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‘Albums’ Category

  1. Underoath’s Latest Album Takes a New Direction…and We Like it

    September 28, 2010 by Mary

    Ø (Disambiguation) hits stores Nov. 9

    Last week, I sampled Underoath’s upcoming release Ø (Disambiguation) at a listening party hosted by the band themselves. Members of the press hung out at Swing House Studios in Los Angeles Tuesday evening to hear the 38-minute album, which will be released Nov. 9.

    This time around for their fifth album, Underoath took their sound to a new level, graduating from a younger metalcore sound that we’ve heard over and over to a darker, more experimental and mysterious sound that makes me want to hear more.

    The first couple of tracks, “In Division” and “Catch Myself Catching Myself,” grabbed me with some catchy melodies, engaging guitar parts, and heavy, clean vocals. Spencer Chamberlain definitely beefed up his vocals for this album and set aside the high-pitched, trendy metalcore screaming that we’ve heard on some of their past albums.

    Underoath

    Even though Ø (Disambiguation) is overall more laid back than past releases, the songs don’t drag on at all. They also blend together in a sort of continuum, like one flowing track the whole way through.

    Toward the middle of the record, more electronic influences and sampling come through, adding additional color to the darkened mix on this record. The closing track of the album “In Completion,” was one of my favorites, reaching an awesome pinnacle from a slow start to a heavy finish.

    Ø (Disambiguation) was a refreshing turn of the leaf for Underoath; a true mark that the group has grown. If you liked them already, prepare to love this album and gain a new respect for their music. And if you don’t like them, this may be the album that converts you.

    Check out the track list for Ø (Disambiguation) here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=433296403580.

    By Mary Waldron

    Category Albums, News | Tags: | 1 Comment

  2. The Posies – Blood/ Candy

    September 27, 2010 by John

    The Posies are an alternative indie rock quartet hailing from Seattle, Washington.  Born in 1987, The Posies are preparing to release their seventh studio album, Blood/ Candy, released by Rykodisc Records.  Twenty years ago, two teenagers, Jon Auer (Big Star) and Ken Stringfellow (R.E.M. & Big Star), began writing songs together.  The Posies is currently composed of Auer (Guitar, Vocals), Stringfellow (Guitar, Vocals), Matt Harris (Bass), and Darius Mainwalla (Drums).

    Blood/ Candy is chalk full of soulful soft melodies and harmonious lyrics, weaved with indie folk rock compositions.  The Posies scores of simple instrumentation create a vintage, polished and consistent tenor.  The release is a combination of different styles, genres and influences acquired over this outfit’s lasting career.  The album has a classic old-fashioned sound that will not drown – an album that takes you back in time.  Through Blood/ Candy The Posies lengthy career is made clear.  Blood/ Candy’s feel-good essence is haunting, I would go as far as to compare their song-writing style to The Beatles.

    The Posies will be touring through Europe until mid-October, good luck guys!

    Listen to their single “Licenses to Hide”

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  3. Theives and Villians’ album South America

    September 15, 2010 by Anna

    South AmericaLet’s face it, sometimes the pop-punk and indie-rock scene can be a little monotonous… High pitched vocalists singing about their broken heart or intense love for someone in an effort to catch their attention while distorted guitars wail and drums thrash resulting in a messy but catchy track that hundreds of teenagers can sing along to while reflecting on their own love woes. Although Thieves and Villains makes some use of this familiar pop-punk sound, their album South America is packed with sounds that take it beyond the conventional.

    Thieves and Villains takes pride in the fact that this album was recorded “the old-fashioned way.” Rather than relying on auto-tune and hours of layering and production, the band chose to record using vintage tape machines and their own gear. Judging by the raw and organic sound of this album, they definitely made the right decision.

