Meet David Bazan, an indie rock musician from Seattle. He was the force behind the now defunct Pedro the Lion. The front man of Headphones. Currently he performs under his namesake.

Under Pedro the Lion, Bazan marketed his remarkable sense of assonance. His songs were based on theology. He spent the better part of a decade battling his religion and inner personal issues. His loss of faith and questioning of his world turned into a drinking problem. In an attempt to rid the demons and see angels, he went solo.  Read more...

The Lonely Forest’s Arrows is a powerful major debut for the band from Washington state and for Death Cab For Cutie frontman Chris Walla’s new label, Trans. The album kicks off with “Be Everything”, which although a successfully heartfelt song, starts things off on a note that is just a touch too whiny. But keep listening. Or “Turn off This Song and Go Outside” as you’ll be told on the second track in its catchy chorus. No, but seriously, keep listening. This is an enjoyable album through and through.  Read more...

Yellowcard is set to release their new album, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, on March 22. The bands first single “For You, And Your Denial” is available now on iTunes.

Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue was a turning point for the band and by far a fan favorite. A mixture of long touring and a change in direction led to a few lack luster follow ups and eventually a hiatus in 2008.  Read more...

When I first heard of The Secret Handshake planning to release an album entitled Night & Day, I won’t lie when I say I expected much of the same sing-song lyrics, with electronic beats and plenty of auto-tune. But after listening to the new album from Luis Dubuc (the main component behind all the music), that this album is completely different from everything beforehand, and a step above that material as well.  Read more...

The Pretty Reckless is fronted by sixteen-year-old actress Taylor Momsen. Momsen has gained her fame portraying bad girl, Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl.

When the show started, she was fourteen, innocent and natural. By the second season she was in the process of turning into a bad ass. In interviews, she’s rude, short, and proclaims, “I’m not trying to be a role model!”  Read more...

Artist: Envy On The Coast
Album: Lowcountry
Label: Photo Finish Records
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date: March 30th, 2010

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 8.5

Envy On The Coast have always struck me has a really electric band, incredibly spontaneous with tempo shifts that hampered their ability to make a really solid album. Lucy Gray had its moments of spectacular songs, but overall left me less than satisfied. Enter the band’s new album Lowcountry, have they been able to bottle that lightning and use it to their advantage this time around?  Read more...

Artist: Circa Survive
Album: Blue Sky Noise
Label: Atlantic Records
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date: April 20th, 2010

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

After a few years, and a couple side projects, Circa Survive are back with their highly anticipated third album Blue Sky Noise. Following their previous record On Letting Go, it seemed like the only place to go was up for the band, but does the new album live up to the expectations that the band set themselves up too?  Read more...

Artist: Murder By Death
Album: Good Morning, Magpie
Label: Vagrant
Purchase: Website Pre-Order
Release Date: April 6, 2010

Overall: 9.5
Music: 10
Lyrics: 8
Production: N/A

Murder By Death has consistently been in the background of my life. One of those bands that all my friends loved, but one of the bands I never quite fell in love with. I’ve seen them live twice, once on accident and once on purpose. Both times, I was blown away by their stage presence, the dedication of their fans and their ability to transform completely from album to album.  Read more...

Artist: Mr. Fogg
Album: Moving Parts
Label: Kicking Ink Recordings
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date:

Overall: 7.5
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 7.5

Granted, most listeners have probably never heard of Mr. Fogg, but upon first listen one would immediately swoon at his sombre crooning over lovesick electronic beats. And while this Mr. Hudson sounding english heavy heart might be dismissed as just another flash in the pan, his songs bring to life a soundscape of emotion that others may lack, in his debut album Moving Parts.  Read more...