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...
Subscribe to our mailing list
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
Various Artists — Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj Soundtrack Buy it at Amazon
The soundtrack is about as good as the movie looks. B-actors abound like Reuben, Hanson, Everclear, and the Lashes along with some up-and-comers like Johnny Lives!, Brandston, and Punchline. Not worth buying.
- J-Sin
JJ Cale and Eric Clapton — The Road to Escondido Buy it at Amazon
Blues buffs shouldn’t fear a meeting of JJ Cale and Eric Clapton. Both are legendary guitar greats and after Clapton famous covers of JJ Cale’s “Cocaine” and “After Midnight”, it seems only right that the two form a duo and record an album. Produced and recorded in California last year, “The Road to Escondido” is a far-reaching album that bounces between Americana, country, folk, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and roots rock. There’s a who’s who list of guests that includes such legends as Taj Mahal, John Mayer, Albert Lee, Nathan West, Willie Weeks, and plenty more where that list came from. Good stuff.
- J-Sin
Randy Kaplan — Five Cent Piece Buy it at Amazon
Following up his stupendous “Perfect Gentleman” album with an album that’s for children and adults who still like their music fun and sing-along-able (did I just make up a silly word?) Kaplan covers such children’s classics as “Over the Rainbow”, “Kids” of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ fame, “I’m a Little Dinosaur”, and and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. His own originals are just as entertaining and fun for both adult and child. My own 5-month old son really loved this album. Thanks Randy!
- J-Sin
U2 — 18 Singles Buy it at Amazon
Seemingly trying to capitalize on their lengthy and successful career (we’ve already seen at least two ‘greatest hits’ type of compilations not to mention their concert DVDs), U2 offers “18 Singles” which is a DVD/CD combo featuring such memorable numbers as “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, “Pride (In the Name of Love)”, “New Year’s Day”, “Mysterious Ways”, “Beautiful Day”, “Vertigo”, “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”, “Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”, and “With Or Without You” among others. In addition there’s the Green Day and U2 mash-up “The Saints Are Coming”. Well hopefully they’ll donate all this cash money to the starving Africans or poverty or something.
- J-Sin
James Morrison — Undiscovered Buy it at Amazon
Soulful crooning by James Morrison who has the unfortunate namesake to live up to, marks for an excellent foray into the singer/songwriter genre. Blues-y pop-rock with jangling piano ballads and rangy rock joints are but a few of the accolades of Mr. Morrison. Arena-filling anthems with a James Blunt sort of quirky pop style, “Undiscovered” soon won’t be. Pick up the UK edition as it contains two additional tracks.
- J-Sin
Wes McDonald — Terry Ohms Plays Wes McDonald Buy it at Amazon
Terry Ohms is a name from which McDonald’s old band the Ohms got its moniker. Terry is an Alaskan, half Eskimo and a pagan monk, who lives in a giant igloo who Wes met in the summer of ’94. McDonald plays rustic folk rock with Americana pop fueling each and every dynamic harmony. McDonald finally convinced Terry to come down to Alabama and the two set off to record some of the songs from Terry’s might but unrecorded catalog. Extremely interesting tales and an even more interesting album.
- J-Sin
Army of Me — Rise Buy it at Amazon
Stunning melodies in the vein of Coldplay and earlier U2, “Rise” by newcomers Army of Me readies itself with a debut EP that is merely a tease for their debut full-length “Citizen” that will come out in early 2007. Dense guitars that wall in harmonies and thoughtful lyrics sung through lush pop vocals are merely one of the many great things going on with Army of Me. Soft catchy hooks from this dynamic alternative pop group impress you immediately and you will find that you’re completely addicted in no time flat.
- J-Sin
Luke Doucet — Broken (and other rouge states) Buy it at Amazon
What a witty title for the former guitarist for Sarah McLachlan! His alt.country album is riddle in melancholy, heartfelt moments, and stirring harmonies. As expected the guitars are the centerpiece with the vocals secondary but strong nonetheless. Drip in melodic hooks that are catchy and infectious and you have yourself a very likable album indeed.
- J-Sin
Leigh Nash — Wishing For This Buy it at Amazon
Leigh Nash, her of Sixpence None the Richer fame, is set to enchant you with her engaging holiday disc “Wishing For This”. She deftly covers traditional tunes like “O Holy Night” as well as more modern contemporaries like George Michael’s “Last Christmas”. Leigh Nash also offers an all-original Christmas song soon-to-be-classic in her title track. “Hard Candy Christmas” shows off Nash’s affection for one of her idols in Dolly Parton. Nice vocal jazz with a holiday special and pop quality.
- J-Sin
Can Joann — Hurt People Hurt People Buy it at Amazon
Sounding like a therapist’s catch phrase, “Hurt People Hurt People” is irreverent guitar-centric indie rock in the vein of Ted Leo. Radio-friendly melodies jog alongside frenetic guitar slants and percussion marches. Open-mouthed vocals that yelp and speak-sing just add to the college themes here. It’s not so much Can Joann, but what can’t Joann do? Yeehaw for silly puns! But what else does a poor little insignificant reviewer have left when a band just shreds his mind and ears like this?
- J-Sin
Read More Music Reviews