Reviews by Joe Wawrzyniak
 CATCH
WILD – Waking Up With Fire (www.catchwild.com)
Boy, does this band have one hell of a spot-on appropriate
name: Yep, their fiercely invigorated pop-rock music is indeed
both wild and catchy in comparable measure, with an amazing
headlong rush of pure surging energy and a potent grasp of
consummate musicianship both ensuring that this dynamic darling
delivers the rousing goods something sweet. Jessica Rose’s
throaty voice handles the lead vocals with considerable aplomb.
The rest of the group likewise score bull’s eyes with
a steady stirring succession of smooth poppin’ basslines,
firm-as-granite charging drums, and crunchy’n’punchy
guitar riffs. Better yet, the songwriting is smart and sincere,
with the bitter anger and regret of the rueful “Star”
rating as a definite highlight in this particular department.
A very promising and impressive debut album.
 WHITE
WIDOW – A Psychological Thriller (www.whitewidowmusic.com)
Indie rock singer/songwriter White Widow hit it right out
of the ballpark with her fourth album. Artfully combining
her sultry voice with vivid songwriting, a hypnotic and harmonic
sound, and a supremely mysterious mood, Widow takes the viewer
on a captivating sonic journey that’s really something
to hear. The lush arrangements are exquisitely filled out
by tinkling pianos, moody strings, and equally brooding cellos.
The swirling and whirling rhythmic push’n’pull
of the chugging tempos and steady beats provide an extra stirring
kick to the already tasty proceedings. Sheer intoxicating
pleasure from start to finish.
HILLBILLY VEGAS – Ringo Manor (www.hillbillyvegas.net)
Fuck yeah, y’all! It’s time to get down(home)
with your inner shit-kickin’, tobacco-chewin’,
moonshine-guzzlin’, mullet-sportin’ Bubba. First
off, you gotta create a tasty grindin’ slow drag funky
groove that digs deep and rips hard like a relentless jackhammer
with Southern-fried soul. Next, you must have mighty barnstormin’
beats and constant quick tempos that bulldoze over everything
in their crunchy path. Of course, fierce rippin’ guitars,
churnin’ basslines, and forward-ho pushin’ drums
sure don’t hurt matters any. The drawlin’ vocals
are the absolute bees’ knees as well. Moreover, these
guys toss in several more touching and thoughtful numbers
amid all the all-out rousin’ rockers for good measure.
So break bust open a jar of homemade brew and play this honey
loud, y’all!
 THE
SUCCESSFUL FAILURES – Here I Am! (www.thesuccessfulfailures.com)
Representing straight-up kick-ass indie pop rock’n’roll
at its most winningly bouncy and catchy, this album comes
through with a bright and cheery burst of pure sonic joy that’s
infectious and invigorating in equal measure. The robust vocals
project a feeling of tremendous uplifting bliss. The springy
basslines, constant charging drums, and tasty guitar riffs
are smack dead on the money zesty and stirring. Moreover,
the speedy tempos and jumpin’ beats rarely let up for
a minute. An immensely enjoyable treat.
THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS – Coal Miners & Moonshiners
(www.thebeautifulsunsets.com)
Beautifully harmonic and brimming with a haunting feeling
of despair, this album makes for a profoundly moving listening
experience. The delicately dulcet vocals project a quiet,
yet still strong feeling of angst, sadness, and regret. The
equally fragile and pretty folksy melodies likewise further
capture and convey the overall melancholy mood with bracing
clarity and conviction. Moreover, the sharp lyrics vividly
present the bitter hard-scrabble lives of impoverished folks
who have to struggle in order to barely scrape by. A very
fine and touching little jewel.
 XNY
- Through the Wall (www.XNYmusic.com)
Delivering 8 tracks worth of tremendously vibrant, thrilling,
and scrappy indie rock, the dynamic Brooklyn, New York duo
of Pam Autuori and Jacob Schrieber do a real bang-up job with
their debut album. Autuori’s fierce wailing vocals possess
a winning blend of strength, anguish, and vulnerability. Schrieber’s
muscular and rhythmic drumming perfectly complements Autuori’s
go-for-the-throat untamed singing. The concise say-it-like-you-see-it
songwriting likewise hits the pleasingly straightforward spot.
Best of all, there’s a delicious rawness and simplicity
to the music which in turn gives it an extra ragged and exciting
distinctiveness. Damn excellent stuff.
MOCK SUNS – Here Not There (www.mocksuns.com)
Languid and hypnotic, with a sumptuously serene and soothing
kind of laid-back droning’n’dreamy jazzy psych-rock
sound, this debut album from a Philadelphia three piece
immediately wins the listener owner on the basis of its
sheer uniqueness and originality alone. The gradual tempos
and relaxed beats merge together to create a pleasingly
mellow vibe. The smooth vocals and rich arrangements likewise
hit the yummy sonic spot. Moreover, there are nifty sudden
shifts in the mercurial and melodic music that give everything
an additional tasty, surprising, and even occasionally rousing
buzz. A really solid and worthwhile album.
 THE
CORNER LAUGHERS – Poppy Seeds (www.cornerlaughers.com)
Wonderfully bubbly, chipper, and catchy, this album represents
sweet sunshiney indie pop at its most delightful and infectious.
The merry vocal harmonies project a freshness and positive
attitude without every seeming too cloying or cutesy. The
bouncy arrangements are robustly filled out by shimmering
keyboards, pretty violins and woodwinds, and even some especially
tasty ukulele licks. The speedy tempos and happy hoppin’
beats keep things bright, cheery, and energetic throughout.
A gloriously giddy and uplifting ray of sheer sonic bliss.
 MATT
CRANSTOUN – The Last Drop of Color (www.mattcranstoun.com)
Brooklyn, New York City-based singer/songwriter Matt Cranstoun
offers a tasty, tuneful, and thrilling blend of folk, soul,
rock, and gospel on his sophomore album. Cranstoun’s
lively and passionate vocals soar straight over an equally
snappy sonic onslaught of ringing guitars, smooth basslines,
and sturdy drums. The swift tempos and jumpy beats keep
things hoppin’ throughout. Moreover, there’s
a potent yearning for contentment and a basic desire to
persevere through life’s constant hardships that in
turn gives this album considerable extra impact and poignancy
(“To Be Happy” in particular is quite touching).
The songs neatly alternate between full-on rousing rockers
and more groovy-chillin’ funky items. Cranstoun’s
sharp and reflective songwriting provides the yummy icing
on an already delicious cake. A total winner.
 WOODEN
WAND – The Briarwood Demos (www.woodenwand.org)
Offering eight delectably spare and stripped down demo
recordings of eight songs that were later re-recorded for
an album, this CD has an exquisitely fragile intimacy and
immediacy to it that’s affecting and endearing in
equal measure. James Jackson Toth’s amiable Southern
twang sings the rueful and reflective lyrics in a soft and
soothing manner. The acoustic arrangements are pretty basic
and to the point, consisting mostly of a gently strummed
guitar. The songs themselves have a pleasingly bluesy quality
to them. A moving and delicate little jewel.
THROUGH THE SPARKS – Alamalibu (throughthesparksmusic.com)
Delivering five tasty track worth of scrumptiously vibrant
and tuneful pop-rock, this EP CD bounces along with a joy
and vitality that’s an absolute thrilling treat to
hear. The peppy vocals convey a winningly happy vibe. The
lively and harmonic arrangement also do the stirring trick,
with sweetly buzzing basslines, jumpin’ drums, and
snappy guitar riffs keeping the speedy tempos and sturdy
beats boppin’ throughout. Very enjoyable stuff.
 ALEC
BERLIN – Innocent Explanations (www.alecberlin.com)
Kicking off to a nicely bouncy start with the incredibly
catchy and infectious “I Don’t Want to Know,”
this album immediately wins over the listener with its tuneful
and energetic country-flavored pop-rock melodies, peppy
tempos, upbeat sensibility, lively vocals, and smart and
reflective songwriting. Berlin’s firm knack for dynamic
and harmonic arrangements along with his likably chipper
personality and fine ear for precise lyrics are all uniformly
on the money appealing and impressive. The songs neatly
alternate between thoughtful and touching slow burners and
more all-out exciting full-bore rockers (the rousing “Get
Dirty” in particular smokes like nobody’s goddamn
business). A real delight.
 THE
HOLLYHOCKS – Understories (www.thehollyhocks.com)
Artfully combining lovely female harmonies with a pleasant
and comforting melodic sound, this indie pop album goes
down smooth and easy. The twangy reverb guitars provide
an extra lift as the bubbly, yet intricate riffs weave in
and out like an exquisitely delicate sonic thread. The jaunty
tempos and bouncy beats keep things hoppin’ along
throughout. The dark lyrics nicely contrast with the folksy
music. However, it’s the pretty and soaring vocals
that impress the most and make the greatest uplifting impact.
A winningly warm and dreamy little jewel.
 ISLANDS
– A Sleep & A Forgetting (www.islandsareforever.com)
Representing pop music at its most mournful and moving,
this album effectively mines a fragile and regretful line
in heartbreak and melancholy. Fortunately, the serenely
harmonic music and the smartly introspective songwriting
ensure that the forlorn tone remains affecting and palatable
throughout. The tempos trudge along a gradual clip and the
subdued beats are likewise slow, yet steady. The stark arrangements
keep things simple and to the point, which jells well with
the nakedly open confessional nature of the lyrics. A lovely
and touching little beaut.
 HELLSONGS
– Long Live Lounge (www.hellsongs.com)
This Swedish “lounge metal” trio specialize
in doing sweet’n’soft indie pop covers of popular
hard rock songs by various famous legendary rough’n’tumble
bands like Iron Maiden, Motorhead, AC/DC, and Megadeth.
Think Nouvelle Vague meets Abba. Although that might sound
like sheer blasphemy on paper, fortunately this group has
the necessary musical chops to pull off the daunting task
of covering said songs in a manner that’s respectful
to the originals instead of insulting or degrading. The
female vocalists are quite pleasant and soothing. The exquisitely
lush orchestral arrangements are gorgeously well filled
out by sweeping violins, cellos, and French horns. Moreover,
the music is not only expectedly pretty and tuneful, but
also often very dynamic and exciting. This live album finds
the group in stellar form performing with the Gothenburg
Symphony Orchestra in their hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden,
with their infectiously bouncy rendition of Alice Cooper’s
“School’s Out” rating as a definite delightful
highlight. A hugely enjoyable and extremely beautiful little
pip.
 TULIPOMANIA
– The Whispering Campaign (www.tulipmania.com)
Supremely moody, but still compelling and melodic, this atmospheric
outing captivates the listener primarily on the basis of its
brooding intensity and potently rendered feeling of deep-seated
angst. The weepy vocals project a powerful sense of down-in-the-dumps
anguish. The taut arrangements are really hit the mesmerizing
sonic spot, with remorseless buzzsaw guitars, equally relentless
clip-clopping drums, fiercely zoned-out quivery keyboards,
and sturdy basslines swirling and whirling about to create
a sound that’s darkly harrowing, yet still utterly arresting.
The bleak lyrics further add to the overall tone of grim despair.
By no means a “fun” album, but an undeniably strong
and impressive one just the same.
 DIGGER
PHELPS – Falling Over Backwards (www.mainmanrecords.com)
This New Jersey group shakes and rattles it up somethin’
tasty on their sophomore album, which took a whopping ten
years (!) to record and release after their debut CD. Luckily,
this band jumps right back into the spirited sonic fray
with a verve and enthusiasm that’s both exciting and
engaging in equal measure. The vocals are robust and passionate,
the arrangements tight and tuneful, the playing strong and
proficient. The springy guitar riffs, bouncy drum beats,
and firm basslines maintain an infectiously toe-tappin’
vigor from start to finish. The smart and reflective songwriting
provides the yummy icing on an already delicious cake. A
real on the money album.