    There are several gems in this album and some less notable. One of the highlights is the record’s second track, “Song For Dean Moriarty,” in which the band makes good use of a loud and prominent bass line. The following song, “Virginia Woolf” boasts of intriguing instrumentals and vocals resembling that of Panic! At the Disco. Another notable track is “I Want A Friend Like South America Promo, Photo Credit: Jesse DeflorioYou,” one of the more pop-influenced songs with verses that will undoubtedly induce some head-bobbing and/or swaying action. “Drums In Amsterdam” sounds like it came straight out of the Eurotrip soundtrack with its high-energy, guitar driven sound, while “Youth” highlights the band’s excellent percussion. The song’s final 30 seconds has vocalist Sergio Otaegui singing “you should join in” while back up vocals joyously sing along. Appropriate, is it not? The band closes the album nicely with the pleasantly acoustic “South St. Hymnal,” a great contrast to the upbeat tracks before it.

    Though not the greatest album, South America is a valiant effort to reinvent the pop-punk and indie rock sound. Its consistency overpowers the pitchy and sometimes repetitive aspects that make the album flawed and shows that Thieves and Villains has immense potential.

    South America is out now and they’re heading out on tour soon, so check out the dates below.

    Rating: (3/5)

    On Tour:

    Sep 22, 2010 Brooklyn, NY, US @ Party Expo w/The Scenic
    Sep 23, 2010 Hamden, CT, US @ THE SPACE w/The Scenic
    Sep 24, 2010 Nyack, NY, US @ Indigo Paradise w/The Scenic
    Sep 25, 2010 Salem, MA, US @ Salem KNights of Columbus w/The Scenic
    Sep 26, 2010 Dover, NH, US @ The Dover Brick House w/The Scenic
    Sep 27, 2010 Baltimore, MD, US @ Ottobar w/The Scenic
    Sep 28, 2010 Philadelphia, PA, US @ The Barbary w/The Scenic
    Sep 30, 2010 Charlotte, NC @ CASBAH w/The Scenic
    Oct 1, 2010 VA, US @ Club Relevant w/The Scenic
    Oct 2, 2010 Warrenton, VA @ THE BARN w/The Scenic
    Oct 15, 2010 Providence, RI, US @ The Ruins w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 16, 2010 Patchogue, NY, US @ Club Karma w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 17, 2010 Albany, NY, US @ Bogie’s w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 20, 2010 Jermyn, PA, US @ Eleanor Rigby’s w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 22, 2010 Vineland, NJ, US @ Hangar 84 w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 29, 2010 Bronx, NY, US @ The Point w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 30, 2010 Danbury, CT, US @ Heirloom Arts Center w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches
    Oct 31, 2010 Cambridge, MA, US @ MIDDLE EAST w/ Just Surrender and With The Punches

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  4. Comeback Kid’s New Release Symptoms and Cures

    August 30, 2010 by John

    Symptoms and Cures by Comeback Kid

    Symptoms and Cures by Comeback Kid

    Hardcore punk heroes, Comeback Kid, will release their fourth album tomorrow entitled Symptoms and Cures through Distort Records. Comeback Kid is presently tailored of vocalist Andrew Neufeld, guitarists Jeremy Hiebert and Casey Hjelmberg, bassist Matt Keil, and drummer Kyle Profeta. Comeback Kid may have a new voice proceeding the departure of vocalist Scott Wade, but the band’s tenor and heart have done anything but falter. Comeback Kid’s roots have grown strong, and their sound consistent. Their demeanor may have changed, but their expression, not. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Comeback Kid has endured a storm or two of their own, becoming a keystone of good old-fashioned hardcore punk.

    Symptoms and Cures may not have the same voice, but it speaks the same. Comeback Kid’s latest is anything but delicate. Finger-licking tough punk at its best pressed with classic badass Comeback Kid breakdowns. Catchy sing-a-longs as heard in “G.M. Vincent & I” are expressed and screamed with heart and fortitude. This seasoned quintet has proven to be strong and will persist. My album favorites: “Do Yourself A Favor”, “Manifest”, and “Get Alone” – Comeback Kid at their best. Pick this one up and you will not be disappointed.

    Following the release, the outfit will set sail on a September long Canadian tour with A Wilhelm Scream and Madball. Best of luck on the road and wherever it may lead.

