Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
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THE MALHERUEX Nightmares EP Self-Released |
| For their new EP, The Malheruex spent 3 months in the studio with producer Jim Witt who has worked with the likes of Incubus, Jack's Mannequin, etc… and has put out solid music that signifies what this group is all about and offers a glimpse into what will make them stand out amongst an overcrowded scene. Though they bear a resemblance to the bands of today's "Warped Tour" scene, they also effectively incorporate their vast influences into these songs and offer something familiar yet unique. Opening track, "Nightmares" brings you into the EP and you instantly know that you have stumbled upon a band that is going to capture your attention and the vocals offer a passionate delivery of the well-crafted lyrics while the guitars do their part to stay in the background throughout the verses but kick it up a notch to help drive home the chorus. In a vastly different approach, the blistering guitar riffs of "Flip The Switch" and "Drowning In Numbers" seem to be the main focus of the songs and are sure to get the crowd moving and jumping right along with this. Though there is some screaming in the backing vocals, which I normally don't really care for, it is so limited that it doesn't get in the way of these four great songs. This is easily a band to watch out for and I can't wait to hear more. It's been a while since I heard a group of songs like these in that they are all solid, and yet all offer a little something different than the one before it, and more importantly, something different than every other band out there right now. | |
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MAMIFFER Hirror Enniffer Hydra Head Records |
| Mamiffer is a combination of members of popular indie rock bands These Arms Are Snakes, ISIS, Everlovely Lightningheart, Helmes Alee, and Lozen; so basically a who's who of today's indie rock. Unfortunately for my liking, their debut album "Hirror Enniffer" falls way too short. I was expecting something a little bit out to the left of the dial mainstream sound as their other bands are just that, but this was way too far off the radar. With no real vocals mixed into the 6-song, 35 minute disc, I was more often than not looking to see how far I was from being done listening to it. Not a good sign. So what can you expect from this disc? Well, it is basically a combination of avant-garde instruments that range from piano, to cello, to jars, to Japanese distortion pedals, and as they state themselves "uncommon percussion instruments." When you combine it all together you do get a unique sound in that no one else out there sounds anything like this. No two songs sound alike, but they all walk a line as far out there that you can get before you lose people's interest completely. Simply put, this sort of thing isn't for me. I like good vocals, good guitar riffs that drive the songs, and a bass line that makes you move. You can expect to hear none of that on this album so if you like the artsy driven indie rock then this is for you, if not then I'd say pass on this one. | |
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MIKE MANGIONE Tenebrae Self-Released |
| Glenview, Illinois is a stone's throw away from our offices so we are always happy to see an artist break out and succeed from our area, but when an album like Mike Mangione's "Tenebrae" finds it's way to our desks we are not only happy but proud to be from this area. Having found huge success with his 2005 album "There and Back," he has followed it up with what has instantly become one of my favorite albums of the year thus far. From the opening notes of "Waiting For No One" you are instantly thrust into a mellow, adult alternative, sound, that will capture your attention with the passionate vocals that carries through the entire album. There is some pop involved in the songwriting (see "You Don't Wanna Leave"), but it is Mangione's voice that carries the songs, draws you into them, and makes you want to hear more. He has effectively created an honest album that is not too much like anything else out there right now, but will easily please fans of artists like James Blunt, Maroon 5, etc… and is a welcome addition to my collection and an album that I can honestly say isn't going to leave my CD player for a long time. | |
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MARION SQUARE Draw The Line Marion Square LLC |
| Marion Square is something I would normally listen to, mainly it isn't my cup of tea, but Draw the Line was pretty good. It reminds me of a cross between Dave Mathews Band and Evanescence. Vocalist McCall Cruse has a beautiful voice, but her voice is what makes most of the songs sound the same. I think this was a decent album, but I don't think this deserves more than a 3 out of 5. (Nick Zamfoti) | |
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TRAVIS MARSH Los Angeles ATM Music Group |
