Artist: The Hush Sound
Album: Goodbye Blues
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: Fueled By Ramen
Release Date: March 18, 2008

Overall: 8.5
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 8.0

 Don’t bother rechecking the artist of the Goodbye Blues album, this new sound is indeed The Hush Sound. Lovers of Like Vines (2006) and So Sudden (2005) may be shocked by what they hear–or who they do not hear. Greta Salpeter noticeably carries the album, singing lead in 9 out of the 13 tracks with Bob Morris, Darren Wilson, and Chris Faller sinking into a rhythmic chant in the background. Aside from the plethora of estrogen, The Hush Sound have also adopted a darker and sassier tone, thanks to the primarily minor tonality, and are noticeably more emotionally connected and confident with their songs than ever before.

Artist: Advent
Album: Remove The Earth
Label: Solid State
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: February 12, 2008

Overall: 8.5
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 9.0

The sun disappears and the clouds infused with grey emerge. A gentle breeze turns into hurricane winds, armageddon seizes citizens by the wrists. Lightning breaks through the sky, dividing the giants from the helpless. The clouds rain down fear and desolation with each droplet charged with crimes against humanity. The earth trembles, shakes till the houses come down and the soil comes towards the heavens. Hypocrites and hoards rush toward bunkers, but the earth knows the cost of such cowardness.  Armageddon is here.

Artist: Socratic
Album: Spread the Rumors
Label: Drive-Thru
Purchase: Drive-Thru
Release Date: May 6, 2008

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 9.0

Remember when the radio actually mattered? Listeners were proud to sit through some Mariah Carey or a few car commercials if it meant just one more spin of Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life.” Well, Socratic’s Spread the Rumors is a lot like that. Unfortunately, even Socratic have their car commercial moments, but it’s usually worth the wait for the next little gem around the corner.

Alkaline Trio and American Steel @ The Catalyst on April 6, 2008.

I had heard that Alkaline Trio was going to play at the The Catalyst in Santa Cruz and that it was going to be a big deal, because they hadn’t played in a while? I think that’s how it was. I didn’t know because I wasn’t a fan, although I do enjoy their music from their earlier releases. For a month I kept hearing ‘This person got tickets”, “Are you going to see Alkaline Trio?”, and “Oh no its sold out”. I’m sure it was exciting since the label they were first on and their first couple of CD’s came out on is near Santa Cruz, so that was cool. Finally the week of the show came, I had overdosed myself with their music and vinyl that I was over them, but my boss was like “If you want to go I can get you in”. The words “I can get you in” got me, so I was like “Sure”.

Yellowcard…and Four Other Bands: An Observation

by Trace William Cowen

Photo by Seth Cowen

After being completely stuck in traffic and ending up mildly lost, though still only about a mile from the venue (Ironically, I’ve been to this place three times; so toss this one up to God’s good sense of humor), my brother and I arrived at the Masquerade in Atlanta, Georgia about ten minutes after doors opened. Following a quick bask in the rush of joy and deep relief that we were finally here and not there, we gathered ourselves and took the stairs to “Heaven,” the top floor. Though I’m far from being what some might consider a cynic, I did come to this show loaded with the opinion that – yes – I was about to see five bands; four of whom, at best, would wave their mediocrity flag quite high for about thirty minutes each, and of course, Yellowcard – a band I’ve enjoyed for the past five or so years. My opinion was proven very right.

Artist: Thrice
Album: The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth
Label: Vagrant
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: April 15, 2008

Overall: 8.0
Music: 7.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 8.0

The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth marks the completion of Thrice’s foray with experimenting with the four elements of nature. Overall, the newest Alchemy Index displays Thrice’s explorations with instrumentation, rhythm, and feel. The album consistently moves from expansive arrangements into acoustic etudes. As well, Thrice delves into the world of blues, folk, jazz, and dance, while continuing to strengthen their trademark sound. The record, in its attempt to explore each element with an EP of six songs, contains many successes and a few failures.

Artist: Ivoryline
Album: There Came A Lion
Label: Tooth & Nail
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: February 5, 2008

Overall: 7.5
Music: 7.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 8.0

Clean vocals with a hard rock edge ring out on Ivoryline’s debut Tooth & Nail album, There Came A Lion. I’ve always been a sucker for a rock band to have this exact criteria of good clean vocals with a harder edge and Ivoryline pull it off quite well. Stellar songs like “Parade” and “Bravery” are filled with catchy hooks and strong vocals that remind me of everything from Anberlin to Saosin. Its not all that often you find an album you can put in and enjoy without having to think about it too much, its easy to enjoy.