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Hit the Lights – This Is A Stick Up… Don’t Make It A Murder

March 26, 2006 By Trevor Bivens Leave a Comment

Hit The Lights

Artist: Hit The Lights
Album: This Is A Stick Up… Don’t Make It A Murder
Label: Maverick
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: April 11, 2006

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.3
Production: 10

I’m a pretty nostalgic person. I long for my early high school years at times. Pop-punk was the dominant musical choice for me back then. Every time I find a really good pop-punk band, I get a warm feeling inside. I’ll open the windows, (be it indoors or in a car) blast the music, and proceed to rock out.

In the case of Lima, Ohio’s Hit the Lights, I turn the volume up even more than before. “This Is A Stick Up…Don’t Make It A Murder” is reminiscent of old New Found Glory, but also brings to mind current day pop-punk powerhouses from Chicago and Atlanta respectively.

The album opens with a voicemail sample that leads into “The Call Out (You Are the Dishes.)” The song is a statement. This band knows what they want, and their attack plan is to use songs like this to get you to sing along. “We won’t back down,” is their battle cry and you might as well accept the fact that it’s true.

“These Backs Were Made for Stabbing” has a bridge so infectious that you won’t realize the words are coming out of your mouth, too. Colin changes the dynamics of his voice so much in this song, allowing his range to shine through.

The chorus of “309” is begging to be sung along to. Halfway through the song, a line sticks out to me so much. “Like the way that your eyes travel to the floor when you tell a lie.” The way Colin sings this lyric just hits home. I love this song.

“Bodybag” is one of the catchiest tracks on here. It would be an ideal single. The group vocals in the middle of the song are properly placed and while being short, are easy to clap along to.

“Talk Us Down” opens up sounding like Cartel at their finest. Even the lyrical content is similar, such as “Cities never sleep when we’re gone.” While the similarities are there, I can’t help but enjoy this song more than Cartel. Sorry guys.

“Save Your Breath” has all the spiteful lyrics that made Fall Out Boy’s “Take This To Your Grave” a gem. I dare you to try not to play this song on repeat.

“Sincerely Yours” and “100 Times” are right at home on that mix tape you’re thinking about giving to the girl that just broke up with you.

“It’s All the Rage” makes a bold statement with the line “We are exactly what you want to be. Where you’ve been and what you’ve done mean nothing.” Where that may seem cocky from an outsider’s perspective, this band wants people to know that it’s still cool to like FUN music. You don’t just have to like artsy stuff to be cool.

“Speakers Blown” would be another great single. It’s got one of those choruses that sticks with you for a couple of weeks.

After seeing the band perform “Until We Get Caught” live, I realized this song has the ability to rally people together to rock out. Colin demands, “Hands in the air!” and up they go, accompanied by shouts. The song is great on the disc, but you really need to hear it live and see the crowd to get the full effect of its potential.

“Make A Run For It” closes the album with group vocal chants of “We’ve got this down to a science baby.” That they do.

The production on this album is flawless. Anything Matt Squire touches is gold.

While not breaking any new ground musically, Hit the Lights have delivered a debut LP full of everything that made me love this style of music. I haven’t spun an album this much since theAudition’s “Controversy Loves Company” was released.

If for some reason, Cartel don’t become the next pop-punk kings, Hit the Lights are poised to take the throne. The potential of this band is insane. Listen to them, love them, support them, and just have fun listening to them. Thank you Hit the Lights for making an album that I’ll be blasting in my car this summer.

Track Listing
1. The Call Out (You Are the Dishes)
2. These Backs Were Made for Stabbing
3. 309
4. Bodybag
5. Talk Us Down
6. Save Your Breath
7. Sincerely Yours
8. 100 Times
9. It’s All the Rage
10. Speakers Blown
11. Until We Get Caught
12. Make a Run For It

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Hit The Lights, Triple Crown Records

Damone – Out Here All Night

March 21, 2006 By Julie 1 Comment

Damone

Artist: Damone
Album: Out Here All Night
Label: Island / Def Jam
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date: March 21, 2006

Overall: 8.9
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.6
Production: 9.0

Despite all the regally named artists on Island/Def Jam’s roster, the label has been pulling a bullheaded move in failing to properly publicize what could easily be one of their best signed bands. The Boston based rock & rollers released an EP in October of last year to surprisingly little fanfare. This may be from the band’s less-than-stellar 2003 RCA debut From The Attic, but believe me when I say today Damone is a much better band. With their new LP Out Here All Night hitting the Itunes music store two full months before shelving, the band are making a bold statement about the shape of their new sound. Maybe this is Island’s lame way of “testing” out the record on the music community, or maybe Damone just got fed up with the label’s apathetic marketing strategy and took matters into their own hands being anxious get their CD out, either way this means a huge cash-in on the part of Damone fans: new music for the head and the heart.