| The rock genre is full of sub-genres that expose an artist from the inside out and pound for pound it is the singer/songwriter genre that is a personal favorite of mine. These artists aren’t afraid to wear their hearts out on their sleeves and occasionally one will come along that doesn’t get so wrapped up in being an artist that they end of writing very marketable material as is the case with Travis Marsh. His blending of alternative rock with great guitar work, and an outstanding voice and lyrics allow him to blend together a solid sound that will work across multiple fan bases. There is the side of Marsh that would satisfy they artsy types that like to sit around a coffee shop and have music playing while they sip their coffee and play on their wi-fi as he shows with his acoustic based offerings like “Losing Myself” and “Make Her Love Me,” where he sings a simple but very relatable lyric about how he is crazy over a girl but he is too insecure to pull the trigger and tell her. However, with bands like Something Corporate and the whole Drive Thru Records revolution that led the way in the early 2000’s, Marsh is not a one trick pony and offers up a modern rock sound as well that is suitable for any number of the kids that flock to Warped Tour every summer. Cuts like “Los Angeles,” “Coming Down” and “My Kind of Girl” all offer the pop blended alternative rock that has become extremely popular amongst the new generation of fans. Marsh proves with this EP that he writes catchy songs that are relatable and could become anthems for a new generation, as he tends to offer up a very sing-a-long styled chorus 99% of the time making sure his songs get stuck in your head. | |
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MATINEE CLUB The Modern EP Ninth Wave Records |
| From Blondie to the Cure to Duran Duran, The Matinee Club combines all of these influences to create a new wave tinged debut album that is sure to catch on with an early 30's crowd. When you hit play you are thrown into a pop record with a whole lot of synth thrown into the mix making for an album that will have you wondering if you are listening something originally released in the 80's. There seems to be a trend of bands like this coming out right now, but what separates The Matinee Club from the pack the most is the sexy, seductive vocals by Emma Cooke, who is recognized in London from her appearances on TV and in film. She does however split the vocals a majority of the time with Nathan Cooper, who's voice instantly reminded me of a cross between Tears For Fears and Duran Duran. Together their vocals compliment each other and bring the songs to life. An added bonus for you fans of David Bowie is their version of Bowie's "Modern Love." You will not be disappointed. This is one of those albums that while it isn't a style I would normally listen to, you have to give credit where credit is due. This is well-crafted music that is going to be perfect alongside any of the bands that littered mainstream radio in the 80's, so get out your legwarmers and hit the dance floor. | |
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MATT MAYS AND EL TORPEDO Terminal Romance Sonic Records |
| When you start to search high and low for a good, solid, rock band these days you will be hard pressed to find one that doesn't try to incorporate a bit of screamo, hardcore, or any other silly sub-genre creations into their music. That of course is until you stumble upon Matt Mays and El Torpedo. Their 2005 debut album started to break them through, but it is their sophomore effort, "Terminal Romance," that is going to make them a household name amongst rockers. The top 20, lead single, "Tall Trees," displays a great guitar riff through the intro that leads to a very solid and smooth delivery of the lyrics, but this is by no means the best song on the album just because it is the single. This is an album chalked full of solid songs with all of them being potential singles. With shades of a Who influence you are thrust into the album with "Building A Boat," and with tracks like the rowdy, guitar driven "Rock Ranger Record" and "Stand and Deliver," the influences of the grandfathers of punk rock like the Ramones, Buzzcocks, etc… are easily recognizable. Though at times they tone this album down a bit, and tend to get a little trippy as they show on the late 60's era, Beatles influenced, album closer "Long Since Gone," Matt Mays and El Torpedo have for the most part put together a very solid rock record. They wear their influences on their sleeves and pull them together perfectly to give a unique feel to an old idea and are sure to impress those true rock music fans that miss that solid rock based sound. | |
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MICHAEL MCDERMOTT Hey La Hey Pauper Sky Records |
