly about a love affair with the sea, and "Leave My Body" which has a strange gypsy/Celtic feel to it. The entire album is permeated with veiled religiousness and darker marks or a life of the experienced seeking redemption, from society or a lover or a god is left up to the listener to make a final decision.

Many critics worried the sophomore effort from FTM would be less charismatic or moving as they found Lungs to be. Fortunately, Ceremonials comes to us firing on all cylinders showing us a singer in her prime.

Where can it be found:

RIYL: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kate Bush, Tori Amos

Music Review - Apparat - The Devil's Walk

2011-09-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

It seems the autumn music is upon us. And the upcoming album from Apparat, The Devil's Walk, makes for a great addition to any fall music collection or playlist.

This album is reflective, seemingly filled with songs of longing for instant nostalgia, like telling stories of a party you went just a few nights ago as if they were the childhood we've all lost somewhere along the way. These songs, "Escape" immediately comes to mind, have such a mix of melancholy and upheaving redemption, it makes it difficult to say this album is morose. It's really enjoyable as a roller coaster of surface emotions, the type that don't want to delve too deep and spill over into true feelings.

As far as instrumentation is concerned, it's all programmed. This might turn some people off, but the orchestration and the way a melange of sounds is pulled together to form melody and structure is pure genius. Then there are the voices: lilting, lazy, stretching themselves out to the point where it seems each breath is held standing on the edge of a 200 meter drop, but caught just in time for the next lyric. "Song of Los" and "Ash Black Veil" are great examples of taking that voice, slowly pulled from the throat, and stretching it over beats and tones that are moving at a frantic pace so that the two, juxtaposed, form a balance.

This album is a brilliant piece for your autumnal listening pleasures. It comes out next week and everyone should scoop it up as soon as possible.

Where to find it:

Amazon pre-order (for regular or special edition)
You can preorder on iTunes
The Apparat Website

RIYL: Mogwai, Toe, Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Special thanks to CJR for the hook-up on this one!

Music Review - Ichabod

2011-09-19T13:21:00.001-04:00

Ichabod is the latest dark pop/folk-ish artist to escape the hallowed halls and pubs of the UK. With a dark sensibility and a straight-forward delivery, Ichabod's latest 7 song release, All My Beloved shows some branching out compared to earlier releases while staying at home with themes that are easy to relate to and a sound that harkens back a bit to late-80's/early-90's alt rock.

On previous releases, Ichabod was a one man show with occasional help on percussion. This album finds him joined by The Inglorious, a capable backing band which gives the music a fuller, less controlled sound. This becomes apparent on the second track, "Godzilla Love", a campy, call-response love song that where the instrumentation is free and flowing. The one negative I can find on these recording, though, is, whether due to haste or desire, occasionally the mix is a bit off. The snare sound for the drums is tinny and obnoxious. Additionally, some lead guitar parts are so far up in the mix as to make it difficult to hear the rest of the band.

It's sad that the songs aren't better produced, because they are truly brilliant. Lyrically, each song is a dark poem depicting addiction, love gone wrong, and a generally rough life as lived by someone with experience in the less than light side of life. Ichabod's voice pulls it all together in a way that makes the poor production, almost disappear. Almost.

To be honest, though, the darkness is of a type where brief glimpses of hope shine through. On songs like the title track and "Edmund the Martyr", we understand that the bottom has been reached, and at the bottom, clarity has finally been reached. This is not an album that leaves you feeling all is lost, more that mistakes have been made, but even through the worst mistakes, we can learn and move on.

Where to find this album:

RIYL: Jeff Buckley, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Built to Spill

Music Review - Bird

2011-08-16T10:40:00.003-04:00

As we usher ourselves into new realms of music distribution, we need new monikers. For example, Liverpool's Bird have released 4 songs, so to speak, so I would call such a collection an EP. However, they are just on SoundCloud, not in an organized form. I think I like this, but let's focus on the music.

Lilting vocals from a female singer are the most noticeable features of Bird at first. These vocals are very reminiscent of mid-90's alt-rock vocal styling, with a touch of femininity splashed over a clear sensuality of power. This power emanates from the progenitor of the band, Adele Emmas, who gathered musicians for the project in order to give music to her words.

And the musicians responded. Playing what seems to be atmospheric styled dream pop, Bird brings together the ideas of alt/rock with the slow, folkiness of modern indie rockers. In songs such as "Tides" the guitars compete without overbearing each other or the listener. The bass and drums work together to form a cohesive unit, perhaps a bit understated in most songs, but providing a driving (if simple) churn to move the melodies along to. With other instrumentation added as needed, the "dash of this, pinch of that" approach allows the vocals to fill spaces that might otherwise be left vacant. Put all together, the sound is sexy and exceptional, although it harkens back to a time when this sound was underground and a bit more common.

Bird stands out on the basis of their willingness to not lock down on one style. They range from raunchy slow-churn blues ("Wanna be your dog") to choir-esque atmospherics ("Phantoms") with stops in between. If these four songs (which I will call an eponymous EP for lack of a better word) are a good indication, I think we have a lot to look forward to from Bird.

Where to find them:

Thanks to user yflmd on Reddit, I was directed to Bird's website

Their SoundCloud page

RIYL: PJ Harvey, Concrete Blonde, Tanya Donnelly

Music Review - ††† (Crosses)

2011-08-03T10:52:00.003-04:00

It's been a while, but it's summer and I've been busy busy busy. So to make up for it, I bring you the latest solo effort from Chino Moreno, best known for his work with hardcore band, the Deftones.

I wasn't sure what to expect from †††, the name of this project (heretofore referred to as Crosses). Moreno is well known to experiment when outside of the Deftones umbrella, and this is no exception. While still tinged with guitar riffs and lyrics that follow the dreamy ghost story of Moreno's style, these five songs have a much dreamier and ethereal quality. Vocals are clear and concise with unquestionably straightforward poignancy. The music, while mostly electronic, doesn't overtake the lines of the main melody or overbear the vocals.

This nice part of this EP is that Crosses retains all the lyrical workmanship of the Deftones with a much less emotionally wrenching sound to bring it out. Sometimes, the lyrical message gets lost in Deftones songs, but with Crosses the vocals drive the music. A good example of this is "†hholyghs†" (yes, the whole '†' in the title of everything is a little ten angsty), where the emotion of the vocal pulls out the heaviness and softness alternatingly, making this a great, anthemic tune.

Listening through, this EP has been a great release with enough energy to pep a listener up, but no so much aggression so as to make the listener want to jump in the pit.

Where to find it:

On the Crosses site

iTunes

RIYL: Deftones, Nine Inch Nails (especially Ghosts), The Crow - OST

Music Review - why+the+wires

2011-05-31T10:18:00.002-04:00

The first thing I can say about why+the+wires is wow, what an amazing live show. The Ithaca, NY math rockers have lost a few people since recording Telegraph Flats but that by no means diminishes their ability to kick you in the face with pure musical energy.

Their second release with Habit Forming Records, this album best exemplifies the ability to take something raw yet subtle and put it to use. With killer percussion provided by Chris Romeis, pulsating bass by (now former) bassist Tito Butler, and a nuanced guitar rhthym and gravely Tom Waits crooning from Dave Nutt, a listener could be easily satisfied. But why stop there? why+the+wires goes a step further with a violinist, Haley Dossinger, to pull out the softer tonalities that might sometimes get lost in the more abrupt or raucous pieces, and Keevin Dossinger to tear up everything in sight on accordian, sax, random percussion (often at the same time).

Telegraph Flats is a romp through the Northeast with tinges of that "Northwest" sound. Opening with the title track, you are immediately pulled into a van with people you can trust and love and feel good about. But as with any cross-country road trip, there is oscillation. "Smokehoods" shows the bitterness that sometimes builds up in this trips while "Another Fucking Waltz" kind of gives the feel that there is some sort of redemption in every ride. The entire album leaves a feeling of having done something...even though all that something was is actively listening.

The only negative I can find on this album is that it doesn't quite capture their unbelievably energetic live performance. I look forward to seeing if they can get a little of that in the future, or maybe a few live videos or recording to capture that essence.