 ROOT
GLEN – Winter (www.rootglen.com)
Root Glen follow up their excellent EP Summer with another
on the money EP consisting of five beautifully melodic songs.
The pleasant vocals project a soothing and soulful vibe.
The tight arrangements go to town on the funky-grinding
drawn-out grooves with utmost tuneful dexterity. The gradual
tempos and subdued, yet steady beats keep things chugging
along at a satisfying kicked-back clip. Very good stuff.
 ORPHEUM
BELL – The Old Sisters’ Home (orpheumbell.bandcamp.com)
This the sort of album that reveals the slippery and untrustworthy
nature of labels. Calling this sensationally offbeat and
tuneful midnight cabaret sonic weirdness rock just doesn’t
cut it, for it’s too loopy and out-of-the-ordinary
for that one to stick. Pop certainly doesn’t fit because
the music isn’t catchy or accessible enough for that
label to ring true. Sublimely bizarre “screw it, do
it” experimental avant-garde lunacy? Yeah, that about
pegs it, although that’s far from an official classification.
But that nonsense really doesn’t matter in the long
run. What does matter is the fact that this folksy gypsy
group sounds like nothing else you’ve heard before;
it’s a wildly eclectic mix of insanely diverse musical
styles and genres that blends beautifully together to create
an idiosyncratic aural entity entirely unto itself. A superbly
unique pip.
 JACK
BRAG – Unbroken White (www.jackbrag.com)
Eschewing a conventional approach to music with something
much more fresh, creative, and different, this album embellishes
dynamic pop-rock with elegant orchestral flourishes such
as cellos and piano to create a distinctive sound that’s
both graceful and rousing in equal measure. The supremely
passionate and full-throated vocals soar straight to the
heavens and beyond. The rich, dense, and tasty arrangements
maintain a steady and tuneful keel throughout while the
snappy tempos and constant beats keep things hoppin’
and boppin’ along at a steady clip. Moreover, the
songwriting is likewise on the money terse and to the point,
thereby ensuring that this baby covers all the correct right-on
bases to qualify as a total winner.
 SALIM
NOURALLAH – Hit Parade (www.salimnourallah.com)
Dallas, Texas-based singer/songwriter Salim Nourallah merrily
celebrates the deliciously rich, harmonic, and eclectic
nature of pop-rock itself on this gloriously melodic and
energetic outing that deftly merges sparkling pop and more
rough’n’tumble rock’n’roll with
often exciting and always enjoyable results. Nourallah’s
cheery vocals and smartly concise songwriting make for a
strong and impressive double whammy. The speedy tempos and
lively beats keep things kickin’ throughout. Better
still, there’s an underlying warmth and humanity that
in turn gives this music an extra special sweet and affecting
charm. A total delight.
 LITTLE
HURRICANE – Homewrecker (www.littlehurricanemusic.com)
haking and rattling with an energy, urgency, and intensity
that’s a gloriously gritty marvel to hear, the lowdown
dirty blues rock duo of Tone and CC from San Diego, California
kick up plenty of tasty hard-diggin’ grooves and deliver
of fierce rippin’ licks on their tough-stompin’
debut album. The guitar riffs tear it up somethin’
savage while the drums pulverize everything in their relentless
lurching path. The anguished vocals likewise hit the galvanizing
spot. An excellent and impressive debut album.
 STARS
IN COMA – Midnight Puzzle (www.starsincoma.com)
Representing pop-rock at its most airy, eclectic, and intoxicating,
this latest album from a Swedish indie group fronted by
singer/songwriter Andre Brorsson bounces and bubbles along
with a deliciously dreamy aplomb. Brorsson’s pleasant
voice mixes well with the basic frothy sound, snappy arrangements,
and overall easygoing head-in-the-clouds sparkling and upbeat
sensibility that’s tinged with just enough regret
and melancholy to prevent things from becoming too sappy.
Elements of R&B, disco, folk, and even dance music can
be savored in the insanely swirling and varied potpourri
of musical styles evident throughout; it’s this rich
diversity which in turn makes this album such an immensely
enjoyable and exciting listening experience. A real treat.
 MARC
BERGER – Ride (www.marcbergermusic.com)
Singer/songwriter Marc Berger offers a flavorsome and illuminating
exploration of the fabled American West on this supremely
tuneful and colorful album. Berger’s raspy, yet still
warm voice projects a certain raggedy charm while his songwriting
possesses a clarity and vividness that’s both intriguing
and engaging. The gradual tempos and laid-back beats mosey
along at a pleasingly relaxed clip. Moreover, Berger’s
stark and straightforward musical evocation of the American
West eschews cliché and sentiment in favor of an
admirably clear-eyed honesty and reflectivity. One can almost
taste the dust and feel the desolation of the wide open
prairies while listening to this exquisitely harmonic gem.
Accolades don’t come any better than that.
 KATRIN
– Frail to Fearless (www.KatrinMusic.com)
Boston, Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Katrin Roush
really hits it out of the splendidly soulful and tuneful
ballpark on her terrific fourth album. Blessed with a strong,
sultry voice, a firm grasp of harmony, and a spot-on knack
for smart and thoughtful songwriting, Katrin maintains a
winningly positive and resilient outlook on things while
weathering the storm of life’s numerous ups and downs
that include her humble beginnings as a busker (the superbly
vivid “Cobblestones”), the mercurial nature
of romantic relationships (the touching “Far Away”
and the lovely “Breeze”), and mankind’s
unfortunate tendency for constant conflict (the potent anti-war
tune “Blame”). Upbeat without being corny or
maudlin about it and worldly, yet not bitter or cynical,
Katrin’s optimistic persona and keen perspective give
this album a distinctive edge that’s appealing and
engrossing in equal measure. Moreover, the crisp arrangements
provide a very soothing and captivating sound that’s
impossible to resist or dislike. A marvelous album.
 GUY
CAPECELATRO III – North for the Winter (www.dromedary-records.com)
Guy Capecelatro III assembled 27 musician friends for this
remarkably diverse, expansive, and ambitious musical project.
Ably mining a finely moving line in bluesy regret and melancholy,
the 18 tracks contained herein are always tuneful and compelling,
with Capecetratro’s slight, yet effective tenor well
supported by the sturdy playing, tight no-frills arrangements,
and concise songwriting. The songs vary from terse and punchy
to more lengthy and lingering. The gradual tempos and subdued
beats give the music an appealingly laid-back quality. A lovely
and divinely melodic album.
 CUPPA
JOE – Tunnel Trees (dromedary-records.com)
The first album from this New Jersey group in over a decade,
this nicely moody item makes a strong and lasting impression
on the basis of its potently brooding atmosphere alone. The
soft and delicate, yet still effective and absorbing vocals
project a quietly touching feeling of forlorn regret. The
tuneful arrangements likewise possess a certain achingly tender
and fragile quality that’s both affecting and appealing
in equal measure. The thoughtful songwriting rates as another
significant plus as it ably mines a perfectly poignant line
in low-key melancholy. A very on the money moving album.
THE BICYCLE BOYS – The Little Guy Doesn’t
Stand a Chance (www.goodnightrecords.com)
Stripping rock down to its spare and short, yet still immensely
lively and infectious bare essentials, this group keep things
boppin’ and hoppin’ with a winning surplus of
sheer go-for-it enthusiasm and a refreshing dearth of needless
high-falutin’ pretense. The peppy songs shake, rattle,
and roll to a very nifty and enjoyable ramshackle beat. Meanwhile,
the speedy tempos plug along at a constant clip. The vocals
are likewise quite smooth and spirited while the arrangements
are suitably crisp and tuneful. Best of song, almost all of
the songs barely clock in at two minutes, thereby getting
straight to the point and never outstaying their welcome in
the slightest. Favorite song: The insanely groovy and dynamic
ditty “Grab the Snake.” A totally right’n’tight
winner.
 HOWLER
– America Give Up (www.howlerband.com)
Boasting songs with such classy titles as “Beach Sluts,”
“Wailing (Making Out),” and “Free Drunk,”
this album sure ain’t for sensitive souls. But if lovably
lowdown dirty’n’gritty straight-up no-bullshit
rattling rock’n’roll is your trashy bag, then
this honey will most definitely wet your whistle as a prime
slice of choice cool’n’fun good-time rock. Blending
a wickedly amusing sense of warped humor with proficient playing,
tight arrangements (the filthy diggin’ guitar riffs
and constant steamrolling drums are the total cat’s
pajamas), snappy tempos, catchy’n’bouncy melodies,
chunky bumpin’ beats, and gnarly slurred vocals, this
darling provides loads of pleasingly basic and unpretentious
enjoyment from start to finish.
 JAMES
DALTON – Live in Times Square (www.jamesdalton.bandcamp.com)
Offering up four tracks worth of highly eclectic and engaging
folksy blues, this sweet little EP makes for alternately relaxing
or invigorating listening. Dalton’s strong and booming
vocals project a certain laid-back charm while his guitar,
ukulele, and harmonica playing are quite sturdy and adroit.
Recorded in front of a live audience, the music contained
herein possesses a real intimacy and immediacy that’s
both exciting and appealing in equal measure. The first two
songs for the most part are very frothy while Dalton works
that lowdown grindin’ grit somethin’ fierce on
the fabulously hard-diggin’ “Dusty Old Goodbyes”
and “I Know Your Name is Karen Ma.” A real kick-ass
beaut.
ELIZABETH GRIMES – Silk in the City (www.elizabethgrimesmusic.com)
Mournful and reflective, done with great elegance and harmony,
singer/songwriter Elizabeth Grimes’ debut album impresses
not only on the strength of its exquisitely classy style and
delicate melodicism, but also on the basis of the touchingly
melancholy tone that’s well sustained throughout. Grimes’
sweet soulful voice and her smart and thoughtful songwriting
make for a potent double whammy. The arrangements are crisp
and tuneful, with especially tasty use of piano and banjo.
The gradual tempos and subdued beats further enhance the overall
soothing charm of this lovely jewel.
 DOUBLE-BREASTED
– Suit Yourself (www.doublebreastedmusic.com)
Turn down the lights. Relax in your favorite easy chair. And
pour yourself a nice tall glass of your favorite classy alcoholic
beverage, for it’s time to get mellow while listening
to a really fine and soothing serving of lovely jazzy lushness.
The locals are sonorous and captivating, the arrangements
crisp and tuneful, the gradual tempos and subdued beats keep
things pleasingly kicked-back throughout. Moreover, there’s
a smooth and elegant quality to this supremely jaunty and
harmonic music that gives it an extra appealing lift. A total
delight.
 HOWLIN
RAIN – The Russian Wilds (www.howlinrain.com)
Representing full-blooded straight up rock’n’roll
at its most gloriously big, bold, and ballsy, with protracted
bluesy jams aplenty, soaring vocals, and go-for-broke elaborate
arrangement vividly filled out by massive squealin’
guitar riffs, chugging basslines, and steamrolling enormous
drums with funky horns and heavenly organ ripples sprinkled
in as extra tasty sonic seasoning, this album impresses on
the basis of its staggeringly immensity alone. There’s
nothing small or slight about this group; these dudes go for
grandstanding mighty dramatics right from the start and milk
it with breathtaking assurance and adroitness to the end.
Better yet, this band can work a soul protracted groove like
nobody’s freakin’ business. Simply awesome stuff.
 JEFF
CAMPBELL – Stop and Go (www.jeffcampbellmusic.com)
Offering up eleven songs worth of pleasingly folksy pop, this
album hits the easygoing spot with its winning surplus of
fragile sonority and good-hearted sensitivity. Campbell’s
pleasant voice projects a strong feeling of warmth and caring
while his songwriting possesses a clarity and bittersweet
reflectivity that’s both affecting and appealing in
equal measure. Moreover, the gentle ebb and flow of the casually
chugging music casts a genuinely relaxing, yet still captivating
spell. Coming on with the careful force of a soft breeze on
a calm and sunny spring day, this beautiful jewel overall
sizes up as a welcome and refreshing listen.
