IF you can remember The Falling Joys and if you like Six Pence None The Richer then this band is for you. They do use a keyboard in the groups sound but it subtle. The guitars in the sound are more raw/aggressive at times but yet try and to conform to making pop songs with a hit of lite punk to them. The songs at times are well produced and greatly arranged well. The female in the band gives diversity to the lyrics and holds here own as a good front vocalist behind such a hard sound by the band. Some of the best songs are Follow-Through Time, Let This Rest, Bottle Rocket Battles and Bone-Tired. This was recorded during December 2003 and January 2004. Enjoy this one, its brilliant.
John Ashfield and his other two mates have collaborated nicely to becoming a very tight 3 piece. They sound if not better than the original line-up of 20/20 when they were signed to Bomp records. 14 pop fun filled songs are here that take off like chewing soft bubblegum. John Ashfield writes both from the heart and from the fun of his personal life. A couple songs are about specific items like the bus line # 37 in San Francisco that just happens to pull up right outside his front door. Bedazzler is a fascination song about beauty that can and does turn your senses/emotions batty. A lot of these songs lend themselves visually and are easy to understand. Some of the best songs from this debut release are: Crush, Why Not Smile, Bedazzler, Rainy Day and #37 Bus to name a few. This is available at CD Baby or contact www.thebobbleheads.com. THe release party foor this CD was recently done at an Art exhibit in San Francisco on August 27th, 2004.
This time out electronic keyboards pop at it finest just like Depeche Mode. This is a double CD release as it looks, but it's not a double. But it looks like a double CD by the CD's design....Genius. The record its self is pink and very plain. The songs are friendly and make you want to dance around. Some of the great songs on here are Post Calendar, I Am A Pioneer, The Singing Arc and The Works OF Unknowns.
This is hardcore punk with traces of hard thrashing rock pounding at you. Take this on if you dare. This is pure doses of hardcore spitfire punk firing at you quickly at times you dodge it some to0 just to breath. This is what a slam pit is all about. Locally from Los Angeles, the bands sounds like it should be an east coast hardcore straight edge punk band. A female fronted by a bunch of tough dudes. Some of the best songs on this debut release are: Vegas, I Am So Beautiful, Friday Night, Rewind and Tell Me Why You Are Not Punk. Tell Me Why You Are Not Punk should be every punk rockers anthem. For more info www.pillowfightpunk.com.
In this package are 5 DVD Video’s, there are 15 bands on here, found 2 demo’s on here, 4 live tracks on this and 6 unreleased tracks are in this CD package as too. Plus of course all the bands are signed or have CD’s or DVD’s with Kung Fu Records. This means that all of the songs are punk. The best demo track on here is from The Vandals for the song How They Gotcha. The best Live song is Kill Me, Kill Me by Useless Id. Out the unreleased stuff on here the track that sticks out is Roundabout by Tsunami Bomb. In all there are 34 things to find on here to listen too.
IT’s great to see that this band has such a great commercial CD come out of them yet again....Congradulations. The maturity of this band shows in it’s writing and within it’s sound. The lyrics are essential to today and all of it’s happening especially here in Los Angeles. The song Los Angeles Is Burning might sound like that they are talking about all the fires up in the hills of Los Angeles county. But, listen carefully because the lyrics might be about what is truly happening as far as crime and punishment here in Los Angeles and what it is really like. There seems to be more of a commercial sound from this record instead of a more traditional fast punk that we have come to love. Some of the songs are catchy to the ear like Sinister Rouge, Social Suicide and especially Live Again. The music here is well produced and sounds well orchestrated. There are some interesting harmonies here within the songs that are good too. Los Angeles Is Burning would make for a great video too. An outstanding release.
With songs like Follow and Firefly, there is sure to be even a third record I would hope. This second release is packed with hard metal rock alternative sound that moves you. You get a real feeling of chill within you while listening to the opening track So Cold. But get around that and you find that the heart of this CD is in the middle. Follow and Firefly will get your listening ear turned on easily. Other great tracks on here are Believe, Rain (which would make a great video), Sooner Or Later and Break My Fall. Can’t wait for a third release from these guys. Rock on!