| Chicago is known for a vast musical scene that incorporates elements of a variety of music into their own sound. In other words, just like the city itself, the music scene is a melting pot from Irish based, to blues, from rock, to folk, etc... Michael McDermott has been bringing his blend of American folk music to Chicago’s residents and beyond for almost two decades and with the release of Hey La Hey, he seems focused on starting the next chapter of his already solid career. In the past McDermott has leaned towards the more dark side of his music while this album takes a bit different approach. “Hard To Break,” early on in the album sees McDermott along with duet partner Kate York, focus on taking a deep look into who they are and where they are at in life. These deeper based, well-crafted lyrics are what McDermott does best and he continues to show it throughout the album with a great collection of story songs. He inserts you in the subject’s situation numerous times throughout the album on songs like “The Great American Novel,” “Room 411,” and “The Ballad of Johnny Diversey,” where you are introduced to a set of characters from Johnny to Diamond Jim. If Hey La Hey is McDermott’s next step in his career then he is about to start down a great new path. He has always presented great lyrics but this album allows him to focus on the more pop side of his music and keeps more on the positive and hopeful side to life rather than the dark sides. | |
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MEGAPUSS Surfing Vapor Records |
| Devendra Banhart & Greg Rogove came together to form Megapuss and with their latest album "Surfing," they seem to be on a mission to blend a variety of the pop genre with itself and create a sound that you just simply will get or you will not get. I personally didn't really get what they were trying to accomplish, but that is just a matter of opinion. The lyrics on this album tend to be obscure and off the wall, which might be exactly what these guys were going for with them. All you have to do is give one spin to tracks like "Duck People Duck Man" or the 25-second diddy "Mr. Meat" to get an idea of the crazy lyrics you can expect to hear throughout the album. Musically, as stated earlier this walks a crazy line of the pop genres and explores all different aspects of it. The big harmonizing between the vocals and floaty guitar riffs on tracks like "Surfing" beg to be compared to "Surf's Up" era Beach Boys, while they take on 90's alternative pop ala Depeche Mode on tracks like "Hamman." All in all, for my personal tastes this just simply isn't my thing. It is indeed a brand of pop music and Megapuss is smart enough to pull common elements of the genre into their songs, but it just comes across as way too obscure for my liking. | |
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MERYKID Boy & The Bird Self-Released |
| There are a lot of artists out there that combine the genres of pop and folk, but when you toss in the word experimental, as Merykid did on his bio, I tend to automatically think the worst. As I hit play on his new EP “Boy & The Bird,” and opening track “Bad Things” kicked off and featured a series of this “experimental” sound as the beats, dubs, and an overall electronic sound came from my speakers, he did nothing to make me not think the worst. Until I dove further into the EP. Merykid shedded the electronic stuff and captivated me with his vocals and mostly acoustic offering “The Bird,” which is where my attention was first captured. Thankfully as you dove forward into the EP a similar style to that of “The Bird” was the focus of the songs like the amazing “Clean Freak! Ghost!,” and the banjo driven album closer “If She Only Knew/Addicted.” Though he isn’t afraid to wear his influence of Radiohead out on his sleeve as he showcases on “Goodbye Moon,” for the most part this is an acoustic driven singer/songwriter album chalked full of great melodies and outstanding vocals and lyrics. Merykid didn’t rub me the right way at the get go, but ended up coming through and delivering everything I like in an EP. I look forward to hearing more from this artist as he has proven that less is more. By sticking to subtle acoustic instrumentation for the most part, he allowed his vocals and lyrics to come to the forefront and take center stage, which coincidently are his strong points. | |
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MIDDLE CLASS RUT 25 Years Bright Antenna |
| With so many bands filtering into the rock scenes nowadays here in the states it is amazing to me that a band has to leave the US to find success in the UK, but that is exactly what Middle Class Rut did. Now, after finding a great amount of success abroad the boys are ready to bring it home and are giving folks a chance to preview their music through their brand new, 6-song EP 25 Years. The band, made up of only 2 guys creates a very raw sound because of it. By pulling together influences from multiple genres they have created a sound that is familiar but just as much unique to them as well. I can understand the comparisons to bands like Jane’s Addiction or At The Drive In, but that doesn’t really satisfy what you get when you hit play completely. Call it noise, call it music, call it whatever you want to really, the bottom line is that this is Middle Class Rut. This EP does everything that an EP is supposed to do. It introduces you to the band and their music, has generated an incredible amount of buzz for them already, and in the end and probably the most important thing is that it has people excited about the forthcoming full-length release that they are currently working on. The rock scene is full of bands that overproduce material to give it a raw sound, Middle Class Rut just does what they do and get that same sound by being who they are. This band is real, they are raw, and they are a band to keep an eye on. | |
