Music Reviews of Unsigned Bands, Demos, Promos
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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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 Unsigned Bands, Demos, Promos
Swallows — Me With Trees Towering Buy it at Amazon
Portland’s Swallows write complex guitar-centric pieces that are specifically designed to map out new and ingenious ways into your dance feet. Bluesy guitar and dance punk rhythms dominate while sheer call-out vocals rock and roll their way throughout “Me with Trees Towering”. Not bad at all.
- J-Sin
Ben Warren — Famous Buy it at Amazon
Famous? No, but this Michigan native isn’t all that bad. His brand of pop-rock is fused with hilarious lyrics that are shrugged off high school verbal bleats. Not bad but certainly not the bee’s knees of eclectic or energetic pop either.
- J-Sin
The Heartstring Band — Aurora Songs Vol. 1 Buy it at Amazon
Pseudo roots rock cum Americana that can’t save this band from themselves. Cheesy lyrics mixed with jalapeño peppers of stupid, stupid, stupid pop fodder. There’s plenty of nods towards Americana in the guitar twang but The Heartstring Band chooses to be an emo wannabe. The musicianship and singing (multiple harmonies even) aren’t bad but the songs are beyond bland.
- J-Sin
Bad Lieutenants — Every Time I Come Around... Buy it at Amazon
Harvey Keitel would be sorely disappointed if he ever heard this album. Pseudo garage punk that wants so desperately to be just to the left of ‘pop’, it’s terrible. Fondling cops have nothing to worry about, if this album cover is autobiographical no one will buy it—and that double meaning really will hold true, for serious!
- J-Sin
Shaan Sharma — The All New End Buy it at Amazon
There are moments when you wish you could swallow your own tongue. Not because you want to stop what you’re about to say but because you’d rather die suffocating on your own taste buds than live another moment. I just spent sixteen minutes locked steadfast in a hellhole where that desire continuously crept up on me--do you think Saddam's spiderhole is unoccupied? I need to be alone for a while...
- J-Sin
King Platypus — Life's a Mess, Let's Dance Buy it at Amazon
I hear a lot of James Taylor influence sprinkled throughout “Life’s a Mess Let’s Dance”. There’s complex Latin-centric percussion with steel drums and other unique tidbits. Jake Michael is the frontman whose instruments include the ukulele, cavaquinhos, and cuatros bring out the tropical flavor. Jazzy grooves with pop-rock choruses and light breezy melodies are stacked up, making King Platypus a pleasant and enjoyable listen.
- J-Sin
Terry Daun — Game On Buy it at Amazon
A self-professed master of the Korg Triton (a synthesizer that’s worth its weight in gold), Terry Daun unfortunately makes the mistake of singing. His vocals are laughable at best and often times you wonder if he ever has that same feeling that everyone gets when they hear their voice on an answering machine, not believing that that’s their voice. The synth sounds nice though, but the music is one uninspired MIDI rhythm after another marked with vomiting un-melodic vocals.
- J-Sin
Razetoashes — Razetoashes Buy it at Amazon
Beantown’s Razetoashes deliver an amped up hard rock groove that has plenty in common with Tool and Metallica. Energetic anthems with a vocalist who has pretty good range though occasionally his notes are spotty at best. The bassist steals the show with his rhythmic groovy plunking while the guitarist typically employs a chugga-chugga chord progression. Just a quick self-titled EP proves that this might be a band that is a bit better live than recorded.
- J-Sin
Ben Willmott — Nowhere to Go But Up Buy it at Amazon
Easily digestible pop-rock tunes that go nowhere and not “up”. The songs typically are riddled in predictable pop crunch with open mouth sweaty vocals and sighing hints of another Ben—Folds to be precise. This album is so damn simple pop that it just might make it onto a WB soundtrack sometime for what it’s worth.
- J-Sin
Turn Blue — Fire Like TV Buy it at Amazon
Turn Blue turns in solid musicianship with songs that really bring back to the glory days of the mid ‘90s alternative rock scene on their compelling “Fire Like TV”. Only two people strong and hailing from the cheese state Wisconsin, Turn Blue is surprisingly thick with harmonies and catchy rock beats. Amazingly this joint was recorded on a laptop, which speaks to two things—how far home recordings have come, and how damn talented these two lads are. Great indie pop-rock that has stirring guitars and intriguing rhythms. Check ‘em out.
- J-Sin
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