With voting coming up soon for a new leader/president, and with there being a lot of young voters (18 years old) that are punk rockers will enjoy this 26 tracks and a DVD to show exactly what George W. Bush is doing or has been doing or isn’t doing. There are music video’s, on the companion DVD, here to help you not want to elect Bush to go along with the songs on this compilation. “This CD is not about making a profit; It’s about making a difference. It’s not about let’s be punk rock and hate the government. It’s about let’s be punk rock and change the government. It’s not about who’s a sellout or who’s more punk. It’s about uniting against a common enemy.” The bands on this comp have come together for one reason, and that’s to express outrage and form a united front against the dangerous, destructive, and deadly policies of George W. Bush and his administration. Out of the 26 tracks 16 of them are new tracks that are only on this comp. The bands that give this support on here are some names that stick out like NOFX, Less Than Jake, New Found Glory, The Ataris, Strung Out, RX Bandits, Authority Zero, Rise Against, The Get Up Kids, The Offspring, Against Me, Anti-Flag, Sum 41, Alkaline Trio to name a few. Get out and vote and support this compilation and buy it. Also check out www.punkvoter.com Inside this CD packaging it gives you 40 reasons why to hate Bush. Punk Rocker you can make a difference by voting.
HBO Films presents a power full true story that explores the effects of Mathew Shepard’s murder on Laramie, Wyoming, and how the town struggled to understand and came to terms with the crime. The artist who helped support this films music score and this CD soundtrack includes The Flamming Lips, Enya, Madonna, Depeche Mode, Alanis Morissette, The B-52’s, The Book Of Love, R.E.M and others. Alanis Morissette fans should pick up this CD because it has the song Awakening Americans which is a non album track from her. Warner Brother Records, Reprise Records and Maverick Records give special thanks to the artist and their management who have donated these songs in support of promoting social tolerance. I thanks these artist and the labels too.
This is a two song single. This single also includes the song Meltdown In Minneapolis. But it’s the campy punk thrash tune of Push Up that is really great. The song Push Up is about a sexual position. Man you can sure pump and grind good with this. Fast punk and rock guitars rushing and making your blood flow as if you’re the ones in the song actually having sex. This would make a great song for a porno movie. Meltdown In Minneapolis shows a more rock side to this band with light punk music in the mix. This is the best single so far this year.
Pop and fast punk mixed with enthusiasm is the way this starts. It finishes the same way and never stops throughout this entire album. This band has matured and grown with this CD. The lyrics are smarter and sensible so that the understanding of them come easily. Some of the best tracks this time around are Ball & Chain, Don't Do It Again, So Long and Make It Right. The CD in all has 12 really great tracks on it. It's hard to find the outstanding ones that are within this whole project. It's Never Enough is a good CD to drive with due to it's fastness and curves of guitars quick music riffs.
20 songs on hereout of the 28 of them are either rare or previously unreleased. For being only about $10.00 USA, this is a steal and it helps a good cause. The cause might give you the listeners an insight of the political sistuation that we are under. You haven't seen anything released music wise for the Republican Party top running man President Bush, nope this is a CD to help the Democratic party hopeful Mr Kerry. Some of the bands that are on here include YEllowcard, The Unseen, Flogging Molly, Green Day, Bad Religion, Operation Ivy, Dropkick Murphys,Foo Fighters, Law Wagon, Sugar Cult, Dillenger FOur, Jawbreaker, Bouncing Souls, Mad Caddies, Sick Of It All, No Doubt, Useless ID, Autopilot Off, The (Internantional) Noise Conspiracyand No Use For A Name to name some of them helping out here. The Live tracks are from Mad Caddies, Bouncing Souls and Jawwbreaker. No Use For A NAme delivers a great acoustic song called Fields Of Agony. So this is way worth picking up for sure. No go get yours all ready.
