The cover of All I Want, the holiday-themed sophomore release from all-female choral/pop group Aliqua, features all eight vocalists posing as mannequins behind the glass of a department store window. It’s a troubling image–anyone who’s listened to a Christmas compilation in the past thirty years probably knows holiday music has seen better days (Besides, the…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Eleven Dollar Life, Shatter The Silence
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Are you ready to get nuts and join the party that is known as Eleven Dollar Life? I hope so because these Chicago rockers are about to Shatter The Silence for good! Eleven Dollar Life unleashes a fury of sound that will excite the hell out of people’s senses everywhere! This group…
Broken Poets, Self-Titled
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If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it is a famous saying and one that Broken Poets should stand by on their latest effort. This Phoenix-based group offers up a four-track EP here, which is a teaser for their upcoming multi-media project called For The Death Of Dustin Essary. What you are getting…
Bassments of Badmen Volume 2, Various Artists
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Hand’Solo records has recently re-released their classic hip-hop compilation, Bassments of Badmen Volume Two. Featuring a new cover that reflects the darker tone of mixtape, the album still contains early songs from Mindbender, Conspiracy, Noah 23, Epic, Wordburglar and Selfhelp. Embracing all the Hand’Solo trademarks ( twisted, and often laugh-out-loud funny, lyrics and…
Kenny Young, Simple Things
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We should all enjoy the simple things in life and never take them for granted. That is exactly what Kenny Young has done here on his new, full-length album Simple Things. Young says that the record is about “good things, bad things, friends, family, just about everything about me.” Simplicity is never…
Katherine Jenkins, Believe
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Katherine Jenkins: model, TV personality, classical/pop crossover vocalist. That’s quite a rap sheet, basically the holy trinity of pretty people jobs. But as her seventh studio album, Believe, demonstrates, she has one hell of a voice. And that’s really all that matters, isn’t it? Jenkins has been around for the better part of the…
Delicate Steve, Wondervisions
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It’s safe to say you’ve never heard a band quite like New Jersey’s Delicate Steve. Oh, sure, there are some clear reference points in the band’s psychedelic, guitar heavy instrumentals (particularly Dirty Projectors, whose maestro/guitar god Dave Longstreth also makes a point of pushing his instrument’s boundaries), but beneath all the synth squeals, trademark…
Phillip Morris, The Truth Campaign
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Chicago-based MC Phillip Morris has proven himself to be one of the ultimate wordsmiths of hip-hop on such albums as Instrumentality (2007) and The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs (2009). His latest album, The Truth Campaign, grabs modern day lotus-eaters by the collar and makes them question their addiction to manufactured consent,the…
Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills, All Of Your Raw Materials
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Richard Laviolette is probably the friendliest guy you’ve never met. Each of his down-home folk tunes are rich with a rugged and honest sensibility. And though he’d probably never back you up in any kind of scrap, he’d probably talk down the aggressor with his affectionate demeanour. On top of his affable, sunset-ready state of…
Jukebox The Ghost, Everything Under The Sun
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It wouldn’t be fair to say that Jukebox The Ghost, a Philadelphia trio, write catchy songs. What would be fair to say is that if all three members had a cold, they’d probably sneeze out a pitch perfect pop-rock records, drenched in the kind of hooks that make modern rock radio programmers drool uncontrollably. Yes,…
Forest City Lovers, Carriage
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For the past five years, Kat Burns has been making the kind of music that makes lonely, dimly-lit bedrooms that much more inviting. Her subtle drawl constantly finds itself atop rippling waves of quiet, persistent indie folk. Then there are the motifs, full of the kind of brutal honesty you’d want in your bedroom too.…
The Micronite Filters, Puff Go The Dragon’s Mystic Fires
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The Micronite Filters, yet another fine addition to Get Bent’s intensely visceral lineup of blues-heavy rock and rollers, are not a band to be taken lately. From the opening crash and swell of “In Search Of Delights,” its easy to get seduced by the band’s no-nonsense attitude. Heavy, but never overbearing, The Micronite Filters manage…
La Strada, New Home
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La Strada, a Brooklyn five piece, sounded like the most seafaring of seafaring bands on their debut that I had myself double checking that they weren’t from Halifax or Scotland. Now, on their follow-up, New Home, the band seems to be injecting some of that chamber-pop sound that Brooklyn is known so well for. No,…