Where to find them (on CD or White Vinyl):

Order through Habit Forming Records

On their site

RIYL: At the Drive-In, This Town Needs Guns, Drive Like Jehu

Music Review - Sledding With Tigers

2011-05-23T10:43:00.002-04:00

Back again with what might be their most "interesting" album cover, is Stockton, CA's own Sledding with Tigers. The Arrested Cats is the latest EP offering from this prolific group and while the music is still edged with punkness, their is some maturity here we haven't seen in other SWT relaeases.

With the addition of Samantha Juneman on violin, the now two-piece shows a little bit more world awareness and a softer side to the music. No need to worry, there are still plenty of group vocals on The Arrested Cats, but also a more "Kasher/Oberst" feel on some of the songs. Not completely absent, but in the minority, are the short, jackhammer punk tunes from No Randy, No and in their place are longer songs of loneliness and boredom, such as the kick off song "The Kids Will Be Alright, Eventually" and the closer, "Valentimes Is Serious Times".

Dan Faughnder brings his blend of punk acoustic guitar and desperate falsetto vocals in line with the violin of Juneman in such away as to make one wonder what genre this falls into. Which brings us to an important message: fuck genres...their stupid anyway. While they help make conversations easier, they have no place when listening to music alone. And this is music to be listened to. Sledding With Tigers conveys the type of loneliness to make it not seem so bad. This release is great to listen to when you need someone to say"It's not so bad...and it gets better". In short...give them your money and take their music...everyone wins!

Where to find them:

BandCamp

MySpace

Hopefully soon in iTunes and presented by an awesome record label (they deserve it)

RIYL: Connor Oberst, Cursive, Greg Graffin's solo work

Music Review - Jake Lauer

2011-05-11T09:11:00.002-04:00

Jake Lauer seems like a pretty nice guy, but he doesn't make my life any easier. His debut album Don't Forget to Breathe isn't really "adult contemporary" or "soft rock" (whatever those two terms mean). So I think I'll move forward and be all "I'm above genres" for this one. Yeah...I'm a real hipster or whatever...moving on.

The musicianship of Jake Lauer is apparent from the first chords of the first track, "I've Been" all the way through the last track, "Sunrise". The man can play guitar. As always, I'm a bit distracted by the use of a drum machine. There is hope that in a live setting Mr. Lauer would have someone to fill that void. The rest of the music is nicely laid. The vocals convey a subdued passion, he is truly feeling each word, but it's almost as if he doesn't want to give away too much. Jake Lauer is a cool customer who plays it close to the vest...or at least that's the image he is trying to portray here.

The lyrics are fitting in each song, and while they are very poetic, they are also easily forgettable. Not to say you can't sing along with the songs and remember them, just that they are free of over ranging imagery, which makes them easy to relate to.

All in all, Don't Forget to Breathe is a nice, easy listen. It's relaxing and showcases what seems like a burgeoning talent in the form of Jake Lauer. I look forward to hearing more in the future. Hopefully with a drummer.

Where to Find Him:

Bandcamp

CD Baby

RIYL: Jeremy Enigk's acoustic stuff, Walter Schriefels latest stuff, John Mayer except with decent songs.

Music Review - Incubus

2011-04-29T14:33:00.005-04:00

It's been 5 years since we've heard from that California 5-some once known for their rapid fire lyrics full of meaning and their mixture of the hard and soft sounds that once stood out in the alt/rock spectrum. I was able to get an advanced copy of their latest album, If Not Now, When? (due for release July, 2011), and I can say I was surprised. Sadly, however, not all surprises are good ones.

If you were expecting a return to albums like S.C.I.E.N.C.E or even A Crow Left of the Murder, you, like me, would be disappointed. You see, it seems the bad boys of Incubus have grown up. And while they still like the lyrics sound deep, Boyd comes off as a caricature of his former self, only conjuring images of words he's said before. But this time slower, more melodically.

The 13 tracks all more or less meander down the same path without stretching or going anywhere. It seems that as time has passed, Incubus has lost it's passion, the desire to rock it out and put together some powerfully anthemic words and music. None of the songs reaches out and grabs you. Sadly, this album is a let done.

Perhaps they are going for a jazzier more adult feel, but personally, I think they've just lost their edge.

Where to get it:

You can pre-order the album from the Incubus website which also allows you to preview the released track "Adolescents"

RIYL: Far's latest album At Night We Live, Owen

EDIT: Thanks for special grammatical help from renegadex415x of Reddit Land

Music Review - 8in8

2011-04-27T10:39:00.003-04:00

To say 8in8 is a super group is an odd way to put it in the least. Made up of former Dresden Doll, Amanda Palmer, her husband, writer, musician, and all around nice guy, Neil Gaiman, the always willing to do a duet Ben Folds, and Damian Kulash, singer, guitarist, and treadmill master from OkGO. That really is 4 people I wouldn't usually expect to get together in a studio...or my kitchen. I guess that these things happen.

Each track on Nighty Night (an album done in 8 hours) is an expression in and of itself, but for me, the real ear grabber was "Because Origami", a soft duet with Ben Folds and Amanda Palmer that starts soft and ends sad. Then, returning to story form, there is the dark closing track, "The Problem With Saints", where Neil Gaiman's use of the word "bifurcated" is just really scary. For something that may have come about as a joke or some fun, it has hutzpah and shows what fun it is to break out of the norm and play music instead of just making it.

At any rate, the cd is a fun listen and really enjoyable. I've gone through it about 10 or 15 times this morning and can't stop listening. If that's not enough to get you interested, initial proceeds from download-donations are going to berkleecitymusicnetwork - a charity which provides kids with every opportunity to see their musical potential. But since the music stands on it's own eclectic legs, the charity is just icing on the cake.

Where to get it:

Amandapalmer.net

rumors are it will be on iTunes soon

RIYL: Ben Folds, Amanda Palmer, Richard Harris, for no real reason other than the last track "The Problem With Saints" remind me of "MacArthur Park"

Music Review - The Dead Milkmen - The King in Yellow

2011-03-22T10:52:00.002-04:00

It has been 16 years since we've had something new from The Dead Milkmen. That changed recently, with the digital only release of The King in Yellow. To say this is an exciting release would be an understatement, but it begs the question, are we excited about the nostalgic possibilities, or the music?

The first thing I noticed when listening to through the songs was the production quality. I listened to some old Dead Milkmen afterward and got the impression they were four dudes with 3 microphones in an attic recording. It didn't diminish the music, but it is what I expected to hear again. The songs on King are more polished, the drums come through clearly without that classic twang on the snare, the other instruments are nicely balanced and the vocals are clear and easy to hear. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does take away from the nostalgia. The songs themselves, however, will bring it back.

While not every song is going to bring back visions of cruising in the back of your friend's Ford Tempo on the way to Ocean City, NJ in the summer of your 19th year, some of them will. There is still some intelligently veiled social commentary - especially on songs like "Fauxhemia" that takes issue with pop music and "Meaningless Upbeat Happy Song" which takes more issue with the "culture of fear", and some general Dead Milkmen wackiness can be found on "Melora Says", it's pretty clear these guys have gotten a little older. The album is fun to listen to, if a little slower on most tracks tan expected of the Dead Milkmen.

When all is said and done, it's worth the download. It brings back some memories and reminds us all that this world is full of people who look a lot like Gavin MacLeod.

Where to find them:

The Dead Milkmen Website is currently the only place to get it

Their back catalog is available on iTunes

RIYL: Ween, The Descendants, They Might be Giants

Music Review - Childish Gambino - Self-titled EP

2011-03-09T09:35:00.002-05:00

Hip-hop is not dead. It just took a television star to remind us that it could be good again.

Most people know Childish Gambino as Troy from Community. And it can't be denied that Donald Glover is a brilliant comedic actor. So I wasn't sure what to think when I heard he was dropping a hip-hop album. I mean, Chris Rock had a hip-hop album once, but it was all comedy. Not so with Childish Gambino.

This self-titled EP is ridiculously thick with some of the best lyrical combinations unleashed by any rapper in recent years (I had to pause "Freaks and Geeks" and rewind just hear him say "In the back of the bush/Like Gavin Rossdale's drummer" on more time). The talent isn't just in the ability to rhyme and deliver either.