Named after a character from the 1982 flick “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Damone are Noelle, Mike, Dustin, and Vazquez shredding out their edgy brand of melodic metallic rock. Leader singer and guitarist Noelle is the era’s new Joan Jett, less punk and more rock and roll, but a definitive riotgrrl nonetheless. Trading in her punk strain for a straightforward rock tone, Noelle has become the unique element to Damone’s sound, turning what could easily be another male-fronted 80’s hair metal rip-off into a snarling, pop-rooted youth manifesto. The band’s 3:1 male to female ratio works in their favor as what they forego in testosterone vocals, they make up in sizzling, tectonic musicianship.

Behind the kit Dustin Hengst is a drumming machine, regulating the beat in an easygoing canter. Like a seasoned veteran, Hengst knows his place in the band and sticks to it by ornamenting his beats to enhance the band’s dynamic rather than steal the spotlight with tasteless breakdowns. Likewise, Vazquez’s bass parts seal in the quartet’s rhythm section, humming along as the core infrastructure to which Damone’s guitar-driven sound can grow. If I haven’t already made it clear, Out Here All Night is a rock & roll effort if there ever was. Testament to this are songs like “Now Is The Time”, “Get Up And Go,” “Outta My Way,” “What We Came Here For,” and the album’s title track, where Mike’s blistering Van Halen styled-guitar riffs and melodies emblazon the music.

However, before I jump the gun, Out Here All Night does find itself making some lackluster missteps, mostly in the form of slower acoustic ballads like “Wasted Years” that clash with the band’s innate energy. On that same note, punk tunes reminiscent of From The Attic such as “Tonight” somehow fall flat in the face of Damone’s new metal-rock sound. That is not to say these type of songs don’t have an audience. When the mood is right, the dreamy allure of “When You Live” is a heavy-hearted masterpiece of lyrical substance. With Noelle’s voice taking on an innocent, hopeful quality, the track hits home in a way frenzied guitar work never could.

So forget about 2003’s From The Attic or least view it as an axis before enlightenment because Damone deserve to be heard. The way I see it, everyone has three options after reading this review. Buy the Itunes release of Out Here All Night now, wait two months to get a hardcopy at your record store, or in the very least stream a track on purevolume or myspace. Not listening is just simply not an option.

Track Listing:
1. Now Is The Time
2. Out Here All Night
3. What We Came Here For
4. Stabbed In The Heart
5. On Your Speakers
6. Get Up And Go
7. Outta My Way
8. Youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re The One
9. New Change Of Heart
10. When You Live
11. Tonight
12. Wasted Years

Standout Tracks:
“Now Is The Time”, “Out Here All Night”, “Get Up And Go”, “New Change Of Heart”, “When You Live”

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Damone

Boink – Carpe Diem

March 21, 2006 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Boink

Artist: Boink
Album: Carpe Diem
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: April 12, 2006

Overall: 7.4
Music: 7.6
Lyrics: 7.2
Production: 7.8

Boink, with a name like that you really don’t know what to expect when it comes to the music. But this indie rock band from Michigan deliver high energy songs filled with indie guitars and sing along lyrics. This new EP entitled Carpe Diem is a great take on some of todays best pop/rock sound. The bands sound can be compared to that of Hit The Lights and even Fall Out Boy.

“Sea of Long Lost Memories” opens the EP with some heavy guitars and bass before moving into a catchy chorus. “Breaking Up Is Smart To Do” is filled with pop hooks and an upbeat melody that will have you dancing before you know it. The bands sound is not distorted or mixed with electronics so it’s just straight up pop/rock with no exceptions. “Lonabelle” covers even more ground with its mix of an upbeat tempo and very crunchy guitars and bass. “The Machine” is one of my favorites on the EP. The songs brings in a very fun and catchy guitar part mixed with a great chorus. This song is where you can hear the resemblance to bands like Hit The Lights and Fall Out Boy. Wrapping up the EP is “Carpe Diem” which starts out with a slower tempo only to bring in the crunchy guitars a bit later. Mixed with some unique bass lines and a faster moving vocal track this song is a great way to end this EP.