TALES OF THE FRIGHTENED, VERNON WELLS, EBAN SCHLETTER
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When it comes to recording the written word, Halloween (and of course The Grinch at Christmas) belonged to actor Boris Karloff. Eban Schletter who recently did a CD of spooky music, Witching Hour, has teamed up with actor and narrator Vernon Wells to recreate the 60’s pulp fiction stories of Michael Avallone. As…
Sissita’s Soul Tangos, Self-titled
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Get ready for a style of music that is so creative & original that it will amaze your ears! Sissita’s Soul Tangos and the genius behind it were originated by Austrian soul singer Sissita and Bueno Aires-based producer Ariel Gato. These two members have successfully blended together classic Argentine tango, soul, waltz and…
Ceramic, The Past Ain’t Fair
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This group known as Ceramic really digs deep here by going outside the box on The Past Ain’t Fair. The mastermind behind this band is singer/songwriter John Scheaffer who hails from NY. The new record also features guest cameos from vocalist Kendal Meade and violinist Margaret White. These two musicians play regularly…
Japandroids, No Singles
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Re-releases of old, out of print EP’s are essentially a double-edged sword. Not only do you realize how much great material you may have missed before you caught on to said band, but you get absolutely no cool points for coming in this late in the game. Thankfully, the release of No Singles, does all…
VTG, Love Is Letting Go
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VTG is one man known as Lawrence Stone who releases his 6-track EP Love Is Letting Go. It’s worth noting that Stone is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist who also studied classical & jazz at The Berklee College of Music. This multi-dimensional artist from San Francisco proves that he is extremely talented with…
Daniel Romano, Workin’ For The Music Man
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The liner notes of Workin’ For The Music Man offer a fairly honest perspective of Romano’s life a rambling, folk troubadour. The notion of naming his first born after the person that would give him his first “Hit,” and the fact that one track Romano recorded enjoyed a run up the charts in Sweden in…
JW, JWtheMusic
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Soulful vocals, backing electronica and infectious lyrical subject matter are the facets that comprise the ethos of the full-length LP from Boston native, JW. The 11-track debut was made under the mantra “Live for today and tomorrow” and it taps a myriad of musical influences that run the gamut from East Coast style Rap to…
The Strange Boys, Be Brave
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God bless The Strange Boys. Listening to Be Brave, their sophomore LP induces a feeling akin to waking up with a foggy yet forgiving hangover on Saturday morning in a house you’ve never seen before. And your choices are many; either you could join the party still happening in the other room (With folks you…
The Skullcranes, Columbia Heights Nights
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When things get a little awkward in social situations, there’s one thing everyone needs to do: crank up Columbia Heights Nights, the latest from The Skullcranes. One of two things will happen: either the entire party will get a good kick out of the band’s outwardly humorous lyrics set to some of the purest punk…
The Gurus, Closing Circles
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Barcelona, Spain isn’t normally associated as a place where psychedelic pop-rock bands rule. That doesn’t seem to bother the Gurus–a trio consisting of guitarist Emilio Ramirez, bassist Sergio Bartel, and drummer Josep Pons–whose fourth record Closing Circles continues on with the band’s love for 60s era guitar pop. Previous recordings by the Gurus have shown…
The Summerlad, Blue Skinned
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The fact that The Summerlad are largely unknown is a crying shame. This three-piece out of Calgary, creates a sonic landscape that is as intriguing and immense as the country which they call home. Stretching guitars, combined with driving percussion and a pure, brazen passion for the music they’re making is what Blue Skinned, their…
SweetKiss Momma, Revival Rock
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First off, I have to say right off the bat that I simply love the style of this group. SweetKiss Momma has such a cool vibe goin’ that incorporates rock, southern rock, classic rock/modern rock and blues. Not to mention, this Seattle/Tacoma-based group offers up a kick-ass band name. Revival Rock is…
Bill Hicks, The Essential Bill Hicks
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Bill Hicks, a self-described “[Noam] Chomsky with dick jokes, is one of the most influential comedians ever. His satire of contemporary mores was always on target and is among the best stand-up sets ever recorded. Rkyo’s recently released Bill Hicks The Essential Collection has compiled some of Bill’s most adored bits, along…
Jackie Arredondo, Someone Like You
