RSS Feed

‘Albums’ Category

  1. Odis’s new album Feel

    April 30, 2009 by Jackie

    Named for famed soul singer Otis Redding, Odis hails from Dallas, Texas (and made sure to remove a “t” and insert a “d” into their name specifically for their hometown).

    Odis members Larry Gayao (vocals), Rob Bastien (guitar), Bristen Phillips (Bass), and Mike Peters (drums) had already established a local following from their live performances when they released their debut album, Feel in March 2008.

    The songs on Feel are reminiscent of an older style of rock, with a heavy focus on guitar riffs.

    Gayao may not have the best vocals ever laid down on an album, but his voice is certainly unique, with its gruff mix of rock edge and a little bit of country twang mixed in. He literally sounds “a little bit country, and a little bit rock n’ roll.” If Dallas’s dual personalities could be represented by a vocalist’s singing style, Gayao would be it.

    The lyrics themselves are fairly simple and straightforward, with a lot of chorus repetition throughout the album in songs like “The Hardest Part.”  “The hardest part of losing you girl is knowing that I’m going to need you” is repeated at the beginning, the middle, and the end.

    “I’m Not Coming” offers a refreshing detour from the other songs on the album, choosing to focus less on guitar and instead adding in some heavy drums, tambourine, and a seasoning of funk. “Troubled Soul” also makes a departure and takes a much more sinister and soulful approach, showcasing Gayao’s ability to do a different style of singing and making their band’s namesake seem more fitting than any other song on the album.

     Unfortunately, most of Odis’s songs are not terribly original in their arrangements or style. Songs like “Feel” feel more like a bar anthem rather than a rock anthem. 

    There’s one thing that cannot be denied about Odis’s debut album though: it’s catchy as hell. Even after only one listen of the album, you’ll find yourself humming “Lie to Me” and “It’s a Shame” (I know cause I did). There is no doubt that Odis’s music is “fun” in the truest sense of the word and can inspire even the shyest of concert or bar goers to stand up and dance for a song or two (with or without the influence of alcohol).

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Odis’s new album Feel

  2. Hedley’s new album Never Too Late

    April 14, 2009 by J-Man

    Never Too Late

    There’s a band called Hedley that you have never heard of. A guy named Jacob Hoggard is their lead singer. Tommy Mac plays bass. Dave Rosin plays guitar for them. Chris Crippin plays the drums. Not ringing any bells? Let me give you a list of reasons (complete with bullet points) your innocent ignorance is ridiculous. In three years, this band has:

    • Taken two albums double platinum
    • Released seven #1 songs
    • Beat out Nickelback and Avril Lavigne on Nielsen’s BDS Top 10 Artist Airplay
    • Toured with Nickelback, Sum 41, Yellowcard, 3 Days Grace, Finger Eleven, and BON FRICKEN JOVI.

    So why have you never heard them? Canadia has been keeping them secret, that’s why. I’m fairly certain that our northern neighbors have some sort of Weapon X-like facility where they genetically engineer rock stars. As with all of Canada’s radio-take-over artists, Hedley is now headed down our way with their exclusive U.S. release, Never Too Late. On this album, we get all seven #1 singles along with other songs from their two double platinum releases that we didn’t get to buy due to not being Canadian.

    The first track on the album, “She’s So Sorry”, hits hard and gives you a taste of the band’s rock influence. I immediately thought of Billy Talent when the vocals started, and that is a very good thing. It’s a powerful start to a well rounded album.

    They’ve got a bit of the “producer added electronica” curse that seems to be plaguing bands today (electronic drums on “Bone Shatter”, synth noises on “Hand Grenade”, keyboard track on “On My Own” without a keyboardist in the band), but it’s not so bad that it distracts from the obvious talent these guys bring to the table.