If Childish Gambino wanted to release an R&B album with just singing, no rhyming, he would still be successful. This album is funny, without being strictly comedic (some parts are funny, but that doesn't seem to be the intent overall), emotionally open without being soft, and tight as a hip-hop record can be. Makes you wonder, is there anything this guy can't do well?

Sadly, only 5 songs though. Hopefully we'll get more tunes soon.

Where to find him:

MediaFire

Donald Glover's website

RIYL: Jay-Z, Das EFX, Eminem

Retro Review - Kill Creek - St. Valentine's Garage

2011-03-01T13:52:00.003-05:00

For a change of pace, I thought it might be enjoyable to review an album that isn't quite as recent as many review sites. Kill Creek's St. Valentine's Garage is an album my friends and I discovered in the warm summer of 1995. The album itself was released, independently on a tiny label called Mammoth and crept to the east coast between it's release in 1994 and when we stumbled upon it. Then everything changed.

This album is a pre-cursor to nearly everything called emo that came from the midwest in the years afterwards. Searing guitars, driving drums, solid bass work, and vocals able to drive you made with the passion coming through (every song is realatable). With songs of loss ("Kelly's Dead", "Funeral") to songs of relationships failing and the desperation in trying ("Fruit Pie", "Gett On"), this album incorporates the post-teenage/not-quite-adult mindset in a way that makes the songs still relevant today.

Produced by the now legendary Ed Rose, St. Valentine's Garage is still a great listen to this day. Powerful and evocative but sadly, obscure and somewhat left behind. If bands had the intensity, integrity, and naive honesty presented here, music would be in a much better state today.

Where to find them:

their homespun web site

iTunes

RIYL: The GetUp Kids, Cursive, At the Drive-In

Music Review - Elevator Music

2011-02-09T09:53:00.003-05:00

FULL DISCLOSURE: THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY MUSIC YOU ARE LIKELY TO HEAR IN AN ELEVATOR!

That said, Elevator Music is a great indie-pop group hailing from the winter worn land of Calgary, Alberta. My first impression, listening to "When We Were Nocturnal" was that these guys could use a little more polish. The instrumentation itself is done well, but the low-fi attitude of it caught me by surprise. Then it began to grow on me. By the end of the self-titled EP, I was loving it. It was a nice throwback to a time when everything wasn't so clean and digitally scrubbed.

There is beauty in simplicity here. The music isn't pointlessly complicated, and, along with the vocals, make for a nostalgic innocence. These songs aren't immature, but they do give that sense of your last summer before college and tall the possibilities that were ahead, and all the pitfalls too (note, this may be heavily influenced by the track "Treason in the Season of Summer").

This EP is highly enjoyable, and a great escape from winter doldrums. Many bonus points for the French version of "Mirabelle".

Where to find them:

BandCamp

MySpace

Facebook

RIYL: The Shins, Phoenix, PlayRadioPlay!

Music Review - Aaron Stoquert

2011-01-26T09:54:00.003-05:00

Aaron Stoquert is a musician looking to make a name as a singer/songwriter. A musician of understatement, some might say as they listen to his first EP, Run For Your Life.

While it seems Stoquert is referring to love and lose and the way things take their course in life, I can't help wondering if he's referring to a zombie apocalypse. I know the sample on the opening track, "Bunker Hill" might make it obvious, but I couldn't let myself think such a concept could be so well done, and with such a subtle delivery too.

The delivery is the focus here. Stoquert is a talented musician, technically proficient and creative to not just play the notes. This is really brought out in his voice. I hate to use a cliche term for it, but his voice is soaringly haunting. On each song, I feel transported to the desolate air of the South in the 1930's. He gives a sense of desperation without passion, as if you know everything is lost, and you would love to get it back, but you know the odds...so you won't do a thing. This is especially clear on the track "Pass Me By".

This being his first, I think we can only expect great things from Aaron Stoquert as time passes.

Where to find him:

the album is downloadable on BandCamp where you can name your price

RIYL: Leonard Cohen, Cursive, Afghan Whigs

Music Review - Kids Icarus

2011-01-10T14:58:00.002-05:00

People have talked for a long time about whether or not the genre of emo (or emo-punk to be even more specific) is dead. Well, Kids Icarus vote no. I vote no with them.

Their self-titled EP brings me back to basement parties circa mid-90's, a time before rocking hard and singing great lyrics made you emo, not wearing tight jeans and shopping at Hot Topic (once upon a time, kiddies, emo wasn't a bad word).

In it's simplest terms, Kids Icarus is a 5-piece, made of crushing percussion, amazing vocals, bright and soaring harmonies, tight basslines, and guitars that will rip your damn face-off. The band kicks it off fast with the no-holds-barred "It's on Me". Probably the simplest song in the group of four on this EP, but a great anthemic start to get the listener interested. The real shiner, though, is "Monster". Great lyrics, hard dissonant beat structures and crushing guitars. That's what this game is about.

The only short coming here...it's only four songs long. C'mon, Kids Icarus...give us more...soon!

Where to find them:

BandCamp

Twitter

Apparently in Connecticut...a state I can't say correctly

Facebook

Note - Special thanks go out to Athletics for tweeting about this and bringing it to my attention.

RIYL - Kill Creek, Samiam, Gameface

Music Review - Sledding with Tigers

2010-12-28T09:19:00.003-05:00

It seems a lot of people can make songs quickly these days. With the advent of sites like SoundCloud, Media Fire, Reverb Nation, and the more obscure YouTube (not sure if you've heard of it), some people seem to think they can just write a quick song and make it available and therefore they are musicians. Let me start by saying this...no, most people are not. But Sledding with Tigers is a bit different.

This week, Sledding with Tigers released The Hill Sheep, a collection of 8 folk-punk songs. If nothing else, SWT writes and releases a lot of songs. But these aren't some basement jams with shitty drum loops and some dude who was told he could sing in Junior High and thinks he still can. These 8 songs are something a lot of those quick-release basement singers are missing: honest.

It seems the biggest part of this massive honesty is the lead singer's ability to almost laugh at himself when he realizes what he's talking about is something everyone goes through yet is a ridiculous situation we should all be able to overcome. But no one can, everyone has been there, and it isn't going to change.

The Hill Sheep breaks a bit from the previous release No Randy No in that there is some new instrumentation (a violin, or fiddle for you hipsters out there, for one thing), some more subtle tonality changes, and a more dynamic vocal range. What hasn't changed are the great group vocalizations that make you want to start singing along...even before you've learned the words. It seems "sick & tired/sick & tired" is the best examples of this, with a chorus sung behind the main chorus...utterly brilliant when you consider this is mostly one vocal with an acoustic guitar.

This a great album to usher in the end of the year and welcome the new one. With an upbeat feel even in the songs with awkward moments ("5432 Fun"), the only negative I can find is it only being 8 songs long. Luckily, with this continued free-distribution paradigm moving forward, we won't wait too long for more good tunes from Sledding with Tigers.

Where to find them:

Media Fire

a few tracks from The Hill Sheep and other albums are on YouTube

Shows and new songs and releases are always announced on the Sledding With Tigers Twitter Feed

RIYL: Matt Pond PA, Bright Eyes, Sinners Repent!

Top 5 Albums of 2010 - A Year in Review

2010-12-13T09:49:00.007-05:00

I generally do reviews, but it's been a busy holiday season, so I will fill this space with what I feel were the 10 best albums I came across this year.

To say the Athletics had a great year is an understatement. An amazing album, a huge move, and a record deal with Deep Elm Records, what more could a talented, young indie band ask for. I'm looking forward to their tour schedule in 2011. Hopefully they'll be in my area at some point.

No Randy, No! by Sledding with Tigers was an unexpected gem. Coming from a guy and his acoustic guitar, these reflective punk tunes made a great listen...almost to the point of singing along with my headphones on (N.B. this is frowned upon in an office environment).

I've been listening to Matt Pond PA for awhile now and their latest effort The Dark Leaves was a welcome listen after 3 years without a recording. Deep and introspective, this album is filled with great rainy day tunes

While it was released in Europe in 2009, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More didn't make it across the pond until February of this year. And we're glad it did. Every song on this album is powerful and passionate. There is no downside, even for a band with percussion, but no actual drummer.

