Music Review

Music Review

Jagged Doctrine – To Whom It May Concern

May 19, 2013
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Industrial metal is one of the few genres to never really become overcrowded and overdone. Sure, there were a lot of bands jumping on the NIN/Manson band wagon back in the day, but it’s not like we were drowning in clones like we were with grunge or ska. And the fact that NIN and Manson are so different from each other just shows how diverse the intersection of metal and electronic noise really was. Jagged Doctrine is one of the few 1990’s children of that marriage that are still alive and kicking today. To these ears, the guitar and electronic sounds brought together on To Whom It May Concern are a bit more coherently mixed than the average industrial band. This cohesiveness puts the songs ahead of many of their current and past contemporaries. This is not to say the music is mellow or light on the guitars in any…

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The Poor Geezers – All 4 One – Best Of (review 2)

May 19, 2013
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The Poor Geezers - All 4 One - cover

I snagged this to review because it was labeled something along the lines of folksy/punk or something like that. I was really surprised when I put on my headphones and the music started coming out. I didn’t really know what to expect, but this is a straight up rugged, DIY, acoustic based music with attitude and ethics. The first thing that came to mind was a stripped down Billy Bragg, or someone like John Wesley Harding. From the press release, the core players are “Dean Riches who is a multi-talented guitarist, drummer, singer, songwriter, harmonica player who lost his front teeth in a Meteors mosh pit, and Eagle Spits who is a poet, croaker activist who loves The Clash and Blind Willie Johnson.” This album is basically a “best of” compilation from their previous four records. It really is a great album that has poetry tracks mixed in with bluesy, acoustic, stripped down songs about religion, Christ, politics…

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King Never – 37

May 18, 2013
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KingNever-37

Fans of crafty electric guitar and bands like Porcupine Tree, Belew-era King Crimson and The Police will want to check out this King Never EP. It’s a straight-shooting representation of what this tightly-knit trio can do on stage. Until I get the chance to see it happen in Chicago, I’ll be spinning 37. I’ve been a fan of Matt McCabe’s playing and songwriting an embarrassingly long amount of time, but for good reason. This set finds him making yet another forward push against the boundaries. [2013 Independent | Purchase: music.kingnever.com]

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Hippos Of Doom – Road Trip EP

May 18, 2013
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Punk rock has always been more about attitude than style. True punk fans will be willing to forgive sameness and lack of technical skill if there is a sick riff and “I think I can change the world through music” attitude. Oh, and also an understanding that there is a difference between humor and utter silliness. With a name like “Hippos of Doom”, well, one might be worried that you get silliness and lack of attitude rather than humor and rock. Thankfully, the Hippos give us the attitude, energy, and humor that punk rock fans really want. They even cover “Holiday Road.” Yep, that “Holiday Road.” Best song title goes to “The Royal Philharmonic Goes To The Bathroom.” Overall, a fun EP that is a bit of the good parts of pop punk thrown in with a good lot of old school punk. And its free, so what are you…

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The Poor Geezers – All 4 One – Best Of

May 5, 2013
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The Poor Geezers - All 4 One - cover

I have never heard of this band but this is a best of – always a good way to introduce yourself to a band. What you have here is DIY, Lo-Fi, Blues, experimental Folk-Punk, or as the band calls it “Patch-work Punk”. I don’t have anything to compare this to, and that’s cool, big points for originality! I’m not a big fan of the vocal production, but I can get past that after a few listens. Enjoy a lot of the lyrics, a good variety of topics from the spiritual, to the political, dark humor, and everyday life. It’s legit Punk, something not seen too often in the Christian market. 23 tracks in all, coming in just over an hour. One of the better Thumper releases I’ve heard thus far. Would love to hear a better produced album from these guys, it varies throughout the album. Two piece band for…

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Dissident Prophet – Weapons of Mass Deception

March 25, 2013
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Weapons of Mass Deception

The Dissident Prophets (aka The Maccabees) are back! The Prophets were more active in the late 1990s/early 2000s before disappearing for a while. I often hear them compared to L.S. Underground. While that is an influence or comparison, there is really a different vibe to DP that is not as dark as LSU. Which is not a bad thing, just something different. “Fire, Fire” is a driving song with slight influences from later day The Cult. “Running On The Wheel” is a groovin’ song with a heavy 80s feel. “Time O’ The Signs” has a distinct 90s alternative mood to it, followed by the rollicking acoustic ditty “Be Serious” that will have you whistling along with it. But it’s not all older influences. “The Man Behind The Curtain” sounds like it could fit in with current garage rock bands that you hear on many commercials. Yet they manage to bring…

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The Ocean Blue – Ultramarine

March 24, 2013
By
ultramarice

You either love The Ocean Blue or you just haven’t heard of them. Or you just aren’t into jangy-dreamy-alterna-indie pop. The Ocean Blue is pretty much one of the best at that sound, and now they are back with a new album. I know what you are thinking – when bands like this disappear for a while and then come back with an independent album, they are usually a mere shadow of their former self. Not so with Ultramarine. This CD could easily set next to their first three albums and hold its own. Every song makes you stop and think “wasn’t that on such-and-such album?” But it wasn’t – it is just good enough to have been. Of course, it is not all about re-hashing the glory days – The Ocean Blue tries several new musical ideas with this release. They are basically a band that is moving forward…

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Nina Llopis – Unveiled (part-1)

March 24, 2013
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With the piano intro to the first track, you kind of wonder if Nina has mellowed since her time with The Lead or as a solo artist on various labels. But about 45 seconds into that same track, you realize that this is by far her heaviest solo effort to date.  I haven’t heard worship music this intense in a long time. This ep is worship music that I can listen to any time – unlike the corporate mess that is currently called “modern worship.” I would even say that these songs are very gothic in places. I love how the lyrics are corporate and upward focused: “we” and “us” as well as “you Lord” are terms that are so missing in today’s worship. The only problem is that this is a four song ep. I want a whole album, or even a double album. But it is part-1, so…

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And How – Tractor

March 23, 2013
By
andhowtractor

Somehow two new releases by And How have slipped past my ears. Need to pay more attention. I’ll focus on the newest one in this review (Tractor), but also know that the one before it (Letters Tied to Balloons) is just as good. While And How really has a sound of its own, many of the songs bear a Daniel Amos influence of mid-paced melancholic alternative rock. And How is essentially a one man project by Sean Severson that sounds more like a full band project.  The driving “No Place to Hide” is probably my favorite of the bunch, but I pretty much like the whole set. These songs would make a good soundtrack on a rainy day to drive around while thinking about life. Oh, and did I forget to mention they are free? Not even listed as “pay what you want” – just flat out free. So check…

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Deni Gauthier – i (am) hope

March 22, 2013
By
iamhope

So this album has been out for a while, and Gauthier is already working on another. But Gauthieris a fan of Michael Knott and many of the bands we cover here, so you need to know about his music. Gauthierplays a slightly amped-up rock/pop version of singer/songwriter music. I know that there are a billion people out there that are doing that, but few have that special something that makes you pay attention. Gauthieris one of those people. I don’t know how to describe it, but there is just that spark that sets the good apart from the mediocre. Go listen to his songs on BandCamp to see if you agree. There are two versions of this album, regular and deluxe. The difference in price is about 2 Canadian dollars, but you get 6 different demo versions and b-sides for that measly $2.10 or whatever the conversion rate comes out…

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