Lithium Seven is back with their 5-track EP titled ‘Last Light’ that will definitely get your attention. I had the pleasure of reviewing their previous EP ‘Something Else Is Waiting’ last year for Skope (http://skopemag.com/index.php?s=Lithium+Seven ). I was impressed with what I heard then and I am impressed with what I hear now!…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Misty Gonzales, Rock & Roll Freedom Show
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What can I say about Misty Gonzales other than she ROCKS! Gonzales is the new authoritative voice for female rockers everywhere! The LA-based musician brings to you one exciting debut album called ‘Rock & Roll Freedom Show’. Referred to as the “hippie rock queen” by Music Connection Magazine, Misty plays true to…
Fiery Blue, Our Secret
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Fiery Blue isn’t your average, ordinary band by any means because they have a very unorthodox process of working together. The group is made up of three members: songwriter/guitarist Paul Marsteller, producer/multi-instrumentalist Gabe Rhodes and singer Simone Stevens. Here’s the real kicker though; they all live in different cities and Simone has met…
VAN HUNT, What Were You Hoping For
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Van Hunt has an impressive resume and his latest release, “What were you hoping for” does not disappoint. He has worked with people like Randy Jackson, Dionne Farris, Lenny Kravitz and many more. It is clear he knows what he is doing and our job is to sit back and enjoy the ride. It…
Ashley Jordan, Liquid Words
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Harvard’s own Ashley Jordan is coming on the scene with her new release scheduled to be in stores October 3, 2011. “Liquid Words” is a 14 track CD displaying Jordan’s unwavering talent. In the words of Ashley, she is pretty in pink but tough as hell and definitely can hold her own when it comes…
Turn Off Your Television, Self Titled
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Let me set the mood for you. First get the CD by “Turn off your television” and then do exactly that. Prepare yourself for a smooth transition into bliss. This three man band from Malmö, Sweden consists of Jon Rinneby, Stellan Lofberg and Erik Willman. They can melt away the stress of the day and…
Chad Savage, Under The Covers
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Not since the second disc of The Black Crowes, Warpaint have I reviewed an album of covers. I have always approached the idea of cover albums with ambivalence– some artist’s takes on other artist’s songs leave me feeling the latter may be better than the former (Widespread Panic’s rendition of “And it Stoned Me” comes…
RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, SEPTEMBER 2011
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The Front Bottoms, The Front Bottoms (Bar/None Records) Microwaving the Dead Milkmen for Generation Text pretty much on schedule, although this unplugged New Jersey guitar/drums punk duo have a darker edge, obsessed not with booger-fingered AIDS jokes but uber-emo concerns, from taking steroids in the hope of impressing a Snooki-like bimbo to the joyful fantasy…
Mr. Envi, Rydaz Redemption
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It is no mistake that the second track on the new release from Mr. Envi is titled “I’m Ma Boss” in that he actually is the CEO of Louisiana’s Southern Stisles Records label. But it was perhaps that role that placed his personal creative endeavors on the back burner while Envi poured his efforts and…
Molly Thomason, Beauty Queen
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & singer/songwriter music slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Tim Ryan O’Kane, The Monster’s Kiss
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Over the years we’ve seen punk, hard rock & even alternative rock bands slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows. Talking to many music fans out there, the response is overwhelming. Give me something new, something raw, something that’s pushes hard & is going to kick me in he ass. Something that doesn’t sound like…
Pollock, Valentine
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Nigel Mustafa, Happy Friendship
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Brought back from a three-year hiatus to play a memorial service, the quartet, Nigel Mustafa, chalked the show up to one last show in honor of their passed friend. As chance would have it, the weeks of rehearsal leading up to the show saw new songs get thrown into the mix and a refueled desire…
Annie Automatic, Don’t Look Down
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Annie Automatic is a LA based alternative rock band and guess what, Annie is not a girl. The band was created by the lead singer named French. They released an EP in 2010 with 3 singles. They are now releasing their first full length CD, “Don’t Look Down”. French has rich vocals that slide from…
Little Shalimar, The New Pneumonia Blues
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Little Shalimar aka Torbitt Schwartz has quite an interesting background which is probably why his music is so unique. He is half Lebanese and half Jewish and seems to be oozing with creativity. He is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, artist, DJ and performer; the list goes on and on. He has played with musical elites like…
Autumn’s Mutt, Cloud Nine
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There is an inherent hazard to asking an artist what a particular song happens to mean. Many will tell you the listener’s interpretation is far more interesting than their own. That being said, many artists would do well to at least provide a roadmap. In the vein of The Flaming Lips, Say Hi and Beck;…
Jennifer Logue, The Split Sessions
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Jennifer Logue is the epitome of smooth. Reigning from New York City, this crooner doesn’t stop doing what she does until you are completely satisfied. Satisfaction is the best way to describe how I felt after listening to, “The Split Sessions.” Jennifer has a voice that takes you to another place. She can erase all…
The Christopher Brothers, Meet The Christopher Brothers
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Move over Justin Bieber because there are some new kids in town ready to blow up the teen music scene. The Christopher Brothers hail from sunny, Southern California and yes all three members are in fact brothers. You have 15-year-old Cameron on drums, 13-year-old Charles on lead guitar and 10-year-old Ethan on bass.…
The Problems, Powder Blue Bone
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While the advent of Uncle Tupelo arguably gave birth to the “alt country” genre, ever since hybrid country bands have steadily proliferated into a style and sound that some claim rivals much of the homogenized “country kitsch” that Nashville seems to churn out incessantly. While most bands in the genre utilize much of the classic…