What list of best albums is complete without Bad Religion? These guys are, hands-down, my favorite punk/hard-core band of all time. Although they have been doing this for 30 years, they haven't missed a step and are always poignant, fast, and intelligent. Dissent of Man is no different.

That's a quick list. There are many more bands I enjoyed this year, and I'm sure not everyone agrees with my picks, but time and space is limited. Let's hope 2011 is another year of great music.

Music review - The Last Dinosaur

2010-11-17T11:03:00.003-05:00

Hailing from the metropolis of Newark, Delaware, The Last Dinosaur is a band ready to take on conventional alt/pop with some new sensibilities and true angsty rock songs.

Their latest EP, Tales, is a melodic blend of guitar and vocal driven post-rock. The team puts together a nice blend of off-kilter beats with pleasantly repetitive guitar hooks and vocals that range from melodic to passionately raised yelling. To be clear, this is NOT screamo. They do yell, but without resulting in screeching or growling.

Tales kicks off with with the upbeat and (dare I say) dancy "Fractions". This immediately sets a mood for the rest of the EP and gets you in the mood to move with the music. The title-track is more introspective and is perfectly placed in the middle of the album, and is quickly followed by "Sway" which is bit more experimental than other tracks with a heavy keyboard riff flowing throughout the song. "Sway" is a bit of a departure, but you will be sucked right back in by the high energy closer "Loughton".

Each song is well written, well balanced, and well produced. I can see The Last Dinosaur becoming much bigger than their hometown in the near future, if some wicked smart record company will scoop them up quickly enough.

Where to hear them:

Tales is available for free download at Mediafire

MySpace

YouTube

RIYL: Athletics, Head Automatica, Rival Schools

Music Review - The Fairweathers

2010-11-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

The Fairweathers are a 3 piece alt/pop outfit based in the small town of Caledonia in Ontario. Their self-titled EP will be coming out shortly, and I gave the songs a listen after hearing about them on reddit

The music offered up by The Fairweathers is a blend of upbeat pop with other influences that seem to change from song to song. For example, "Give My Love to Her" has a clear country twang, whereas "Just Jenny" is an attempt at something more punkish.

Each member seems to be pretty good at playing their instruments: a capable drummer who keeps the beat, a bass player who ably follows the guitar line, a guitarist who plays chords rythymically in line with the song, and vocals that are clear and concise. But there is something lacking here. It seems almost that the songs are too poppy, too simple. Listening through each song I realized I would forget almost as soon as I heard it. Each song, while wholly different, blends into the next and by the time you are through listening to all four tunes, you're ready to hear something else.

The tunes are likable, but the feeling that these tunes belong in commercials and not on my headphones can't be escaped.

Where to hear them:

Sound Cloud

The Fairweathers website

RIYL: Jonathan Richman, Sledding With Tigers, The Goo Goo Dolls (Superstar Carwash and later)

Music Review - Ember Wreath

2010-11-02T12:52:00.002-04:00

Ambient music is by far a hard place to nail things down and critique. I must admit, though, my first problem with Ember Wreath's latest release, Ember Wreath II, wasn't the difficult concepts of the constructs of the music, but the use of a line from that ridiculously predictable television show, Lost. I watched that show for a good 10 episodes, gave it a chance, and never looked at it again. This album is likely to go the same way.

Ambient music, for those unaccustomed to it, is not just a bunch of sounds mashed together with a Jackson Pollack like randomness. Their is a purpose to it, and Ember Wreath definitely shows direction and some semblance of idea. The problem, other than gratuitous use of crappy television quotes, is in the production value. There is a definite hiss on most tracks which, to me, indicates use of less than quality equipment or a lack of knowledge on ow to edit those sorts of sounds out in production.

If there is a saving grace here, it is the track "sleeping with the lights on". On this track the cacophony overrides the hissing (or masks it really) so that a listener can enjoy the music and not think, "Is this recorded on my dad's old TASCAM?". There are also some nice parts of "prodigal" but over excessive tubular sounds demerit the darkness of the other instrumentation.

Where to hear Ember Wreath:

BandCamp

Last.fm

RIYL: Mogwai, Ghosts by NIN, Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Music Review - Orange Tour

2010-10-28T11:29:00.003-04:00

Orange Tour, hailing from Minneapolis, is yet another great band willing to make it on their own, DIY style. Plenty of bands are doing this lately, but not all of them are as good as Orange Tour.

The first thing you need to know about the band is that they really like to make references to locales in the Twin Cities. While I'm not super familiar (read: I've been to the airport there twice) with the area, as a listener I get a sense of familiarity with their hometown. The lyrics take you on a kind of sight seeing trip through Minneapolis, but without all the corny jokes those trolley-bus drivers make.

The opening track on Reality Show, "Television Lover" is a little misleading. You might get the impression this a band of lazy drifting jam-rock. As you move forward through the album, however, you find gems of harder rocking songs ("Girls in Bloomington") and even an upbeat ode to the ever beautiful "Scarlett Johansen" (it's not really, but her name is in the song).

This collection of songs is upbeat, quirky, and fun to listen to. The music is pleasantly straight-forward and pop-ish without being bland, commercial alt-pop. Highly recommended for those rainy fall days.

Where to find them:

BandCamp

On their Website

On Twitter

You can follow them on Facebook

RIYL: Lighter Paul Westerberg, Phoenix, The Waves

Music Review - Dan Dectis

2010-10-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

Moving toward a more eclectic group of songs, Parliament of Owls by Dan Dectis is a musical journey through flights of fancy and generally upbeat, melodic trek. Coming only six months after the release of Deeply Superficial, this album is anything but rush job.

With a mixture of instrumental tunes and vocal tracks, Dan Dectis seems to strive to keep a good feeling throughout each song, and he takes a wide spectrum of genres to do it with. From folk-rock ("Joy") to jazz ("Doctober") to new age ("Maskirova"), each song bridges the gap between the song before it and the one that follows, making it possible to just let the whole album spin on repeat and not feel bored with it at all.

To say that the instrumentation is well-played is an understatement, and the voice on the vocal tracks you get the feeling Dan has been around a bit and seen enough to know it isn't always sunshine and flowers, but why not enjoy what we have and not what we have not. A great feel good album.

Where to hear Dan Dectis:

BandCamp

MySpace

Uvumi

RIYL: Jack Johnson, Jakob Dylan, Bela Fleck

Music Review - Billy the Fridge

2010-10-14T13:08:00.002-04:00

Hip-hop has been a bit stagnant when it comes to independent music. Enter Billy the Fridge, a portly gent from Seattle, WA, sporting overalls and a fresh sour cream doughnut for bling. He's vile, he's honest, he does not mince word...but does mince any MC who steps up.

It's hard to admit, but I had to pause a lot while listening through BTF's Million Dollar Fantasy Freak Show. The lyrics are so tight and food related, I had to stop, laugh, rewind, listen again. BTF is making what might be the best in fun hip hop.

The beats are tight and don't sound cheesy like some independent hip hop albums. Billy the Fridge keeps it fresh, the way he prefers his baker's dozen. With a crew that enhances, not taking away from, the melody lines and Billy's themes, songs like "Cadillac Rolling Fat" (the best line of which is "You get it, we fat and we ride in cars") roll out and make this whole album fun as hell. The best part: limited and tasteful use of Auto-tune. Thanks for that Billy...and keep being a "doughnut eating beast".

Where to hear them:

the Billy The Fridge site

MySpace

Twitter

RIYL: Early Bloodhound Gang, MC Frontalot, Lonely Island

Music Review - This Is Not A Game of Who The Fuck Are You

2010-10-12T08:39:00.003-04:00

With a name nearly as long as the last track on their latest album, This Is Not A Game of Who the Fuck Are You (TINAGOWTFAY) can truly be called a fun romp through the common concepts of angry, screaming post hard-core. Are they a bit sream-o...perhaps, but seems to at least not take it to the extreme with boring, expected movements on the 101010, an album named to either commemorate its release date or express their love of binary.