    The reggae influence on the title track “Never Too Late” was an awesome surprise. The band pays tribute to Jacob Hoggard’s pop star days on Canadian Idol with “For the Nights I Can’t Remember”. They round out the album with a couple of well placed ballads, ensure that they’ll be played at every graduation with “Old School”, and seem to have put together a record that’s probably going to go platinum here in the U.S. just like it did in Canada. I’m going to buy it, and I got it for free already.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Hedley’s new album Never Too Late

  3. The Mission District

    April 9, 2009 by Cassie

    photo credit: www.myspace.com/themissiondistrict

    Upon listening to The Mission District’s “Heartbreaker”, I am instantly reminded of bands such as Metro Station, Melee, and Cobra Starship – bands that I enjoy regularly on warm and sunny days. The keyboard and upbeat tempos lend to a rather energetic and unbelievably catchy chorus that compel me to repeat the song after the first go-round.

    But there is something different from the other bands here. In some points of the verses, the lead singer, David Rancourt’s voice, sounds straight out of the 80’s. Rancourt says, “We didn’t want to write a self-indulgent and arty record. We wanted to write a pop record. We wanted to have big choruses that you could sing along to…” and that is something that comes across in a big way. After a couple of plays, I already know those choruses and am singing along. Apparently these guys are very familiar with catchy.

    photo credit: Gemma Conway

    Other Mission District songs like, “So Over You” and “The Age of Pretending” showcase some 80’s style synthesizer and vocals highlighting dance-inspiring qualities. On “The Best of You and Me”, a whole different sound is displayed – one with more typical pop-rock beats, without the electronic feel. Their songs don’t all sound, which keeps me entertained. With lyrics like “I will break your heart tonight cause this is what we do/This time I swear I’ll get it right/ I’ll break your heart in two,” some might say that these tracks aren’t too profound, but The Mission District succeeds in what they set out to accomplish: catchy, fun, and genuinely good pop music. This will definitely be in my stereo next time I’m thinking of having a dance party.

    Category Albums, Features | Tags: | Comments Off on The Mission District

  4. Falling Up’s new album, Fangs!

    April 6, 2009 by Jackie

    http://www.myspace.com/fallingup Hailing from Albany, Oregon the trio that makes up Falling Up–Josh Shroy (drums), Jeremy Miller (bass, keys) and Jess Ribordy (vocals, guitar and keys)–is anything but mundane and ordinary.


    There is no real musical “genre” you could classify these three guys in. Part rock, part ballad, part science fiction and part everything else, their classification of themselves on MySpace as “experimental” is very fitting.

    With their sixth album Fangs!, released on March 24th, the spiritual band further pushes the boundaries of time and sound with their “experimental” music. From the get-go, Fangs! sounds like something few listeners have probably ever heard before. Ribordy’s voice is at the very least, haunting, with just the right amount of near-creepy thrown in. The sound becomes almost spaceage-esque when Ribordy’s voice combines with the electronic effects the band has laid over tracks like “Lotus And The Languorous.”

    http://www.myspace.com/fallingup


    Many of the songs are chock full of sheer ominousness, making them feel like the supporting soundtrack to an intense battle scene from Star Trek or a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novel. Other tracks, like “Goddess of the Dayspring, Am I,” are more upbeat and even ethereal in their musical style.


    On the title of the album, Ribordy says, “Fangs sums up a very reactive type of scenario. We often think of Fangs relating to snakes or poison, which represent the idea of biting and damage. It’s a very reaction-based record where something is always happening. Whether it be good or bad, it’s always significant.”

    And significant this album is. From its out-of-this-world-infused songs, all the way down to the song titles; most of which are quite complex and sound like they were taken directly from a chapter in a sci-fi novel, with names like “Streams of Woe at Acheron” and “The King’s Garden.”

    If Falling Up’s goal is to push musical boundaries, they have definitely done so with Fangs!.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Falling Up’s new album, Fangs!

  5. The Bigger Light’s debut album Fiction Fever

    March 26, 2009 by Jackie

    www.myspace.com/thebiggerlights Named from a line in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” The Bigger Lights is made up of J.K. Royston (guitar/vocals), Dan Mineart (bass/vocals) and singer Topher Talley and they charge at listeners full-speed with their brand of upbeat, adrenaline-pumped rock.

    Hailing from Fairfax, Virginia, the band will celebrate the release of their debut album, The Fiction Fever, on April 7.

