Archive for the 'Reviews' Category
The Hush Sound - Goodbye Blues
Published by Chloe May 11th, 2008 in Album and Reviews. 0 Comments 15 views
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.
Advent - Remove The Earth
Published by Manuel Garcia May 7th, 2008 in Album, News and Reviews. 0 Comments 40 views
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.
Anti-Flag - The Bright Lights of America
Published by Shaun Millard May 7th, 2008 in Album, News and Reviews. 0 Comments 31 views
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 in Santa Cruz at The Catalyst
Published by Amalia May 2nd, 2008 in Reviews and Show. 0 Comments 67 viewsAlkaline 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”.
New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg EP
Published by Trace Cowen April 29th, 2008 in News and Reviews. 0 Comments 165 views
Artist: New Found Glory
Album: Tip of the Iceberg EP
Label: Bridge 9
Purchase: Bridge 9
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 8.0
Yellowcard Acoustic Tour Review
Published by Trace Cowen April 22nd, 2008 in Reviews and Show. 1 Comment 201 viewsYellowcard…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.
Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth
Published by Shaun Millard April 21st, 2008 in Album, News and Reviews. 2 Comments 207 views
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.
Jet Lag Gemini - Fire the Cannons
Published by Adam Weidman April 16th, 2008 in Album, Flash and Reviews. 1 Comment 181 views
Artist: Jet Lag Gemini
Album: Fire the Cannons
Label: Doghouse Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: January 22nd, 2008
Overall: 7.0
Music: 7.5
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 8.0
Ivoryline - There Came A Lion
Published by Bryce Jacobson March 22nd, 2008 in Album, Flash and Reviews. 0 Comments 342 views
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.



