Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
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LA VIEJA GUARDIA Self-Titled EP I Scream Records |
| La Vieja Guardia may just be releasing their debut EP, but they are by no means strangers to the scene. As a matter of fact this is sort of a super group as it combines past members from the likes of Guajiro, Ignite, Slapshot, and The Vandals together and for good measure the EP is co-produced by Randy Bradburry of Pennywise fame. Are you interested yet? Well, you should be, and the minute you hit play you are introduced to one of the best hardcore bands to come out in recent times. Though every lyric is sung in Spanish, which means I have no idea what the songs themselves are actually about, this is a solid EP nonetheless. The guitar work as you can image is blistering and in your face from the get go and sustains that throughout the EP as they assault you more often than not. The drums tend to pound right through you while the bass lines walk right along with them driving you to the chorus which is going to get your fists pumping in the air. While I personally am not a hardcore fan, this is what that particular scene is all about; the in your face style that seems to grab you and never let go. By the time you get through this EP you are going to feel like you just went through a round or two in a boxing match as it is pretty intense and more importantly it embraces the hardcore scene perfectly. | |
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LAGWAGON I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen to Lagwagon Fat Wreck Chords |
| With their latest release, "I Think My Older Brother…." Lagwagon is back with 7 blistering punk rock tunes that will show you just why exactly Fat Mike made this the first band he signed to his label. I personally was a sophomore in high school as punk rock exploded into the mainstream with bands like Green Day, Rancid, The Offspring, etc… As me and my friends started to get more and more into these bands we found out about bands like NOFX and of course that led us right to Lagwagon. Since those days, I have watched punk rock turn into diet punk, then into that emo stuff, and then the god awful screamo garbage, so the first thing I want to say to Lagwagon and Fat Wreck Chord's is thank you so much for getting new, "PUNK ROCK" music out there for me to listen to. With the release of this EP, Lagwagon has given me hope that good music is still around. They've always been a band that made you move, jump around, etc… as they assaulted you with simple guitar riffs, in your face vocals, and thumping bass lines and drum beats that you can't help but bounce along with, and the best news is they haven't changed. You can't help but love songs that hold nothing back like opening track "B-Side," or "Mission Unaccomplished," while the bouncy bass lines on songs like ""Memoirs and Landmines" will no doubt have your feet tapping along. Lagwagon was one of the first bands to lay the groundwork for what I consider to be punk rock to be and with this EP I am hoping this is the start of bringing that music back to the forefront of the scene. |  |
GREG LASWELL How The Day Sounds Vanguard Records |
| When Greg Laswell's marriage ended suddenly catching him off guard and leaving behind a broken heart, it resulted in "Through Tornado," his first album with Vanguard Records. He was met with critical acclaim for the album garnering comparisons to the likes of Radiohead, Ben Folds, etc… and on his latest offering, the 6-song EP "How The Day Goes," those comparisons will most likely continue. Two of the six tracks, including "High and Low," were cut for "Through Tornado," and the other 4 tend to expand on the heartbreak and easily would have fit on that album. As a singer/songwriter it's your job to write lyrics and songs that can connect on a deep level with your listeners and Laswell has more than achieved that with this sampling of what he has been working on now. The songs structures include mostly piano as the prominent instrument and Laswell let's his voice be the focal point of the songs as they deliver the heartfelt lyrics on lost love with an unmatched passion. This is an easy to listen to EP that will definitely leave you wanting to hear more of what his soul has to offer to our ears. |  |
AMY LENNARD I Need To Love Hold Your Own Records |
| Amy Lennard's I Need to Love is a great album. If you love light alternative and listen to the light radio stations, like Chicago's 93.9 WLIT, this is definitely for you. This is a slow cd with many love ballades and songs of being broken hearted. I Need to Love is everything I loved about 90's light alternative. I fully enjoyed this cd and I'll give it a 4 ½ out of 5. (Nick Zamfoti) | |
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LES PAUL AND FRIENDS A Tribute To A Legend Immergent Records |
