Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
Your Backstage Pass To The Music Industry
 |
Latest Updates
|
 |
 |
|
 |
VANDAVEER Divide and Conquer Supply and Demand |
| With the evolving landscape of music it is always inevitable that a particular style or two that has come and gone will be revisited. Vandaveer, a project created by Mark Charles Heidinger, put together a blend of singer/songwriter folk music that was moody yet poppy, dark yet hopeful, and instantly took you back in a time a bit to an era where a good song was all that mattered with their 2007 debut Grace and Speed. Now they have returned with their sophomore effort Divide and Conquer and where most artists fail, Vandaveer succeeds. Heidinger does what he does and he does it well so while he has evolved as a songwriter and artist he hasn't gone too far away from what you heard with his debut. He keeps everything in tact that you loved about him the first time around on this album. The haunting vocals of Heidinger when combined with backups from Rose Guerin leaves you with chills on songs like moody "Fistful of Swoon," while songs like "Resurrection Mary" and "Before The Great War" lean heavy on the pop and have you moving along with a happier sound. Though this isn't something the mainstream is going to touch that doesn't dismiss the fact that this is a solid album with a whole lot of charm behind it. There is a perfect balance between happy and poppy and dark and moody that combines with a lo-fi style of recording helping to enhance the variety of song style being presented while the solid songwriting and vocals satisfy the mood of the lyric and will keep you listening. (JK) | |
 |
SHARON VAN ETTEN Because I Was In Love Language of Stone/Heron Recordings |
| The singer/songwriter genre is probably one of my favorite genres out there because you never really know what you will get as it seems that there are no real rules to the genre. You may get a mainstream pop driven style, or a couple of great musicians playing 10-minute guitar riffs, or you might just find a stripped down style with a singer backed mostly by their trusty acoustic guitar. The latter category is where Sharon Van Etten falls into. This Brooklyn based singer/songwriter has unleashed her debut album "Because I Was In Love" and has brought with it a sense of vulnerability and rawness. "I Wish I Knew" brings you into the album and instantly you'll notice that the production isn't crisp and polished full of slick produced sounds, which adds a certain degree of charm to the album making this a gem that focuses on what is really important within the music. By using just a very simple acoustic guitar Van Etten allows her voice to take center stage and carry the majority of the songs on this album. Cuts like "Have You Seen," "Keep," and "Holding Out" all continue on this same path. It was a conscious decision on Van Etten's part to keep this simple as far as the instrumentation went with this album and it was the perfect decision. "Because I Was In Love" is for all of you folk music fans out there that like your music with a coffee shop feel blended into it. | |
 |
VARIOUS ARTISTS Women In Music Just Cool Sounds |
| Compilations are a dime a dozen. Turn on your TV and you will find any number of infomercials for a Time Life collection, or perhaps you own one that a label has put out showcasing their acts, or even a magazine's that highlight the acts they reviewed in that issue. But some come a long that have a unique concept and were put together in a cool way that allows it to stand out on its own like this one does. The only ways to be a part of the Women In Music compilation was to submit your music via sonicbids for consideration and of course, be a woman artist. After sifting through over 240 entries it was finally leveled down to the 16 that became a part of this compilation. The artists come from every way a compass faces including places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Maryland, Nashville, Chicago, and more. But this also crosses overseas twice when the UK and Australia are represented as well. So what can you expect from the music? There is a little bit of everything on here. You get the singer/songwriter style from the likes of Amy Courts and The Jennifer Jennings Band who open the album open, you get pop from Lucia, pop with a few dance beats thrown in from RAEN, alternative rock, country, folk, and acoustic as well. The eclectic mix of music, with the ear catching aspect that al of the performers on this collection are female makes this a unique compilation worth giving a spin to. Everything else aside, the most important aspect is that you have the chance to be introduced to some great new music with this compilation from some of the talented unsigned acts that you may not otherwise hear. Definitely worth a spin! Check out what others have been saying about this compilation at http://supergroup.netfirms.com/jcsi.htm(JK) | |
 |
VEGA UNDER FIRE Life Of The Party Self-Released |
| With a wide variety of indie rock bands breaking through to the mainstream these days such as the Plain White T's, Motion City Soundtrack, etc… a band like Vega Under Fire has an outstanding chance of breaking through and attracting one heck of a following if their latest EP "Life of the Party" is any indication. Kicking off with the dancy, up tempo, "Fabricated Air," you will instantly find yourself tapping along, and as "Cue The Fight Song" starts up, you can't help but pump a fist in the air as the gang styled vocals and a single drum beat brings you into the song. It's safe to say that at this point I was sold on this band and as I continued to dive into the EP I fell more in love with them. This is a band that is doing everything right. Great guitar work that makes you move, amazing vocals that make you want to sing along, and most importantly, they just don't overdo it like so many other bands do these days. Vega Under Fire keeps things simple and that's exactly why it is good. I hope this band continues to put out music like this and doesn't try to get more creative in the future. Music that makes you move equal good music, and this is good. I can't wait to hear more from these guys in the future. | |
