Archive for the ‘ Album Reviews ’ Category
I’ve been into music longer than there have been MP3s, which has left me with hundreds of compact discs gathering dust on a closet shelf. The time has come to clean them out – but which ones are worth keeping and which are best left to the Donation box? Let’s take ‘em one by one: Phobia The [ READ MORE ]
I figured out the other day that, on average, I listen to music 10 hours a day. Of this, a good 80% is new to me. While I do have favorites that I regularly revisit, I prefer the enjoyment of new stuff to sticking with the same. It’s a big musical world out there and [ READ MORE ]
I’ve been into music longer than there have been MP3s, which has left me with hundreds of compact discs gathering dust on a closet shelf. The time has come to clean them out – but which ones are worth keeping and which are best left to the Donation box? Let’s take ‘em one by one: Doubt Jesus [ READ MORE ]
Stir The Blood The Bravery Here we go with another new album from The Bravery, which means the professional critics are piling on so quick the reviews are as half-assed as they are negative. It’s hardly a surprise – this is an antagonistic band, intentionally so or not. There’s something in vocalist Sam Endicott’s delivery [ READ MORE ]
I’ve been into music longer than there have been MP3s, which has left me with hundreds of compact discs gathering dust on a closet shelf. The time has come to clean them out – but which ones are worth keeping and which are best left to the Donation box? Let’s take ‘em one [ READ MORE ]
Arrow Clare and the Reasons These days find many bands attempting styles of yesteryear but few sound like they actually belong there. With Arrow, their new full length release, Clare and the Reasons have crafted an album which sits naturally between Pet Sounds and the soundtrack for What’s New Pussycat. It’s best described as “lush,” [ READ MORE ]
Remind Me In 3 Days … By The Knux The Knux are what hip hop is supposed to sound like: literate, authentic, inventive, pushing a genre chasing yesterday’s hit back to being forward thinking. It’s audible adrenaline, made to be performed live on stage rather than endlessly overdubbed in a sterile studio. The tracks seem [ READ MORE ]
LISTENING Rings by Sean Bones I came into Rings skeptical of its staying power, a perception built over several failed attempts to educate myself on reggae. The lack of success in these endeavors leaves me unsophisticated enough to know if Sean Bones plays quality reggae or not. I do know I enjoy it. Genre conventions [ READ MORE ]
We Ate The Machine by Polysics At first I thought Polysics were from Mars. Then I realized, no, Mars is close enough that the average joe has a minimal understanding of it. Polysics are from a garage on Themisto, hidden behind Jupiter from our prying eyes and telescopes, under an alien flag of Devo album [ READ MORE ]
Saudades de Rock by Extreme I’m glad vocalist Gary Cherone is back with Extreme. While the Van Halen experiment was an interesting diversion, I think Cherone is at his best when paired with guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The contrast between the former’s showmanship and the latter’s musicianship is what elevates Extreme from a hair band casualty to a [ READ MORE ]