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MIRROR Self-Titled Self-Released |
| After spending time as a member of Slow and Copyright, Thomas Anselmi delivered a new project to fans via a live show at The New Forms Festival. That new project/band was Mirror, a multi-media live production that is surely going to capture people’s attention with their live shows but how do those ideas transfer to album? Anselmi has delivered a very solid blend of electro-pop with perfect vocals making for an easy listen. Collaborative efforts with members of Depeche Mode, David Bowie’s band, etc… have all helped to add depth to the ideas and bring them to life on the album. Anselmi himself only takes the leads on two of the albums 9 tracks, allowing for a vast range of voices to come from your speakers adding a variety of elements to the songs that wouldn’t otherwise be there. Frances Lawson lends her 12-year old voice to “World of Darkness,” Laure-Elaine to “City Lights,” but pound for pound it is a familiar voice that is going to grab your attention from the get go. The minute you hit play, Anselmi introduces you to the album with “Nostalgia,” a piano based balled featuring Dave Gahan of Depche Mode breathing life into the album from the start. This is a project, meant to showcase a variety of multi-media with their live show, but where most artists that set out to do this fail, Thomas Anselmi and Mirror succeed. This album stands on its own two feet without being too artsy and left of the dial for the mainstream fans, but at the same time artsy enough to attract a wide spectrum of listeners to it. | |
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MISS DERRINGER Winter Hill Nickel and Dime Records/Triple X |
| In the same trend as with fashion, there are styles of music that fade in and fade out, but eventually find their way to re-emerge to the public’s ear. However, it is rare that in one album and with one band you can get the re-emergence of styles the way that Miss Derringer has with Winter Hill. Blending 70’s era punk rock with 80’s era new wave, and a healthy dash of the girl pop sounds of the 60’s you have one band covering three decades of music within’ one modern style. The sounds of the stand-up bass thumping pulls you into the album as “Click Click Bang Bang” kicks things off and quickly introduces you to the 60’s meets new wave sounds Miss Derringer brings to the table that easily will earn comparisons to the likes of Blondie. As you press forward songs like “Bulletproof Heart” will have you clapping and moving along with the drums and guitar riffs, while cuts like “Black Tears,” “Drop Shot Dead” and “Don’t Leave Me Now” beg to be compared to the mid-60’s Motown sounds. I hate to say that this is a concept album because that term usually signifies that the music is bland and boring, but this neither of those. The overall theme surrounds the Winter Hill gang of the 60’s, but it is only based loosely on it. I am a sucker for anything that takes an influence from the 60’s era of rock-n-roll and delivers on it the way that Miss Derringer has with this album. This is a definite must spin album for you fans that miss those good pop sounds with modern twists and turns mixed in occasionally giving it an edge. | |
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MISS MURGATROID & PETRA HADEN Hearts and Daggers File: Under Music |
| It has been a couple years and a tragic story with a happy ending since Miss Murgatroid & Petra Haden were met with critical acclaim on their album "Bella Neurox." The tragic story involves Petra, who was involved in a car accident in 2000 that left her in a coma with multiple injuries thus forcing her out of the business. With the help of the music community enough money was raised to get her the medical help she needed and she continued to push herself through the tragedy eventually leading us to where we are today; Their long awaited follow-up album "Hearts and Daggers." Like most things that turn out great, this was worth the wait. The haunting violins capture your attention pretty quickly into the album on tracks like "Hummingbird," while it is the accordion taking center stage on "Fade Away" and "Sleeper." By pulling together violin and accordion the way that they are able to do throughout this album they offer a unique sound to listeners that is very solid and both instruments, as surprising as this may sound, work together perfectly to offer at times a haunting sound, but more often than not a medieval sound that could easily accompany countless films out there. The vocals are pretty much there just humming along with the instrumentation and while they are beautiful and aid to the haunting feel of the music, they aren't really the focus of any of these songs. There isn't any way that you can categorize their style as it stands out on it's own, but it is solid, unique, and mostly musical based without too much over bearing vocal presentation. If this sounds like something you'd dig then this is a perfect album to check out. | |
