Indie Rock just got a whole New Symmetry!

When it comes to indie bands, there are two camps.

Actually, there are infinite camps amongst indie rock snobs, but for now, we'll say there's two. Camp One: If you've heard one indie band you've heard them all. Leave 'indie rock' behind already, and Camp Two: Assuming, those in camp one are wrong, this is where the possibility for endless other camps arises. Camp Two-ers will assume that each indie band can be different, but will argue over the true definition of indie, whether or not plaid shirts with glasses and beards
are overdone, whether mainstream indie is possible, or even which coffee shop is more authentic to sit at and bicker.

I've said all this to say, I'll call Wires in the Walls an indie-rock band, keeping in mind the two camps. Yes, that's a disclaimer. Stay with me.

Genre titles, snobbiness and bickering aside, Wires in the Walls formed in 2009. Originating in L.A., they've earned quite much fame by playing in top venues, touring both coasts and being very 'indie' with their promotion, merch, sales and shows.

Regardless of which camp you fall in, the band's first full length album "New Symmetry" dropped on October 25th, 2011 and it’s definitely worth a listen, a treat to your ears! If you think you know indie rock, don't be so sure just yet. Whatever ambiguous label you want to stick on Wires in the Walls, don't do it, and give them a listen instead.

Well, The album opens with Tremolo, a whimsical track that's immediately striking. Between the unique vocals and cheery instrumentals, it's the kind of song you might hear playing at coffee shop and think, "Who is this band? They're great? I'd like to hear more."

The next track, Sympathy Ward, is slower, and the vocals are sung in a lower register, a welcome change from the last track and a reassurance that the vocalist can do something different with his voice. I especially liked the transition and rhythm change towards the end, perfect! The next two, Sirens and The Ringer have a refreshing classic feel that's not altogether stale, but strangely unique. It's sound tame, but in a new way. I've noticed a lot of variation in certain parts in each track, which is tremendous indeed!

The title track, New Symmetry, is ridiculously fun. It started off very well! The guitars and vocals definitely stole the show in this one! Just the type of song you listen to on a warm sunny day with the windows down and this song just cheers you up!

The next two tracks, Soft Shirt and Y.S.A. have a country-infused twang. Now I was actually expecting to find such a track next, and it pleased me to the core! Y.S.A. would be one of my favorites from this album! The Land, The Sea and the Outer Space is a bit of a departure from the typical 'indie' rock ideals, and reverts to a more classic-rock feel. The drums and rhythm blended really well with the vocals. The next tracks, Tin Can and Crutch are both energetic, giving away a Punk feel, Tin Can reminding me a bit of 'Green Day' too.

The final track, Eulogy, is a somewhat somber ending, which had a really versatile intro and is apparently titled appropriately. All in all, it's a simple, beautiful ending to such a diverse album that can hardly be done justice with the simple genre title of 'indie rock'.

All in all, for a final verdict: Wires in the Walls is definitely one of the most versatile bands I've come across till now, and their debut album, New Symmetry, has a blend of almost everything! Whether you love Indie Rock or hate it, you sure are gonna love this album folks! Check out the band here.

This album was reviewed by one of our writers, Danielle, who actually is a recovering indie music snob, but remains an equipment snob. She spends her time checking out new music, and scouting out the newest and most innovative revolutions in home theater design and home sound systems.

Rusty Pacemaker: Blackness and White Light!

This time around we got to listen to a solo artist, all the way from Austria, Rusty Pacemaker, who has formally not got any kind of musical education, and is a band of his own!

If the above description of Rusty wasn't enough to make you curious, here's a complete review of the album, 'Blackness and White Light' :

The album started off with a quite basic track named 'Cell' which wasn't too exceptional of some sort, having a nice riff, fine bass and good vocal mixing. Next up was 'You never had' and hey, contrary to the name, this had it all! An impressive dominating Riff, along with a very original sound to it throughout!

'My Way' had a quite long intro, and begins to sound monotonous after a while, and the bass could have been better in this one. The next song, 'Amok', had an appreciable intro, and real good variations in the vocals and music overall as well. 'Waiting for tomorrow' is, musically, one of the finest tracks of this album, complete with a meaningful guitar solo I loved!

'The human race' began off an energetic intro with a punch of rage. Total justice has been evident in the genre, music and the vocals. Good piece! Moving on to 'My last goodbye', only lyrically could I see some change in this one, else the style remained same. But I'll have to add that the blending of the sound and the lyrics is real good!

Next up, 'Blackness and white light': The intro should have been short. Its really difficult to impress the audience with long intro's unless its as good as probably Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven, although yes, Its not at all like I'd expect a sound like Led Zep, but what I mean is that the intro lacked a bit of creativity. The album finally came off to an end with an intense, deep and dark track, true to its name, 'Mother'.

