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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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
The Dreamscape Project — Pity In a Heartbeat Buy it at Amazon
My native Washington, DC, claims the Dreamscapes Project as its own. They’re unique call to arms is not only their songwriting and musical talent but the fact that it’s very cello-centric along with the traditional ensemble of guitar, bass, vocals, and drums. Completely an acoustic based band, The Dreamscapes Project performs at a very high level shedding all stereotypes of what an acoustic act should be or sound like. Their passion is their creativity and here they embrace it willfully.
- J-Sin
The American Plague — Heart Attack Buy it at Amazon
Produced by Ryan “Tater” Johnson whose known as the guitarist for 10 Years, “Heart Attack” is a stealthy hard rock antennae into the post-AC/DC American bar band scene. Melodic vocals, coasting guitar riffs, and naughty breakdowns give The American Plague some boasting rights. But after you scrape yourself through five or six of their takes on classic rock ‘n’ roll, you’ll find yourself paying your tab and trolling down to the next jukebox and pool joint on the Strip.
- J-Sin
Dub Pistols — Speakers and Tweeters Buy it at Amazon
Genre stewing Dub Pistols are mixologists who redefine the meaning of smelting with a pattern of hip-hop, dub, techno/club, reggae, and ska for a sound somewhere between Gorillaz, Fatboy Slim, and the Specials. A majestic accomplishment, “Speakers and Tweeters” has plenty of songs that will appeal to a broad base of folks who appreciate good melodic music that encourages you to get on your feet or sing along. Combine that with a revisit to the classic Blondie epic “Rapture” and you’ve got yourself one helluva album.
- J-Sin
Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward — The Lonesome Dirge Buy it at Amazon
Rural rockin’ alt-country folk that waves the American flag without sounding like an AM radio nutbag. Rodney Parker and his band boost the Steve Earle fan in all of us with a sort of Johnny Cash and Conor Oberst earnestness. Great singer/songwriters seem destined to write a firm take on Americana lately these days, so it’s a difficult economy to really shine in but the Fifty Peso Reward and their leader Rodney Parker have done a remarkable job with their sophomore effort that they may just kick the Old 97s in the teeth. Whiskey-soaked vocals with moving melodies and sharp ballads give “The Lonesome Dirge” a down-home passion with heart-tugging lust appeal.
- J-Sin
Mew — Half the World Is Watching Me Buy it at Amazon
Apparently the group is reissuing this 2000 classic and I know you’ll all want to be the first in line to pick it up. The Danish alternative pop-rockers once again possess a mind-numbing allegiance with melody and harmonies befitting of the most memorable choruses. This album of demos and live tracks sounds a bit stripped down and strikes a chord by taking their studio gems and adding to them. Take “Am I Wry? No” which starts off the first disc proper and ends with not only the glistening beauty of vocals but also odd sound effects and keyboards that sound lifted from some post-modern ambient album. “156” boasts guitar attacks that sound like mandolins on speed with deliberate vocals. Fortunately for me, I got the bonus CD along with the original and was greeted with live recordings, demos, and studio recordings that weren’t included with the original. Awe-inspiring and striking, much like all Mew recordings.
- J-Sin
Drag the River — You Can't Live This Way Buy it at Amazon
Drag the River’s “You Can’t Live This Way” sounds as if it was lifted from some backwoods diner’s jukebox. Jive and jollied up basslines provide the backdrop of groove while the wanderlust lyrics tell the tall tales of partying, life, and heartache. An honest to goodness soulful alt.country hit, “You Can’t Live This Way” is proof positive that Drag the River is far from the pinnacle of their budding career. I hear a lot of that Arkansas and Oklahoma college alt.country influence throughout, but this is an album that will inspire legions. Amazing and double thumbs up.
- J-Sin
Scott Reynolds and the Steaming Beast — Adventure Boy Buy it at Amazon
Reynolds is known more as the frontman for punk band All and secondarily for his work with Goodbye Harry and the Pavers. Now him and the Steaming Beast percolate some alternative pop-rock that sounds a bit like a merger of the Spin Doctors (ok so maybe just the first track, but how often do you get to use the Spin Doctors in a sentence these days?!) and the Flaming Lips, the later of whom is no surprise considering the project features Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips as well as a multi-instrumentalist in Dave Fridmann. It’s fair but nothing that you’ll froth over.
- J-Sin
Anarchy Club — A Single Drop of Red Buy it at Amazon
First impressions are a must with me. So when “Graveyard Stickshift” blasted out like a Rob Zombie b-side from this Boston hard rock/electronic duo’s latest EP, I yawned audibly. Included for fan’s pleasure or whatever are six remixes of some of their previous songs. I don’t know, I guess this sound is so overblown now-a-days that no one really seems to do it any justice.
- J-Sin
Zillionaire — The Street Lights Have Been Turned Down Buy it at Amazon
Heath Dupras (ex-The Washdown) and ex-Pohgoh Keith Ulrey formed the bond that became Zillionaire some four years ago. The two Tampa-based former drummers conjured forth a nice take on ‘90’s indie rock with contemporary guitar flecks and introspective lyrics. While sometimes so mellow and dramatic, that each note seems to weep out of its instrument, “The Street Lights Have Been Turned Down” is an engaging listen that really grabs a hold of you from the very beginning.
- J-Sin
British Sea Power — Do You Like Rock Music? Buy it at Amazon
I guess I just don’t get the whole British Sea Power thang. I mean don’t get me wrong, I like their visceral and mind-numbingly slow approach (ok, at times) to guitar-centric rock music. In fact, I hail any band that will go this way and still remain somewhat in pop’s eye. And here, the guitars are sunk into a pit of reverb and echoes with acoustic instruments plotting course and zipping around and about the distortion. Trippy and spacey music aside, there’s a tremendous sense of stadium rock here; I swear you could easily hear several of these tracks on some long-lost mid ‘80’s power rock tribute album. But the dense guitar theatrics provide cover while the group hits you their intriguing lyrics. I may not understand their motives, but I sure do enjoy the delivery. It’s nice that their third full-length is their most interesting to date.
- J-Sin
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