    With an energetic mix of pop and rock, songs like “Closer (Time Stops Breathing)” and “Apocalypse!” use enthusiastic vocals and harmonies mixed with heart-pounding guitar background and solos to pump the music through the stereo and straight into the listener’s ears.

    http://www.myspace.com/thebiggerlights

    Their song titles reflect the band’s enthusiasm and energy with names like “Revved and Ready” and “Goldmine Valentine,” the latter undoubtedly being the stand-out song on the album with Topher Talley’s voice shifting to an almost haunting whisper at the opening of the song with the band noticeably relying heavier on minor keys.

    Even “When Did We Lose Ourselves,” which most people would probably expect to be a somber ballad based on the song title, is a fantastic pop/rock anthem highlighting Royston’s guitar skills and is likely to inspire any audience to   stand up and sing along.

    http://www.myspace.com/thebiggerlights

    With the infectious choruses and vocals on The Fiction Fever, it’s safe to say that listeners will be left humming and singing “if this is it, we’re dead set and ready for it” for a long, long time.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on The Bigger Light’s debut album Fiction Fever

  6. New Found Glory’s new album Not Without a Fight

    March 9, 2009 by Steph

    Not Without a Fight is the best possible title for New Found Glory’s eighth studio album. Dripping with determination and ferocity on this release, New Found Glory has found the perfect combination of punk rock and maturity and proves that they’ve still got it and they’re not going anywhere.

    The title track of the album is called “Right Where We Left Off.” Instead of being a direct pick up from where Coming Home finished, this album is a better integration of the maturity, sharpness, and melodic complexity of Coming Home and the NFG brand of pop punk that they made famous with Catalyst and Sticks and Stones. The tracks are drum-heavy and have catchy guitar riffs contrasting Jordan Pundik’s prominent clean tenor vocals. The bass on each track throbs like the heartbeat of the band which could make anyone’s chest pump with the amp—a perfect concoction for moshing.

    The gang vocals on tracks like “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” and “Such a Mess” contribute to the fighting spirit of the album. This is supported by the intro of “Such a Mess” which is similar to Four Year Strong’s Rise or Die Trying with its heavy bass and clean guitar riffs that creates a really powerful sound. Songs like “This Isn’t You,” “47” and “Tangled Up” prove that it’s not about being thick-skinned for NFG; it’s about saying exactly how they feel, but giving it a kick in the ass. Even though they’re songs about frustration with love, they’re still pissed off and unforgiving as Jordan sings in “This Isn’t You,” “Your words break me down like a wrecking ball, I’m so sick of it all.” “Reasons” is the perfect tie between past and present New Found Glory with an acoustic intro and heartfelt lyrics that progress into a chorus of pounding riffs.

    A lot of bands promise to return to their previous sound and many can’t manage to re-conjure up their most perfect moment. New Found Glory promised Alternative Press in their issue of the Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 that they were going back to their roots for this album and not only have they been successful, but they’ve also managed to retain the life lessons they’ve learned along the way. Congrats, NFG. You got your fight back.

    To follow up with their new album release, New Found Glory is going on a seven week tour with Bayside, who released their forth studio album Shudder this past September, Set Your Goals, who is now recording a follow-up to 2006’s full length Mutiny, and Verse, who released their studio album Agression this past June. They’re coming at you fast, rowdy, and full of new music so check out the tour and keep your eyes open for a review of the show.

    Category Albums | Tags: | 1 Comment

  7. Anarbor’s new album Free Your Mind

    March 9, 2009 by J-Man

    Anarbor’s new EP Free Your Mind hits the shelves on March 10, and if you are a fan of music, I suggest you pick it up. I’ve been listening to it almost non-stop since I got it for review (I paused briefly to sleep once or twice) and I’ve yet to get tired of Anarbor’s high energy, catchy sound. Hopeless records made a good decision picking these guys up.


    Reading up on the band, the first thing that caught my eye was their honesty. They are Pop-Rock. They call themselves Pop-Rock. They make a point to not have any instrument on their album that they don’t play live. To quote their guitarist Mike Kitlas, “The distinctive sound we are reaching for is rock and roll… We are going for a very raw and real sound for this record.” They stuck to this mantra on every song. You get the feeling listening to this album that the songs would sound very similar if you were listening to the band practice in a garage, and that’s not a bad thing. Every song feels genuine and real.