 GREGG
YETI & THE BEST LIGHTS – The Harvest Brass Echo
(myspace.com/thegreggyeti)
Syracuse, New York indie folk rocker Gregg Yeti gathers up
a motley assortment of fellow musicians for this beautifully
brooding and harmonic album. Yeti’s sturdy grasp of
haunting and sharp, yet thoughtful lyrics are in great abundance
here along with a steady succession of lively bouncing beats
and energetic forward-ho tempos. The tuneful arrangements
likewise hit the sweetly sonorous spot, with the jaunty guitars,
peppy drums, and smooth basslines keeping things hoppin’
from start to finish. Best of all, there’s a positively
infectious feeling of pure joy and a musical inventiveness
bubbling forth throughout which in turn gives this album an
extra invigorating lift. An absolute delight.
 MIKE
KORMAN – Hoboken Rocks (www.MikeKorman.net)
Proud Hoboken, New Jersey native Mike Korman delivers fifteen
sturdy songs worth of straight-up moody, yet still absorbing
and rousing no-nonsense meat and potatoes rock’n’roll.
Opening with the striking title song, hitting a gnarly peak
with “She Can’t Be Found” and “Chicha
Girl,” and concluding with the nicely burning “Blue
Sky,” Korman goes heavy on the brooding and captivating
atmosphere while keeping things compelling with loads of
tasty buzzing guitar riffs, straightforward lyrics, and
tuneful arrangements. The sound is crisp and harmonic, with
a cool retro 50’s kind of basic quality, a pleasing
reflective sensibility, and a refreshing dearth of pretense.
A really nifty and enjoyable album.
 STRANGERS
PASS (www.strangerspass.com)
Offering up three tracks worth of pleasingly melodic pop-rock,
this group put the listener immediately at ease with their
nicely fluid, mellow, and relaxing sound. The vocals are
smooth and soothing, the arrangements tuneful and uncluttered,
the songwriting thoughtful and to the point. This is ideal
music to wrap your ears around when you’re in the
mood to just kick back and chill. Accolades don’t
come much better than that.
 THE
SCENE AESTHETIC – The Days Ahead (www.thesceneaesthetic.com)
Delivering seven tracks worth of pleasantly soothing and
harmonic countryish indie pop, this EP from a Seattle, Washington-based
duo projects a sweetly laid-back and good-hearted vibe that’s
both relaxing and engaging in equal measure. Andrew de Torres
and Eric Bowley handle the joint vocals with commendable
skill and aplomb. Moreover, their songwriting is smart and
concise, the arrangements are catchy and tuneful, and the
music possesses a warmth and humanity that’s a lovely
uplifting joy to hear. A real treat.
 DESERTSHORE
– Drawing of Threes (www.desertshoreband.com)
Draw the shades. Turn down the lights. Break upon a box
of tissues. And get ready to get a serious case of the sads
while listening to this mopey and mournful album. This isn’t
a bad thing. In fact, the reflective and delicately harmonic
music featured herein is quite moving in its low-key melancholy
tone thanks to the soothing vocals, careful and tuneful
arrangements, and the beautifully lulling ebb and flow of
the gradual tempos and subdued beats. A lovely and affecting
winner.
THE LOOSE HINGES (www.theloosehinges.com)
Chemistry is everything. Without it you get zilch. With it
you get something special, hypnotic, and utterly delightful.
The terrific musical duo of Eliot Houser and Kris McCarthy
have chemistry practically oozing out of each and every pour.
It’s so strong and palpable that it could float an entire
fleet of luxury cruise liners. McCarthy’s lush and captivating
vocals project a casually confidant vibe that’s both
enticing and enrapturing in equal measure. Houser’s
smoothly melodious arrangements provide an exquisitely dreamy
and soothing indie pop sound. This is perfect mid afternoon
cool music that goes over well with a glass of wine while
kicking back in an easy chair in your living room. But, most
importantly, this baby has got that sweet soulful chemistry
buzzing away like a fat lazy honeybee throughout – and
that’s exactly why this album overall rates as a totally
on the money little beaut.
 RAFTREE
– The Long Road (www.raftreeband.com)
Crank up your speakers. Tape down anything that might be breakable.
And prepare to shake your ass, baby, ‘cause what we
got here is one mighty thunderous slap of pure bone-crunching
hard-rock ferocity that kicks mighty savage ass and takes
no prisoners whatsoever. The dynamic full-throated vocals
soar and roar over an aggressively burning and churning aural
onslaught of shredding guitar riffs, seething basslines, and
relentless bulldozing drums. The chunky beats and pushing
tempos rarely let up for a minute. As an added plus, the lyrics
are quite smart and substantial. A great ragged holler of
an album.
 THE
RAVING KNAVES – Atom Age (www.facebook.com/pages/The-Raving-Knaves)
Break out your pogo sticks and get ready to happily hop all
over the room as this delightfully bouncy punk album chirps
away through ten infectiously energetic and exciting tracks.
The peppy vocals are robust and passionate, the playing tight
and snappy, the arrangements ripe to bursting with big rolling
drum beats, poppin’ basslines, and meaty ringing guitar
hooks. However, it’s the nonstop vitality and sheer
go-for-it enthusiasm of the group which make this frisky puppy
so much fun to listen to. 27 minutes of totally boppin’n’hoppin’
sonic bliss.
BEL AIR – "Fall" EP (www.belairband.com)
Humming and buzzing along with utmost melodic aplomb, this
four song EP CD makes for a very pleasant and enjoyable listen.
The vocals are robust and chipper, the arrangements bouncy
and catchy, the songwriting smart and thoughtful, the playing
crisp and proficient throughout. This is sweet and sparkling
sunshine pop done with tremendous skill and a certain endearingly
fragile charm. Best of all, the songs neatly alternate between
touching low-key ballads and more meaty hard rockin’
numbers. What’s not to like?
 CRIMSON
DELIGHT – Backyards of My Soul (http://www.crimsondelight.de)
Delivering 17 tracks worth of tremendously crunchy’n’punchy
pop-rock, this album from a South German indie alt-rock
band snaps and crackles with a joy and vivacity that’s
a real spirited treat to hear. Jutta Jasim’s cheerful
vocals blithely soar over an infectiously bubbly array of
bouncy guitar riffs, neatly percolating basslines, and forward-ho
kickin’ drums. The smart and concise songwriting likewise
hits the spot. The songs for the most part are pretty peppy
and upbeat affairs, with the occasional touching and reflective
low-key number tossed in for good measure. A huge enjoyable
album. z
 TOBY
GOODSHANK – Truth Jump Fall (www.myspace.com/tobygoodshank)
New York city-based singer/songwriter Toby Goodshank delivers
eight songs worth of thoughtful and moving introspection with
his latest engagingly laid-back and folksy album. Goodshank’s
mellow voice projects a very pleasant and soothing mellow
vibe while his sharp songwriting keeps things smart, succinct,
and on the level straightforward throughout. The harmonic
arrangements likewise hit the tuneful spot, with the tasty
strummin’ guitar riffs and the subdued, yet steady drums
rating as particular stand-outs. A very nice little album.
HAROLD’S LEAP – Too Much Time (www.haroldsleap.com)
Representing guitar-driven British indie rock at its most
crisp, harmonic, and captivating, this London, England four
piece outfit deftly blend lively’n’lovely melodies
with highly proficient playing and laudably mature and intelligent
songwriting. This is straight-up no-bullshit rock’n’roll
done by capable grown-ups with plenty of skill and passion
for what they’re doing. The ringing guitar hooks are
every bit as big, bright, and bouncy as they ought to be,
with firm support from forward-ho pushing drums and unwavering
fluid basslines. A totally kick-ass winner.
 CUDDLE
MAGIC – Info Nympho (www.Cuddle-Magic.com)
Offering nine songs worth of exquisitely dense, intricate,
and harmonic chamber-pop, this album carefully weaves a complex
and winding sonic tapestry that’s both tricky and tuneful
in equal measure. The gradual tempos and relaxed beats bump
along at a laid-back clip that’s oddly entrancing as
well as very soothing. The slight tenor and soprano vocals
likewise possess a certain strangely hypnotic quality. Moreover,
there’s a lovely delicate aspect to this gentle music
that’s extremely moving and appealing. A beautifully
fragile jewel.
TONY DESIMONE – The Second Time Around (www.tonyDmusic.com)
Effortlessly blending a fresh, catchy, and vibrant sound with
an infectiously upbeat and sunny sensibility, New Jersey-based
singer/songwriter Tony DeSimone’s first full-length
album makes for an uplifting and invigorating listen. DeSimone’s
hearty vocals and concise songwriting make for a sturdy and
impressive double whammy. The bouncy beats and snappy tempos
keep things bumpin’ along at a pleasingly constant clip.
The tuneful arrangements likewise hit the stirring sonic spot,
with a neat array of jaunty guitars, smooth basslines, and
steady drums throughout. A very cool and enjoyable album.
 THE
THOUSAND PITIES – Believe in Sound (www.TheThousandPities.com)
This seasoned bunch of Garden State rockers show everyone
how it’s supposed to be done with this seriously bang-up
album. For starters, deliver a steady supply of bouncy’n’catchy
melodies with plenty of energy and harmony. Next up, make
sure the vocals are clear, vibrant, and commanding throughout.
Sprinkle with meaty ringing guitar hooks, smooth basslines,
and firm forward-ho drums. Combine pop and rock with topmost
passion and proficiency. Toss in sharp and mature reflective
songwriting for good measure. Most importantly, shake and
stir everything up with a joy, skill, and go-for-it gusto
that gets right down to rousing brass tacks with a winning
dearth of pretense and teeming surplus of wholehearted straightforwardness.
A first-rate album.
IAN KIPPAX MATTHEWS – Transported: New Australian
Folk (www.mixmastersrecords.com.au)
Plonking along at a pleasingly leisurely clip, done with a
winning sense of breezy ease, and loaded with wryly precise
observations, this album takes the listener on an utterly
engaging kicked-back sonic journey. Aussie singer/songwriter
Ian Kippax Matthews possesses a nice enough voice, but it’s
really his sharp eye for minute detail and appealingly laid-back,
but still tender and compassionate attitude that make this
album so special and charming. The music itself has a sweetly
folksy’n’rootsy harmonic sound that’s likewise
quite tasty and enjoyable. A total delight.
 JON
DEROSA – Anchored (www.jonderosa.com)
Brooklyn-born composer, guitarist, and singer/songwriter Jon
DeRosa comes through with a beautifully harmonic and sumptuous
four song CD EP treat on his debut solo effort. DeRosa’s
smooth deep voice croans the thoughtful lyrics with reassuring
ease while the richly tuneful arrangements are gorgeously
filled out by lovely mournful cellos, horns, and woodwinds.
There’s an achingly delicate and lulling quality to
this brooding indie pop outing that’s a true striking
wonder to hear. Simply divine.
 SONS
OF AN ILLUSTRIOUS FATHER – One Body (www.sonsofanillustriousfather.com)
This New York group nicely mines a forlorn and finely affecting
line in moody’n’morose angst on this moody debut
album. The raspy vocals project a profound feeling of sadness
and dismay. The bare-bones rickety arrangements hum, shake,
and rattle with a quiet intensity that acquires considerable
power from its overall sparseness and subtlety. The lyrics
are likewise concise, but still poetic and effective. Eschewing
needless flashy razzle-dazzle in favor of raw emotion and
a certain touchingly dejected sensibility, this album in its
own deceptively low-key way proves to be a remarkably haunting
and powerful listening experience that’s mighty tough
to forget after it’s all over. Accolades don’t
come much better than that.