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  5. Miniature Tigers

    July 19, 2010 by Steph

    Miniature Tigers, Fortress

    F O R T R E S S out July 27th on Modern Art Records/ILG

    When I first heard the single “Gold Skull featuring Neon Indian” from Miniature Tigers’ sophomore album FORTRESS it was right about the time MGMT’s Congratulations was released and I thought, “now this is what MGMT’s sophomore album should have sounded like.” It opens with a catchy electronic melody, quickly joined by a slow and simple electronic drum beat. The hollow sound of the vocals and the experimental synthesized harmonies create an ethereal sound, sending the listener into a dream-like state.

    While hopeful that the rest of the album would carry through with this electro pop, upon listening to the other tracks I was completely caught off guard. That’s not to say the rest of the album isn’t great, but none of the tracks quite matched up to the potential of the single. The feeling of this dream-like state carries through on the album FORTRESS, however, many of the other tracks lack the catchy-ness of “Gold Skull.” Many of the songs have a heavy Beatles-influence, slathering the tracks with surf-rock guitarMiniature Tigers, but layered with a certain hauntedness. Not suprising since they recorded the album at Dreamland, a converted 19th century house deep in the woods of Upstate New York.

    Overall, I really enjoyed the record. The single is definitely my favorite and a major stand-out track. However, if you pop the CD in your player, you won’t be disappointed.

    (4/5)

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  6. Call the Cops’ Self-Titled Debut Album

    June 22, 2010 by Anna

    If you haven’t heard of Call the Cops, prepare yourself. There’s a huge chance you’ll be hearing a lot from and about them in the upcoming months.  Hailing from Long Beach and Orange County, CA, the band self-released their first EP, Motion Sickness, and gained attention from critics and fans alike.  At such an early stage in its musical career, the band has already had its share of accomplishments such as being voted the winners of Toyota’s 2009 “Rock the Space” promotion and being named one of Alternative Press magazine’s “100 bands you need to know in 2010.” The band continued to generate buzz by getting tracks on popular shows like MTV’s “Real World” and landing slots on the 2010 Take Action Tour and Bamboozle Left.  Now, with the release of its self-titled debut, Call the Cops is undoubtedly on its way to even greater success.

    The album’s first track, “Like it Like That,” establishes a pattern found in the album as a whole as the song begins with a more subtle, unique sound and rapidly develops into a high-energy, electro pop rock track. While the first track serves as a great introduction, it pales in comparison to some of the catchier and more memorable songs on the album.  One of these is the second track, “So Over You” which perfectly contrasts an upbeat sound with dark lyrics like “I hope you drown in all the lies that you’ve been telling.”  This is followed by another notable track and a personal favorite, “White Dress” which has all the elements of a good pop song.  The track starts with mellowed down instrumentals, calling more attention to the short, but awesome harmonies and transitions into a danceable duet between the lead vocals and the pleasant surprise of females vocals.  “Shot Me Down” boasts of a catchy chorus and straight-forward lyrics like “It must suck to be you,” while “Love Like Novocaine” shows the band exploring faster rhythms and unpredictable percussion.

    Although this album lacks variety as the similarity between tracks poses difficulty distinguishing one from another, it is a fun and lighthearted display of the band’s musical style and direction.  Call the Cops will be on the Vans Warped Tour this year promoting the release of this album which comes out today. Here’s to hoping their live performance is as impressive as their debut release.

    Rating: (3.0/5)

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  7. Cady Groves’ Life of a Pirate

    June 14, 2010 by J-Man

    I am a huge fan of singer-songwriters. In the world of over produced, auto-tuned, ghost-written pop packages, I’m always pleased when I’m handed an album filled with music written and performed by the same person.

    Cady Groves Ep Life of a Pirate fits that bill perfectly. You get to hear the passion of a person singing words they wrote. You get the raw unfiltered sound of a girl who doesn’t need the studio magic in order to bring her songs to life.source - http://www.myspace.com/cadygroves

    Her music, although enjoyable, is underwhelming. Don’t take that the wrong way. Life of a Pirate is full of endearing and heartfelt songs, and the music is well written. I just didn’t feel like I was listening to anything special happen. When asked to describe her music, Cady herself posits “If Miranda Lambert, Paramore, Dixie Chicks, and Taylor Swift all had a less talented baby – that would be me.” Her modesty is commendable, but sadly, extremely accurate.

    source - http://www.myspace.com/cadygroves

    Listening to her music brought forth one of two reactions from me. I either started doing something else, letting her music drift into the background and provide a nice ambience for whatever else was going on; or I was reminded of other artists I wanted to listen to, who she sounded like, but was not quite as good as.