    The two founding members of the band, Mike Kitlas and Slade Echeverria, have been friends since kindergarten. They met up with their drummer, Greg Garrity, in middle school, and finished up their lineup with Adam Juwig on guitar shortly thereafter. After listening to them, it’s not hard to tell that these guys have pretty much grown up together. Every piece of the band seems to both stand out on its own and support the other pieces equally. It’s obvious that they all enjoy working together, and they do it well.

    My favorite song on the album, hands down, is the closer, “Always Dirty, Never Clean”. In it, they put the cookie-cutter music industry on blast. Every song ends with a very simple, yet poignant question: “What the f*ck happened to Rock and Roll?” I myself have asked this question on countless Nickleback-related occasions. They go on to challenge the “image before talent” mentality of pop music with the last line in their chorus, “Music is what you hear, and not what you see.” Preach on Anarbor. Preach on. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this band. They’re currently on the Take Action Tour with Cute Is What We Aim For, Breathe Carolina, Meg & Dia, and Every Avenue. If I can catch one of these shows, I’m definitely going to. I suggest you do the same.

    I am definitely looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this band. They’re currently on the Take Action Tour with Cute Is What We Aim For, Breathe Carolina, Meg & Dia, and Every Avenue. If I can catch one of these shows, I’m definitely going to. I suggest you do the same.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Anarbor’s new album Free Your Mind

  8. Lily Allen’s new album It’s Not Me, It’s You

    February 22, 2009 by Steph

    In Lily Allen’s new album It’s Not Me, It’s You, she samples more genres than an F.Y.E. She opens the first track like a cross between “Pretty. Odd.” and Kill Bill, “Not Fair” starts off like a Western, “22” like a church organ, and “Never Gonna Happen” sounds like a polka! Playing around with a keyboard and a drum machine, almost every song has a dance beat to get you in the groove. Her clean yet jazzy vocals contrast beautifully with the staccato of the keys.

    Lily’s got a biting, sarcastic tone and she’s not aiming to write an epic poem with her lyrics, but her simplicity and straightforwardness are what make the songs so alluring. From “The Fear” about the Hollywood scene and “Fuck You” about prejudice and hatred to “Who’d Have Known” about liking someone and “Not Fair” about selfishness in the bedroom, Allen sings about the things we can relate to.

    The album It’s Not Me, It’s You sounds like what would happen if Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash fused and made music with Daft Punk and The Postal Service. I guarantee you’ll like it.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Lily Allen’s new album It’s Not Me, It’s You

  9. Thursday’s new album Common Existence

    February 2, 2009 by J-Man

    So.
    I’m supposed to be reviewing Thursday’s new album Common Existence. It’s the band’s first album to be released on Epitaph Records. It’s the 5th full length album of their twelve year career. It lives up to Thursday’s signature high-energy multi-layered sound, and the music seems good.

    The reason I say “seems”, is because the recording/production/mastering value on this CD is so crappy, every song on it seemed to melt into the next without distinguishing itself from the song before it. I couldn’t pick out a “favorite song”. There wasn’t a song that made me want to play it over and over again, singing along. For the majority of the time I was listening to the album, I couldn’t even pick out what Geoff Rickly (lead singer) was singing about.

    The album was recorded at Dave Fridmann’s Tarbox Road Studios, and I kind of wonder if maybe his studio is literally a box full of tar. The vocals sound like they are being sung through a can, in a garage. The drums sound like they were recorded in the same can. All of the instruments are mixed too high, and drown out the vocals throughout most of the songs. This is a big mistake for a band that is so lyrically driven.

    All of these things put together makes for a very messy sounding album that is almost immediately forgettable.

    As far as I can tell, Thursday brought the rock like they always do. Concerning Common Existence the band has said that Epitaph really encouraged them to be more socially and politically active, leading to songs like the very personal “Friends in the Armed Forces”. I really can’t wait to see them play some of these songs live, since I really had a hard time enjoying the recordings of them.

    Verdict:

    -Thursday is still awesome

    -This album probably has some very good songs on it

    -Dave Fridmann and the production crew at Tarbox Road Studios really dropped the ball on this one.

    Category Albums | Tags: | Comments Off on Thursday’s new album Common Existence

Older Entries
Newer Entries