 MATT
WADE – D-Sides & Demo Tapes (www.mattwademusic.com)
Getting off to a rousing start with the incredibly catchy
and jaunty “Love Isn’t Everything,” this
pop-rock album bops and bounces along with a certain tuneful
gaiety that’s both exciting and engaging in equal measure.
Matt Wade’s exuberant vocals soar straight for the heavens
and back with positively infectious go-for-broke aplomb. The
classy and snappy arrangements likewise hit the stirring spot,
with big ringing guitar riffs, smooth basslines, dynamic piano,
and sturdy kickin’ drums keeping things lively and harmonic
throughout. Bonus props are in order for the smart and reflective
songwriting that deftly mines a touching line in bittersweet
regret. A very nice and satisfying album.
 BIG
LAKE – Do You Love Me? Yes/No (http://biglake.evilislandfortess.com)
This five song EP CD from a New York City-based independent
music project goes heavy on the beautifully brooding angst
with often striking and always melodic results. Lysa Opfer’s
lovely whispery voice projects certain quietly intense strength
that’s both arresting and affecting in equal measure.
The moody arrangements hit the harmonic spot, with cutting
guitars, graceful pianos, and subdued, yet persistent drums
creating a hauntingly delicate, yet harmonic and captivating
moody sound. Exquisitely gentle and elegant stuff.
 THE
DEAD TRICKS – You Should Have Worried About It (www.myspace.com/thedeadtricks)
Bursting forth from your speakers with an infectiously furious
blast of gloriously raw and rattling unpolished energy, this
five song EP from a pleasingly scrappy New York City punk
rock outfit hits the stirring scruffy spot somethin’
sweet. The hoarse raggedy-ass vocals holler over a fierce
onslaught of gritty rippin’ guitar riffs, churning basslines,
and relentless steamrolling drums. The tempos slither along
at a rather subdued, yet steady clip while the big beats bulldoze
over everything in their remorseless path. The terse lyrics
are every bit as angry, bitter, and profane as they ought
to be. Good grungy stuff.
 THE
PEACE CREEPS – Time Machine (www.peacecreeps.com)
Rocking out with a rousing mix of galvanizing go-for-it
vitality and deliciously catchy tunefulness, this snazzy
little rock’n’rock delight delivers 12 tracks
worth of pure bright’n’breezy sunshiney sonic
bliss. The robust vocals soar and roar over a gloriously
dynamic onslaught of wailing guitars, shredding basslines,
and fierce steamrolling drums. This is no-nonsense meat
and potatoes rock’n’rock done straight-up without
apology: Cheerful, energetic, and exciting as all get out,
with a refreshing dearth of pretense and a teeming surplus
of downright infectious joy and
vigor. A simply awesome album.
 THE
ENERGY – Streets of In-Between (http://theenergy-music.com)
This Brooklyn-based rock group’s name is certainly apt,
as this album snaps, crackles, pops, and bounces around with
a rip-snorting energy that’s both joyous and rousing
in equal measure. The snappy tempos and jubilant meaty beats
rarely let up for a minute as the songs hop along with infectiously
merry aplomb. The lively vocals likewise project a winning
feeling of engaging merriment. Props are also in order for
the dynamic arrangements, which are vibrantly filled out by
crunchy guitars, smooth basslines, and constant rolling drums.
Moreover, the songwriting is smart and thoughtful, which in
turn adds an extra touching element to the stirring music.
A real bang-up album.
 THE
VALERY TRAILS – Ghosts and Gravity (www.thevalerytrails.com)
Marvelously moody and melancholy, this album broods it up
with often beautiful and captivating results. The hushed vocals
possess a certain quietly arresting quality and project a
feeling of forlorn regret with admirable restraint. The arrangements
really hit the soothing sonic spot as well, with the calm
buzz of the guitars, the gentle undertow of the basslines,
and the relaxed, yet persistent clip-clop of the drums seamlessly
blending together to create a sound that’s mellow and
mesmerizing in equal measure. The thoughtful songwriting likewise
deserves kudos for the way it adroitly mines a finely affecting
line in rueful reflectivity. An intoxicating cocktail of sheer
aural pleasure.
 LARKIN
GRIMM – Soul Retrieval (wwwlarkingrimm.net)
Artfully blending a gorgeously full, rich, and melodic folksy
sound with an upbeat sensibility and a fascinatingly expansive
and all-encompassing worldview, this fourth album from singer/songwriter
Larkin Grimm takes the listener on an utterly enchanting and
magical musical journey. Grimm’s lovely voice casts
a soft and soothing spell. The gradual tempos and relaxed
beats further ensure an overall sense of laid-back reassurance.
Moreover, the music has a strong and tangy Middle Eastern
sound which adds an extra tasty exotic flavor. An excellent
album.
 HAMMOND
– The Color of Dreams (http://hammondband.com)
Boppin’ and hoppin’ with a winning blend of catchy
hooks, cheerful energy, and a sunny and upbeat disposition,
this four song EP CD makes for an utterly delightful listen.
The vocals are robust and passionate, the arrangements tight
and tuneful, the sensibility positive without ever being too
cloying or sappy, and the vitality of the whole thing is an
invigorating blast from start to finish. The jubilant guitars,
neatly percolating basslines, and sturdy forward-ho drums
deliver a steady succession of snappy tempos and bouncy beats.
Best of all, there’s a wonderfully exuberant go-for-it
feeling of joy and verve evident throughout that provides
an extra lift. A real treat.
THE 65's – Strike Hard! (www.dromedary-records.com)
Artfully blending a hard-crunching full speed ahead sound
with a smart and thoughtful sensibility, this bang-up indie
rock outfit deliver the best of both worlds with this stellar
debut album. The tough and rippin’ music comes through
like gangbusters with the fiercely rough’n’tumble
goods, with meaty guitar hooks, churning basslines, and sturdy
drums keeping the snappy tempos and big rolling beats hoppin’
along from start to finish. The raspy vocals likewise possess
a genuinely appealing rugged quality and the arrangements
are pleasingly complex and tuneful. But it’s the surprisingly
intelligent and reflective songwriting which really gives
this group edge and distinction: Whether it’s the wistful
regret “No One Cares About Your Tears” or the
lovely warm regard of “Wherever You Are ,” there’s
a real depth and maturity at work here that’s both affecting
and impressive in equal measure. A sterling album.
 THE
MONACCHIO’S – Wedding Album (www.reverbnation.com/TheMonacchios)
Singer/songwriter duo Keith Monacchio and Sheli Aarden-Monacchio
join forces on this beautifully tender, lulling, and delicately
melodic album. Keith’s hoarse sandpaper rasp is nicely
countered by Sheli’s more soft and fragile voice; their
harmonizing on the vocals seamlessly blends together to create
a sound that’s gentle and soothing in equal measure.
Moreover, this talented New Jersey pair also did the thoughtful
and reflective songwriting as well as played most of the instruments.
Best of all, there’s an achingly pure, touching, and
luminous humanity at work in this gorgeous music that’s
a true uplifting joy to hear. A supremely affecting and endearing
little jewel.
 FAMILY
LUMBER – Look to the Sidelines (familylumber.badcamp.com)
This Long Island group deliver a perfectly nice and pleasant
serving of gently melodic pop-rock on this four song EP.
The moody vocals delicately soar over a soothing sonic bed
of ringing guitars, smooth basslines, and subdued, yet still
persistent drums. The thoughtful lyrics, carefully crafted
arrangements, and overall positive attitude all give this
sweetly tuneful music a certain lovely and fragile charm.
A real delight.
 J.C.
SATAN – Hell Death Samba (www.slovenly.com)
This gloriously deranged group of French and Italian maniacs
totally tear it up with fabulously fierce and unhinged go-for-broke
glee and gusto on this truly twisted slab of severely bent
sonic insanity. The wired vocals howl and moan with savage
flipped-out abandon. The ferociously rippin’ guitars,
burning’n’churning basslines, and relentless steamroller
drums bulldoze along at a ceaseless forward-ho pile-driving
tempo and keep the chunky beats barreling ahead with equal
nonstop crackling vitality. Better still, there’s a
strong feeling of genuine dementia and a heavy dose of trippy’n’dynamic
garage-psych lunacy evident throughout. An absolute gnarly
blast of spot-on crazy noise.
 A
CAST OF THOUSANDS – Aqua Fur (www.acastofthousands.net)
Offering 13 tracks worth of sweetly melodic and appealing
pop-rock, this sophomore album puts the listener immediately
at ease with its winning mix of warmth, harmony, and sensitivity.
The sonorous vocals project a nicely pleasant and relaxing
vibe. The tempos for the most chug along at a pleasingly gradual
clip while the beats are likewise subdued, yet still sturdy.
The arrangements are quite tasty as well, with burning guitar
riffs, buzzing basslines, and firm drums keeping things rolling
with topmost fluidness and tunefulness. Kudos are also in
order for the smart and succinct songwriting. The songs are
mainly really mellow and reflective numbers, with the occasional
spirited barn burner tossed in for stirring good measure (“Give
Him Love” in particular rocks out somethin’ kickin’).
A very neat and enjoyable album.
 FALLON
CUSH (www.myspace.com/falloncush)
Rolling along the casually flowing sonic prairie with a winningly
warm, delicate, and harmonic sound, this band really comes
through with flying colors on their impressive debut album.
Steve Smith’s pleasantly nasal voice projects a breezy’n’easy
vibe with engaging directness. The arrangements keep things
spare, simple, and tuneful, with the guitar, bass, and drums
neatly bringing the thoughtful lyrics and gentle melodies
to lovely, tender, and captivating musical life without ever
drawing too much attention to themselves. The songs for the
most part are pretty mellow and soothing, with the occasional
rousing full-blooded rocker tossed in for good measure. A
very nice little beaut.
 LIBRARY
VOICES –Summer of Lust (www.libraryvoices.com)
Bursting forth from the speakers with a tremendously infectious
go-for-it verve and bristling literate wit, this wonderfully
bright and peppy pop-rock album bounces along with a certain
merry and sparkling aplomb that’s stirring and stimulating
in equal measure. The energetic vocals soar over an equally
lively array of jaunty guitars, smoothly popping basslines,
forward-ho charging drums, and supremely hip’n’heavenly
zoned-to-the-snappy-bone keyboards. The speedy tempos and
hoppin’ beats rarely let up for a minute. Moreover,
the sharp and knowing lyrics offer a wealth of nifty references
to a slew of famous writers that gives the whole thing an
extra intelligent edge. An absolute delight.
 DRINKING
MERCURY – Orcades (www.gtgrecords.net)
Funky and brooding, with a divinely tripped-out retro 60’s
dreamy psychedelic experimental vibe to it, this album delivers
one hell of a potently moody sonic buzz. The trebly vocals
are suitably haunted and intense, the arrangements heady,
yet still melodic and captivating, the lyrics compelling in
their abstract weirdness, and the mercurial nature of the
alternately gradual or snappy tempos and hard-charging or
clip-clopping beats keep listeners on their toes throughout.
Moreover, this music possess a genuinely hypnotic quality
that’s mighty impossible to either resist or dislike.
A very groovy blast of an album.
 JONATHAN
ANDREW – The Ropes (www.purevolume.com/jonandrew)
Offering 6 tracks worth of perfectly merry and vibrant pop-rock
bounciness, this nifty little EP CD by singer/songwriter Jonathan
Andrew breezes along with a certain catchy’n’snappy
joy and vitality that’s a complete invigorating treat
to hear. Andrew’s pleasant voice and smartly reflective
songwriting make for a sturdy and impressive double whammy.
The delicately tuneful arrangements are nicely filled out
by gently strummed, subdued, yet steady drums, and quietly
humming basslines. A solid and satisfying item.