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ERIK MONGRAIN Equilibrium Prophase Music |
| The guitar in general is a pretty amazing instrument when played the right way, but for my personal tastes, it is an acoustic guitar that adds a more personal element to a song more so than electric. Canadian native and one of YouTube's most watched artists, Erik Mongrain is full of talent on his latest offering, "Equilibrium," he offers listeners 9 acoustic offerings that are full of great riffs, all which offer something a little unique from one song to another, but he is smart enough to keep the chord progressions simple so that he easily embraces the listener and pulls them into his world. As you can imagine, a majority of this album is on the slower paced side being acoustic, but at times he does show some spunk in the strings as he drives through tracks like album opener "A Ripple Effect," and later on in the album on "Raindigger." Mongrain offers a personal touch in the liner notes as he explains the place that each song was born from, however without lyrics on any of these songs, this album tends to lean away from the typical mainstream fan. While it is a very solid effort, there is only so much guitar that one can take. I dig this album for a spin or two because there is absolutely no denying Erik's ability to craft a song with just his acoustic guitar, but I really would like to hear vocals with some of this. | |
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THE MOORE BROTHERS Aptos American Dust |
| When you start to explore music and all of the genres that blend together these days it is really hard to find something exciting, but from time to time someone comes along and absolutely floors you upon first listen. For me it was the new album, “Aptos,” from The Moore Brothers that absolutely blew me away. This is their fifth album and I can’t believe I just found these guys. I am a sucker for all things 60’s from vocal groups like The Beach Boys to the British Invasion Era, to the later 60’s that saw a folk explosion with the likes of Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel, the latter of which The Moore Brothers remind me a whole lot of. This album combines rich harmonies, simple guitars that grab your attention in that they accompany the lyrics perfectly without overpowering them, not to mention the great lyrics spread throughout the album. Slower paced songs like title track “Aptos” and “You, Me, and Razor Dan” will take you back to the more hippie, folk driven era, while the more driving and up-tempo songs like “Obviously” and “Henry Alexander” will remind you of the later Beatles work around the “Get Back” era. I really hate when bands say that they are influenced by an artist that I love and then try expanding on the sound and it ends up sounding nothing like the artist they said influenced them. That is not the case at all with this album. They bring a 60’s rock and folk sound to the forefront without expanding on it at all and will have you believing that you stepped back in time. | |
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MAX MORGAN Interrupting The Silence Chime Entertainment |
| Sometimes you have to dig far and wide to find exactly what you want in an artist. Max Morgan is that artist. Hailing from Liverpool, England, Morgan made his way from place to place eventually landing in Orange County and combining influences from the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, and U2, to put together a very solid, pop, inspired album. The melodies will capture you from the opening notes of the album as you are tossed into Morgan’s world with “Loneliest Man In The World,” and you can’t help but compare the harmonies to the famous band from his hometown as he sings a late 60’s, Beatles style, a trend that continues to pop up throughout the album. The pop rock side of the album is upbeat and will get you moving and singing right along as is best displayed on tracks like “Sold Out To The Scene,” the rock driven, “Suffer,” and groovy bass line heavy, “Feel (Whoever You Are).” However, as solid as Morgan’s upbeat, pop driven material is, he doesn’t shy away from cutting one heck of a ballad. Armed with only his piano, he let’s his vocals and heartfelt lyrics take center stage as you dive into current single “Wait For Me,” while later in the album he continues to display this vocal style on tracks like “Trouble,” as his vocal takes center stage throughout the verses and drives into the chorus with relative ease. I love music like this for the simple fact of it doesn’t follow any one particular trend or influence but finds a way to pull everything together to create a solid album from song to song making for an album that has only potential singles and no filler. | |