The album has a slow Intro track which is probably just to lull you into vulnerability. After that brief 56 seconds, you are assaulted with a full force double kick-drum attack with full-on guitars and throat blistering vocals. Then, just when you are about half-way through "The Great Psycho of them All", a ska like break-down comes out of nowhere.

This is what actually serves to make a mark of what TINAGOWTFAY are about: unexpected gems hidden in the serious hard core music they play. On songs like "Take to Your Guns" and "One Last Dance", the band strives to break out of the post hard-core expectancies and open up new musical ground. It's easy to see the appeal of these guys and the album in and of itself is diverse and genre breaking, which makes it a great listen for someone looking to get out of the mold of predictable music.

Where to hear them:

Their website offers a download of the album

MediaFire

MySpace though they are looking for help as their page is all jacked up

RIYL: Alexisonfire, The Bella Donna, Say Anything

Music Review - Filbert

2010-10-06T09:01:00.002-04:00

The band Filbert, a five-piece indie rock group hailing from the burgeoning Stockton, California music scene, brings to mind one word while listening to their album If Time Travel Were Possible: nostalgia. This might seem an odd word to choose, but if you were listening to independent music circa 1995, these songs will bring you back.

With lyrics delivered in a lackadaisical, rolling drone and instrumentation ranging from single guitar to full band, the songs of Filbert bring images of days hanging out with your best friends, smoking a few and kicking back. The wave of nostalgia reaches its penultimate point on the song 'Olly Olly', when lead vocalist Daniel Gutierrez brings us back to summer games of hide and seek, but from the playful eyes of the barely-adult-not-ready-to-grow-up perspective. And yes...that is a time in your life.

Each song seems to be written well and the album collectively is great. A brilliant combination of haunting melodies and politely off-kilter singing. A perfect Autumn rainy day listen. (I know that sounds trite, but I really agree with those words)

Where to hear them:

Media Fire

On MySpace

RIYL: Built to Spill, The Flaming Lips, They Might Be Giants

Music Review - The New Green

2010-10-05T13:12:00.003-04:00

Another reddit find, The New Green are a 3-piece indie/folk outfit from Ann Arbor, Michigan. With their sophomore effort, Elaborate Maps, released September 24th, they sing songs of catharsis, growing up, finding one's self, without becoming cliche or trite.

Listening through the tracks on this freshman effort, it's easy to see this group did one of two things: a) knew each other for years finally coming together in band form or b) came together after finding common musical ground in order to harness their individual musical talents. Either way, they are without question capable musicians.

That said, there are a few issues. Songs like 'Almost' are a bit too laid back. While the sound is generally chill, it seems that song in particular lacks passion. It just seems to drone. In addition, the first track, 'Bigger than Me' is entirely too long at over 5 minutes for a pop song.

On the other hand, 'Grow Up' shows some initiative toward branching out. Perhaps this album is, in itself, a portrait of the evolution of The New Green's song writing ability and focus. As the album closes with the title track, everything has been brought out and it's easier to relax into the atmosphere of the music.

All in all, the album is satisfying as some light relaxing tunes. It could be emotionally deeper, but if it was, it would take away from the more relaxing nature of the songs.

Where you can hear them:

on The New Green website. I would recommend downloading the album and donating. Not just because they've earned it, but there is static at the end of every song in the live feed.

On Twitter

Or the MySpace

RIYL: Stars, later Billy Bragg, Bare Naked Ladies

Music Review - Ten Cent Howl

2010-10-04T11:20:00.003-04:00

Ten Cent Howl bills themselves as "The combination of savory music, seasoned musicians and raw rust-belt rocking alt-country, provides for some great, shit-kickin’ flavor." and that's perfectly fine. Four fine musicians from of all places, Buffalo, NY, bringing together the jam session stylings of more laid-back sounds and the rocking country sound of the upbeat, dancing crowd.

With superb song writing by lead-singer and acoustic guitar man, Bill Smith (yes that's his real name), TCH is bringing fun back into music scene of their hometown. While still putting together a formal release, they are currently hosting tracks on their website.

Admittedly, the recordings are well done, but even the live recordings fail to capture the energy of the band on stage. Known to play marathon shows of up to 4 hours, these guys can keep picking and grinning and staying fresh and fun while never delving into that cheese-ball country zone of popp-ish country that seems to dominant the alt-country charts these days.

Jerry Hall's bass playing on these recordings is perfect for bridging the under-stated drumming (which is shows simple can be complex when you have the talent of someone like Steve Puglisi) and the capable guitar work of both Harmony Griffin and the rock-steady Bill Smith. While I'm not an uber-fan of alt-country tunes, Ten Cent Howl puts on a great show that includes poking fun of themselves and the genre and still making everyone have a great time.

Where to find them:

On their website

ReverbNation

Videos available on YouTube

RIYL: Wilco, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr.

Music Review - This One's For Cody

2010-09-27T10:57:00.003-04:00

This One's For Cody is a techno duo spinning house parties and making remixes in the OC. After hearing about them on the Twitter it was time to give them a listen and see what they were about.

Sometimes it's difficult to gauge a DJ (or in this case a pair of DJ's) without actually seeing them live. If there live show is nearly as good as their tracks, anyone would have fun at a party where these guys were cutting it up.

The original track Drugs gives these guys some credence. The danciness of this tracks flows well with the vocal samples they use and the bounce is pretty sweet. Follow that with remixes of well-known dance/hip-hop tunes, such as Ol' Dirty Bastard's Got Your Money and you can fell the palpable fun. Although, I must admit...I laughed nearly the entire way through the remix of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's Fresh Prince of Bel Air. It was that funny.

Where to find them

SoundCloud

At Party's in Orange County, CA

On Twitter

RIYL: Paul Oakenfold, Mr. BT, Daft Punk

Music Review - Ian Marquis

2010-09-16T13:16:00.003-04:00

Ian Marquis is a solo artist I came across (uh-oh, here it is again) on reddit. It seems he's decided to go in a direction that would almost be toying with the listener. If you aren't sure what that means, listen to the first minute or so of the first track from his new album The Shivers, "Diamond Dust", and you'll understand what I mean.

Playing all the instruments himself, producing, and mixing shows that Mr. Marquis has a great deal of talent. I'm not sure if there is a genre to fit this, but I guess I'll try with retro-80's style/synth-pop/punchy/emo/gothic/new wave tunes. I don't think iTunes has a genre title like that, but then, their idea of genre is pretty limited.

Many of the lyrics are delivered in a languid, apathetic voice which still carry the emotion of the song, seeming to range from relationships to becoming an adult and wondering what exactly that means anymore. The guitar tracks are smooth, not reaching for superstar solo quality but coming in as accentuation more than bravado, (again, you'll "get" this when you hear the closing solo to "Going Down").

Ian Marquis' synth work made me want to tease up my non-existent hair, call a party-line and head down to the local new wave club. It's brilliantly pulsating and drives each song in a direction that would be lacking without synth there. Given the style, I am even willing to overlook the drum machine abuse going on. As I've said before, as a drummer I know there are places where drums could be user and aren't. With the exception of "Redline" (which would benefit from live drums), the drum machine use is tastefully done.

All in all, a great listen, kind of nostalgic, but original enough to let it stand on its own laurels.

Where to find it:

Streaming and for download here at bandcamp

Hopefully it will show on iTunes soon, I'll update this when it happens

RIYL: early NIN, late Ned's Atomic Dustbin, any era Depeche Mode

Music Review - Anberlin

2010-09-13T11:57:00.003-04:00

The fifth studio album for Anberlin shows they can keep up a relentless pace and still produce songs that aren't stagnant or formulaic. This becomes apparent immediately on the first track of Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place, and carries on through the pace of each tune on the album.

The songs for this album find Anberlin reflecting on relationships and the things that go with them. While the lyrics are a bit more ethereal than concrete, the words are easy to apply to a relationship for anyone who has moved past the High School style of being with someone else.

This offering starts with an uplifting lilt in the form of "We Owe the to Ourselves", getting you ready to hear more and in the mood to move along with the story of each song. The great back and forth between the rhythm section and the guitars and keyboard build something few artists can manage. For example, on "The Art of War", the drums are driving a hard beat people would expect to be coupled with raging voice and crushing guitars. Instead, the beat keeps that pulse, while the vocals and guitar nuance the rhythm, instead of covering it up.

