Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Pop
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
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The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
The Exit — Home For an Island Buy it at Amazon
“Home For an Island” is a step up for a band that signed to Wind-Up Records in a seeming attempt to perhaps break out the mold that has settled on that record label. The band explores our current world in a hyper-news cycle that fears scare tactics, talk about the end, and election fraud. The band does their thing with a bit of a look back at some of the noteworthy pop hits in the past two decades (Police’s use of reggae for example) with an almost Husker Du sense of rock-ability. The group wrote an album that’s extremely better than the previous drivel that I heard from them. I’m glad to see that. Check ‘em out, this could be a legitimate chart topper—armed with great songs and not just good marketing teams.
- J-Sin
![Wren - Wednesday [Single]](/reviews/images/noimage.gif "Wren - Wednesday [Single]")
Wren — Wednesday [Single] Buy it at Amazon
She’s been singing since she was a kid and started acting at the tender teen age of 16. She’s talented, good looking, and well natured. Plus she has a gentle voice that bodes well for her type of singer/songwriter pop. British pop always has a way of being slightly ahead of the curve and Wren is no exception in the pop-rock circuit. The production is tight and shows a talented knack for writing catchy hooks.
- J-Sin
The Afterglow — Modern Life Virus Buy it at Amazon
A band that’s been together since ’98, The Afterglow performs a marriage of Athens, Georgia rock ala R.E.M. and Brit-pop. Smooth atmospheric rock structures form the basis while melodic pop bridges that and a home-body type of porch rock. The basslines are tremendous with perfect tone and sets the bar nicely in the middle. The guitarist has listened to a lot of U2 and has done a good job of following The Edge’s lead. All in all, a pretty stellar pop-rock band that will continue to grow its fanbase while touring the typical pub circuit.
- J-Sin
Brian Bergeron — The Closer EP Buy it at Amazon
Independent singer/songwriter Brian Bergeron hails from Boston and on “The Closer” builds on his successes on his first release I had the pleasure of listening to, “First Impressions”. His voice is still just as poignant with a jazzy slant that defines him as a mature singer/songwriter beyond his young twenty years. On “Time Is On Our Side”, he croons that he “don’t have the kind of voice for this song”. Let me be clear here—his voice is perfect for ANY song, of any nature and any topic. His gifted songwriting talents lead him to catchy pop hook after hook. Take a snapshot of where Brian is today as a folk pop artist; he’s destined to do more with his career than just rock out the local coffeehouse.
- J-Sin
Ryan Asher — Conscious Universe Buy it at Amazon
Allentown, Pennsylvania is the hometown of a genuinely talented singer/songwriter named Ryan Asher. Unlike the pop heroes of today, his voice is perfectly pitched without the need for a half-a-million dollar engineer’s knob twisting skills. Perhaps just as impressive as his dynamically and well-ranging vocals is his songwriting ability. On the outside it may seem simple but it takes real talent to know when to put a bridge, when to keep pushing on a particular hook, and when to let the song just breathe. Not only just impressive, Ryan Asher is a soulful pioneer in a genre that has died out in the money and not good song contagious music industry’s Billboard charting artists. Only problem here is that it’s only four songs. Ryan, don’t make me wait long to hear your next material!
- J-Sin
Jared Barkan — Darkblue Buy it at Amazon
New York City singer/songwriter Jared Barkan can boast of his tremendous voice. But I guarantee he won’t. His talents have grown infinitely since I last heard him. As he continues to build his case as one of the New York area’s best singer/songwriters, Jared Barkan will draw you in very close with his emotional outpouring and blissful guitar. This is the guy you see at a random coffeehouse or pub and simply must go up and start a conversation with—and he’s the type of guy that’ll listen.
- J-Sin
The Good Listeners — Ojai Buy it at Amazon
This album taps you on the shoulder and whispers something so beautiful and yet suspicious you’re forced to just listen to the whole damn thing. Chockfull of catchy hooks and the proverbial riff rockin’, “Ojai” is an album that demands to be reckoned with. Powerful vocals that don’t dominate the mixture of strummed guitars and melodic rhythms are just one small piece to the jigsaw puzzle known as The Good Listeners. What an aptly titled moniker since this band will lull their audience into a dreamy state of attention and induce years of fanatical following. I love them.
- J-Sin
Richard Turgeon — Pagoda Buy it at Amazon
Richard Turgeon produced, recorded, wrote, and played all the instruments on his 2005 album—his third to date—subtly titled “Pagoda”. His music is ear-friendly pop-rock with an indie rock flair. While the songs come across as simple, they’re well textured with blues-rock smoky flavor and thought-provoking lyrics. Some of his previous songs were used for the award-winning independent film “The War Effort” by Bob Cesca. The vocals can drone a bit at a rare moment or two but when he really opens up he totally nails it. I look forward to his fourth album.
- J-Sin
Lyric Road — Lyric Road Buy it at Amazon
Taking approximately six years to put to tape, Lyric Road’s self-titled debut is a modern approach to the tried and true singer/songwriter format. Nestled in Cleveland, Ohio, Lyric Road might have spent a lot of time recording and writing the album but the resulting tunes wouldn’t have told that tale. The singing is typically off and horribly mixed. While they’re certainly are some nice catchy pop hooks hidden in there, they’re infrequent and disguised behind horrid musicianship and singing. I hope he keeps it up though because his voice and songs are something that most pop songs aren’t—honest.
- J-Sin
Imogene — Imogene Buy it at Amazon
Adding a keyboard player Imogene got together and recorded their debut album. Dubbed as a heavy alternative band in the lines of Queens of the Stone Age and Happy Monday, Imogene writes songs that while catchy don’t really do much for me. The guitars are just too overdriven for me—I can only take so much Big Muff fellas. The 8-string bass might be the only thing that’s impressive.
- J-Sin
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