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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WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
Sad Sailor — Link to the Outside World Buy it at Amazon
Three tracks by this Omaha based group that whirl in pandemonium and reckless abandon. “Link to the Outside World” may sound chaotic and improvisational but there’s a beauty to it, an urgent beauty that if you don’t cling onto right away it might puff away like smoke. Really pretty cello work I might add.
- J-Sin
Boy Omega — Hope on the Horizon Buy it at Amazon
Take yourself half of Conor Oberst and a half of Elliott Smith and you have yourself Swedish musical maverick Martin Henrik Gustafsson. Orchestrated pop sprinkled with careful nuance and indie lo-fi musical nomenclature, “Hope on the Horizon” is an album about life and everything that is both small and important all at once. Tons of stringed instruments, jangling piano, horns, and clever songwriting are all spun up together to form this beautifully bittersweet harmonious opus. Genius.
- J-Sin
The Central Standards — The Central Standards' Folly Buy it at Amazon
Raised on Memphis music, The Central Standards dapple in the pop rock genre with tender hooks and catchy riffs. The album is rich in detail and texture though some songs can be completely stripped down and almost raw sounding. Add in some blues with fantastic brass instruments and you’ve got yourself a colorful and sugary third record from a quirky quartet of smart songwriters.
- J-Sin
Randy Kaplan — Loquat Rooftop Buy it at Amazon
As a proud parent of a 21-month old son, I can definitely appreciate wanting to write and compose tracks for children. Kaplan’s second children’s CD, “Loquat Rooftop” is once again produced by Kansas bluegrass legend Mike West (he also helped out on his ’06 gem, “Five Cent Piece”). Ranging from tales about ladybugs without polka dots to deploring the fact that our children have to inherit our mess. Caution though as Randy in between his smart Americana finger-picking and georgeous melodies ala Woody Guthrie, does occasionally drop some cusses and imagery perhaps not suited for all children. Regardless my kid loves it!
- J-Sin
The Wars of 1812 — Status Quo Ante Bellum Buy it at Amazon
Wisconsin natives The Wars of 1812 set out to write a sparse alt. country rock album as a side project. Eventually things came together and they formed a band the right way, moving out to the Twin Cities. “Status Quo Ante Bellum” drips soaking wet of influence from Wilco. Nifty and catchy harmonies are bundled together with strong songwriting and cute keyboard melodies. Nice.
- J-Sin
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
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