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MOTORIK Motorik Self-Released |
| With a rich history of bands on their resumes already, the three artists that make up the band Motorik have brought together a variety of influences to introduce listeners to a post-punk sound that is familiar in some ways and ever so different in others. The female vocals provided by Sio drag you into these songs with a Sleater Kinney meets PJ Harvey blend that has enough punk attitude and spirit behind them, but has a certain element of shyness mixed into the punch she provides. Musically, the drums and guitars are more or less accompanying the vocals throughout the tracks that make up "Klang!" by being subtle and not really too driving or overbearing into the choruses with the exceptions coming on tracks like "Utopia Parkway" and "Hands Tied". However, it is the bass lines that are also provided by Sio that help to deliver the punch that the songs would have otherwise been missing. Each song seems to lead with the bass line and thumps you right through the vocals and acts as the aspect of this album that will get you moving. The post-punk scene has always been a genre with a lot of variety to offer the average listener as it was a spot where bands could go and be left of the mainstream dial yet somehow break through the way artists like The Cure or Killing Joke did and in the process attract a huge following and that is what I can see happening for a band like Motorik. | |
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MOTHER MOTHER Oh My Heart Last Gang Records |
| Vancouver's Mother Mother raised some eyebrows with the critics when their debut album came out, so with their follow-up album, "O My Heart," set for release this fall my interest was peaked although I had never heard their music, I only heard of the band. Unfortunately it only took a couple minutes for my interest to turn as this is totally not my thing. I am a simple guy. I like simple lyrics that get right to the point, simple guitars, and simple, understandable vocals… there really isn't too much of that here. The three vocalists harmonize a lot, often times making the vocals get lost and buried into the mix. Lyrically, they are poetic which means they leave you trying to figure out just what they are trying to say at times. Guitars, well okay these are a little bit simpler and through it all stand out best the best part of the album. Mother Mother is just one of those bands that tries to be more than they are. If they spent less time going for complexity in their songs and lyrics, and focus on their pop sensibility a bit more, then they could be a great band but they chose to go the complex route and driving me away from really digging this band at all. | |
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MOTHER TRUCKERS Let's All Go To Bed Funzalo Records |
| So just how stupid can the country music industry be? Well let me tell ya. They are so set in their ways and let the same 5, ego driven songwriters, write just about every song you hear on mainstream country radio, and turn their cheek to an original, hard rocking, country band like the Mother Truckers and dub them as alt. Country. With that being said, I will take Austin's music scene over Nashville's any day when they have bands like The Mother Truckers as a part of it. On their latest release, "Let's All Go To Bed," the Mother Truckers bring their brand of outlaw country fused together with a rockin', Rolling Stones tinged Blues style (see "Streets of Atlanta), and have put together one hell of an album. Right from the opening notes of "Dynamite" this album explodes with a rockin' brand of country, complete with walking bass lines, and sing-a-long choruses, that will no doubt have you bopping right along. The vocals provided by both Josh Zee and Teal Collins are excellent. Teals' gritty, raw delivery masked by a sweet exterior is enough to draw comparisons to the likes of Gretchen Wilson, while Zee's outstanding backing vocals help to fill in their overall sound. Call the Mother Truckers what you want to. Roots Rock, Alt. Country, etc… I believe that this is what country music today oughta sound like and if you like your country rocking as much as I do then this is a must have album for you. | |
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MOTLEY CRUE Saints of Los Angeles Motley Records |