 |
VEGAS WITH RANDOLPH Self-Titled Caged Giant Records |
| Anyone that knows me personally or really reads this magazine knows that I can spend hours upon hours talking about the great pop branded rock music of the 60’s. I have loved how it has evolved over the years and expanded into what is now being considered “power pop,” but the 60’s influence seems to always be in tact with the bands that fill that description. Vegas With Randolph is one of those bands and their self-titled debut album has quickly become a favorite for me after just one listen. It’s pretty easy to see why they have been compared to the likes of Fastball as soon as this album kicks in with “Be The One,” a song that features a groovy bass line that gets you moving and a rhythm that has you clapping along as the chorus showcases the great harmonies. Good news… this is the trend that continues pouring out from your speakers as you dive through this album. If you love the first song you hear then you will love songs like “Happy,” “Lifting Your Burden,” and “When,” the latter which features some outstanding guitar work. They do know how to slow things down as well as they show on cuts like “The Same” and “Arizona Blue,” which showcases heavy use of piano as the accompanying instrument to the voice. As I said earlier, this has become a favorite album that I have added to my collection and if you are anything like me and like those modern bands that keep the 60’s influences alive and well then you will love this too. (JK) | |
 |
THE VERY BEST Warm Heart of Africa Green Owl/Warner Indpendent Group |
| One thing that the United States is known for is all of the culture you find in pockets of every city in any given state. Being as though I am originally from Chicago I had the chance to experience a lot of culture in the city and it bleeds over into restaurants, music, and so much more. The Very Best, the European production duo Radioclit and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya, have decided that now is the perfect time to unleash a collection of material that has a backbone in the African culture. Don't let that scare you as this isn't what you'd expect. Although the African culture is well represented with a series of songs that provide the listener with the chant like singing that the country is known for, there are also very solid songs that filter in dance beats and will have you smiling as you listen. Songs like the album's title track, "Warm Heart of Africa" which features an appearance by Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig instantly captures your attention and before you know it you will feel your foot beginning to tap along with the islandy based song that is sure to get that conga line going. The combination of songs and styles that will have you flocking to the dance floor like they show on electronic based tracks like "Kada Manja," as well as providing a positive look at the African culture is what makes this album a great listen. If you like to experience things that you normally wouldn't hear but still provide something worth listening to, then give this one a try. (JK) | |
 |
VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE Roll The Dice Financial Records |
| Growing up in the punk rock scene in the 90's I saw a huge 3rd wave of ska rise to prominence and then quickly fade away with the cream of the crop(Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug, Catch 22) sticking around and remaining a constant draw at countless venues. Is the music world for the next wave of ska? Who cares because here it comes in the form of Florida's Victims of Circumstance and their new album Roll The Dice. But don't cringe a the thought folks, this has a ton of layers and elements to it that make this ska based music stand out. There are your typical fun songs that make you "skank" like "Tiny Sleeves," "Jake" and one of the standouts from the album "Number One Hit Song" but as you peel through the album you also find a healthy variety of style and substance. There is some good old fashioned 90's style punk rock with cuts like the album opener "The Final Flight of D.B. Cooper," "4th Branch," and "On My Way." You will also find some very dub heavy, reggae style for good measure as they show with songs like "Had Enough" and "5th Column," both which are sure to satisfy all of those Sublime fans out there that miss this type of music. Though ska faded away a bit, it certainly left its mark on a generation and with the release of Roll The Dice, Victims of Circumstance are ready to leave their mark on a whole new crop of kids. With so much music driven by darkness and emotional lyrics this is a breath of fresh air and hopefully a start to fixing what's wrong with so much music out there today. (JK) | |
 |
VIGIL, JASON Sometimes Always Self-Released |