Coyote Shivers plans on releasing two CD's this year. The two CD's are One Sick Pup and the other is From My Bedroom To YOurs. THe advance that I have for review contains both albums. Disc 2 which is From My Bedroom To YOurs is an acoustic record. Yes it was recorded in Coyote Shivers bedroom. There are only 9 tracks on this acoustic record. The song Sugarhigh, which Coyote Shivers performs live elctric style in concert, it a great opener and draws you near with Coyote Shivers friendlyness. The intimacy end with a heart drenching tune called It's All Over. :yric wise Coyote uses realism and sarcasm well to tease his listeners. I bet if you were stoned out of your mind this would be a very trippy record to hear. The more commercial release of these two CD's is disc one called One Sick Pup. Coyote Shivers holds nothing back from his listeners with his camp style approacha nd his sexy lyrics that get a little our of hand. However amoungst all the chatter of guitars and fast beating drum and a deep bass throbbing, thee are some good writting. SOme of the good ssngs on here are One Sick Pup, You're Mine, Plus One, Live To Regret It and Just Be Friends. One Sick Pup is a true style of guitar band music with influences of The Ramones tweaked in for good nature.
It's really great to get CD's out from this band.They get creative with it's sound and try new tricks with ever commercial CD sterio release. This si a art work of excellence. The songs are easy to get into thewording a nd lyrics are very orriginal. I don't think They Might Be Giants will eer stop coming up with bright ideas to write about. This has to be the most artist album yet. Some of this songs on here you might find on a B- Sode of a CD single or something like that. In this case hte song Au Contraire. Some of the great songson here though are Bastard Wants To Hit Me, Spin and Experimental Film to name a few. You'll just have to llisten for all the special treats in the body of this work that your ears will find very interesting for sure.
Pop alternative guarge sounding at times, but very well arranged songs. The lyrics flow with precission and rythmic jestures. These jestures mught come from the great back up sound that this band has. The versitle style and graces this band shows will take them far. Some of the great songs on here are New Day, Pennsylvania, Lions Cage, The War and Sleeping Through Autumn. THe CD starts of a little hard with the song Got It All, but it end with a very up-beat hidden track that really gets ya movin' for sure. Meele again is a stylish post power pop alternative band that gives you a gentle fun groove to shake to.
With sure song titles as Otis, James Dean B-Side and Farewll Capeside you know your in for a great ride. This is a secod CD for this group and the experices between these two CD's have shown the drive and the grand poster of well established musicians in their craft. The album tends to rock so ever gently and yet be a powerful alternative pop album. Blind Mans Holliday sounded great when I heard it live at this years Warped Tour and it's even better sounding produced here. OTher tracks that you should pat attention to are Amy Never Misses, Hell - Bent On Heaven's Smileand the opening track Limousines And Cheap Sigars. Actually the opening track would make for a great first video for the band as well too. Great second release. They will be touring the Los Angeles area soon so make sure to catch them around in late October 2004 and early November 2004.
Poping fresh cool summer up beat material is a nice thing that you get thoughout this new CD. 1o songs that keep you humming along but lasting longer than a piece of bubble gum. SOme o the great tracks that stick out on this first full legnth CD from Color Wall are Crush Me, Ut all Goes On And On, Restless In 5th Gear and the cool cover of The Cars hit Just What I Needed is on here too. This is pure taffy pure surgar pop fun sounding CD.
Talk about having fun, well this might not be the perfect record to put on just getting over that hangover. It's true that punk and ska can mix well with pop influenced and Bowling For Soup is one of the ones that can do it well. With a couple of other CD's behind them going into this one, you can tell that the production is better. The songs are easy to get into and better understanding lyrics helps out too. Some of the songs that stick out on this new CD are 1985, Almost, A-Hole, Smoothie King, Shut - Up And Smaile and Friends O' Mine. This is an enhanced CD. Tracks 1 and 3 are also mixed by Tom Lord - Alge. This should explain and show just how good the production value is when they get one of the best mixers in sound to help you with some of our work.
