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
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
His Name is Alive — Firefly Dragonfly Buy it at Amazon
Recorded in their living room in Michigan, His Name is Alive’s stunning “Firefly Dragonfly” is an elegant and sparse manifest of folk and indie pop. Starting things off with a truly amazing cover of Sufjan Steven’s “The Dress Looks Nice on You”, “Firefly Dragonfly” simply rears its head back and dazzles with heartfelt emotional vocal takes and simple yet intriguing arrangements. Andy FM has a way about the microphone and when he combines his subtle crooning with Jessica Bailiff’s beautiful mezzo-soprano delivery it is sheer magic. This is a great EP released exclusively through one of my favorite indie labels, Acuarela Discos based in Madrid Spain.
- J-Sin
LD & the New Criticism — Amoral Certitudes Buy it at Amazon
Folk pop meets orchestral pop head on as if some bastard wanted to recreate the Polyphonic Spree. Very amusing and delectable short pop tunes that rehearse the middle years of the ‘60s complete with psychedelic glaze and plenty of maracas, tambourines, finger cymbals, and mandolin. It’s certainly not a bad album for what it is, it’s just that sometimes charming folk pop can be a bit overzealous.
- J-Sin
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
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