Overall, I'd say the album is good and true to its name as well. Its kinda a dark album, with deep, intense tracks that are sure gonna get you something different on your music players, and well, the album is up for a release very soon too folks!

Check out Rusty's official site right here.

'Breaks from the Border' by The New Mastersounds!

If I had to describe The New Mastersounds' latest album in four words (I don't have to, but I will because well--why not), I'd choose: pristine, smug, fresh, distinguished.

And, if the album were an animal, it'd be a lioness. Sarabi (Simba's mom in The Lion King), to be precise.The British funk quartet's new album is just boss. And there's more good news where that came from: they'll be playing at the Bear Creek Festival in Florida this upcoming November. So pack up your coolers, deluxe lawn chairs with cup holders, a canopy or two, sunscreen, buy your tickets early and leave the haters behind.

Oh, and pick up Breaks from the Border first. Did I mention that it's great?

Pristine

This album is clean, from beginning to end. It opens with the track Take What You Need, featuring super smooth, groovy bass lines, subtle yet shouty vocals, catchy riffs and mild distortion. The guitarist's precise and technical picking continues throughout the entire album and is undeniably present in tracks like Run The Gauntlet and my personal favorite, Freckles.

The drumming is also light, but powerful. It's the perfect blend of a rolling, tapping jazzy type drumming style with a solid vintage-like thumping. The two methods meld seamlessly into a neatly tied package of drumming bliss.

Smug

The New Mastersounds are confident in the superiority of their sound-- and it shows. The lyrics are simple and work in conjunction with, instead of against, the trim sound of the instruments. The collective sounds on this album never fight for attention. Songs like Passport and Up In The Air display the band's smooth sound and sleek talent without being overly showy. The album as a whole has an air of utter correctness, making it impossible to imagine any of these four guys ever playing a sour note, producing a sloppy tune or spilling Ranch into the Italian dressing at a salad bar. Wait, what?

Fresh

This album is fresh to death. Which, according to urban dictionary means inexplicably good. And that's not a phrase I use often (or ever).

The album is also fresh in the sense that every song is it's own sound. Sure, the entire thing is a cohesive piece of work, but the constant shift in tempo, the switch to an occasional reggae/ska style and the overall pacing of the album keeps your interest piqued throughout. Just when you've gotten comfortable with the smooth drumming and technical guitar riffs, they'll switch it up by picking up the tempo, throwing in a piano or changing the vocal style. On the Border, a slow, bass-y piano ballad, comes right on the heels of a fast track then transitions into something more upbeat. Can You Get It has the charm of a song from a rambling jam-band while instrumental tracks like Josus offer a surprising change from the sultry vocals.

Distinguished

Few artists can pull of what the Mastersounds are able to in this album. They easily master the 'vintage' feel of older rock and mix it effortlessly with jazz influences, among others. They change the tempo in nearly every song, sing when they feel like it, reference countless musical styles-- and they do it well.

The end song of this album is the shiny bow on top of a perfectly wrapped gift. It's reminiscent of everything that makes the listening experience enjoyable. It's a super chill, smooth ending to a super chill, smooth album.

It's Festival Time

The Bear Creek Music Festival will be in Live Oak, Florida on November 10-13th and The New Mastersounds are in there like swimwear. Get your favorite concert buddies, your lawn chairs and your canopy and go watch them folks! You just can't miss them!

Keester: A MUST LISTEN headbanging album!

We got down to hear out another album by Jeff Jones' band, Keester, and I must say, it was actually one of the best things I did!

The album began with a track titled 'Get it again', and as the name says, I had to really get it again! What a way to start, simply perfect. I'm a fan of Jeff Jones' riffs! This track raised my excitement and expectations from the album to a whole new level!

'Nothing at all' had a similar riff but a pinch of variety as well. The bass was amazing in this one. The next track, 'Alone' turned out to be a headbanging track packed with a powerful guitar solo! 'I like it this way' had a different riff, and as usual, I just cant get enough of Jeff Jones riffs whatsoever! Even the bassline rocked! It took me back to the 80s era.

Made up my mind' began with a power packed intro, with the vocals blending perfectly with the sound. All the musicians are damn amazing! I could feel a taste of the Scorpions in 'Stand beside you', not exactly in the riff but just the sound of the guitar. I wouldn't hesitate to categorize this song as a powerful hard rock ballad! Though the vocals could have been improvised a bit.

'Lets get high' stunned me with a sudden change in the genre! The tempo of each song is notably good. A bit of punk, and a bit of glam, this album is turning out to be amazing folks! If you haven't heard Jeff Jones, you have missed something to say the least.