 GREENLAND
IS MELTING – Where Were We (www.greenlandismelting.com)
Hey, ya’ll? Wanna hear some mighty fine shit-kickin’
hillbilly bluegrass country music that just makes ya wanna
dosey doe your pants off at a local barn dance? Well, of course
ya’ll do. Well, this here platter by a trio of Gainesville,
Florida guys sure hits the spot somethin’ sweet. The
twangy vocals drawl out the pleasingly simple lyrics with
marvelously hale’n’hearty brio. Meanwhile, the
jaunty bango and acoustic guitar riffs keep things delightfully
bouncy and catchy throughout. But what makes this darling
such a fun listen is this group’s charmingly quirky
and playful sense of humor (“The Dead Are Watching,”
a loopy tune about a zombie apocalypse, in particular is an
absolute hoot); these fellows aren’t trying to dig deep
for heavy insights into the human condition or the current
dire state of the union. Instead they jus’ wanna give
the listener a good time. And they wholly succeed at that
very goal. A hugely enjoyable album.
 JOE
HENRY – Reverie (www.joehenrylovesyoumadly.com)
Keeping things gloriously raw, simple, and stripped down to
the deliciously nitty gritty bare essentials, Joe Henry’s
latest all-acoustic album offers proof positive that one doesn’t
need a lot of tricked-up flashy razzle-dazzle in order to
create a powerfully resonant and impressive work of musical
art. Henry’s worn raspy voice croaks out the sharp and
vivid lyrics with a fierce passion and quietly restrained
intensity that’s extremely strong and compelling. The
arrangements are kept wisely spare, yet still tuneful and
arresting, with sadly tinkling piano, gently strummed guitars,
and remorseless trudging drums blending together to create
a beautifully brooding sound that positively drips with despair,
regret, and melancholy, but still manages to project an achingly
fragile feeling of hope amid all the lovely gloom. Simply
superb.
 EX
NORWEGIAN – Sketch (www.exnorwegian.com)
Offering up ten stirring slabs of straight-up no-bullshit
meat’n’potatoes rock’n’roll, this
group kicks mad ass and takes plenty of names with a spot-on
surplus of infectious go-for-it panache and an equally engaging
dearth of needless high-falutin’ pretense. The robust
vocals go right for the throat while the arrangements pull
out all the stops with a steady succession of rippin’
guitars, diggin’ basslines, and forward-ho charging
drums. The speedy tempos march along at a rousing pace. The
beats are every bit as big, beefy, and bad-ass as they ought
to be. Better still, there’s a ballsy swagger and teeming
array of catchy hooks to this music that’s both completely
sincere and downright delicious. A total treat.
 I
AM DYNAMITE – Supermegafantastic (www.iamdynamite.com)
The Detroit indie rock duo of Chris Martin and Chris Phillips
kick mad ass on their fabulously punchy and aggressive ten
song first album. The spirited “Where Will We Go”
gets things off to a rousing start, the neatly diggin’
“Carolina” works a thrashy groove with right-on
chillin’ results, “Stereo”and “Mrs.
Jones” both rock out somethin’ sweet, with a great
headlong drives that refuse to quit and tasty burning guitar
riffs; and the graceful “Annie” concludes the
whole shebang on a pleasingly mellow and reflective note.
The combination of lively vocals, tight and energetic arrangements,
smart and thoughtful lyrics, speedy tempos, overall upbeat
attitude, and hard-charging jumpin’ beats adds up to
one hell of an incredibly exciting and enjoyable outing. These
guys are not only good singers, but also highly capable musicians
and intelligent songwriters. A most impressive and promising
debut.
 MORNING
– Breakfast Forever (www.morningband.com)
Quietly brooding away on thirteen tracks worth of extremely
moody and melodic, yet still occasionally lively and hence
exciting rock, this North Jersey outfit comes through with
a very solid and enjoyable album. The vocals are sturdy and
passionate, the playing tight and proficient, the songwriting
smart, mature, and contemplative, the arrangements tuneful
and uncluttered. The tempos and beats for the most part are
pretty laid-back and gradual, but every now and then things
perk up considerably with extremely jaunty and rousing results.
A neat album.
 CHET
VINCENT AND THE BIG BEND – For Everyone (http://music.thebigbend.net)
Chugging along at a laid-back, yet steady clip and neatly
exploring the more fascinatingly dark aspects of American
Western culture (bad whiskey, outlaw men, fallen women, that
sort of sordid thing), this album delivers eight songs of
twangy and tuneful rootsy alternative country-rock that possess
a certain grimly haunting power. Chet Vincent’s pleasant
drawling voice and downbeat, yet thoughtful and humane songwriting
make for a potent and impressive double whammy. The gradual
tempos and subdued beats keep things moseying along at a pleasingly
relaxed rate. The overall mood tends to be melancholy and
regretful, but thankfully the songs never bog down too much
in gloominess and manage to be quite poignant from start to
finish. An excellent album.
THE PACK A.D. – Unpersons (www.thepackafterdeath.com)
Burning with an alarmingly fierce, aggressive, and unapologetic
in-your-face intensity, this is the type of furiously rattling
music that comes on like gangbusters from the very first ferocious
note. The vocals soar and roar over a seething sonic bed of
grinding hacksaw guitars, churning basslines, and non-stop
bulldozing drums that keep the speedy tempos and driving beats
hammering along at an exhilaratingly incessant clip. Skillfully
blending a no-nonsense and unsentimental bluesy sensibility
with the gritty sonic immediacy of punk and the gloriously
unpolished rawness of garage rock, this honey overall smokes
like a fabulously wild blazing inferno.
ALPINE WHITE – The Hale (www.alpinewhiteband.com)
This lovely four song EP CD totally wins the listener over
with its terrifically spot-on array of infectiously bright’n’bouncy
hooks, sparkling pop melodies, and sweet and thoughtful sensibility.
Colin Denker’s soft, reassuring voice and pleasantly
reflective songwriting make for a highly attractive and irresistible
pairing. The tasty’n’tuneful arrangements come
through with a delicious abundance of ringing guitar riffs,
smooth basslines, and calmly persistent drums. Better still,
there’s a warmth and tenderness evident throughout that’s
a complete uplifting joy to hear. A total delight.
 COSMO
JARVIS – Is the World Strange or Am I Strange? (www.cosmojarvis.com)
British singer/songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Jarvis
impresses with this marvelously eclectic, dynamic, sometimes
touching, and always exciting album. Things get off to a moving
and thrilling start with the wonderfully jaunty “Gay
Pirates,” which addresses with true warmth and humor
the poignant story of two men who are forced to walk the plank
because of their forbidden homosexual love for each other.
The other songs are every bit as tasty, with Jarvis’
hearty vocals – his posh Brit accent makes him sound
a lot like a singing version of the Geico gecko -- and sharp
songwriting ensuring that things remain witty and stirring
throughout. The music itself is a splendidly diverse mix of
pop, rock, bluegrass, and even funk that bops and hops along
with an infectiously merry aplomb that’s engaging and
invigorating in equal measure. Great stuff.
 A.A.
BONDY – Believers (http://aabondy.com)
Beautifully moody and melodic, this album broods away with
a certain mesmerizing intensity that grabs you from the first
magnetic note and doesn’t let go until the very end.
A.A. Bondy’s haunted moan of a voice vividly conveys
a strong sense of sadness and despair while his tight songwriting
captures a feeling of rueful reflectivity with similar bracing
clarity. The trudging tempos and subdued clip-clopping beats
further add to the overall downcast atmosphere. Despite this
pervasive gloom, this album nonetheless manages to be quite
moving and compelling throughout. High praise indeed.
 BEAR
LAKE – If You Were Me (www.bearlakemusic.com)
Artfully blending sensitivity with a supremely funky and hypnotic
sound, this album draws the listener in a manner that’s
affecting and captivating in equal measure. It’s partly
the soulful expressiveness of the lovely vocals, partly the
warmth and humanity evident in this group’s overall
mindset, partly the tuneful buzz of the soft, yet sturdy electronic
sound, but mainly because of the way all these elements seamlessly
cohere to produce a work of exceptionally serene and ethereal
sonic beauty. This is the kind of gentle and soothing music
that puts one in a very calm and peaceful mood. A lovely album.
 TORNADO
RIDER – Jark Matter (www.silversprocket.net)
Swaggering around like the biggest, baddest, and most awesomely
impressive hipper-than-you cheeky mofo on the block, this
incredibly kick-ass punk-metal rock group takes no prisoners
with this throbbing 12 song slab of pure sonic spew. The vocals
howl and yowl like a crazed hillbilly banshee over a furious
array of shreddin’ guitars, surging basslines, and go-for-broke
barmstorming drums. Better still, lead singer Rushad Eggleston
plays one hell of a mean cello and there’s a delightfully
frolicsome off-the-wall sensibility evident throughout (the
positively bonkers “The Goat God” and “Giant
Tree Man” in particular are two choice kooky tunes).
The refreshing lack of seriousness and the winning abundance
of inspired wacky humor give this darling a certain loopy
charm that’s impossible to either dislike or resist.
A marvelously quirky and amusing treat.
 PATCHES
& GRETCHEN – Blue Skin (www.patchesandgretchen.com)
Offering up eight songs worth of quirky, tuneful, and flavorsome
stripped-down-to-the-bare-essential music that blends elements
of folk, pop, blues, and rock into one gloriously original
and idiosyncratic whole, this band scores major points for
their stark unapologetic uniqueness alone. Whispery vocals
croak out the strange anguished lyrics over the spare, yet
still haunting and captivating instrumental accompaniment.
Yep, this stuff is pretty no-frills, but it’s the fierce
simplicity of this group’s offbeat sound that gives
the music a certain flaky charm and hypnotically weird power.
Moreover, there’s a raw beauty to be found and relished
amid all the gloom and despair that permeates every last fabulously
peculiar note. A simply stupendous outing.
 THE
ONE AND NINES - "Just Your Fool" EP (www.theoneandnines.com)
This Jersey City band deliver two very nifty and melodic songs
with this single. Lead singer Vera Sousa possesses an extremely
cool and sultry voice that’s a lush and soothing pleasure
to behold. The crisp and tuneful arrangements likewise seriously
smoke: The deep twangy guitars, soulful horns, and jumpin’
drums keep things lively and harmonic throughout. The overall
sound adroitly mixes elements of hip rollin’ jazz and
kickin’ rumba-tinged straight-up rock’n’roll
into a highly dynamic and enjoyable synthesis. A total delight.
13 GHOSTS – Garland of Bottle Flies (www.skybucket.com)
Delivering ten tracks worth of spare, haunting, and achingly
fragile, yet harmonic atmospheric pop-rock oddness, this strikingly
peculiar and original album possesses a certain bizarrely
hypnotic pull. The slight quivery vocals moan out the dark
and despairing lyrics with bracing starkness and urgency.
The taut arrangements are vividly filled out by jangling guitars,
churning basslines, and driving drums that swirl and whirl
to create a sound that’s raw and raggedy, yet still
pretty and melodic. The songs alternate between slow mournful
ballads and more spirited rock-outs with often startling and
always impressive results. The incredibly eclectic sound mixes
in elements of everything from down-in-the-dumps country to
furiously burning rock to lowdown hurtin’ blues. A truly
amazing album.
 THE
MODULATORS – Tomorrow’s Coming (www.themodulators.com)
A CD reissue of an album recorded back in 1984, this delightfully
cheery and bouncy platter comes on like a sweet and uplifting
gust of fresh spring air. The peppy vocals convey a breezy
charm with disarming directness. The arrangements crackle
with genuine vigor and tunefulness, with jaunty guitars, percolating
basslines, and jumpin’ drums providing a steady succession
of brisk tempos and punchy beats that hop and hip all over
the place with infectiously merry abandon. Best of all, there’s
a pleasant and giddy sensibility at work throughout that’s
quite engaging without every becoming too cloying or forced.