Where to find them:

iTunes

Amazon

Links on their website

Anywhere music is sold these days

RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, The Killers, AFI

Music Review - Tiger Riot

2010-08-18T11:56:00.002-04:00

I don't know what it is about reviewing bands with the word "Tiger" in the band name. Maybe I'm starting a theme, or maybe this is a new band naming trend I wasn't aware of. Anyway...

Tiger Riot is living the dream. Today is apparently the last day their album, Look Up! will be available as a "pay what you want" download as they are signing with a label and going legit. Needless to say this is good for anyone...but these guys certainly have a sound that shows they deserve it.

With an indie leaning sound, make no mistakes, Tiger Riot is what one might begrudgingly call nuEmo. These aren't tunes that bring in mind Sunny Day Real Estate or Rites of Spring. To be clear though, this doesn't mean they aren't good. On the contrary, the guitar playing is great, clever and non-obtrusive. This is important, as the lyrics are the melody carrier here. The vocals provide the driving harmony to pull in the guitar lines and bass lines which buoy the song.

The percussion here is clever. Sticking to straight beats would have been easy to do with this songs...but the drummer branches out using fills to emphasize where necessary and understate when it's the right thing to do.

All in all, these 7 songs are nice jaunt through a pop-minded, hard-but-not-too-hard sound. Put all together the band gels in a well produced group of tunes that are fun without being too negative in attitude.

Where to find them:

Today you can get the album here...but how long that will be available after today is anyone's guess

I assume once paperwork is done they'll be on iTunes, Amazon and even that place no one ever goes, the local record shop

RIYL: Fall Out Boy, The Brand New, Kings of Leon

Music Review - Sledding with Tigers

2010-08-10T13:50:00.003-04:00

Another album found via our friends at reddit, No Randy No! from Sledding with Tigers is a quick jaunt through some punk inspired folkish tunes. When I first opened to file on this to listen, I was shocked by the song lengths...none of which reach the 2 minute mark.

So, unsure what to expect I gave it a listen and I'm glad I did. This crazy cross-mesh of Connor Oberst and Green Day and the Descendents wasn't what I expected. The songs are well executed and fun and easy to sing along to. The guitar playing is quite good and comes through clearly.

The interesting thing with Sledding with Tigers is their need to have a sing-along section on just about every song. While the main vocalist rises above the rest with his slightly off-key (not in a bad way) falsetto-ish voice, the group singing makes each song more enjoyable. The main point is, it could come of as cliche...but it doesn't, which makes you want to jump in and sing along. It helps that the lyrics are pretty simple and easy to remember, especially on tracks like "Not Trying to be Awkward" and "Sunshine".

A pleasant surprise that I think everyone can pick up and enjoy...for the 7 or so minutes it takes to get through the album.

Where to find it:

I found the album on reddit linked to a blog with a nice video link

The direct download can be found here

There is also a static video for the first track 'the 405 (is for lovers?)' on the YouTubes

RIYL: Bright Eyes, The Brand New, The Descendents.

Music Review - River Jack Lee

2010-08-04T13:47:00.003-04:00

I discovered the latest effort (debut effort?) of River Jack Lee, The Best and Most of Everything, on reddit, where I've had the opportunity to find other self-made/self-promoted music in the past. As always with randomly found tunes, I wasn't sure what to expect when putting my headphones on.

According to the post River Jack provided, this effort was 5 years in the making. As he points out, life often has a way of interfering with the recording process. That being the case, this album is definitely polished and well produced.

Lyrically, it's quite good with a nice story-teller feel to it, though mostly via metaphor. Musically, the guitar lines are nice with bass lines flowing more or less in line without becoming obtrusive, definitely good in this indie-southern feel genre the album seems to be reaching for. On the negative side...a drum machine. There are fewer things I object to more than using a crappy drum machine to play simple beats on any music that isn't techno. Surely, there was someone around who could have laid down this straightforward drum tracks.

When all is said and done, it seems this album is lacking in passion. While the themes are often meant to be subtle, especially on songs like "The Machine" and "Battle Hymn", there seems to be a lack of passion in the vocals. It's a relaxing listen, but easily forgettable once that spin through is over. With any hope, River Jack Lee will continue to work on moving that passion felt in the melody through his voice...and we won't need to wait another 5 years to see if he can do it.

Where to find this album:

I found it on reddit here

That link led to River Jack Lee's site on Bandcamp

Should it become available elsewhere, I'll update that here

RIYL: Ten Cent Howl, Wilco, softer hits by country tinged artists

Music Review - Athletics

2010-07-15T14:47:00.003-04:00

Athletics is a five-piece out of Oneonta, NY and might be the perfect example of small town meets big sound. With their latest upcoming release Why Aren't I Home?, it seems they have plans to bring back the good parts of post-hardcore and leave behind the corporate schlock we're being fed.

With an ambient air and soaring main vocals, Athletics' music is somewhat of a journey. Lyrically, they are relatable, in a way we relate to the language in our daydreams. The pounding cadence set by their drummer, especially on tracks like Jordan and the title track, remind listeners that it's possible to be hard and melodic at the same time.

This album is a next step from their EP Sleep Comes in Interludes which laid a brilliant foundation for Why Aren't I Home? to be built upon. The mixture of fast and slow, hard and soft, with pulsating guitars and occasional keys makes for an amazing listening trip that is, unfortunately over before you realize how far you've come. So then you really need to listen again. And there is no disappointment on the second trip through.

With any luck, I will get a chance to see these characters live in the near future, and I am sure their stage performance will overtake the awesome power of this studio effort.

Where to find them:

UPDATE: Now available on iTunes and Amazon.com - GO GET IT ALREADY!!

I was able to get an advance copy, but I'm sure these tracks will find their way to their MySpace page soon enough

They are also on Facebook

Their ep Sleep Comes in Interludes can be found here

RIYL: alexisonfire, The Stay Lows, The Appleseed Cast, American Football

Music Review - Far

2010-06-21T16:01:00.002-04:00

Far is more than likely one of the most influential bands people have never heard. If you were into the sound of post-hardcore (read: emo) in the mid-90's however, you know exactly how much Far could bring to the sonic table and how upsetting their break-up in 1999 was. Luckily, Jonah Mantranga, Shaun Lopez, John Gutenberger, and Chris Robyn came to their senses and realized it was high-time someone came along in order to bring the music back in this world of Justin Beibers and corporate slap-patch bands.

And we are not dissappointed by their 2010 resurgence record, At Night We Live. This album puts together their biggest "hit" record Water and Solutions and their more grounded-in-hardcore earlier effort Tin Cans with Strings to You. The heart-felt lyrics and aggressive guitars alternate with a soft and melodic core that moves each song back and forth, like mid-90's emo kids on a club floor balancing precariously between the pull of their backpack and the weight of their horn-rimmed glasses.

It was with some trepidation I began listening to this album. After so much time, could Far continue to deliver the sounds of longing and aggression so many people enjoyed over 10 years ago? It seems not only they can, but they did.

In a world where it seems it is getting harder and harder to find good, well-played, well-made music, Far's At Night We Live gives us just what we need at the time we need it.

Where to find them:

iTunes

MySpace

The Far website

If you still have a decent record store

RIYL: Quicksand, Rival Schools, Onelinedrawing, Sunny Day Real Estate

Music Review - The Stay-Lows

2010-03-29T08:55:00.003-04:00

The The Stay Lows spent the past two and a half to three years working on their latest CD, Signature Bridge, leaving many of their fans wondering, "Will it be worth it?" The band elected to answer that question with a live show, playing the album in its entirety, at Mohawk Place in their home of Buffalo, NY.

The answer: Yes...it was worth it.

With a blending of style that is best described as instrumental with occasional lyrics, the Stay Lows are a power house of amazing instrumentation and orchestration. On stage and, one can only imagine, in the studio, the band has the wherewithal to bring was needed into each song, but without overdoing it.

