April 2010

Queen Bee by The Langley Sisters

April 1, 2010
By
the-langley-sisters-queen-bee

I have read many labels used to describe the music of The Langley Sisters: folk rock, country, show tunes, even roaring 20′s/30′s type pop show tunes. If you can imagine all of those rolled up into one style that really does work, then you have the sound of The Langley Sisters in a nut shell. I know it sounds a little weird on paper, but on vinyl it is beautiful. Both songs on this album really do sound like they could have been recorded in the 1920s. Side A contains “Queen Bee”, the more upbeat number of the two. The B-side is “Someday In The Past’, a wistful song that is a bit more mellow, but just as sweet to the ears. I love it when groups like this can sing so well together. This particular vinyl is limited edition and word is they are selling out fast. Rumor...

Read more »

Speechless by MAP

April 1, 2010
By
map-speechless

Josh Dooley and company return with a mostly instrumental album. A few songs contain some vocals, but this album is mostly focused on Josh’s guitar playing and song writing. And what a beautiful record that makes. The opening song “Avalon” is worth the price for the album alone. But MAP keeps the quality up for all 10 songs. This is one of those albums that I really hope gets a vinyl release. Stylistically, MAP falls somewhere in the same region as Starflyer 59. All of the songs contain subtle nods of many different styles, so pinning down any one is difficult. One thing is for sure – there are hooks every where you listen on this album. Dooley’s sheer ability to write catchy hooks alone drives this album by before you even know it. Where as many instrumental albums get to the point of boredom with most songs all...

Read more »

Live at Eddies by The Vigilantes of Love

April 1, 2010
By
vol-liveateddies

I listen to a lot of Bill Mallonee, and recently I went back and gave this download another spin. This was the last incarnation of VoL before Jon Guthrie passed away so suddenly, and man I tell ya, these guys (and gal) were tight! This live recording was pulled directly through the soundboard at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA. The songs here are mostly favorites from Audible Sigh, Blister Soul and Welcome To Struggleville, and although you are sure to have heard them before, hearing them in the live setting with this line-up gives them new life and vigor. If you miss the band, this one is for you and it also is available as a very inexpensive download through Bill’s website (only $4.50). Make sure to check out our other review of Bill’s latest, Eternal Dawn and Gloaming. http://www.billmallonee.net/ http://www.myspace.com/billmallonee http://www.myspace.com/worksprogressadministration http://www.myspace.com/muriahrose

Read more »

War of Ages by War of Ages

April 1, 2010
By
WarOfAges

I chose to review War Of Ages first full length record for three reasons. One, Dave Quiggle (who we interviewed) did the cover art. Two, it’s Easter and this is what I consider praise music, and three, this record opens up with one of the best quotes ever; “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Those words penetrate every time I hear them. War of Ages is an amazing hardcore band that has been pummeling listeners for 6 or 7 years. This record nailed me upon first listen with the heavy double kick drumming, the furious thumping of the bass and the guitars that vacillate between hardcore breakdowns and metal riffs! The lyrics are positive, praise worthy...

Read more »

Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be by Gasoline Heart

April 1, 2010
By
GasHeart_Nostalgia

I can’t say enough about this band, they’ve changed my life. It was what my musical appetite was craving at the time I bought it and it satisfied like a piece of chocolate after a meal. It’s first and foremost rock, it’s Americana, it’s punk, it’s spiritual, it’s folk, it’s lyrical, it’s raw, and passionate. Not for the faint of heart, cursing casual as a sailor, it’s working class all the way. I love this album start to finish, a step up from its predecessor You Know Who You Are, which is a fantastic album, better than most bands out there. My highlights on this album are “Can’t Keep A Good Kid Down”, “Backbooth”, and “Eager Seas”. This one might be my favorite album of 2009. These guys are running with the torch of the greats of the past; let’s pray they don’t end up forgotten like many of...