| Who in the music world doesn't know the name Les Paul? Heck, a better question might be who at all doesn't know who he is? Obviously the name Les Paul is synonymous with Gibson guitars for his model, The Gibson Les Paul. So, how much do we really know about the man behind the guitar? Now that's a good question. The 93 year old is a recording pioneer, a renowned jazz guitarist originally, that found the ability to cross genres with the greatest if ease. Needless to say he is a true music icon and legend, so it only seems fitting that a tribute album to him be out there now to celebrate his legacy. The unique part about this tribute album is that Les Paul himself plays on several of his tracks right alongside those who he helped to inspire. Just as he had done over his career, this tribute album doesn't just focus on one genre of music. "The Walls Come Tumbling Down," features a bluesy sound and sadly the last recorded performance of Hiram Bullock, while tracks like album closer "I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You," let Joan Osborne's incredible vocal shine over a groovy, jazzy styled song, and the Richie Sambora contribution, album closer "Great Hall of Fame," allows a more country/Americana feel to make an appearance on the album. The list of stars read on like a who's who of music that include Slash, Johnny Rzeznik, Jeff Golub, and more, but the most outstanding aspect of the album is the legendary Les Paul's appearances and shouldn't it be that way? |  |
LESS THAN JAKE GNV FLA Sleep It Off Records |
| Some folks out there will tell you I miss the stuff they used to play like "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts," while others will say nah, I love the newer stuff like "She's Gonna Break Soon," and I say either way Less Than Jake continues to evolve and put out great music as is the case with their latest release "GNV FLA." They left the major label game behind, again, and this album is being released out of their pockets, their way! You are going to find a perfect balance between the old and new and this album is sure to delight fans no matter what. Roger and Chris split the leads as usual. Roger's songs like album opener "City of Gainesville," "Handshake Meets Pokerface," and "The Space They Can't Touch" take on a bit of a more ska influenced rock and Chris' tunes like "The State of Florida," "Summon Monsters," and "Settling Son," tackle more of the modern punk rock sound that you have come to expect from Less Than Jake. All in all what you get from the minute you hit play for the next 35-minutes, is the best overall Less Than Jake album in years. This is one of those albums that you can just hit play on and let run straight through as there really isn't a bad song on here. This is everything you have come to expect from Less Than Jake over the years that shows they can evolve and at the same time stick to their roots that got them here. |  |
JON PETER LEWIS Break The Silence Cockaroo Entertainment/Adrenaline Music Group |
| There are a couple really brilliant things about American Idol (please note the sarcasm). The first thing is that they really don't give these kids a chance to hone in and perfect a sound because one week you can be singing country and the next week show tunes. BLAH!!! It is also nothing more than a popularity contest. Fantasia won the year that Jon Peter Lewis was on the show, but is that a bad thing? Fantasia has done all of nothing and Jon Peter Lewis just released what will no doubt be one of the most talked about albums of 2008 with "Break The Silence." Point, check, and match to Jon Peter Lewis. What a great album. Right from the get go you find yourself tapping along with the adult alternative rock stylings (think Five For Fighting) that Lewis brings to the table. This trend in the music, although pretty prominent throughout the album is not where Lewis shines the most. Rather, it's when he decides to tone the music down a bit and let his voice take care of carrying the pop driven songs like "Beautiful," "Everybody Falls," and "If You Don't Mean It," where you will be wondering just why it was you didn't vote for this guy when you had the chance. Working with producer Chris Garcia (Santana) proved to be a good backbone to the album as Lewis shows a Santana type flare on the opening guitar riff on "Bridges." This is one of the more complete albums I have heard from the Idol pack of runner ups and is sure to hit with folks across the board. A must have for fans of Maroon Five, Five For Fighting, Gavin DeGraw, etc… | |
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LIFELINE For All Who Triumph Self-Released |
| With so many internet outlets out there, a number of artists have been able to find independent success. Then there are then bands like Lifeline who take everything to a whole new level. With incredible music videos/movies that are easily comparable, if not better than, half of the videos that you see these days, it's hard to believe that this is an indie band. On their latest effort, "For All Who Triumph," this Chicago based band seems primed and ready to break through and find huge mainstream success and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see a major label swipe them up in no time. By bringing together a wide range of influences from The Smashing Pumpkins to AFI to Pink Floyd, etc... and combining them with a modern edge this is an album that is going to attract the many flooding to the Warped Tour stages year in and year out. The first thing that will grab your attention is that a violin, provided by Rebecca Faber, is one of the more prominent instruments throughout the album and acts as a perfect companion to the well delivered vocals of Ryan T. Hope, which bring the lyrics, dark at times, to life. It doesn't surprise me at all that songs like "Not For Nothing" have already been finding their way to mainstream radio stations. It is, as with this whole album, everything the current alternative mainstream is about. Driving guitars that assault you at all of the perfect moments, a rhythm section that pounds right through you, but all the while the music seems to take a bit of a backseat to the vocals which allows for the lyrics to be a focal point of a majority of these songs. Lifeline is easily a band to keep your eyes on and "For All Who Triumph" is a must have for any modern alternative rock fan. |  |