I really enjoyed this short but sweet EP. The band has created 5 tracks that can easily make their future a bright one. Again if you are into bands like Hit The Lights and Fall Out Boy or any pop rock in general check these guys out.

Track Listing
1. Sea of Long Lost Memories
2. Breaking Up Is Smart To Do
3. Lonabelle
4. The Machine
5. Carpe Diem

Standout Tracks
“Breaking Up Is Smart To Do”, “Lonabelle”, “The Machine”

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Boink

Woodale – Finish What You Start

March 21, 2006 By Julie Leave a Comment

Woodale

Artist: Woodale
Album: Hotel
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: Woodale Merch
Release Date: February 12, 2006

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.3
Lyrics: 7.7
Production: 8.0

Pop rock is the new in vogue, but you don’t have to tell Floridaâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Woodale that. With a streamlined harmony-driven sound via Waking Ashland meets The Fold, their tight melodies and choral-styled love verses could warm even the most cynical of hearts. If teenaged girls aren’t already eating this stuff up, come six months Woodale will be a household name. The bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s five song EP, Finish What You Start, is the year’s new I Am For You, meaning now is the time to jump on the bandwagon.

Initially guitar-oriented, tracks soon fall away into more mellow instrumentationâ┚¬Ã¢â‚¬bright keyboard melodies, warm piano cadences, and plodding bass lines. These elements help to craft the background of the EPâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s true selling point: its vocals. While the lyrics never delve past the romantic clichés of young love, frontman Matt Wilbur executes these lines with such palpable emotion that the affect lies in the delivery rather than the prose complexity. Meanwhile, simple harmonies and layered choruses fill out the remaining Woodale sound, making for a very subtle, yet lavish experience. The opening track â┚¬Ã…”Hereâ┚¬? is prime example of the kind of pop-accessible audience Woodale appeals to.

Albeit two solid starting tunes, Finish What You Start, does come off as a slightly flavorless effort. The hooks are abound, but the formula has been pulled off too many times to do justice for Woodale’s talents. When they release a full length down the line, I expect it to be a much more sophisticated album, one that boasts an identity that is uniquely Woodale. Collectively, the group already has all the elements of a great band; they just need to work on nurturing a trademark sound. Still, at 3 bucks a pop at the Woodale merch store, Finish What You Start is a steal considering its stellar musicianship and elegant pop sensibilities.

Track Listing:
1. Here
2. Listen For Me
3. She’s Got A Way
4. Baby, I Can’t Wait
5. Keep Driving

Standout Tracks:
“Here”, “Listen For Me”

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Woodale

The Fold – This Too Shall Pass

March 19, 2006 By Manuel Enrique Garcia Leave a Comment

The Fold

Artist: The Fold
Album: This Too Shall Pass
Label: Tooth & Nail
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: February 21, 2006

Overall: 9.7
Music: 9.6
Lyrics: 9.5
Production: 9.8

Imagine yourself reaching the highest level of accomplishment in the music industry. Imagine being signed to a major record label such as Warner Brothers and being well known in the industry. Now imagine giving all that up to start a new band from scratch. This is exactly what happened to Daniel Castady when he decided to start The Fold. The Fold is a impressive group of talented musicians from Chicago that will hook you in with their debut from Tooth and Nail Records, â┚¬Ã…” This Too Shall Passâ┚¬?.

Debut releases from bands are seen as being an example provided to the fans to give them a taste of what the band is about. Many debuts arenâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t seen as being too impressive but The Fold breaks that assumption and shoves it back in your face. â┚¬Ã…”This Too Shall Passâ┚¬? is a fourteen song record that will hang you upside down, throw you into the ocean, revive you with inspiration lyrics, and leave you wanting for more.

The record begins with the sound of pounding drums which is followed by the flawless sounding voice of Daniel Castady. Each song on this record is catchy and possesses that hook that reels you in as The Foldâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s newest fan. This is one of the most impressive and outstanding records to not only come from Tooth and Nail but from any other record label. Listening to the fourteen tracks, you will find yourself hitting every emotion your body and mind can handle. You will find yourself in a positive giddy mood on some songs. Other songs you will find yourself in a deep daze rethinking every moment in your life. Lastly, some songs will just inspire you and motivate you into finding hope inside tragedy.

