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
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
Copeland — Beneath Medicine Tree Buy it at Amazon
The album-opener “Brightest” is a piano ballad that touches the heart. The quartet called Copeland offers up melancholy music that occasionally goes the opposite direction all the while being completely magnificent in style and with emotive lyrics. It`s no wonder that this album is chockfull of emotion as singer Aaron Marsh`s grandmother had just passed away and his girlfriend was in the hospital with lupus. But the result is beautiful indie rock musical icons that have all the power in the world. “Beneath Medicine Tree” is beautiful and compelling and has more to offer than your standard emo release.
- J-Sin
Thunderbirds Are Now! — Another One Hypnotized By... Buy it at Amazon
How bizarre! Electronic rocking almost be-bop tunes with power ballads help define Thunderbirds Are Now. Extremely spastic and energetic, this fearsome foursome blend some bizarre styles together to form a truly unique band with a sound that is unlike anything you can find on the airwaves today. And this album only has five tracks to accomplish all that. It`s insane. It`s frenetic. It`s strangely listenable. And amazingly you just want to hear more.
- J-Sin
Smoking Popes — The Party`s Over Buy it at Amazon
This cover album has new versions of classic songs by Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, and The Byrds just to name a few. This was originally recorded in 1998 but is now just seeing the light of day. This album was unfortunately the last work of engineer/producer Phil Bonnet who died after completing this album. It`s a great inside look at some of the diverse influences of the Smoking Popes. Quite diverse and it tells tales of why the Smoking Popes themselves were so influential.
- J-Sin
Smoking Popes — Tribute Buy it at Amazon
The Smoking Popes were destroying the Chicago punk scene for over ten years and this tribute album spans that wonderful and inspirational career. Featuring such bands as Junction 18, Death By Wednesday, the Ataris, and Grade, this tribute is a great nod to one of the most influential bands of their time. Interestingly some of the Popes even appear on the tribute album with Duvall doing “Do Something” and Felumlee reworking “Don`t Be Afraid”. Retro Morning`s “Need You Around” is beautiful melodic punk and is one of the many standouts on this tribute album. The Ataris sober things up with “Pretty Pathetic”, a beautiful piano piece that will have you holding your blanket close.
- J-Sin
Kat Terran — Lion & Blue Buy it at Amazon
Ah now this is an ethereal voice that breaks the cloud cover and shines right through like a razor sharp ray of light. Crooning from the Northwest, Kat Terran combines acoustic strumming with a voice that will knock you out of your boots. This is incredibly haunting and addictive indie folk. There are so many absolutely gorgeous tracks that I can`t even help to do it justice with descriptions so go out and buy this album now and hear for yourself. Good stuff.
- J-Sin
Wes McDonald — Cuttin` Up Rocks Buy it at Amazon
You may have heard heard of Wes McDonald`s band The Ohms, an indie rock band that has plenty of college circuit credit. Wes puts together a nice collection of 11 rock-flecked bluesy soulful tracks. Songs like “Water” don`t prepare you for the cure to blues malady that songs like “Green Grass” provide. “Since I Did It Wrong” starts off with a wailing acoustic sound and then explodes into a genre-defying opus with bountiful melodic singing. But it`s “You Could Owe One Today” that really defines the sound throughout this album. It`s soulful crooning and soaring dynamics create an almost Muddy Waters sound that today`s generation can appreciate. I`d say this is one of the better indie releases of the last year.
- J-Sin
Peter Dizozza — Pro-Choice on Mental Health Buy it at Amazon
Well this is certainly not something we at Smother.Net get every day. This monologue/mini-play all about mental health or lack thereof is quite compelling. Although it may have some roots in the anti-folk movement this is much more brilliant and original. Consisting of seven songs that are mixed with monologues that move along the whole theme, “Pro-Choice on Mental Health” asks the question of whether mental health is a choice or is up to chemistry. Quite interesting and no words could do this album justice so pick it up for yourself.
- J-Sin
Various Artists — House of Stairs Vol. I: Useless in Bed Buy it at Amazon
Interesting compilation of indie rockers and post-hardcore punk that features some exclusive and previously unreleased material from a variety of artists. Foe`s frenetic and bass-laden “Triangulator” is both addictive and definitive of the album`s monolithic sound. American Heritage`s “Phil Collins” is nothing like the name suggests with a more metal full-on blast approach to sound. It`s post-hardcore pummeling fist-punching expressions are daunting at the very least. And then you have the bizarre dial-twitching of Desmotabs with their “Gaseous Exchange at the Alveoli” that takes you for a completely different journey. Strange and truly genre hopping, this compilation is sure to have several songs for everyone to enjoy.
- J-Sin
Teenage Girls — The Initial Assault LP: The Art of Friendship Buy it at Amazon
Hmm, this is a new approach to try to get your sound out there—hate the music industry and make fun of the critics out there. A fine approach to take for sure but I`d hate to remind them that it`s been a cliché for many years now. But I guess what will have all of us wondering is whether the whole band is tongue-in-cheek because how can you in one second bust on the music industry and then in the next right radio-friendly pop songs that the music industry would drop some massive saliva over? Well if that`s intentional then they`re geniuses. Regardless they`ll always have indie appeal because of their underlying message and their knack for songwriting.
- J-Sin
James Moore — Firefly Buy it at Amazon
Armed with an assortment of accolades James Moore presents his debut album “Firefly”. After playing on television as well as college radio he certainly already has somewhat of a following and no doubt after this album he`ll make some more. There`s no real standout but there`s plenty of hooks and this is easily sung along with by chumps like me who`ve got the album. While not exactly cutting the ribbon on something new and fresh, there`s no denying the assortment of good music on this eleven song strong CD.
- J-Sin
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