Read more »

The Grape Prophet by L.S. Underground

April 1, 2010
By
lsu-grape-prophet

This is considered by many to be the quintessential release by LS Underground, I think the newest PTSD is just as good (if not better), but we reviewed that too. THE GRAPE PROPHET IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AGAIN, that’s why I thought we should cover it here. This release was what made music in the alternative early 90’s so amazing! A layered canvas with musical textures and ideas that was so innovative and unique that they defined an era. The players on this one were (of course) Knott and Brian Doidge, Caryn Colbert, Chuck Cummings, Mike Sauerbrey, Steve Hindalong and Dan Michaels. If you don’t know the story of The Grape Prophet then you have been hiding under a rock, but it was a concept album the Knott recorded about his interactions with a particular church, and he transposed it into a story about an orange picker in the...

Read more »

Spiritual Songs by The Wayside

April 1, 2010
By
the-wayside-spiritual-songs

The Wayside is back. If you like Americana, Rock, or folk in any kind of combination, then that one statement should make you rejoice. Starting off as Vag and Vague and a few other band names that I can’t remember back in the 1980s, John and Michelle Thompson and their merry rotating band of minstrels finally settled on their current name in the 1990s and have been releasing quality albums ever since. Now, I am not saying that they are releasing those albums at a rapid pace as Spiritual Songs is only their third studio album. Throw in a couple live albums and you have their entire catalogue. Spiritual Songs finds The Wayside covering, well… spiritual songs. These are all songs written by someone else – often even classic hymns and spirituals. You can listen to the entire album streaming at BandCamp.com. (I swear someday the Internet is going...

Read more »

Tsar Bomba by Bride

April 1, 2010
By
bride-tsarbomba

Bride’s last album, and what an album it is! It pulls sounds from throughout the history of the band creating a new sound. It’s one of the most dynamic and raw albums these veterans of rock have released, a very live feel to this album, but there is a lot of great studio moments all over the record. The opener “Industrial Christ” hits you hard right away with the heavy grooves Troy Thompson is known for. “All We Are” takes you places you weren’t expecting to go to during the solo section, grinding hard rock into classic British metal – fantastic. “Love Shine” reminds me of the heavier parts of Bride’s overlooked Oddities album, also has a great solo section. “We Are Together” is a little reggae/rock mesh up with a catchy sing along chorus. “Never” and “Separate” are two of my favorites, changing from a melodic alternative to...

Read more »

While Rome Is Burning by While Rome Is Burning

April 1, 2010
By
While Rome is Burning

While Rome Is Burning is another project from the multi-talented Rick McDonough. His partner in this band is Peter Kusek, who also plays with a great group called the Sad Accordions. The MySpace for While Rome Is Burning has been the only place to check out songs up until now and this little gem has been well worth the wait. This recording is a beautiful landscape of sonic textures and sounds, complimented by the vocals that deliver a poetic response to the listener. This is another great recording in the ever expanding arsenal of Rick McDonough’s work which has a standard of quality and uniqueness with each offering. Definitely give this one a try, and also check out Rick’s solo project Hidden From Blackout if you enjoy this record! http://whileromeisburning.bandcamp.com/ http://www.myspace.com/whileromeisburning http://www.myspace.com/thesadaccordions http://www.myspace.com/hiddenfromblackout http://hiddenfromblackout.bandcamp.com/ http://www.hiddenfromblackout.com/ http://rickmcdonoughphotography.blogspot.com/

Read more »

The Shawl by Doug Burr

April 1, 2010
By
doug_burr_the_shawl

The Shawl finds Doug Burr setting Biblical Psalms to music. Now, before you skip to the next review and write this off as some cheesy kid’s lullaby muzak or even some peppy youth group praise album that wants to make you all “happy in Jesus” – hold on a second. This is a serious attempt to capture the full range of emotions covered in the Psalms. Sadness and grief are just as prominent as hope and joy. “I Am Weary With My Singing” sits next to “Surely God is Good to Israel.” This is not rah-rah “look at my very real fake smile here” kind of music. The joy expressed here is earned after wrestling with the struggles of life. This is true worship, in a sense. The music behind the words is sparse, acoustic, and melancholy. The Shawl was actually recorded in the building that you see on...

Read more »