Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
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 Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
The Prize Fighter Inferno — My Brother's Blood Machine Buy it at Amazon
Coheed and Cambria’s frontman and songwriter Claudio Sanchez told a story about Jesse who is also known as the Prize Fighter Inferno. Now the Prize Fighter Inferno (Claudio) presents his point of view. Who can argue with the nifty packaging that comes with some Tarot Cards? In the last album by Coheed and Cambria, Jesse died but on this album he has been resurrected to tell the tales prior to the ones related by Coheed and Cambria. While these songs are surely progressive, deep, and invigorating, they remain much more accessible and mainstream-y that the band who was once somewhat thought of as an ‘emo’ band (how wrong) but was clearly the second coming of some late ‘70’s prog-rock group who did a little too much acid. The music is acoustic guitars with electronic backdrops while the lyrical content is as imaginative as you might have figured. Delve deep here folks, you’ll want to spend a lot of time in the caverns of Claudio’s mind.
- J-Sin
And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead — So Divided Buy it at Amazon
Did I miss something? When did “And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead” drop everything that counted and go by their shorter (and more marketable) nickname, Trail of Dead? Well that’s what’s written on the promo CD at least. Fuck that, they keep their longer moniker as long as I’m writing reviews on their albums! Art rock that doesn’t fart around with anything too goofy, “So Divided” sounds like the album that Jane’s Addiction should have recorded years ago. Thematically it’s super-charged with a concept that brevity will have me skip over (that and without liner notes it’s a tad hard). Operatic overtures sweep through this complex and intrinsic album riff with compelling guitars, marching drums, and omnipotent vocals. I dare say that “Stand In Silence” would be the perfect soundtrack to a war for about a minute or so. Chaotic, interesting, and overtly subversive but yet manages to remain somewhat of a pop album. The Mars Volta and these guys need to do a split together damn it.
- J-Sin
Echo Screen — Euphoria Buy it at Amazon
I wish I could place what band these guys sound like. It’s kind of in between Panic! At the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, and Amber Pacific. But whatever, Echo Screen is so incredibly great at crafting that sugary mall punk sound that I could give a damn if they’re similar to this band or that group. Starting with the album opener “This Letter Bomb”, “Euphoria” is one massive hit after another. Filled to the brim with catchy-as-hell hooks and perfected bridges, it’s one album that deserves to be in the limelight. Good accomplishment guys.
- J-Sin
The Slip — Eisenhower Buy it at Amazon
Indie rock that rests close to the old stuff that Dinosaur Jr. put out years ago; The Slip rarely will mask their melodic approach in anything other than straight-forward alternative rock. Churning guitars that crank out the goods are hugging the line right next to nifty analog synths and easy-going drumming. The vocals are easy on the ears as well. I like the dashes of power-pop influence that give it a sort of Elvis Costello feel.
- J-Sin
Stephen Brodsky — Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museums Buy it at Amazon
Cave In’s vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky proudly has assembled his third solo venture. Amid Brodsky’s signature vocal style is a remarkable knack for constructing the perfect melody. His eclectic use of post-power pop ballads along with post-modern alternative rock chord structures and drenching of guitar effects throughout “Octave Museums” is not only peerless but perhaps has never been heard before. Beginning his album with a circus cavalcade of marching band drums, prog-rock guitar noodling, and high-pitched vocals on “Voice Electric” he has proven to become the Hendrix of his generation. Art rock fans will croon at the marvelous textures and layers that Brodsky imbues. Glossy and funky guitar squelches belch out throughout this progressive artsy landscape of octave explorations. And while his previous solo work was essentially the work of only himself, this album finds Brodsky joined by a real band of sorts. Mark this down as somewhere in line with Elliott Smith, Brian Wilson, and John Lennon (if they listened to a whole lot of prog-rock and watched hours of Sesame Street).
- J-Sin
Outrageous Cherry — Stay Happy Buy it at Amazon
Psych-pop in the vein of the New Pornographers with plenty of Brian Wilson throwbacks in the melodic vocal department. You can definitely hear a defiant urgency to get their music not only out there, but understood throughout “Stay Happy”. Appropriately brazen in scope, the album is rich in chaotic instrumentals and stirring psychedelic atmospheres. It’s the soundtrack to a drug-fueled counter-culture that never really died with the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.
- J-Sin
Mayday Parade — Tales Told By Dead Friends Buy it at Amazon
Six dudes from the hot haven of Tallahassee, Florida known as Mayday Parade worked their asses off. And it paid off. Now they have a far-reaching EP under their arms that Fearless Records is proud to release. Pop-punk that would ignite any Hot Topic or Fuse watcher on fire with its ingenious catchy hooks is but one reason that these guys are going to be huge. The fact is, that they’re actually sincere about their music and aren’t just another wannabe hoping to catch onto some popular sound or style. Utilizing a vocal dual attack, they set themselves apart with their grassroots DIY approach and fundamentally solid songwriting skills. High energy pop-punk that refuses to take prisoners.
- J-Sin
Teitur — Stay Under the Stars Buy it at Amazon
A name from the Faroe Islands? Yup. Teitur is just as adventurous and exotic in sound too. Brevity isn’t on the menu as “Stay Under the Stars” lingers long on melodies and hooks you in with emotional acoustic tunes. Swedish producer Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison, Ron Sexsmith, A-Ha) was enlisted to work on “Stay Under the Stars” along with Teitur in London. The orchestral pop that was the end result is fascinating with edgy pop harmonies and plenty of dynamics to digest.
- J-Sin
River City High — Not Enough Saturday Nights Buy it at Amazon
Virginia’s River City High readies their Takeover Records debut “Not Enough Saturday Nights” and boy is it a doosie. Indie rock with punk bravado, sugarcoated hooks, and delicate dreamy guitars won’t allow you a breather. “Not Enough Saturday Nights” is the perfect road trip album with its raw energetic guitar-centric booze-riddled AC/DC-esque rockers. The pedal is most assuredly to the metal throughout this fifth release that the band personally financed with MTV2 “Dew Circuit Breakout” (they beat out Hawthorne Heights!) by this engaging group.
- J-Sin
The Bullys — BQE Overdrive Buy it at Amazon
The Lower East Side needs another rock ‘n’ roll outfit like a fully loaded gun needs another bullet. Nevertheless The Bullys deliver the goods postage paid, ready to sucker punch the next yuppie who gets too close. Punk in the vein of the Clash, which is ironic noting that Joe Blaney produced it (he also produced Prince and the Ramones). Speaking of the Ramones, that’s a group that the Bullys sure do love a lot since they pretty cop a bunch of their guitar-centric tunes for influence throughout “BQE Overdrive”. The nasal throaty vocals remind me at times of Fat Mike of NOFX fame.
- J-Sin
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