A terrifically enjoyable joy.
MEYERMAN – Who Do You Think You Are? (www.meyerman.music.com)
Offering up a joyous and downright infectious burst of straight-up
sparkling power pop at its most cheerful and dynamic, this
album bumps along with a radiant and happy energy that’s
impossible to either dislike or resist. The lively vocals
soar right into the stratosphere with jolly aplomb. The ringing
guitars, smooth basslines, and sturdy drums deliver a nonstop
supply of speedy tempos and driving beats that keeps things
rousing and spirited from start to finish. If you’re
not smiling and bobbing your head while listening to this
album, then you’re either deaf or a hopelessly incorrigible
sourpuss. A real treat.
 TINARIWEN
– Tassili (www.tinariwen.com)
Recorded in a protected region of the South-Eastern Algerian
desert by acclaimed Touareg band Tinariwen, this album is
every bit as unique and flavorsome as that exotic location
suggests. Stripped down to the bare essentials with beautifully
simple acoustic guitars and no-frills straightforward percussion,
sung with great passion and clarity in a foreign tongue whose
words might not be immediately comprehensible, but the emotions
articulated are still easy to instantly understand, this is
an album one feels just as much as hears. There’s a
strong sense of heartfelt longing for life, peace, freedom,
unity, and liberty evident throughout that’s both moving
and stirring in equal measure. The music itself has a rootsy
bluesy quality to it that’s very tasty indeed. Extraordinary
stuff.
 EVAN
SELIGMAN
Fidelitorium 7-11 Sessions (www.reverbnation.com/ebsmusic)
Evan Seligman is only fourteen years old. I usually don’t
point out the ages of people in music reviews, but here it
seems justified. You see, there’s a real depth, beauty,
complexity, and sophistication to this rich, dynamic, and
harmonious music that suggests someone much older did it,
so that makes the fact that a 14-year-old wrote, played, and
recorded this that much more remarkable and impressive. This
isn’t the immature work of some bratty snotnose show-off.
Instead, this is the work of an incredibly talented and precocious
fellow with one hell of a promising musical future ahead of
him. From the striking instrumental opening track “Sugar
Free” to the delightfully bouncy ukulele-driven (!)
acoustic cover of “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” by
the Ramones, there’s a joy and vitality bursting out
of every last divinely tuneful note that’s a complete
pleasure to hear. A totally spot-on winner.
 OBADIAH
PARKER – The Siren and the Saint (www.obadiahparker.com)
Blessed with a beautifully smooth and soulful voice, a strong
knack for funky’n’captivating melodies, and an
equally sturdy talent for thoughtful lyrics, Obadiah Parker
really hits it out of the ballpark with this lovely and touching
concept album about his harrowing addiction to pornography
and subsequent need for redemption after wallowing in the
gutter as a direct result of said addiction. Sound kinda corny
and silly? Well, it sure ain’t, thanks to the remarkable
passion and conviction Parker brings to the premise. Of course,
the divinely bluesy sound and the supremely harmonic arrangements
help matters a great deal as well. A simply tremendous album.
 THE
PARACHUTING APOSTLES (www.theparachutingapostles.com)
Coming on loud, strong, and ballsy like some gloriously tough
and proficient retro 70’s arena rock outfit, this group
spits on their hands, roll up their sleeves, and kick mad
sonic ass with a winning surplus of raw go-for-it energy and
a refreshing dearth of needles high-falutin’ pretense.
The robust full-throated vocals soar and roar over a teeming
onslaught of fierce rippin’ guitars, seething basslines,
and nonstop steamrolling drums. The songs run the gamut from
punchy and rockin’ to more jazzy, laid-back, and melodic.
The speedy tempos and chunky driving beats rarely let up for
a minute, thereby ensuring that this debut album overall sizes
up as a lively, always tuneful, often exciting, and overall
satisfying listening experience.
EMIL & FRIENDS – Lo and Behold (www.cantorarecords.com)
Light, fragile, and dreamy, suffused with a strong sense of
wistful reflectivity and achingly pure and delicate harmonies,
this electro-pop album proves to be both charming and hypnotic
in equal measure. The wispy whispery vocals possess a certain
sweetly gentle appeal. The arrangements are quite catchy,
bouncy, and enrapturing, with the steady tempos and buoyant
beats keeping things hoppin’ from start to finish. While
occasionally slight and airy to the point of near total vapidity,
this outing overall gets by on the basis of its extremely
sonorous and oddly enchanting pulsating sound alone.
 SHAYNA
& THE CATCH – Lighthouse (www.shaynaandthecatch.com)
Artfully blending tasty elements of folk, jazz, bluegrass,
cabaret, and indie pop into one sumptuously rich, dynamic,
and sonorous whole, this album hits the heavenly harmonic
spot somethin’ sweet. Shayna Zaid’s beautifully
smoky’n’sultry voice delicately soars right
to the sky with the graceful agility of a swan while the
arrangements offer a tuneful and animated array of jaunty
guitars, smooth basslines, and kickin’ drums. The
snappy tempos and sturdy beats keep things hoppin’
along with a certain joy and verve that’s a complete
treat to hear. Best of all, there’s a real smart and
thoughtful quality to the songwriting. A total delight.
 THE
DEVIL WHALE – Teeth (www.thedevilwhale.com)
Presenting a pleasingly melodic, yet punchy and rousing sound
with a winningly stark and simple down-to-earth attitude,
this group’s sophomore album wins the listener over
on the basis of its considerable unpretentious charm alone.
The richly harmonic arrangements are vividly filled out by
neatly ringing guitars, buzzing basslines, and steady, yet
subdued drums. The smooth vocals likewise hit the pleasantly
sonorous spot. Extra kudos are also in order for the smart
and direct songwriting that ably mines a touching line in
spot-on low-key reflectivity. A really fine and worthwhile
album.
 RUSTY
WILLOUGHBY – Cobirds Unite (www.local638records.com)
Offering up 12 songs worth of perfectly charming and harmonic
country-tinged pop-rock, this album gently soothes the listener
with the lovely calming effect of a fine spring breeze blowing
right in your face. The songs mosey along at a pleasingly
gradual tempo. The beats are likewise nicely subdued, yet
still steady. Rusty Willoughby’s hoarsely reassuring
vocals and smart and thoughtful songwriting makes for a strong
and impressive double whammy. A majority of the songs are
pretty laid-back and serene, but a few kick up the energy
several extra notches with always rousing and often tuneful
results. A very nice and worthwhile album.
 NICK
STEFANACCI BAND – 26 Years (www.NSBlive.com)
Close the shades. Dim the lights. Mix yourself a fine martini
(shaken, not stirred, of course) and relax in your favorite
leather easy chair, ‘cause it’s time to get mellow
and chill folks to this supremely soulful’n’soothing
jazzy gem of an album. Kenny Simmons’ divinely velvety
vocals go down nice’n’easy. Nick Stefanacci’s
arrangements are tight, swingin’, and harmonic, with
zoned-to-the-relaxed-bone keyboards, smooth guitars, enchanting
saxophones, and effortlessly percolating basslines make sure
things sound every bit as cool, hip, and flat-out heavenly
swank as they ought to from start to finish. Best of all,
there’s a comforting breezy quality to this fabulously
funky and melodic, yet laid-back music that puts the listener
in an extremely serene and content state of mind. An absolute
treat.
 LOVANOVA
– We’re All in It Together (www.lovanova.net)
Everybody knows we’re having one fierce scorcher of
a summer. But there’s a great way to beat the heat.
Yeah, you guessed it. Pop this sublimely hip’n’mellow
platter of pure get-down happening instro bossness in your
CD player and prepare to chill out somethin’ sweet.
Go to straight to funkytown with those supremely tasty guitars
licks. Lose yourself in those fantastic ripples of blistering
organ swells. Kick back and sway along with those magnificently
big’n’beefy swaggering basslines. Artfully blending
elements lounge, soul, funk, pro-rock, jazz, and plain ol’
swirling’n’whirling aural vibrancy and melodicism
into one hell of a on the money honey exciting and enjoyable
sonic tonic, this baby’s got it totally made in the
shade regardless of whether the temperature is peaking at
a hundred-plus degrees.
 BODEGA
SATELLITE (www.bodegasatellite.com)
Exploding from your speakers with a highly exciting blast
of sheer go-for-it rip-roaring gusto, this 9 song album shakes
and rattles up a fabulously ringing and tuneful storm from
rousing start to thrilling finish. The raspy, yet smooth and
spirited vocals glide over a fierce array of shreddin’
guitars, seething basslines, and relentless jackhammer drums.
Although the most of lyrics are in Spanish, the music still
manages to be quite infectious and enjoyable just the same.
Which only goes to prove once again that music is a truly
universal language that crosses all known racial and cultural
boundaries. An excellent album.
 GHOST
ROBOT NINJA BEAR (www.ghostrobotninjabear.wordpress.com)
Nail everything to the floor. Close all your windows and
lock them tight. Crank the stereo as loud as it can go.
And prepare to be knocked flat out on your ass, for this
is the kind of gloriously furious punked-out rock’n’roll
noise that rolls up its sleeves, balls its hands into tight
fist, and comes out swingin’ like a savage champion
heavyweight boxer from the very first fabulously thunderous
note. The ferocious vocals howl and yowl over a teeming
onslaught of spring’n’zingy guitars riffs, incessantly
propulsive basslines, and steamroller drums that demolish
everything in their raging path. Better yet, there’s
a poppy quality to the music that gives it extra charm and
bounce, but thankfully doesn’t detract from the basic
raw’n’gritty edge. Damned good stuff.
 ONLY
LIVING BOY – Hide Nothing (www.onlylivingboy.com)
Offering up thirteen tracks worth of lowdown bluesy rock
that gets straight down to stirring brass tacks with considerable
brio and a refreshing dearth of pretense, this album makes
for a mighty fun, lively, and exciting listening experience.
The ragged vocals moan and groan with fierce’n’throaty
aplomb while the hard-diggin’ guitars, churning basslines,
and sturdy pushin’ drums concoct a raw gritty sound
that’s both moody and earthy in equal measure. This
is the kind of music that’s anything but pretty and
polished; instead there’s a wonderfully rough’n’ready
tearin’-down-the-house ramshackle quality evident
throughout that’s a complete scrappy joy to hear.
TIED IN 2 (www.myspace.com/tiedin2)
Start your engines! Rev ‘em up! Break out those crankin’
guitars, diggin’ basslines, and jumpin’ drums!
Keep those beats a hoppin’ along at a nonstop peppy
clip! Make sure those quick tempos likewise rarely let up
for a minute! And make sure those vocals are very robust
and passionate while you’re at it! Hell, toss in smart
and thoughtful lyrics for good music! But most importantly
keep it simple, catchy, and tuneful throughout! Mix all
this good stuff together and the net result is one hell
of a sweet little EP CD pip!
 BIG
MOSEY – Homeward at Daybreak (myspace.com/bigmosey)
This cool group deliver four songs worth of pleasingly
jangly’n’snappy straight-up rock’n’roll.
The vocals are raspy, yet lively and passionate, the arrangements
peppy and tuneful, the springy guitars, equally elastic
basslines, and hoppin’ drums supply a steady succession
of speedy tempos and constant jumpin’ beats. The songs
alternate between go-for-it bluesy barn burners (the gloriously
raw’n’ragged “Rocking Chair”) and
more subdued and melodic reflective numbers (the beautifully
moody “Rainbows Wild”). What’s not to
like?
