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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Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
Melissa Ivey — Lovers and Stars Buy it at Amazon
Having already worked her tail off trying to ‘make it’ in the industry, Melissa Ivey can move past those late nights of burning CDs, lousy open mikes, and opening up for some no-name local act in some no-name town. Her music is firmly pressed into golden radio-friendly pop-rock with a singer/songwriter format well in hand. Distinctly familiar vocals coax out harmonies that are often out of the range of lesser vocalists. Nicely written songs round out the complementary assets that this young and budding female artist has on tap.
- J-Sin
Matt Wertz — Everything In Between Buy it at Amazon
John Mayer has a new album out?
- J-Sin
Fergie — The Dutchess Buy it at Amazon
Gwen Stefani has a new album out?
- J-Sin
Zen Boy and Karma Girl — Who They Are and How They Came to Be Buy it at Amazon
Wow another girl/boy acoustic duo? Haven’t seen or heard that one before—Cheese on Bread anyone? Their music is relatively predictable acoustic folk-rock with light touches of indie pop sweetness here and there. Don’t get me wrong, their songs are good and they have plenty of talent in the vocal and guitar department, but it’s been done ad nauseam.
- J-Sin
The Penelopes — Summerdew Avenue Buy it at Amazon
The Penelopes are based in Japan and their bio sheet is totally written in Japanese. Which means, I can’t read it! Their music however transcends language and culture. It’s pop-rock with many of the elements that make Japanese rock so damn cute—bits of electronica, spicy melodies, and crafty harmonies. As far as I can tell, they’re a duo comprised of a girl and a guy who are hell bent on merging old-time pop hooks with new fangled indie pop.
- J-Sin
Z-Axis — Concatenations Buy it at Amazon
Prog-rock that’s dipped into a blend of New Age, psychedelic rock, and ambient, “Concatenations” is surprisingly disappointing. Considering the band members are quite talented as they perform on their instruments, you’d assume someone in the band could write an engaging song instead of a meandering nuance that is hell bent on “being different” rather than cohesive. And I love avant garde music! Couple that with terribly recorded guitars—they sound far too tinny and metallic—and yawning gaps in production and you have an album you’ll easily pass up for some band covering a Pink Floyd b-side badly.
- J-Sin
Stephen Sebastian — Time Buy it at Amazon
Shedding his acoustic armor for a bit, Stephen Sebastian kicks back the jams with beer-soaked power pop riffs. A singer/songwriter who isn’t afraid to punch out or tug at heartstrings, Sebastian likens his influences to ‘70’s rock ‘n’ roll from the likes of legends of David Bowie and Lou Reed. He still has a while to catch up to either, but he certainly is making steps in the right direction with plenty of hook-riddled rock tunes throughout his sophomore album “Time”.
- J-Sin
Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton — Knives Don't Have Your Back Buy it at Amazon
It’s not just the title of this glorious album that is witty. Potent pop hooks with female lead vocals that remind you of Fiona Apple meeting Feist in a dark alley jacked up on alcohol and pills. Eccentric songwriting with a clash of cultures almost seemingly like it’s an imminent conclusion, “Knives Don’t Have Your Back” is a daring endeavor that Emily and those Skeletons that have thusly fallen out of the proverbial closet are enthusiastic to embark upon. Just wait until you sink your teeth in the spacious melodies of “Doctor Blind” with its riddling piano ballads and poignant lyrics.
- J-Sin
Amateur Hour — Hold On, Believe... Buy it at Amazon
Dan Perriello is a great nice local musician who I’ve had the pleasure of hearing develop as a musician over the years. His stint with the sadly defunct Thinking Out Loud was my first introduction to his music and more recently you’ll have heard of him playing with the pop-rock band and DC-area natives Bicycle Thieves and alongside the well received Laura Burhenn and Lucky Bastards. Amateur Hour is his new project and proves how incredibly talented that drummers really can be—he’s a multi-instrumentalist who sings, plays guitar, drums, and bass. He also is the main songwriter for this pop group. On the outside the songs are simplistic pop tunes that are beyond the term “radio-friendly” but when you dig a little deeper you’ll notice the fine-tuning that is present throughout each track. I’m not sure if it was intentional but I swear the guitar sound on the record has a bit of a Billy Corgan and Mazzy Star element to it. And how can you go wrong with great vocal harmonies? Dan, thanks for sending this my way. Now please confess, are there any projects that you’re involved with that I won’t fall in love with?
- J-Sin
Todd Mack and the Star Alternative — Square Peg, Round Hole Buy it at Amazon
Clearly a Replacements-esque band, Todd Mack and his group write pop-rock tunes that are mired in power pop chords and fitting folksy rock ‘n’ roll. The production throughout “Square Peg, Round Hole” allows the guitars to really stretch out and breathe. Often the songs might not be the most deft but they’re much more than just competent. This is one of those bands you see at some smoky bar and really fall in love with.
- J-Sin
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