| There are some bands from my youth that put out bad album after bad album, and go on reality TV shows in an effort to recapture the spirit of what they once had going for them. Then there are the leaders of the Los Angeles sleaze rock scene. This album is the first album with the original Motley Crue lineup in over a decade and I want to be one of the first to say welcome back. The thing that I love about Motley Crue and more importantly "Saints of Los Angeles" is that these guys aren't trying to recapture the glory and fame they had in the Dr. Feelgood era, but rather they understand that times have changed, not to mention the hard rock genre of music, and their return isn't something out of the past full of nostalgia, but rather a glimpse into the present hard rock scene and they pull it off with the best of them. From the great guitar licks, pounding drums, and Vince Neil's surprisingly, outstanding vocals throughout this album, hard rock music fans will be pleasantly surprised. This is a personal album, based around the highly successful biography, "The Dirt" and perfectly exploits the Crue's history and let's you live it with them. As long as you aren't going into this album looking for the past, then you will not find anything to complain about here. This is a solid album full of today's style of hard rock music from a band that knows how to do it. | |
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ALISON MOYET The Turn W14 Music |
| Alison Moyet's latest release The Turn was the most terrible thing I have ever heard in my life. I'm trying to think of something good to say about the CD and nothing at all come to mind except she sings like Morissey, which is a compliment, but her music sounds like a terrible generic version of The Smiths. I have never listened to a cd that was so bad that it left me speechless.... until I listened to this CD. That's enough said. This is 1/2 out of 5 and I'm being generous with that 1/2! (Nick Zamfoti) | |
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JENNI MULDAUR Dearest Darlin' Dandelion Music |
| With music becoming watered down with over saturation in a lot of genres these days, it takes a great vocalist with solid ideas being brought to life through recordings to really put together something that is unique and different, but yet just so good that you can’t get enough of it. Jenni Muldaur has done this with her latest effort “Dearest Darlin’.” Her big band jazzy era style is evident the minute that you hit play and the horns and excellent vocals bring you into the album with “I’ve Got A Feelin’” and I’m willing to bet that if you look down at your feet you will already find that they are moving along. This same trend continues throughout the album, but she does show a more funky side to it midway through with tracks like “Blame It On The World” and the title track, “Dearest Darlin’.” However, being as though I am originally from Chicago I am a sucker for some good rockin’ blues and Jenni includes that here as well. Not that Muddy Waters, feel so all alone stuff, but rather the jumpy Blues Brothers styled stuff as you clearly see early on in the album with tracks like “You’re Breaking Me Up” and “Just Ain’t No Love” and later in the album on “There’s Another Place That I Can’t Go,” all which no doubt have John Belushi smiling down upon this album as he dances across that big stage in the sky. After building a fan base on the road with the likes of Lou Reed and David Byrne, Jenni Muldaur has continued to impress with this album. It is different than the norm that is out there now in that it takes a look back on a familiar style that’s already been done and brings it up to the modern era never allowing it to lose it’s original charm. | |
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MUSHROOMHEAD Volume 2 DVD Filthy Hands/Megaforce Records |
| Back in 1993 when the decision to start a side project called Mushroomhead came together for the seven musicians from Cleveland I'm not so sure that they even expected to create the buzz they have been able to create over the years. With a great album in 2006's "Savior Sorrow," Mushroomhead set out on the road with their over the top theatrical live show complete with masks, makeup, and overall a pretty unique live experience to say the least with their brand of hardcore, metal, and alternative inspired music being the focal point of the shows. Ever wonder what this band is all about behind the makeup? Behind the masks? With their follow-up album not due out until 2009, their new DVD, simply titled Volume 2, is a perfect fix in between albums to give you your fix of Mushroomhead and get you revved up for their upcoming tour this winter. This DVD takes you behind the scenes, backstage, and with the added audio commentary you get a glimpse into who these guys truly are. The live footage captured here takes you to the front row of one of their shows and for long time fans you know what to expect, but for you newcomers be prepared; Their show is unlike anything you have ever seen before and this DVD gives you a good look at what to expect. I love this band and have since I heard "Savior Sorrow," and this DVD is a perfect companion to any collection that includes the modern brand of hardcore metal and a must have for the Mushroomhead faithful. | |
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MUZZY The Boathouse Sessions EP FOF Records/EMI |