APPALUCIA (www.APPALUCIA.com)
Hey, y’all. Y’all in the mood for some shit-kickin’,
banjo-pluckin’, fiddle-pickin’ hillbilly bluegrass
music that spits on its hands, rolls up its sleeves, and
gets right down to serious butt-stompin’ business
with no fuss and plenty of good ol’ fashioned piss
and vinegar? Of course y’all is. Well, this here 13
song album from a simply kick-ass six piece redneck band
from Charlotte, North Carolina certainly hits that particular
excitin’ spot somethin’ nice. Now y’all
play this one loud and dance all night in the barn to it
at your next let-it-all-hang-out hoedown.
 PEPPER
RABBIT – Red Velvet Snowball (www.facebook.com/pepperrabbit)
This simply lovely album delivers ten songs worth of sweetly
serene, ornate, and carefully crafted pop. The arrangements
are lush, pretty, and delicate, with an eclectic array of
instruments creating a sound that’s soft, fragile,
and altogether endearing. The relaxed beats and kicked-back
tempos keep things bubbling along at a pleasingly lazy clip.
The peppy vocals project a certain breathy charm while basic
upbeat sensibility further adds to the overall graceful
and harmonic appeal of this gentle delight.
STAR ANNA AND THE LAUGHING DOGS – Alone in This
Together (www.staranna.com)
Coming on with the quietly soothing strength of a gentle
gust of cool spring air, this supremely warm, pleasant,
and harmonic album makes for a comforting and uplifting
listening experience. Star Anna’s endearingly throaty
voice and smart and thoughtful songwriting make for a strong
and impressive double whammy. The tuneful arrangements offer
a nice array of delicately strummed guitars, tinkling piano,
and subdued, yet steady drums. The songs for the most part
mosey along at an appealingly gradual clip. The basic sound
blends elements of tender folk, equally fragile country,
and a dab of solid rock muscle into a neatly varied, yet
still coherent and satisfying whole. An excellent album.
 VISQUEEN
– Message to Garcia (www.visqueenonline.com)
Bursting forth from your speakers with a marvelously thunderous
full bore sonic onslaught of pure explosive energy and downright
infectious go-for-it enthusiasm, this album quite simply
kicks mad ass every which way to Tuesday. The vocals are
dynamic and exuberant, the arrangements fiercely snappy
and tuneful, the sound builds and builds to tremendously
exciting surging crescendos, the speedy forward-ho tempos
and equally quick driving beats rarely let up for a second.
This is pop-rock at its most gloriously happy, energetic,
and delightful. In other words, this honey is a total pleasure
to listen to from start to finish.
 YOUNG
BUFFALO – Young Von Prettylips (myspace.com/youngbuffalo)
This extremely moody five song EP CD scores strongly with
its remarkably brooding atmosphere, haunting chanted vocals,
and firm grasp of beautifully rich, complex, and hypnotic
melodies. The basic tuneful sound has a pleasingly gritty
hard rock edge to it that’s further enhanced by the
amazingly intricate poppy arrangements, first-rate smooth
playing, tricky mid-tempo shifts, and gorgeously soaring
harmonies. A very damn impressive debut effort.
 JONATHAN
TIERSTEN & TEN TIERS – We’ll See (jonathantiersten.com)
Actor/singer/songwriter Jonathan Tiersten and his band
really hit it out of the ballpark with the five supremely
rousing and tuneful songs featured on this bang-up EP CD.
Tiersten’s passionate vocals and smart, thoughtful
songwriting make for a powerful double whammy. The neatly
varied and harmonic arrangements alternate between fiercely
rockin’ and more soothing and subdued. The spirited
opening track “In Your Head” digs deep into
a killer ripping groove while “Vertigo” has
a more pleasant and relaxing rootsy charm to it. Moreover,
the piano-heavy “Theodore, ” “”Black
Rain,” and “Sancta Caecelia” all delicately
milk a certain low-key introspective mindset with genuinely
lovely and touching results. An extremely solid and satisfying
little beaut.
ROB ROPER – Misfit (www.myspace.com/rroper)
Neatly mining a winningly warm and tuneful line in decidedly
out of the ordinary folksy pop-rock, singer/songwriter Rob
Roper scores himself a lovely and engaging treat with the
ten flavorsome and idiosyncratic songs featured on this
album. Roper’s hoarse, yet appealing voice, clever
songwriting, and marvelously quirky sense of humor all possess
a certain irresistibly offbeat charm. Moreover, the arrangements
are tight and harmonic, with especially tasty use of soaring
12-string and 6-string guitars, humming organ, and jaunty
banjo. The songs alternate between cute and funny and more
serious and touching: “Misfit” is the ideal
anthem for nonconformists who refuse to adhere to the status
quo, the frothy “Me” astutely nails the common
office drone’s deeply felt desire to transcend the
doldrums of his unrewarding pedestrian existence, “You
Could Have Had Me” addresses an all-to-understandable
situation with exceptional poignancy and eloquence, the
infectiously merry “Bipolar” makes being mentally
unstable amusing without being cruel or tasteless, and ruefully
hilarious “The Screwup Song” concludes things
on an endearingly catchy note. An absolute delight.
 HOTEL
LIGHTS – Girl Graffiti (http://www.bar-none.com)
Gently melodic and comforting, this album immediately puts
the listener at ease with the beautifully lulling opening
song “Falling Down.” Darren Jessee’s warm
and captivating vocals go over smoothly with the gorgeously
sparkling and harmonic arrangements. The delicately ringing
guitars, quietly humming basslines, and laid-back, but steady
drums push things along at a pleasingly relaxed, yet still
oddly stirring rate. Better still, there’s a terrifically
polished sense of pure musicianship and a shimmering intelligence
to the thoughtful songwriting which both add immensely to
this album’s overall exceptional quality. Lush, subtle,
and fragile, it’s a complete winner all the way.
ROOT GLEN (http://www.rootglen.com)
Delivering five songs worth of neatly chillin’ and
relaxing pop-rock music, this EP CD makes for a very pleasant
and soothing listening experience. The vocals are smooth
and reassuring, the arrangements bubbly and tuneful, the
lyrics nice and inoffensive. The gradual tempos and subdued
beats bump along at a pleasingly kicked-back clip. This
the kind of sweetly mellow music that conjures up vivid
images of lying on a towel on a beach on a calm sunny day.
A really nifty item.
 JEBEDIAH
GOODTHRUST & THE THRUSTWELLS – Look at the Sound
(www.thehitandmrs.com)
Tumbling down from the mighty rock’n’roll hills
with a big, bold, and rousing sound that comes on with stirring
sonority and immediacy from the get go, Jebediah Goodthrust
and his band shake and rattle the joint somethin’
sweet on this album. The vocals are lively and passionate,
the playing able and energetic, the arrangements tight and
melodic, the lyrics terse and to the point, the snappy tempos
and stompin’ beats bop along at a pleasingly hoppin’
clip throughout. A majority of songs drag on for quite a
bit, but fortunately Goodthrust possesses the skill and
talent to milk a slithery protracted groove with always
tuneful and often thrilling results. A damn fine album.
 FELLAHEEN
– Death & Frolic(www.fellaheen.com)
Beautifully eerie and mellow, infused with a serenely smoky’n’sulky
atmosphere, further enriched by an entrancingly jazzy and
laid-back sound, this marvelously moody album positively
drips with a profound sense of despair, ennui, and unfulfilled
yearning that’s truly something to hear. The whispery
raspy vocals project a ghostly feeling of weariness and
melancholy while the calmly harmonic arrangements offer
a flavorsome array of swirling strings, remorselessly trudging
drums, gently strummed guitars, and subdued, yet seething
basslines. This is the kind of divinely brooding music that
conjures up vivid images of darkness slowly overtaking the
fading daylight while gray clouds gather in the sky and
a sad moon rises above the bleak horizon. Astonishing stuff.
 LISA
MORALES – Beautiful Mistake (www.lisamoralesmusic.com)
Blessed with a wonderfully warm and lovely voice, an uncanny
knack for strong, catchy, and captivating melodies, and
clear’n’concise insightful lyrics, Lisa Morales
really hits it out of the ballpark with this remarkably
tuneful and touching album. Yeah, the arrangements offer
a fair share of tasty guitar riffs, steady drums, rippin’
organs, and buzzing basslines which keeps the country-flavored
music lush and harmonic throughout, but it’s the heart-wrenching
vulnerability of Morales’ quivery, yet soaring vocals
and the exceptionally sharp maturity and no-nonsense intelligence
of her songwriting that in turn make this album something
special. Embracing mortality and man’s basic flawed
nature with admirable strength and courage (“They’re
Gone” in particular is one of the most gorgeously
lulling and moving songs about death you’ll ever hear)
, Morales cuts straight through the crap and gets to the
basic nitty gritty of the matter with praiseworthy conviction
and directness. Better still, Morales manages to remain
hopeful and optimistic despite all the sadness and tragedy
of everyday human existence. A first-rate album.
 THE
BLACK RABBITS – Hypno Switch (www.theblackrabbits.com)
Artfully blending a tough’n’thrashy retro 60’s
garage rock sound with a surprisingly thoughtful and introspective
sensibility, this group effortlessly accomplish the remarkable
feat of making you want to shake your ass while still moving
you at the same time. The raw and ragged vocals along with
the bouncy arrangements filled by springy guitars, jumpin’
drums, and percolating basslines provide the necessary sinewy
sonic muscle which namely means clip-clopping chunky beats
and snaky crawling tempos bumping along at a laid-back,
yet constant clip. Meanwhile the reflective songwriting
and a certain startling wide-eyed innocent purity ensure
that there’s plenty of sweetly appealing heart beating
amidst said muscle. It’s this still amazingly effective
mixture of seemingly incongruous elements which gives this
particular album a real engaging and distinctive charm that’s
impossible to either resist or dislike.
 LELICA
– Without a Warning (www.lelicaband.com)
Boasting a wonderfully sweet voice, a strong grasp of smart
and thoughtful songwriting, and an equally sturdy feel for
tuneful and sunny captivating melodies, singer/songwriter
Lelica Palecco scores herself a real winner with this lovely
and enthralling album. Lelica’s beautifully full,
rich, and soaring vocals take the listener straight into
the sonic stratosphere. The bouncy guitars, kickin’
drums, and smooth basslines keep the buoyant beats and speedy
tempos hoppin’ along at a neatly snappy and constant
clip. Better still, there’s a genuine maturity and
intelligence at work throughout which in turn greatly enhances
the overall exceptional quality of this bang-up little gem.
 ANTIQUES
– JWNS (antiques.bandcamp.com)
Offering 12 tracks of supremely moody and angst-heavy introspective
rock, this is the sort of album you want to listen to when
you’re in a decidedly pensive and reflective frame
of mind. The hoarse and worn vocals blurt out the world-weary
lyrics with a certain dryly affecting resignation. The grinding
guitars, buzzing basslines, and sturdy, yet subdued drums
further add to the overall gloomy, but still hypnotic atmosphere
of pervasive regret and disgust. This band may be disgusted
with mankind in general, but a glimmer of hope shines through
as these dudes do their best to get over all the crap life
can and does throw your way. Best of all, there’s
a weirdly exciting ragged energy evident throughout which
prevents all the moping from becoming too sappy or cloying.
By no means a real pick-me-up experience to hear, but still
a touching and rewarding listen just the same.
 BUZZ
HEAVY – Just Play (www.buzzheavy.com)
Delivering 21 tracks worth of straight-up rousing rock’n’roll,
this snazzy group keeps things buzzing with a pleasing amount
of verve and refreshing lack of pretense from start to finish.
The alternately smooth or raspy vocals yelp out the concise
lyrics with tremendously infectious snarly gusto while the
jumpin’ drums , diggin’ guitars, and churning
basslines keep the speedy tempos and hoppin’ beats
bouncing along to a get-down gnarly groove throughout. The
basic sound blends elements of raw punk, supremely hep rockabilly,
and no-bullshit meat and potatoes rock’n’roll
into an extremely tasty, often lively, and always enjoyable
sonic mix. The songs themselves cover everything from worshipping
the devil to just playing whatever (and piss on the old
folks if they don’t dig it when you play it loud).
