Glenn Rowlands – Ancient Eagle
Acoustic, stripped down, and rawer than we have heard Rowlands in the past, these songs are labeled as demos. So will we see these again on future albums? Maybe so, but for the most part these songs can stand alone as another project of the acoustic side of Rowlands that we have heard on many albums in the past. Some of these demos are newer versions of older songs, or even interesting takes on older songs like “I Thought I Could” (one of Rowlands albums in the 1990’s was I Think I Can if you don’t get the reference). This is mostly laid back, contemplative acoustic music with minimalist but effective percussion. You also get a recording of Glenn giving his Testimony near the end. These might be demos but I found them to be quite enjoyable as with all of Rowlands music.
Transistor Revival – Transistor Revival
Transistor Revival is a newer project from Glenn Rowlands and Robert Powell. The tone, lyrics and music are much darker than most of their past projects. Loud guitars, catchy hooks, and memorable melodies are still present. The name of the album/project seems to be rooted in a series of dramas of the same name. It would be interesting to see what kind of drama would go along with this kind of music. With song titles like “Blood Stained Hands,” “Cyclotron Curse,” and “Hordes Of Hellish Flies” – you know that those had to be some interesting dramas. As a long term fan of Rowlands music, I can tell that he has been practicing and pushing himself to get better with each release. Not that he wasn’t good in the past, but you can tell he is growing as an artist. The heaviness continues through ten songs until the album closer “Jesus” – a worship song that sounds like it was recorded spontaneously live. Overall, another strong effort from the musical team of Rowlands and Powell.
Fashion Week – Darker Things
Fashion Week is a bit different than I was expecting. Their first track, “Jacksons Everywhere”, sounds almost like they are starting off with a slightly amplified Americana sound. But the second track (“The Other Side/SPIT BUBBLES”) is alternative guitar rock. Most of the songs on the their EP seem to float somewhere in between the two, a bit eclectic and a bit electric – with a helping of self-deprecating humor (they have a song called “The Joke is On Me” after all). You can check out their ep for free on Bandcamp if you like. And I am reviewing it here because I think some readers will dig it.
The Glance – Virtue, Vice, Grace & Sin
So what exactly does progressive folk rock sound like? If it is all like The Glance, call me a fan. I was hooked from the melancholic interplay between the guitar and mandolin on “Keep Your Mood From Changing.” I am guessing the “progressive” part is the electric guitar that is tastefully added in many places. Or are those horns I hear on “Spies!”? Almost gives the song a slight Havalina Rail Company vibe. Songs like “It Just Keeps Happening” also display a very talented rhythm section beneath the other sounds. Overall, the most impressive part are the ways the different instruments are interwoven together rather than relegated to background noise for the vocals. Of course, the lyrics seem to be about as intricate as the music, so this band is really the whole package for people that like intelligent music.
Kings & Daughters – The Lion
Hardcore that comes out of the gate screaming back at you. Kings & Daughters definitely brings the intensity with their debut ep. I’m not totally up to date on current hardcore trends, but what I do hear in this is what I first liked back in the mid-90s when Focused and Six Feet Deep first hit the scene: energy, intensity, conviction, and focused rawness. Every song on this ep as an interesting song title that contains a character followed by a colon and a sub-title (like “The Sphinx: A Graven Image”). If you like your music intense and in-your-face, this might just be for you. The Lion will be released as a free digital ep or a limited edition CD for purchase.
False Idle – California Or Bust EP
False Idle seems to be emerging as one of the leaders of the new Christian Punk rock scene. But to prove that they are more than just a bunch of loud punks, they decided to release an acoustic EP. California Or Bust is basically a collection of re-recorded versions of earlier False Idle songs. Punk detractors would do well to listen to these songs to see that there is more to punk than just making noise. The songs on this ep are much more enjoyable in this format than you would think. I would recommend at least checking this out online even if you aren’t a huge punk fan, because these songs are pretty catchy.
Bride – Incorruptible
Well, here we thought ‘Tsar Bomba’ was the final Bride album and we thought wrong. The Thompson brothers are back picking up right where they left off, ‘Incorruptible’ is in the vein of Bride’s more artsy/progressive (if you will) albums like ‘Drop’, ‘Oddities’, and ‘Tsar Bomba’. Amazing riffs from Troy as always, moments of dark sludge, prog, 90’s grunge, and all types of metal are heard throughout. I got a download of the album and have no idea who the other players are or production crew so can’t give credit where credit is due. Having said that, the drumming is excellent and the bass is in the pocket and bringing some good low end. Production is raw and open, but also delves into using the studio as an instrument with the mix. This album has some of the best ballads I have ever heard from Bride and Dale’s voice really shines on those tunes. Good tender moments with tinges of ‘Horrendous Disc’ era Daniel Amos can be heard on the record. Lyrics are thoughtful and poetic. Nice piano and acoustic pieces float about the heavy onslaught of guitars. A lot of mid-tempo rockers fills most of the album, “Darker Days” picks it up a bit more. I think that’s the only thing I feel this album is lacking, a few more upbeat songs, but that’s just me. If you’re a core Bride fan you will enjoy this album start to finish. Standout tracks are the opener “Unbelievers”, “We Lie”, “Melting”, and “Something I Need To Know”. Always glad to get new music from these guys.And How – More Happy Than You Think You Are
And How goes heavy metal? Well, not really at all, but these songs do sound a bit heavier and more aggressive to these ears. The distinct And How sound is still present, so don’t think this is one of those extreme band makeover kind of albums. Some songs, like “Stepping Stones” rock out nicely. Other songs, like “Heartache”, have a nice mid-paced groove. There are also several songs like “Colors” that have a nice melancholic 90s alternative sound to them. Overall, another great release from our merry band of collective artists.
Eddie Parino – That’s Me Poppin’ A String
Indie DYI the way it was meant to be heard. Rough around the edges, lots of tape hiss, but catchy and enjoyable. Eddie’s voice has an interesting bit of soul in it that makes it distinct (but not in an annoying way). I dig the hint of Zeppelin in places like “U Might As Wella Told Me (Bizarre)”. Sometimes I find myself wondering what these songs would sound like as a full blown studio project with label backing. But other times I realize that the DIY feel adds a character to the songs that is part of the overall draw. Man, the collective has been knocking ‘em out of the park.
Lost Orchards – Deaf Kids EP
I’m having a hard time trying to figure out how to describe the genre of this EP. Try to imagine Bill Mallonee with louder guitars, and that gets a bit close to Lost Orchards. Or I guess you could say that they are an Americana Folk band that is not afraid to turn up the guitars more than most in the genre. What you can expect from these songs are heartfelt vocals combined with solid musicianship from the band. Four songs and a cool acoustic version of the EP opener “Heroin Skinny” round out this album. Fans of the sounds and artists I mentioned should give this EP a shot.