My hat is off to every single person that was involved in this record, from the band themselves to the record label to the well known producer, Steven Haigler. They have created a record that has perfectly captured the essence of The Fold. They have created a record that everyone will love, a record leaving them in shock, awe, and every other emotion to showcase astonishment. Fourteen tracks serving as a melting pot of fast paced catchy melodies , techno beats, acoustic guitars, inspiring intelligent lyrics, and everything else in between.

Congratulations to The Fold, youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve created the perfect soundtrack to everyday living with a new introduction by amazement.

Track Listing:
1. Gravity
2. Backseat Drivers
3. New City
4. The Title Track
5. What Is Right
6. Going For My Lungs
7. Evermore
8. Remnant
9. Rid Of Me
10. Stay
11. With You, I Sink
12. We’ve Been At This
13. Surrounded
14. I Believe You

Standout Tracks:
– The entire CD

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: The Fold, Tooth And Nail

Karate High School – Arcade Rock

March 18, 2006 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Karate High School

Artist: Karate High School
Album: Arcade Rock
Label: EVO Recordings
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: March 21, 2006

Overall: 7.6
Music: 7.8
Lyrics: 7.4
Production: 8.0

Crack out your old school Nintendo or Atari and get ready to hear some music directly influenced by umm, 8 bit sounds? Karate High School claim their main influences to be not other bands but that of old school video games like Contra, Super Mario Brothers, Millipede, Tron and Paperboy. And you could also say that Arcade Rock is almost better as a genera then the title of this album. The album features customized keyboards, live samples, crushing guitars and a lot of energy.

Opening the album is “Good News And Bad News” which sets the pace for this high energy album. It’s fast pace, mix of keyboards and high energy guitars are sure to catch your ears right away. I can’t say i’ve heard a band quite like this since Punch Drunk’s album Pure, Unadulterated Hate Is The Best Medicine. Other then that you can’t hear much of a resemblance to any other bands out there. With a light piano intro turning into some hard hitting guitars “Twice Upon A Time (110%)” opens even more doors with it’s mix of keyboards, loops, hard guitars, heavy bass and pounding drums. On their track “88 Million Light Years Away” we hear a funky electronic intro followed by some hard crunchy guitars and a lot of electronic beats. I love the piano / hard guitar intro on “This Is The Soundtrack.” The band slows things down a bit on “Scenes Rushing By.” I think the it plays off well with it’s light loops playing in the background. Lyrically we hear a lot of lyrics about life, love, girls and more. But in general they are sing along and your going to be rocking out to the music more then anything. Throughout the rest of the album the tracks don’t show much change from the first half of the album.

Having a unique sound in todays music scene is rather hard and almost unheard of in some situations. I have to give Karate High School props for being influenced by games rather then the normal set of bands that most bands write on their lists of influences. Arcade Rock doesn’t show a lot of change from song to song but it will certainly please a lot of rock/electronic lovers. And even though you don’t really hear a resemblance to your favorite old school games you can tell the band worked a lot on the electronic parts to give them a unique sound for their music. Pick this one up for a fresh taste of something different.

Track Listing
1. Good News And Bad News
2. Twice Upon A Time (110%)
3. 88 Million Light Years Away
4. Sweep The Leg
5. This Is The Soundtrack
6. Scenes Rushing By
7. Extra! Extra! (Hear All About It)
8. Another Day At The Office
9. Oh No
10. Smile, You’re On T.V.
11. The Joke Is On Us

Standout Tracks
“Good News And Bad News”, “88 Million Light Years Away”, “Scenes Rushing By”

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Karate-High-School

So They Say – Antidote For Irony

March 18, 2006 By Paul Bruens Leave a Comment

So They Say

Artist: So They Say
Album: Antidote for Irony
Label: Fearless Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: March 7, 2006

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 7.0

Coming from the city of St. Louis Missouri, So They Say has had the same type of start that most bands do. They formed the band and in less than a year signed to Fearless Records, soon after the signing releasing their self-titled EP. About 9 months later they release their first full length entitled â┚¬Ã…”Antidote for Ironyâ┚¬?, which is record by the famous Matt Squire (Panic! At the Disco, The Receiving End of Sirens). When I first heard the news about this release, I wasnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t expecting to much from it, but after listening to it my mind was forever changed about the band. They have managed to make an amazing alternative rock album, which is so far one of my favorite cds of the year.