An immensely cool and fun album.
 LIFE
IN A BLENDER – Homewrecker Spoon (www.lifeinablender.net)
Right-on, baby! It’s time to get groovy and swing!
Break out those sweetly soulful horns and let ‘em
blurt somethin’ nice. Tell that throaty-voiced singer
to do his best get-down growly guttural rumble-grumble voice.
Make sure the guitar player cuts loose with plenty of hot
biting licks. The drummer should keep those big’n’beefy
swaggering beats a hoppin’ throughout. Some guy on
piano could tunefully tickle the ivories on a few of the
songs, too. Most importantly, the supremely snaky tempos
need to slither along at a pleasingly relaxed, yet still
steady clip. Sharp and thoughtful songwriting certainly
wouldn’t hurt in the least as well. Blend all this
cool stuff together, shake it up with a bracing dash of
fiercely caustic wit, sprinkle a dab of quirkiness for extra
tasty flavor, and the net result will be one immensely nifty
and distinctive delight.
 THE
AMATORY MURDER – A Different Frequency (www.theamato
rymurder.com)
Hittin’ the hypnotically groovy spot with stirring
opening tune “All About Me,” this Brooklyn,
New York band artfully combine industrial synth-pop and
pop-rock with fresh, surprising, and frequently exciting
results. The raspy, yet robust and passionate vocals soar
over a seething sonic bed of fiercely rippin’ guitars,
seamlessly percolating basslines, relentless streamrolling
drums, and divinely zoned to the funky bone zippin’
keyboards. Moreover, the songwriting really lays on the
darkly brooding angst, but thankfully doesn’t go overboard
with said gut-wrenching anguish. The rapid-fire tempos and
jumpin’ beats keep things lively and exhilarating
from start to finish. A real bang-up album.
 FAREWELL
CONTINENTAL - Hey, Hey Pioneers! (www.farewellcontinental.com)
Delivering 14 songs worth of extremely scrappy, yet still
punchy and exciting rock, this album hits the right-on rousing
spot in a pleasingly direct and lively way. The vocals are
quite dynamic and passionate, the songwriting concise and
straightforward, the hoppin’ arrangements are nicely
filled out with jangly guitars, poppin’ basslines,
and fiercely jumpin’ drums. Better still, this stuff
ain’t done all slick and pretty; instead there’s
a fabulously raw and gritty rippin’ it out from the
rattling slopbucket unpolished quality to the music which
in turn gives it an extra special raggedy kick in the pants.
The speedy tempos and forward-ho driving beats rarely let
up for a minute. A totally thrilling and enjoyable blast.
 THE
PLURALS – The Plurals Today, The Plurals Tomorrow:
Futurospective (www.gigrecords.net)
Roaring out of your speakers with a positively infectious
burst of pure intoxicating joy and boundless go-for-it vitality,
this incredibly snappy 9 song album just makes you wanna
get up and bounce all over your room with a huge giddy grin
on your face. The snarly vocals sneer it up with terrifically
ferocious aplomb while the grinding hacksaw guitars, churning’n’burning
basslines, and persistent pushin’ drums raise one
hell of a gloriously raggedy-ass racket. This is the sort
of straight-up no-bullshit punked-out rock’n’roll
noise that eschews needless fancy schamcy pretense and instead
goes right for the jugular with rip-snorting fury and abandon.
Accolades don’t come much better than that.
 THANK
YOU SCIENTIST – The Perils of Time Travel …
A brief cautionary tale (www.thankyouscientist.net)
Eschewing the conventional in favor of the more outré
and experimental, this seven piece progressive rock group
produce a pleasingly offbeat and enjoyable winner with this
debut EP. Ably blending elements of funk, pop, rock, and
even classical music into one very heady, hypnotic, and
harmonious sonic potpourri, with stop-start tempos that
begin slow before kicking into rousing full speed ahead
high gear, right’n’tight arrangements, smooth
vocals, diggin’ away at some supremely thick and tasty
grooves, and sharp articulate lyrics, these guys totally
deliver on both a visceral and intellectual level. A highly
impressive album.
 SPIRIT
PEOPLE – Dragoons (http://soundcloud.com/spirit-people)
This New York-based group deliver nine songs worth of highly
unusual and unconventional angst-heavy rock on this album.
The sullen vocals project a strong feeling of sorrow and
despair. The arrangements are filled out by clanging guitar
riffs, chugging basslines, and subdued, yet steady drums,
all of which further add to the basic sense of atmospheric
melancholy. The slowly trudging tempos and sludgy beats
take a little getting used to, but nonetheless manage to
remain sturdy and compelling throughout. Moreover, this
moody’n’broody music is anything but pleasant
and melodic; instead it’s very wonky, atonal, and
decidedly avant-garde. Certainly not an album for those
with a taste for generic Top 40 commercial fare, but for
adventurous folks with a penchant for the outré and
experimental this one’s well a listen. I don’t
think I need to clarify exactly where I stand on this particular
issue.
BECOMING THE GHOST – Dear Elsa, I Never Told You
… (myspace.com/becomingtheghost)
This EP CD comes through with seven very catchy, upbeat,
and engaging songs which go down smooth and easy. The vocals
are pleasant and reassuring, the arrangements tight, spare,
and tuneful, the lyrics smart and concise, the playing crisp
and proficient throughout. The tempos bump along at a slow,
yet steady clip while the drums march along at an unhurried,
but persistent clip. There’s a sweet mellow quality
to this music which in turn makes listening to it a perfectly
soothing experience. However, this band does crank it up
a bit and go heavy on the divinely heady weirdness with
the intensely trippy closing number “Tohs Eno.”
A nice little item.
 BY
SURPRISE – Mountain Smashers (www.myspace.com/bysurpriserock)
This Garden State outfit hit it out of the ballpark with
eleven songs of extremely peppy, melodic, and flat-out exciting
indie rock on this album. The vocals are raspy, but lively
and engaging. The jangly guitars, pumping basslines, and
sturdy full speed ahead drums bang out a steady succession
of snappy tempos and hammering beats which charge along
with considerable stirring let ‘er rip energy and
momentum. There’s a vigor and enthusiasm evident throughout
this baby which in turn makes it a hugely enjoyable and
exhilarating listening experience. These guys really know
to get straight to the rousing heart of the matter with
a winning sense of economy and a firm grasp of musicianship.
One hell of an immensely fun and worthwhile album.
BODIES OF WATER – Twist Again (www.bodiesofwater.net)
Recorded in a decidedly low-fi manner by the Highland Park,
Los Angeles, California married duo of David & Meredith
Metcalf in a makeshift studio in the living room of their
home, this album not surprisingly has a certain fragile
intimacy and immediacy to it that’s a marvelously
delicate and endearing wonder to behold. The vocals are
quietly lovely and ethereal, the arrangements tuneful and
dynamic, the songwriting smart and direct. The snappy tempos
and speedy beats keep things rolling along at a neat peppy
rate from start to finish. Amazingly, the sound is remarkably
rich, full, and soaring considering the conditions this
album was recorded under, with an eclectic array of instruments
put to robust and harmonic use throughout (the horns in
particular are simply sweet). An excellent album.
 SHELI
AARDEN – Kansas (www.facebook.com/sheliaaarden)
Armed with an incredibly sweet and captivating voice, a
sturdy feel for thoughtful and intelligent songwriting,
and an equally strong grasp for supremely soulful and tuneful
melodicism, Sheli Aarden scores herself a winner with this
really up to snuff album. Starting out with the rousing
and absorbing “Kansas,” Aarden takes the listener
along on an absorbing and harmonic sonic pilgrimage that
bumps along at a casual, yet still kickin’ tempo and
soaks in a wealth of touching insights, carefully observed
incidental details, and a certain underlying sensitivity
that’s both affecting and endearing in equal measure.
Artfully blending elements of country, pop, and rock into
a tasty and tuneful synthesis, this album glows with a humanity
and reflectivity which in turn further consolidates its
status as one to relish.
THE GROWNUP NOISE – This Time With Feeling (www.thegrownupnoice.com)
Mournful and contemplative, but still lively and stirring,
this beautifully brooding and harmonic avant folk-pop album
makes for a very poignant listening experience. The softly
urgent tenor vocals project a strong sense of longing and
regret with bracing directness and acuity. The lush arrangements
are vividly filled out by ringing guitars, propulsive basslines,
and steady pushing drums, along with the occasional weeping
violins and tinkling keyboards further adding to the divinely
melancholy mood. Moreover, there’s a sweetly delicate
sensitivity and sturdy grasp of sheer melodicism evident
throughout which further enhances the overall superior quality
of this fragile and finely affecting little jewel.
 ANA
KEFR – The Burial Tree (www.anakefr.com)
Introspective and supremely harmonic metal music may sound
like a complete contradiction in terms, but that’s
exactly what we get with the 14 exceptionally fierce and
thunderous, yet still thoughtful and tuneful tracks featured
on this album. Sure, there’s the expected roaring
full-throated screaming vocals, shred ‘em up hacksaw
guitars, burning basslines, and roll ‘em over slamming
drums, but along with all that furious racket there’s
an underlying feeling of sheer musicianship, startling mid-song
tempo changes, a raw, yet sharp and reflective intelligence,
and, most surprising of all, even a genuine concern and
sensitivity about the human condition that manages to be
both touching and thrilling in equal measure. It’s
not every day one hears a hard-rocking album that works
extremely well on both a visceral and emotional level, but
that’s exactly the case here and for this reason alone
this band deserves nothing but respect and kudos for this
astonishing artistic achievement .
HELLO RADIO – 300 Mile Concourse Winner (helloradio.net)
Offering six tracks worth of supremely laid-back and harmonic
pop-rock lushness, this EP CD puts the listener at ease
thanks to the way the swirling and hypnotic melodies lazily
buzz around in the air like big fat sleepy bees on a soporific
spring day. The vocals are clear and direct, the songwriting
sharp, thoughtful, and to the point, the arrangements clean,
tight, and refreshingly bereft of any needless show-offy
razzle-dazzle. The slow tempos and subdued beats both chug
along at a pleasingly relaxed rate. Mellow and low-key,
this baby hits the touching spot in a perfectly succinct
and satisfying way.
 VESSELS
– Helioscope (www.vesselsband.com)
Brooding away on nine tracks worth of lengthy, yet strong
and hypnotic pop-rock trippiness, this heady mix of brisk
pumping ahead tempos and constant pushing beats swirl and
whirl in a most captivatingly quirky and melodic manner.
Featuring vocals on only a few songs, this album mostly
depends on sound to carry the day. Fortunately, the smooth
basslines, sturdy hammering drums, and beautifully fluid
guitars are more than up to the task as they crash, collide,
and bounce off each other with breathtaking vigor and agility.
Better all, there’s a truly soothing quality to this
music that just calms the soul and puts one’s mind
at ease (the dreamy tune “Heal” is especially
relaxing). A very fine and impressive winner.
LIQUID ME (www.facebook.com/liquidme)
Representing hard-crunching rough’n’tumble
rock’n’roll at its most straight-up ballsy and
exciting, this 5 song EP from an upstate New York trio totally
kicks ass in no uncertain terms. The snarly vocals spit
out the angry lyrics with lip-smacking in-your-face aggressive
brio. The fiercely rippin’ guitars, churning basslines,
and tough-as-steel steamrolling drums keep the quick tempos
and barnstorming beats tearin’ along from start to
finish. This is the kind of gloriously raw and gritty rock
that goes right for the jugular with a savage energy and
sense of go-for-it abandon that’s a complete nasty
joy to hear. One hell of an immensely enjoyable and explosive
roar of a winner.
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