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Jackie Arredondo is an artist who is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone and try something new. With the release of her EP Someone Like You, Jackie is proving that she can take on a solo career and do just fine. For years, Arredondo was a well-known vocal coach within…
The Matt Burke Band, Pretty Close to Very Good
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Get ready for an album that offers a lot of good-sounding music for the people. The Matt Burke Band is made up of two musicians: Matt Burke on vocals, guitar, electronic drums, synth and bass & Brue Baker on lead guitar. The duo refers to their distinct sound as “Soulcoustic Beach Rock”. I agree with…
The Jesus Rehab, The Highest Highs and the Lowest Lows
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What I heard was here was completely original and nothing like anything else I’ve listened to before. The Jesus Rehab brings to you a concept album full of real substance. Conceptual songs with a real meaning and a real purpose surround this 11-track set. With a band name like Jesus Rehab they…
Downslave, Cost of Freedom
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What a wake up call I had this morning when I listened to Downslave’s Cost of Freedom on my laptop. A little after 8 AM and still half asleep, I was in for a loud awakening. What I heard coming through my headphones definitely jolted my system and at this point I was…
Superart, The Weirdbeard Sessions
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It’s not everyday that you hear an album where one song is as good as the next. It’s also not everyday that you hear a band that has three lead singers & three songwriters along with each of them being multi-instrumentalists. Actually, let’s be honest; this is extremely rare in today’s music world.…
Tony Palmer, Leonard Cohen – Bird on a Wire
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Tony Palmer’s Leonard Cohen “Bird on a Wire” was to be his masterpiece: that is, until it was re-edited without Palmer’s permission and released in 1974. Using a recently discovered dubbing track of the film as a guide, Tony Palmer salvaged the 294 cans of damaged film that were found by Frank…
Small Sins, Pot Calls Kettle Black
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Thomas D’Arcy, who apparently sealed himself in a basement studio after the implosion of his band, The Ladies and Gentleman, seems able to craft precise and well-crafted pop tunes with alarming ease. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Pot Calls Kettle Black, his latest, was produced by legendary Chicago-based producer John McEntire. Each of the…
RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, OCTOBER 2010
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Death in the Park, Death in the Park (End Sounds) Alabama rockers aiming to bridge a few gaps between emo, rock, and punk, and occasionally succeeding, if mainly on the strength of trying many (closely related) trips on for size. For reviewing purposes it’s simply a game of drawing a line from the song…
ALICE COOPER, THEATRE OF DEATH
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The ageless master of rock and roll shock and awe has come up with yet another macabre live performance video, just in time for Halloween viewing. With a career spanning some 40 years while combining magic and theatre with rock, this seventh full video (three went gold) includes a CD for added listening pleasure.…
CircleDown, Mobius EP
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CircleDown’s new project is a 4-track teaser leading up to the much anticipated release of their first full-length album Mobius. CircleDown is made up of: founders Drew “Diode” Madore on vocals, DJ & synth and Kevin “Cansh” Cansian on bass. Rounding out the bunch is Eric “Reebus” Wisely on drums and Dean Romanelli…
Speak, Hear, here
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Upon hearing that Speak was recently named Austin’s “Best New Band” by the Austin Chronicle, this reviewer got mighty excited. Being known as a city that encourages artistic growth through its numerous live music venues, you’d have to imagine that Speak’s debut EP, <i>Hear, Here</i> would engage upon the first listen. Unfortunately, this isn’t the…
Catherine Duc, Visions and Dreams
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Get ready as Catherine Duc brings to life her new work Visions and Dreams. The music here is musically bright and full of sun shine. Prepare yourself as Duc takes you on a relaxing journey that will satisfy your mind, body & soul. The beauty of this record is that Catherine…
Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses, Junky Star
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Ryan Bingham has enjoyed one hell of a ride of late. The singer-songwriter can boast of winning numerous awards for his writing and performing “The Weary Kind,” the theme song to the Jeff Bridges’ film Crazy Heart, the biggest of which being the granddaddy of them all–an Oscar for Best Original Song. Also, the…
Shapes and Sizes, Candle To Your Eyes
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After two scattered and at times, unlistenable previous releases, Montreal’s (By way of Victoria) Shapes and Sizes have finally managed to find their groove as a cohesive and timely act. It’s no small feat for this four-piece to nail that cohesive groove, seeing as how it’s damn near impossible to classify this eclectic release. It…
