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: 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.

Artist: Children 18:3
Album: Children 18:3
Label: Tooth & Nail
Purchase: Children 18:3
Release Date: February 26, 2008

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

Tooth & Nail newcomers, Children 18:3, hail from the smallest of all places… rural Minnesota, however, that doesn’t have any kind of effect on the bands classic punk rock sound. This trio of siblings know how to work together to pull off song after song filled with punk rock hooks and balanced dual vocals. Upon first listen, your ears hear the likes of The Clash and other old school punk bands mixed with a dash of todays upbeat pop punk. This sound will draw you in for a repeat listen and even more as you get the beats bouncing around in your head.

Artist: New Found Glory
Album: Hits
Label: Universal
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: May 18, 2008

Overall: 7.0
Music: 6.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 8.0

New Found Glory, I remember when they were going by A New Found Glory and they were putting out some good music, also around the time Drive-Thru Records had good bands on the label. Now a few years have passed by, New Found Glory left Drive-Thru and went major. Then New Found Glory went back to Drive-Thru with their release From Your Screen To Your Stereo: Part II. I don’t know how that release went for them, but I have a feeling it didn’t to that great as Part I. Now they have a Hits.

Artist: Driving East
Album: The Future Of The Free World Is Riding On This One
Label: The Militia Group
Purchase: Itunes
Release Date: January,15 2007

Overall: 7.0
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 6.5
Production: 7.0

Before I start I have to be completely honest I had really high expectations for Driving East and their first full length on The Militia Group. A label who spawned the careers of bands like Rufio, Cartel, and many others. So it goes without saying Driving East have huge shoes to fill.