The album hits you hard with its heavy guitar riffs, heavy drumming, and loud swinging vocals. It starts off with the song â┚¬Ã…”In Loving Memory Ofâ┚¬?, which starts off the great with its solid rock anthem like qualities. Then the title track â┚¬Ã…”Antidote for Ironyâ┚¬? follows up amazingly with its chanting chorus â┚¬Ã…”Put down, put down the loaded gunâ┚¬?. It is one of the catchiest lines Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve heard in an alternative rock song in a while. The next few track are also amazing and very catchy. Although this album starts off amazing, the last few tracks seem to not be as well put together as the first half of the cd, and just donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t live up to the same potential and the vocals are very catchy, but sometimes they get a little wild and off key. I recommend that everyone check this album out, and if you like it definitely go out and buy it. This is mostly for fans of For fans of Armor For Sleep, Thrice, Underoath, and The Starting Line.

Track Listing
1. In Loving Memory Of
2. Antidote for Irony
3. Anxiety Is Setting In
4. Goodbye
5. In Essence We Are Falling
6. You Asked â┚¬Ã…”Where Are We Now?â┚¬?
7. Over Exposed Photo
8. The Burden
9. Act Like you are Listening, Until Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Your Turn to Talk
10. Talking In Circles
11. A Beautiful Plan

Stand out Tracks
â┚¬Ã…”Antidote for Ironyâ┚¬?, â┚¬Ã…”Goodbyeâ┚¬?, â┚¬Ã…”In Essence We Are Fallingâ┚¬?, â┚¬Ã…”Over Exposed Photoâ┚¬?

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Fearless Records, So-They-Say

Spitefire – Self Help

March 12, 2006 By Manuel Enrique Garcia Leave a Comment

Spitfire

Artist: Spitfire
Album: Self-Help
Label: Goodfellow Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: February 25, 2006

Overall: 9.8
Music: 9.7
Lyrics: 9.6
Production: 9.5

Bands come and go. Members quit and join. Lineup change and the music is affected along the way. Spitfire has been around for some time and influenced their fans in a way no other band has. Once signed to Solid State Records and now signed to Goodfellow Records, Spitfire is back after the biggest disappointment of 2001. Spitfire consists of members from such highly respected acts as Scarlet and Norma Jean. Their 2006 full length released, â┚¬Ã…”Self-Helpâ┚¬? has been anticipated more than any record from fans across the globe.

â┚¬Ã…”Self-Helpâ┚¬? starts off with a repetitive guitar, followed by a sound clip, and than bashed in with the brutal screams of lead vocalist, Jon Spencer. A few seconds into the first track, â┚¬Ã…”Meat Marketâ┚¬?, you begin to realize that you should strap yourself in for the most chaotic, yet catchy and brutal journey of your life. â┚¬Ã…”Self-Helpâ┚¬? is filled with eleven tracks that clearly define intensity. You will listen to each song and find yourself pressing the â┚¬Ã…”Previous Songâ┚¬? button just to hit the climax of each song again. Each song is filled with a beginning that hooks you in, a middle that keeps you listening carefully, a climax that makes you lose control of your sense of true musicianship, and an ending to softly park the train wreck you were just in.

This record is one of the most outstanding and impressive records not only in 2006 but in your entire CD collection. The songs are brutal, the screams are chaotic, the guitars are perfectly synchronized, and the overall essence of the music is indescribable. The lyrics are itself another story added to the impressive mix that is Spitfire. Jon Spencerâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s lyrics stand out in their own way. As you read them, you begin to question how someone created such words that are perfectly put together and written.

Spitfire has come and gone many times but they are here to stay now. Hands down, this is the greatest record you will ever encounter. You will listen to it every day of your life and it will slowly become the soundtrack to your everyday life. Chaotic, brutal, heavy, impressive, genius, masterpiece. Those are a few words to describe the highly anticipated record, â┚¬Ã…”Self-Helpâ┚¬?. Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a copy so you are able to experience the train wreck masterpiece that is called Spitfire.