    Bottom line, Cady Groves and her new EP are good, maybe even really good, but not good enough to stand out. Good enough to cause me to be pleased if I was able to catch her set on The Bamboozle Road Show this summer, but not good enough to make me buy a ticket specifically to see her.

    Rating: (3/5)

    Category Albums | Tags: | 2 Comments

  8. What are The Boys of Summer all about?

    June 10, 2010 by Steph

    The Boys Of Summer - What It's All About (Cover)What would happen if the vocals of We the Kings and Angels and Airwaves collaborated with the musicality of Sing It Loud and Cobra Starship? The answer is The Boys of Summer’s new album What Its All About. The album drops June 15th and while it’s not something revolutionary that’s going to blow you away, the band is definitely what they claim to be–a good summer album.

    Opening with the feel-good synth-littered track “Things in Two,” you’re introduced to the two voices of Jon-Paul and Scab. The hollow shout-singing reminiscent of Tom Delong (Angels & Airwaves) and Travis Clark (We the Kings/[insert other pop rock band here]) coincides perfectly with the puppy love lyrics intermingled with the humdrum of the day to day–“I turn this place upside down just to find the right shoes / I’ve only got one pair, but it’s just something to do / Stone cold love’s for the weak, baby / But you’re love’s the only thing I see.” While a little immature, it’s sweet and endearing.

    The Boys Of SummerOther stand-out tracks include the more upbeat and groovy piano rock track “Love Like An Arms Race,” the more pop-rock “My Best Interest,” the more Relient-K-esque, harmony-heavy “Maps and Magnets.”

    Overall, it’s a fun album and a band that that you will love if you’re fans of the other pop rock favorites like We the Kings, Boys Like Girls, and The Maine. Take it to the beach this summer, play it on those iPod speakers, and soak up the sun and sweet melodies!

    (2.5/5)

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  9. Eureka(!) Rooney’s New Album

    June 7, 2010 by Guest

    Rooney's Eureka

    Eureka, the 3rd full length album by Rooney, was not at all what I was expecting. I thought I was going to be listening to Rooney from 2003, a very pop and young-sounding band, http://zuzyteswietlowki.pl/sf6-list-of-online-pharmacy-in-india which was appealing when I first listened their self-titled album when I was in my teens. Instead, what I heard when I pressed play was a more mature sound pumping through my speakers.

    The essence of Rooney is still there in the catchy beats and choruses that get stuck in your head. However, as we’ve all been growing and developing, so online canadian pharmacy has Rooney’s sound, as is evident in the new album. The 12-track release is filled with a http://littlerockshowings.com/vs-fucidin-a-cosa-serve/ mix of songs, ranging from mellow, slow-tempo ballads to those that are upbeat and make you want to stand up and dance. The track that stood out to me the most was “The Hunch.” The chorus was instantly catchy—“I’ve got the hunch and the hunch don’t tell no lies!”—and the guitar mimicked the vocals, adding a cool dynamic to the sound and feel of the song. I admit I went back and listen to it several times. It’s quite possibly my favorite track on this fantastic album.

    Eureka is one of the better albums I’ve heard so far this year. The album has so much diversity within it that you never hear the same song twice; everything stays fresh and keeps you stuck to your music player waiting to hear what the next song will be. Some are more classic rock with a heavy guitar presence and others are more current with the http://adnetcf.org/viagra-mfg-j8/ synthesizer playing a bigger part. If you are a fan of Rooney you won’t be disappointed, and if you haven’t listened to them in a while you might want to catch up and reacquaint yourself with the band. Overall I would definitely suggest making this thailand on line drugs one of the albums you buy this month.

    The album is out tomorrow, June 8th, and is available to be streamed in its entirety on their Myspace or to buy at Target this week for $7.99. The band will also be on a summer headlining tour with The Young Veins and Black Gold and then will be joining Hansen on the Shout It Out tour. For a full list of dates, check their website. http://gopslubawa.pl/wq/priligy-online-upmj/

    (4/5)

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