LINWOOD Burn Effect Waxsaw Records |
| Linwood's album "Burn Effect" is very easy to understand, first off. The lyrics are uber clear and the singer does not get overpowered by the bass or drums. The one problem that I did have with this album is that the verses and songs seem repetitive and short. The tracks vary from about two and half minutes to a little over five minutes. Which, probably, is the average for songs nowadays, but in some songs, a listener could tell that many of the same verses are being repeated a great deal. Though, the thoughtful and well-worded lyrics make up for the repetitiveness. Linwood's album is very mellow with an Ok Go kind of sound, just not as much energy, creativeness, and no treadmills. Personally, the songs are too slow for my taste. The tracks are mellow, but not drone-ish. They could use a bit more of a kick, more of a rock-ish sound. Speaking of a rock-ish sound, 'Circle' is worth a listen to. Don't get your hopes up, its not rock- but it's the closest that any of the other songs get to upbeat and the songs lyrics speak to everyone, 'And you believe. You're better than me…' So, with that said, since I am not better than anyone else, I believe every individual should make up their own mind and judge for themselves whether Linwood is worth a listen, or two. (Erica Glanc) |  |
ANDREW LIPKE Motherpearl and Dynamite Mad Dragon Records |
| Andrew Lipke made his way to Philadelphia from South Africa and while he began to compose his songs on a piano, he turned to guitar long ago and began to craft his words around the simple chords he created. He gained critical acclaim with his 2007 album "The Way Home…" and on his follow-up, "Motherpearl and Dynamite," he seems to be on a mission to show the listeners and critics alike just how far an artist can actually progress in a short span of time. Backed by an acoustic guitar a majority of the time allows Andrew Lipke's heartfelt lyrics to shine as he sings about the complexity's of a relationship and the pain and emotions one discovers within' through it's different stages on tracks like "Forgive and Forget," but he also drives home the angrier side of his emotions by including a full band on the rocking "Get It Over With." While his band is incredible and offers a different feel to the songs they play on like the driving "The Barker Song," for my tastes it is Lipke's acoustic based offerings that really stand out and put this artist on a different level than others out there. His songwriting and lyrics are incredibly well written and offer easily relatable feelings while going deeper than most do to hit on the point of the songs. Lipke is a storyteller and his stories focus on real life and real emotions that everyone discovers throughout the course of relationships and everyday life. This is a definite listen for anyone out there that likes songs with depth and meaning, as well as music that offers a perfect delivery to drive home a heartfelt lyric. | |
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LIQUOR BOXX To The Face Refugee Entertainment LLC |
| Chicago's Liquor Boxx has certainly carved out their name amongst the alternative rock scene through countless tour dates, a unique style that lends as much alternative flare as it does classic rock, and have even been dubbed as "sexy Chicago Rock." With their latest effort "To The Face," they seem to be on a mission to show the world just what it is they can do all around musically and just when you think you have them figured out, they hit you with the unexpected. Though for my liking the songs tend to get a little long at times, with some of them topping off at over 6 minutes, there isn't any denying the fact that this band features incredible musicianship and outstanding vocals that seem to channel the late, legendary Doors singer Jim Morrison more often than not. If you like your alternative music rocking they display that style on tracks like the guitar driven "Cheap Sex N Vodka" they drop a groovy bass line that will have your head bopping right along with them on "Evil Girl," a driving guitar riff and vocal reminiscent of the 60's rockers like the Doors or later Rolling Stones on "Rock Your Soul, and seem to bring out a bit of a Black Crowes influence with "Tomorrow." As I stated earlier they seem to be on a mission to show you exactly what they bring to the table, with no two songs really following the same trend other than the fact that they can be classified as good, solid rock songs with a wide variety of influences coming together to form a unique sound. | |
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LIVING COLOUR CBGB - Live August 19, 2005 MVD Audio |
