Music Review - Bird

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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"