| After Jason Vigil's 2006 release "Heart Gone Sober," he took to the road, polished up his song writing, and is set to release his brand new EP, "Sometimes Always." Right from the opening notes of "Breaking Over You," you will quickly notice the change in his writing style as the overall sound takes on a bit more of an upbeat feel and will instantly remind you of the likes of Rob Thomas. This new approach to Vigil's writing continues to shine through as you dive forward into the EP on tracks like "Sometimes Always," where Vigil will quickly have you tapping along with his catchy, upbeat chorus, and "Hard To Be Away," where he passionatley delivers a lyric from his heart that shows the importance of that one special woman in his life. Lyrically he more than delivers on this album, but by wrapping them around a modern, adult alternative style he will surely gain a lot of attention and raise a lot of eyebrows within' the industry. Though Jason Vigil is not a newcomer by any strecth, this EP takes his music into a new and different direction and showcases just how far he has evolved as a writer over the past two years. More importantly than anything is the fact that this EP has me excited about the things to come from Vigil on his next full-length album and isn't that really a point of an EP. | |
 |
VIKING MOSES The Parts That Showed Epiphysis |
| Left of the mainstream dial bands and artists are a dime a dozen these days, but what really separates them from one another? Is it the obscurity of the songs, the ability to have a unique sound when so much sounds the same, the offbeat music and timing that is done on purpose to add uniqueness, etc…. For Viking Moses it is a little bit of all of that all rolled into one and their sophomore effort, "The Parts That Showed," walks a little more on the unconventional side then their previous effort due to it's concept album approach. Telling a story from front to back is a tough task, but toss into the mix a story about a part-time teenage prostitute and you are faced with a real challenge. For my personal tastes this is simply way too weird for my liking. The vocals are the focus of the songs, but the music is just too far left of the dial and half of the time it doesn't seem to make much sense in it's accompanying of the vocal melody thus it makes it hard to really even focus on the lyrics and the story. A very odd and obscure version of Dolly Parton's hit song "I Will Always Love You" appears on the album, but in it's oddness there is a sense of innocence to the lead vocals making this the stand out track from the album. For the most part this isn't too much for me, but as I have said time and time again in reviews like this one, if you want something that is really left of the dial and different than anything you've heard before, then this is for you. | |
 |
THE VON EHRICS Loaded Crustacean Records |
| There are a lot of bands that are doing different things to make themselves unique, but few are able to accomplish uniqueness and a listenable body of work the way that The Von Ehrics have with their latest release "Loaded." The Dallas, TX based band has brought together their vast range of influences and blended them perfectly on their third overall album. If it is loud and fast punk infused songs that you are looking for then look no further than "Loaded All Day" or "Buy Me A Drink," both which embrace their rawness, loud guitars, and bring an overall 1980's era pop-punk sound ala the Ramones and Dead Milkmen to the album. But these guys aren't all about playing loud, fast, punk rock either. With cuts like "Jimmy Blades," "Old Chunk of Coal," and "I'll Like Yours," you get to see the alt.country influences of guys like Steve Earle shine through as the guitars and drumming both have a boogie-woogie type feel to them at times while never shedding their edge. "Lost. Found.Free.," the albums closing track and the albums hidden track that follows, are the only times the boys slow things down a bit as the acoustic guitars take over allowing the vocals and lyric to be the main focus of the song. Overall, "Loaded" offers listeners a brand new set of anthems that will have them pumping a fist in the air at times while at other times have them dancing on a big dance floor at a saloon. The fusing of genres from punk rock to classic rock to country throughout the album combined with rawness and edginess help to maintain a degree of realism to this album and make it well worth a spin in an era when everything is overproduced to fit a mold. | |
 |
VOX JAGUARS Self-Titled EP Anodyne Records |
| While most high school kids these days are spinning whiny, emo albums, it is a safe bet that the kids in The Vox Jaguars dove into their older siblings record collection and pulled out the likes of the Talking Heads, The Stooges, and any other rock band that could be deemed alternative or punk back in the day and were heavily influenced by what they heard. The Santa Cruz quartet offers a new dynamic on an old idea and as an introduction to the band Anodyne Records has released their debut, 4-track EP, that includes the fan favorites "Swagger" and "Song For The Girl." The moment that "Swagger" begins to blast from your speakers you are quickly introduced to an edgy, new wave inspired rock sound complete with vocals that may leave something to be desired to some as they tend to have a nasally tone to them, but that is just part of the charm of this band as far as I am concerned. When they entered the studio with renowned producer, Ariel Rechtshaid, rather than trying to produce the band to a perfect tee, Rechtshaid instead was able to capture the band in a raw form and keep the charm of their live show in tact, which in my book is a great quality to have on an album. This EP is a great introduction to a young, new band, and if you are anything like me and like your music a bit more raw without so much studio polish to it, then you are going to love this and will want to check it out. | |