This might be the right CD this year to actually put you to slep. This is due to the very light sound and meloncholy lyrics and vocals. For a debu release the band shows off some great writting and music attributes. Orchestration wise maybe this band should thing of doing motion picture soundtrack stuff. They have both a male and femmale lead vocalist and they each show off on here equally. This is one of those CD's where you really need to hear the whole thing before making any judgments on it. One really cool track that sticks out maybe a bit more than the rest is a song called Sympathy For The Martyr. Other great gems are on here too, but you'll have to find the other diamonds in the ruff songs wise when you listen to the whole CD.
ALBUM REVIEWS 2004
One of the most anticipated alubum of the year. It was well worth the weight. First having the fact that the original members were working together again was something great. However, the production, the sound, the orchestration and depth that this album has is fantistic without a doubt. With many recordings all ready making noise for themselves, this is a standout record. If you could cature a time and space volals and music wise, Tears For Fears has captured imagination and the heart of many of listeners. Some of the songs go a bit deep, but the landing is a nice soft fuzzy bear or pillow. The artistic values in the paints of the art work and the landscapes that Tears For Fears bring forward into view are terrific. With such songs as CLosest Thing TO Heaven and EveryBody Loves A Happy Ending you will fall in love again with a great sound for one of the alternative best bands still around since the 80's.
Painting pictures and showing landscapes is something R.E.M is getting better at. This time around you are taken narrow spaces and hig feelings are aboundant in a melocholy lyrics that tends to let you ride along only what they see that what the sites really are and what they stand for. Michael Stipe is becoming a great writer in his writings. The music isn't as hard alternative nor is it alternative as such but more streching out and feelings thrwn around to covey Michael lyrics and based music wise accordingly to Meloncholy. Sure different textures and styles are thrown in for good measure here and there, but the simple flow is constant live a river going through an entire state. Each part of this seeks out what is best in ach landscape and looks around to see what kinds of music transcribes what the rivers flow is dealing with or watching. Leaving New York is the first single and one of the best songs on the new album This record has on ly 3 original members working to gether and Bill Berry is now gone. No rockin' songs like Animal or Bad Day are featured on here. Instead it is an amazing insight to ones developement of pictures that have been forming around from across our great divide at this weird times we are facing and the experiences that it throws at us. So within this great journey of meloncholy self on life you'll like such songs as I Wanted To Be Wrong, Electron BLue, Maki It All Okay, Boy In The Well, Wanderlust, Ascent Of Man, Around The Sun and Aftermath. THe song Outsiders feature Q-Tip. Strong anger and dissappointment can be felt through this CD a many different places. Michael is a very sensative writer and now it really is coming through. A Banjo is heard on this CD from Peter Buck. R.E.M is currently on tour for this new release and will be touring into 2005 for it. Going the R.E.M Fan Club
They Might Be Giants have just finished a tour for the ablum The Spine. This is an Ep released to show what songs didn't make it onto the newest album. Still art like and estranged humor is still ever so present in all of these seven new songs. This is worth to buy because of the artistic spin that They Might Be GIants are known for in each and every song. You never know if your going to get a new sound bite or not. Some of the best songs that are on here are THe Other Side OF THe World, Canada Haunts Me, Fun Assassin and The Spine Surfs Alone. This would make a great Christmas gift due to the fact the art work is green.
Guarge pop at it finest. The tracks that stick out are Where The Water Meets The Sky, Burlap, Detective and The Devil's Dictionary. This is something bands should take a good listening too. This might help others to get an idea of where to start out music wise. The sound is very basic and most likely an 8 track recording, might be a four track recording. Very good first record. Simple but to the point.
wrightprod@aol.com
P.O.BOX 57712
SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91413
United States