While seeing the band live brings out more of what they are trying to get across, the new CD Signature Bridge is definitely a good reproduction of the feeling of the Stay Lows live show. Once you get over the quirky song titles (e.g. Ugly Babies, They Smoked the Moon Landing), you realize that instrumental music (with occasional lyrics) isn't all pretentious art rock. It can be fun and fanciful, in the same way music is when someone sings on every song.

I listened to the CD while driving around in my car this weekend and found it to be a perfect soundtrack to what I was doing. The mix works well making sure everything from the guitars to the keyboards to the cello (yes, a rock band with a cello player) comes through and is balanced without any one instrument overpowering another. I would have liked to hear more drums though, but that's just me (read: drummer's bias).

In short, it may have taking awhile to get this album out of the studios, but now that it is, no one should waste anytime running out to get a copy.

Where to find them:

at their website

MySpace

Facebook

RIYL: Mogwai, Sunny Day Real Estate, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, American Football

Music Review: The Helio Sequence

2010-03-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

It seems once again Sub Pop records has their eyes on the prize when it comes to mining the dives and dirges of the Pacific Northwest to find the good music.The Helio Sequence is no exception. The two-man electronica-fied indie group has released a few albums under the re-invigorated Sub Pop and it's easy to see how they got there.

Blending an ever-present Seattle sound (e.g. Death Cab for Cutie not Seattle sound like fellow Sub Pop artist Mudhoney) with a feel more along the poppier escapades of France's Phoenix, The Helio Sequence brings a sensible balance to the indie rock scene. It's nice to see bands "getting away" with not writing dirges and yet still expressing some sort of feeling.

It is important to note, though, if you are looking for Death Cab type depth of lyrical content, The Helio Sequence is not the place to find it. Their lyrics aren't bubble-gum by any stretch of the imagination, but they do tend to leave you a lot of space to fill in your own reasoning and meaning. This is, sadly, something more corporate and radio-friendly bands have a problem doing. The Helio Sequence are well-equipped to use vague wording and still accomplish excellent musicianship.

Where to find them:

Myspace

iTunes

The Sub Pop megamart!

Your local record store (not FYE or any other corporate, soulless hell-ride in a mall)

RIYL: Phoenix, Death Cab for Cutie, Mogwai, Bright Eyes

BONUS VIDEO

Music and Megaman - The Protomen Review

2010-02-25T16:30:00.004-05:00

Who knew awesome rock grew out of Nashville, TN?

Enter The Protomen, an obscure band who makes their way through the world of modern rock by creating a continuous rock-opera-like set of songs based on (of all things) the MegaMan video game series. Think Coheed and Cambria but with less of the death and dismemberment. Their songs take a simple video game back story and make it into a dramatic life-story spanning battle of one scientist against the oppression of the corporate science used to enslave society.

One of the best parts of their style (if it can be called that) is its ambiguity. The Protomen seem to borrow from any genre that fits the feel of the story portion they wish to convey in the song. For example, on their first self-titled album, the song "Unrest in the House of Light" is a wild-west romp through the thoughts of Dr. Light, appropriate to the message of the song and the character singing, while "Breaking Out" from their second album, Act II: The Father of Death , is worth of the stage on Broadway with the best of modern rock operas.

Both albums tell a story almost reminiscent of early Springsteen (think Greetings from Asbury Park) and are a rollicking good listen.

It occurs to me, I may like them because I enjoyed the game when I was younger (and still do), but also because they add brilliant back story that simply can't be conveyed on the screen.

It should be added little is known about the actual band, save for the fact they dress in helmets and emulate the characters....and they're from Tennesee...

RIYL: Coheed and Cambria, Old Springsteen, Rush, Arm Cannon

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Available at: iTunes, www.protomen.com, myspace

Music Review: Voodoo Pharmacology

2009-11-16T21:03:00.004-05:00

Voodoo Pharmacology is a six person group of multi-talented musicians who make their home base in Baltimore, MD. Calling themselves experimental music might seem pretentious to some, so to avoid the moniker, I would call them eclectic musical expansionists.

The group brings an uproar of sound and sight to the stage, and the performance is not toned down when it comes to their recordings. The songs on their EP Her Mirror Was a Window start a journey that roves all over the musical landscape. Electronica songs such as "01110010011000010110100101101110" seem to not clash but exude in to adjoining tracks. To say this album would be easy to find in the post-modern music bin next to Don Cabellero wouldn't be unexpected.

Between the melodic intricacies of the music and the sparse use of lyrics Voodoo Pharmacology weaves a musical tapestry that will get them noticed as time passes. Each of their recordings (which include Her Mirror Was a Window, The March Ides: Radio Testimonials of the Coming Apocalypse, and the self-titledVoodoo Pharmacology) is a testimonial to their tenacity to be music performers in a landscape of music moving more towards polished corporatism.

Fortunately for us, their are still bands like Voodoo Pharmacology, willing to take more leaps and break more boundaries. Drop by their website and grab their tunes and wait for them to come to your town. It will be worth it.

As always, a video to accompany the post. Here's Voodoo Pharmacology jamming live in Baltimore...

Music technology and Hanging Out

2009-01-29T09:06:00.002-05:00

Call me nostalgic, but some of the best memories I have from hanging out with my friends when I was young was listening to music as a group. Whether it was chilling in J's basement listening to his dad's Hendrix Band of Gypsies with a little DasFX added in, or hanging out upstairs at MJ, Dan, and Dave's house listening to Kill Creek and 10 Foot Pole, or listening in Super-Polo-Surround-Sound to the acoustic guitar track on Hum's 'The Pod', it was always fun, always meaningful, and always seem to strengthen the bond between all of us as friends.

Before I start the next section let it be known, I LOVE MY iPod. This is really about how you use it.

So my daughter wrote a list of 25 things about her on facebook. One of her things was sitting in the car with her boyfriend listening to music. Suddenly, it hit me. They just sit there, listening to music. Probably just the two of them, or at most a couple more friends (it's not a big car). Space is limited, and time. They listen to his iPod or her iPod. It can't bee too comfortable. Is it possible that the days have past when 10 or 15 people can share a musical experience? Can it be the magic of group listening is slowly draining from the world?

I can't say yes or no to this. Music is a personal thing, but it is not an individual thing. It's not meant to be held between your ears for you alone. I have some adapters to use my iPod in the car so everyone can listen, a couple in the house to use on old tape players, and Eric brought one to band practice so we can listen to his iPod or mine through the PA.

My point is this, listen to music with friends. If you have a song you can't get enough of, sit with someone and listen to it together, talk about it. Explore music!

It is the last magic left.

This is an appropriate tie-in...here's Big Wreck with "That Song"

Let's talk tunes...

2008-11-06T09:24:00.002-05:00

Okay...one more political thing. Thank you United States citizens, for coming to your senses and picking the right candidate.

So, the state of music today. While many may not think so, often the state of politics and the economy often help to spawn new breaks in the music scene. For example, after years of Reagan and Bush I, we saw the emergence of emo, new punk rock, and grunge, all forms that spoke of being disgruntled and marginalized as a whole or as an individual. You'll notice that grunge died, emo became more mainstream, and punk went pop after Clinton helped create a more prosperous state of the nation. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Where does that leave us today? Well, I think on many fronts we are seeing a resurgence of underground acts and independent releases. Radiohead showed us last year that a band with initiative can release an album without a record company breathing down their collective neck. Several bands are actually creating and running their own labels, and not just the vanity labels of a few years ago, real working record labels with distribution and mild market presence.

On the negative said, corporate radio has destroyed the idea of a break through act. While it's not really my thing, many top 40 and mainstream listeners have voiced disappointment at the "same 6 songs" format they are forced to endure when listening to local radio. The advent of things like XM, Sirius, and iPod adapters for your car are slowly making radio stations obsolete, or at least I hope so. Why listen to one song you like, 4 you don't, one you are okay with, then 20 minutes of commercials every hour (along with the vapid talk of the so-called DJ's) when you can create your own playlist and run with it? And if my word isn't enough, take a look at this article from Indiana.

There is also the issue of file sharing and buying songs online. I'm a proponent of file sharing. It's just like making a mix tape back in the day. And frankly, the only people who suffer are the record company executives, not the artist, who is probably getting ripped by the record company anyway. More artists can thrive using the new technology available.