Track Listing:
1. Meat Market
2. Go Ape
3. Life and Limb
4. Dear John
5. Leap of Faith
6. U.V. I.V.
7. The Great White Noise
8. Comfort (The Iceman Cometh)
9. The Suicide Cult Is Dead
10. Kings of the Food Chain
11. Ohm Driver

Standout Tracks:
– The entire CD

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Spitfire

From Aphony – Builders, Wreckers, Lovers And Takers

March 12, 2006 By Bryce Jacobson 4 Comments

From Aphony

Artist: From Aphony
Album: Builders, Wreckers, Lovers And Takers
Label: Less Avenged
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: November 8, 2005

Overall: 6.0
Music: 6.4
Lyrics: 5.8
Production: 7.2

Young is a good way to describe From Aphony. But this doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re doing. With some heavy breakdowns intense screaming and enough energy to power an intense show From Aphony’s debut is a hard mix packed into 11 tracks. “Builders Wreckers Lovers and Takers” introduces us to the bands sound. The song includes many breakdowns as well as a lot of intense secondary guitar work. Jakes vocals come off very soft for this music, but compliment it as well not making them sound like every other band out there trying to mix the hardcore sound with a softer vocal side. “Result Of A Murder” I believe is the best mixed song on this album. Its intense breakdowns with heavy drum and bass add up for an overall great song. Throughout the rest of the album we don’t hear much of anything else besides a little big of acoustic work on “Switchblade Part 2” and “And How You Change My Moods Like The Keys Of The Machine.”

I wouldn’t classify From Aphony as sounding like everyone else out there, but they just need to find their own special spot in the music scene. Time and touring are the best thing to make that happen. Maybe with their new stuff there will be a little something more standout.

Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Builders Wreckers Lovers And Takers
3. Tell It To The Dead
4. Result Of A Murder
5. Switchblade Par I
6. Switchblade Part II
7. Interlude
8. Love By Way Of Hollywood – Download MP3
9. This Is Your Emergency
10. Go For It Falcor
11. And How You Change My Moods Like The Keys Of The Machine

Standout Tracks
“Result Of A Murder”

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: From-Aphony, Less Avenged

Richard Cheese – The Best of Richard Cheese

March 12, 2006 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Richard Cheese

Artist: Richard Cheese
Album: The Best of Richard Cheese
Label: Surfdog Records
Purchase: I Love Richard Cheese
Release Date: January 24, 2006

Overall: 6.5
Music: 6.5
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 8.0

Lounge music? I believe that’s what you would classify Richard Cheese under. But when it comes to covering music in a way that you would never think who cares about a genera. Richard Cheese has been covering music with a lounge/jazz style for years. I’m sure if you have been to Las Vegas a lot you probably came across him several times or maybe even seen him on the Carson Daily show on TV late at night. The songs he covers can range from old hip-hop song like “Baby Got Back” to hard metal like Slipknot’s “People Equals Shit.”

Richard’s covers come off as funny renditions of mostly once popular songs. He adds an easy cover of jazz that follows the songs original beat. He will also throw in the horns for more dynamics but the way people will recognize the songs mostly are from the lyrics. Most of the songs are shortened versions running around 2 minuets long each, probably to keep your interest as well it’s easy listening stuff which could either put you to sleep or at least put you in a relaxed mode.

Richard does a great job of working the best lyrics of the original songs into his renditions. I think it is a fact that if he didn’t use popular songs most people wouldn’t know what he was singing so even though he covers songs from Snoop Dogg, Disturbed, The Clash and more it deems necessary for his success. If your in Vegas anytime soon see if he’s playing a show and check him out, or see if he’s on tour coming through your town.

Track Listing
1 Rape Me (2006 Big Band Version)
2 People = S**t
3 Baby Got Back
4 Girls, Girls, Girls
5 Closer (2006 Big Band Version)
6 Bust a Move
7 Down with the Sickness
8 Sunday Bloody Sunday
9 Freak On a Leash
10 Nookie (2006 Big Band Version)
11 Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2
12 Rock the Casbah
13 Fight for Your Right (2006 Big Band Version)
14 Hot for Teacher
15 Gin and Juice (2006 remix)
16 Come Out and Play (2006 Big Band Version)
17 Badd
18 Creep (2006 Big Band Version)

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Richard-Cheese

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