| When the legendary CBGB's closed its doors it was a truly dark day in the history of punk rock and rock music in general. However, prior to the closing it struck up an underground movement that included a string of benefit shows to help save the club from extinction. Although these shows didn't help keep the doors open in the end, they offered a great look at what it was about CBGB's that made it the club so legendary. It was and always is about the bands and music coming from the stage and MVD Audio captured this 2005 performance from Living Colour on tape and is offering listeners a chance to be in the front row. Though their mainstream success came from hit songs like "Cult of Personality" and "Glamour Boys," this live recording captures what it was about this band that made them so great. They kept a mystique about them by not finding a ton of mainstream success thus adding to their underground appeal and the songs they created are incredible and well before their time. From the hard rock driven guitars on the show's opener "Type," to punk-rock driven guitars that first assault you the turn into a funky sound on "Funny Vibe, " to songs like "Open Letter To Landlord," which let the vocals do the delivering of the message over subtle instrumentation, you get the point as to just why Living Colour was a band that is very well respected in the underground. Their live shows are chalked full of energy, meaningful lyrics, and outstanding guitar work and MVD perfectly captures all of that and more on this disc. A great look at a great band doing what they do best. | |
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CLARA LOFARO Perfekt World ComeTrue Records |
| Clara Lofaro's Perfekt World is a very unique cd, but I just couldn't get into it. Lofaro has a very beautiful voice, she also has some beautiful songs such as Blue, her single Waterfall, Perfect World, Fever, Tractor, and the tragically beautiful song: Fall. There are some songs I couldn't get into, which is the remaining 5 songs. She reminds me somewhat of Tori Amos, but if you're into the Indie scene then I'd say give her a listen to. 2 ½ out of 5. (Nick Zamfoti) | |
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LOS DIFUNTOS Self-Titled Nickel and Dime Records |
| Since 2006, when Los Difuntos released their EP through Rancid Records, and went on tour with the label's owners, Rancid, there has been an incredible amount of buzz surrounding this band. With just one spin of the new self-titled album from California's Los Difuntos, the buzz was quickly upheld and I was given a newfound pride in the spirit of the punk rock scene. While they embrace the past citing influences from the likes of The Clash they bring their influences together with the modern sounds of "true" inspired punk rock bands from the likes of Rancid, Tiger Army, etc… to create a blistering, raw, punk rock sound that is going to kick the current state of the scene in it's ass. The guitars never let you down throughout the album. They remain in your face and offer a hard-edged sound that continues to be a trend they show throughout. The bass lines are thumping and keep you moving right along with them the way that a good punk rock band should. But, for me personally it's always been the vocals that truly make a band and Los Difuntos perfectly achieve everything they are going for with this aspect of their sound. The leads spit out the lyrics throughout the verses with a raw, in your face sound but when you hit the choruses on a good majority of these songs, they display fist-pumping, sing-a-long, harmonies like I haven't heard in a very very long time in this scene. WOW! You can't help but get up and sing with them on tracks like "Lucy," "Now I'm Gone," and "Lies in Disguise." This is the album that the scene has needed for 10 years and if Los Difuntos is the next generation to carry the punk rock flag then I am standing right behind them in that fight. |  |
TONY LUCCA Come Around Again Self-Released |
| I always love to hear new music come from an established singer/songwriter like Tony Lucca. Though he is probably most remembered by the casual listeners as a member of the famed Mickey Mouse Club, Lucca has been making his music and forging ahead with his craft now for years and doing it his way. With a singer/songwriter what you'll get from an album is usually great lyrics with music that more often then not sort of takes a bit of a backseat so that the lyrics can shine and that's what I love about this album on tracks like "Givin' It All Away" and "Father Time." Lucca's bluesy, 60's folk inspired sound tends to remind me at times, both musically and vocally of Chris Robinson and The Black Crowes. Lucca isn't afraid to take chances and create the music he wants to play and wants to hear as opposed to following the current trends. This aspect of the album gives him an underground, independent appeal and diehard fans can still call him their own. Though I am a newbie to Lucca's music, it is no secret that this is a solid album throughout and is sure to please many fans of those artists that always had a left of the dial feel to them. Think Elliott Smith meets modern pop influenced artists like Josh Kelly and you have Tony Lucca. This album is a welcome addition to my music collection and if you dig solid songs with great lyrics it will be to yours as well. | |