The Hush Now, Memos
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When reviewing a CD half the excitement is, not knowing what to expect. Then when I hear something as amazing as The Hush Now, I am pleasantly surprised. This Boston indie rock band could be one of the city’s best kept secrets. Their new release, “Memos” is scheduled to be on the market in September…
Voice of Addiction, Reduce, Reuse, Resist
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Get ready to open your eyes & ears to Voice of Addiction who also play the role of voice of reason on their brand new release ‘Reduce, Reuse, Resist’. Voice of Reason is a trio of guys who have come up with addicting music that will both excite you and make you think. …
Melvoy, Midnight Makeup
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You might be asking yourself Mel Who? and I’m hear to tell you it’s Melvoy damn it! This four-piece band from San Francisco has a lot to prove on their debut EP ‘Midnight Makeup’. Melvoy lays all their cards out on the table so that listeners can take it ALL in ALL…
Back Pocket Memory, Beneath The Trees
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Chances are you won’t be forgetting Back Pocket Memory and their new release ‘Beneath The Trees’ anytime soon. The idea behind the band name actually came from lead singer Chris Pennington who said “it’s about a memory that sticks with you so long that it’s there whenever you need it”. This brand new…
Zweng, Notes From Needle, Vol. 1
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Get ready for a little Indie music bursting with Alternative, Pop and even Soul. Zweng is their name and the group is primarily made up of: singer/songwriter Ryan Zweng and co-producer/keyboardist Jon Hakakian. Drummer Steve Riley also makes his presence known on the new EP ‘Notes From Needle, Vol. 1’. This release…
Flash Jack Eppington, Penny Up
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Pilot Touhill, Paper Armour
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With his original bend of Alt Rock-meets Reggae-meets a touch of electronica, Pilot Touhill is eschewing the pigeonholing that seems to run rampant through the solo singer/songwriter genre. Combining vast instrumentation (much electronic) with thinking man’s lyrical matter, Touhill strikes me as the soulful foil to the mock-Reggae acoustic ethos of the Jack Johnson types.…
Ben Knighten, All I Want
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Noidz, Transmetal Age
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Kotadama, Dichotomy
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If you haven’t heard of the group Kotadama then prepare to be blown away! Two brothers Chris & Evan Brown are Kotadama and they now have a debut album called ‘Dichotomy’. At just 22 & 24 the Brown brothers hail from Australia but they have traveled to many parts of the world already.…
RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, AUGUST 2011
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Razer, Dark Devotion [expanded] (Blind Monkey Records) Expanded version of of the Sony-propelled release from the melodic-nu-metal crew, who’ve opened for Judas Priest and whatnot in their native Phoenix. Like so many Metal Blade-level non-thrashers, there are tales of brushes with near-fame along their journey, in this case one of the guys touring as…
Kyle Alden, Hello Again Kind Stranger
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Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock…
Kaotik, The Awakening
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Get ready for a rapper who goes outside-the-box on the his new album ‘The Awakening’. Kaotik is his name and he lays down 16 tracks that are original & very inventive to say the least. Kaotik isn’t your ordinary rap artist of TODAY by no means so prepare yourself for something fresh &…
Low-Fi, After All This Time
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Get ready for Boise, Idaho’s own Low-Fi as they come out with their second release ‘After All This Time’. This band calls themselves Low-Fi but they play with a hi-fi sound that will excite your senses all the way! The group is made up of three members: Todd Sloan on guitar & vocals,…
J.J. Crowne, Songs Of Innocence And Experience
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Get ready for South Florida’s own J.J. Crowne as he blows your mind with his debut album ‘Songs Of Innocence And Experience’. This record is not your ordinary, average debut release by any means due to many factors. First, Crowne has been involved with music professionally since the age of 16 so he’s…
Ben Fagan and The Holy City Hooligans, The Freestyle Sessions 1
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It is pretty safe to say that Ben Fagan is a consummate performer. From his starring (and subsequently winning) the CBS reality game show, Pirate Master to the years he spent as frontman for Charleston’s own The Plainfield Project; Fagan has never been one to eschew the limelight. Earlier this year, Fagan set out on…
THE REAL TUESDAY WELD, THE LAST WEREWOLF (SOUNDTRACK)
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This is about as strange a compilation on a release as you will find, fitting for a Glen Duncan novel about a strange but interesting folklore subject. Everyone loves Werewolves don’t they? The project led by Stephen Coates touches on various genres of old time music. The project takes on an old…
ERIC SARDINAS & BIG MOTOR, STICKS & STONES
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Eric’s interpretation of the blues is delivered via resonator/slide guitar and gritty vocals. The Florida road veteran with a six-album catalog has put this one together with Levell Price on bass and Chris Frazier on drums. The songs are basically traditional format, the storytelling of blues. The uniqueness is in the delivery. The disc ranges…
7 Months Later, Time To Decide
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So it’s ‘Time To Decide’ now or perhaps 7 Months Later whether or not this Orlando-based rock band has what it takes. 7 Months Later is made up of four members: Chris Ganoudis on vocals & guitar, Adam Sliger on guitar, vocals & keys, David Whitmore on bass & vocals and Nick Davila on…
March Into Paris, Beautiful Chaos
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Get ready for the Indie rockers March Into Paris as they unleash ‘Beautiful Chaos’ onto you. This band hails from Sacramento and is made up of five members: lead singer Jennifer Valdez, guitarists & founding members Eric Davis & Randy Medeiros, bassist Kevin McCarty and drummer Kris Ayala. The energy that these five…
DanseWolf, Smoke N Mirrors
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DanseWolf is an electro-rock ‘n’ pop trio from LA that brings a highly infectious sound to the table on their debut release. ‘Smoke N Mirrors’ centers around the highs & lows of living in Los Angeles, California and DanseWolf truly captures that. The group is made up of: lead singer Juls D, fellow…