| Muzzy is not your typical band by any stretch of the imagination and this EP shows you exactly why. Recorded at their boathouse rehearsal studio, with Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano manning the helms at the production board, Muzzy has brought something to the table that I honestly never expected. You are tossed into the EP with "Mindframe," which begs to be compared to the psychedelic era Beatles complete with harmonies and big vocals that capture your attention the way that the Beatles did on their later albums. From here you get the thumping "Cold," that will have you bouncing back and forth with the country-esque vibe throughout the verses while the choruses soar and offer a rock driven pop sound making for a unique combination of two styles within on song. The pop trend shows up throughout the album but is most evident on "Pickle," a song which is crafted in such a way that you can't seem to sit still while listening to it. By this point you will be hooked on what Muzzy is bringing to the table and they will have sucked you into their world as you dive forward with the EP that rounds out with the incredible "Carla," which is easily comparable to a the 70's soul style throughout the verses while the driving chorus blends in a sound of modern bands like The Ben Folds Five or Weezer. This is an EP that truly has me excited about what's to come in 2009 from their full-length album. There isn't much out there like this, and although you can find bands to compare portions of songs to, they truly find a unique blend of sounds thus creating something different than everyone else while still sounding familiar enough to capture your attention. | |
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MV +EE Drone Trailer Step 12 |
| Matt Valentine and Erika Elder are well respected beyond their projects together, however when they come together to form MV + EE, something a little magical seems to happen and "Drone Trailer" is the end result of this magic. You are brought into the 6-track EP with a shredding guitar that is as raw and rugged as it is perfect and blistering, but it is Erika's vocal chiming in over the rowdy guitars that make this song instantly catch your attention as she displays a simple delivery that brings me back to the days of bands like L7. Her vocals continue to be the selling point throughout this EP as she displays later on the EP with the title track. She just has a certain quality about her voice that makes you instantly fall in love with it. As for Matt's contributions to the album; he tends to take more risks and walk a little bit more of an obscure line with his song choices. They tend to be slower paced, not quite as rocking, and a little bit more obscure, not to mention that they stretch past the 6 minute mark on every song of his. However, the musicianship that he brings to the songs throughout the EP offers a glimpse into his talent and although he makes interesting musical choices that aren't of the norm he somehow pulls them all together to create something cohesive and easy to listen to. So, with that being said, Erika and Matt put together their best parts to create some really solid songs for this EP, and it is really just a matter of taste as to which songs you will like, but is one to check out. | |
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MXPX On The Cover II Tooth and Nail |
| Fifteen years after their first cover record, MXPX is back with “On The Cover II,” a collection on 80’s covers, a celebration of the songs that they grew up listening to, and their seventeenth anniversary as a band. MXPX has always had a knack for doing a cover song and this collection continues to display their remarkable talent when it comes to breathing new life into classic songs. Included on the collection is their takes on punk rock favorites like The Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl,” The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” The Descendent’s “Suburban Home,” and more. However, if you are like me you’d kind of expect a punk band to knock these out of the park, but how bout when they go outside of their own genre and grab songs like Poison’s smash hit “Fallen Angel” or The Proclaimer’s “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles?” They take not only punk rock songs, but spread out through rock and pop genres to bring their own style to these songs and will instantly have you singing along. As a bonus the album features guest appearances from Flogging Molly’s Matt Hensley, Agent M of Tsunami Bomb Fame, as well as members of Chidos, Relient K, The Rocket Summer, and The legendary Descendants. MXPX began stamping down their own music careers with their “On The Cover” album and what better place to start the second part of an already arguably career than the way it took of. This is a must have for any fan of MXPX and for anyone that likes upbeat, fun takes on familiar songs that you can sing along with the very first time that you hit play. | |