Music is an industry that evolves like any other. You can go with the flow of it as it stands, or you can make a stand to make it your own.

Today's video is from Coheed and Cambria. Awesome prog-ish rock with a themed comic book to match each album. Now that's clever.

Beats and an Attempt at Poetry

2008-05-22T09:02:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, I used to fancy myself as a Poet (I believe J once referred to me as the Poet Laureate of U Heights). I bought a book recently called "The Beats, from Kerouac to Kesey: a Photo Journey of the Beat Generation". I must say, I was transfixed.

Long a fan of the beat squad (Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs), I've always noticed eerie parallels in my group and the group Kerouac would later dub "The Dharma Bums". Our music shaped our words, in much the same way jazz shaped the phrases and sentences on On the Road, Howl, or Naked Lunch. My only question now is, when do we start writing?

Here's a shot. I haven't written a poem, a free-form, not-necessarily-love poem in quite some time. So bare with me. This may become a regular feature of the blog. It may not.

Bat

Flowing slowly through

Rougher trails of innuendo

And moxie, finding each grain

A star beyond itself, they look

Where looking lacks

Exits sign on to a beleagured

Frolic of freon zones exonerated

Only by a spackle made up of the

Soul or the place it should have

Been and wasn't

To be on that open highway

Blue in the morning like an amputated

Car antenna, we can never find

That hope of having hope, only

Left-over, stale generations who

Didn't know what lost was until they

Saw the likes of you

_______________________________

Hope you enjoyed that....here's the song of the week:

Age and the Indie Rock Star

2008-03-31T08:36:00.002-04:00

SO, a couple of things have me thinking these days about music. Last week I received an e-mail from a guy looking for a drummer. I said sure, if he didn't mind my age (over 30). So I have the big 'audition' this weekend. I'll keep all my readers posted on how that goes.

In addition to this, Wilco was on a repeat of Saturday Night Live this weekend. They were okay, but damn did they look old.

So, I'm thinking to myself again, how old is too old to be doing this. At the same time, when that e-mail came asking me to play again after not playing for nearly two years (since the break up of daymonthyear), I felt a need to get the drums out and start playing like a madman.

If it was up to me, I would still be playing with friends. It makes the whole situation shiny and more manageable. But, my bass player of choice seems semi-retired and others seem less motivated to organize such things.

I'm not unrealistic. I understand that stardom is about as possible as a Sabres Stanley Cup victory. But at the same time, I feel like I'm waiting for the next 20 or 30 minutes up on a stage in front of people playing music they enjoy hearing and I enjoy playing.

Perhaps that's a bit selfish, but that is the nature of the beast I suppose.

So, I'm looking for comments on what age is should all be stopped. Any input is appreciated.

El Music Industry

2008-03-13T08:52:00.002-04:00

I thought this article really hit the nail on the head.

I think it amazing how short sighted the music industry was. I'm also in agreement with a lot of critics that Radiohead's suspicious absence at the Grammy's was the RIAA last ditch attempt to say they disapprove of downloadable content. If an industry can't evolve, it will die.

Perhaps record companies think their lame attempts to get hip are working. I admit that I often listen to tunes I haven't heard in awhile by pulling up the video on youtube. I've watched this video like 5 times because the song was stuck in my head from playing guitar hero:

So, who needs cd's and online stores? I believe in the artist being paid for their work, not the record company profiting from someone else's heartfelt work.

Post-Hardcore and What I'm listening to today.

2007-12-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine got me interested in a band from Canada. I had heard a few songs on the radio but never really knew what to make of these guys.

AlexisonFire is definitely one of the best post-hardcore band I've heard in a long time.

But PJ, aren't they just a screamo band?

No, dear reader. There is a difference. Let's take a look at some of the issues:

Screamo bands generally sing about relationships and such - AlexisonFire, not as much

Hardcore bands often had a screaming lead singer but in a way that was distinguishable from metal groups - think Earth Crisis or Gorilla Biscuits - AlexisonFire has their screamer, but also a singer who comes off as a normal style, and a third singer who has more of a raspy Social Distortion sounding voice.

Screamo often has a certain pop sensibility and a lower technical grade - AlexisonFire has several complex riffs and different percussive styling

That's just a few things to compare/contrast. Another reason to look into the band is their videos are awesome. Some are thought provoking, but the video for Waterwings is just funny.

So feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. All opinions are welcome, as always. You need not agree with me, but say something.

Stepping Back

2007-10-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

I listened to a cd the other day of a band I've liked since I first heard them. They kind of paved the way for so many other bands, but still to this day, I am blown away by the fire and drive of Sunny Day Real Estate.

It amazes me that more people never understood this band or enjoyed what they had to offer. Sadly, I think this happens a lot. People misunderstand the power music can bring.

I was never lucky enough to have the opportunity to see them live. Over the past few years, they have re-emerged as the Fire Theft, and the bass player, Nate Mendel is still with the Foo Fighters.

Maybe I'm nostalgic, but will the corporate bands of today ever try to gain the credibility SDRE had with their first full-length release? Perhaps the time will come (soon) when musical credibility will return to replace the RIAA guy telling the general public what they should like.

PS: The new Radiohead is awesome. Worth the $US10.00.

Brilliance

2007-10-04T13:06:00.000-04:00

Radiohead is probably one of the most progressive bands around. I won't go on about how I am their biggest fan, but I've always liked their music and their ability to push the envelope of what people might call Modern or Alternative Rock.

I also won't go into a history of the band or a break down of their best songs.

I will go into their brilliance when it comes to the distribution of their new album. It is payment optional.

What does this mean?

Basically, they are releasing an album (called In Rainbows) without a label, or distribution deal of any kind. They have simply posted a virtual shopping cart on their site (follow the link above) where you can:

Order the discbox version for a small shipping fee

Sign-up for the download of the album

Decide how much you would like to pay for it

I'm sure the RIAA are going nuts over this. A free album, if you want it to be. I plan to pay about $10 (approx. 5 UK pounds), because they deserve it. Anyone willing to take that kind of a chance just to let their fans enjoy the music without paying a record company for all the bullshit is pure brilliance.

I recommend everyone go out and get it. If you aren't that into Radiohead, I'd say still send them a buck or two. Hopefully other bands will see how really paradigm breaking this idea is and we can finally shake all the bureaucratic imbeciles at the record companies who think they can pull $20 out our pockets for a CD when the bands only see about a dollar or two for their hard work.

Them thar good ole days

2007-09-04T08:22:00.000-04:00

Nostalgia...does anything smell as good as the good old days.

Now, keeping in mind that I'm not that entirely old, there are still good old days to be had and discussed. About a week ago, a bunch of friends and I sat around not gaming (a rarity in itself) and talked about those carefree days of youth when all you needed was some beer and a half way decent band to be happy.

Simpler times for simpler folks, I guess. But what truly brought this extended family of friends together in the first place? I wonder if every large group of friends (few of which I know to endure quite as heartily as ours) come about for the same reasons. Here are some ideas:

Central Location - we had a Perkins where everyone would go after shows or just to hang out. There were two brothers that were herbs working there, I think one is a cop now

The Music - I wouldn't say that out of 20 or so people we all liked the same music, but after living together for a while we vicariously changed and introduced new things into each others' musical palettes. Jameel put it best when he said 'After I moved I realized how many songs I had "collected" from everyone else...and I missed them...' (I'm paraphrasing but it was something like that)

Books - same with the music, TSR fantasy novels and Sci-Fi were fixtures in nearly every house any one of us lived in. And if you needed something to read, anyone would lend you something.

Acceptance - just about anyone could be an associate, but very few made it to friend. To quote Polo this time, 'We were the 64 people, but then there were the 64 people that were just there...not friends so much...but they were there.' Add to that the fact that we used (and still do for the single folks that remain) run prospective dates past the group to let people know, 'These are my friends, dating me is like dating all of them too...and they aren't going anywhere'

I doubt many people will read this (few ever do), but feel free to weigh in on what makes such a large (and now intra-national) group of friends, stick together for nearly (and in some cases more than) 20 years.