The next track 'Don't know a damn thing' wasa heavy metal, well balanced track with a potential to dominate the listener's mind! I liked the title of the next song, 'Pathetic' as they called it. The drums were worth a listen in this one!

Rock n roll was back with a different punch in 'I wanna be somebody' and 'I hate you', and the album couldn't get a better ending out of 'Nowhere' !

Overall, the album was damn amazing! Pure rock n roll stuff, this is a must listen for any rock fanatic. This album deserves a place on your iPods!

The Finger: An Indie rock act to watch out!

Well, now its hard to imagine just a small little finger playing music, but that's what I just got to hear! Yes folks, this is about an indie-rock band who call themselves, 'The Finger', and for their music, I'd definitely like to give them a thumbs up!

The Finger has 5 members:

Hypnelia
Noukas Sotiris
Azas Sakis
Nick Ditsias
Andreas Haralanis

I got to hear their debut single titled 'Die! Die Superhero!', and I must say, these guys ROCK! The progressive song began with a meaningful intro, a familiar voice but Lia's got the uniqueness in her vocals that I liked a lot! An appreciable guitar rhythm, well balanced drums and good sound recording: They had it all! Though the bass could have been a bit better and I was actually expecting a meaningful guitar solo too, but lets just wait for the whole album guys! It's sure gonna be a treat to your ears!

Check them out right here:

http://www.thefingerband.wordpress.com
http://www.myspace.com/the.finger

GRADINATA NORD : Valtellina boyz

The northern Italian band you thought you would never see again is back after 8 years since its first album with 9 pieces (Valtellina boyz, La frangia dei cattivi, Una birra al nait, Ancora al braccio, Gradinata Rock, Valley sleazy girls, Palla al centro, Sciatera Beach nightmare and R.S. Army) – all written in 2002-03, but recently re-recorded – for a total of around 40 minutes of Hard/Street/Oi!/Rock.

The first track in the album had a headbanging riff throughout, heavy vocals, and just the perfect match of bass and beats. I was actually expecting the kind of variation they did towards the end.

The next one started off at a low volume, showcasing good use of dynamics in the intro, followed by a nice lick on the guitar. The backing vocals were awesome in this one. The guitar parts in between were well balanced with the overall rhythm. What I loved most was an exclusive bass solo with the drums in the later part of this track. Great piece!

The intro of the third track reminded me of the Scorpions! The drums did a great job throughout, at a constant, fast tempo. I loved the sweep and tap guitar solos in this one.

The riff in the fourth track was awesome! The vocal section was also done well. I was actually looking for something different now, and that's what I got in the next track, which had a great beginning. The distortion was reduced, and the vocals stressed more. I pretty much loved this track ! The synth joined in too at the end. A well balanced, much needed track at the right time !

Again a cool intro in the next track made me stand up and bang my head as hard as I could. This was so full of energy. The next one had a similar intro, though I wanted them to have done something without distortion too. The composition wasn't bad at all though, but a clean track would have done wonders! When I reached the tiny guitar solo towards the end, that lightened me up. I liked the effect used.

I was so happy when I reached the last track! It seemed all my wishes came true. It began beautifully on the piano, with a vocal narration Then came in the distorted guitars and beats out with a bang ! An awesome composition folks ! The chorus vocals were also great. This track was my favorite! I was left hitting the rewind button on this one several times ! The recording, the rhythm, the beats, the vocals; all were just too good. I couldn't have asked for a better ending, though, the guitar licks in the end were quite amateurish and could have been avoided.

For all fans of Gradinata Nord, this album is worth it guys ! Check out their website : http://www.gradinatanord.eu/

You Ought to get 'Spaced' out !

After having reviewed guitarist, songwriter and producer, Jeff Jones' album 'RockHard' , I was so eager to hear out more of his music. And I did. We got hold of his album called 'Spaced', which undoubtedly, is a completely awesome Hard Rock haven, yet again.

The album got off to an excellent start with 'Queen of Hollywood', which began with a cool Rock n Roll riff. Excellent vocals, and a completely balanced track. Sounded like a power ballad of the 80s era. PERFECT is the word. 'No Satisfaction Blues' gave me a taste of the Scorpions, AC/ DC, a bit of Def Leppard too.This song sounded like it was influenced from a hell lot of bands. But I'm much a fan now of the riffs and the rhythm section of this album. 'Hell To pay' was a bit different from the previous tracks, with a dominating heavy riff, though with lesser variety in the vocals.

All of us Rock fanatics surely miss the riffs of the 70's and 80's, with not many bands belting out such styles, but its so good to have artists like Jeff who are capable of producing those headbanging hard riffs all over again. Moving on to the next track, 'Addiction', and just again, another bloody damn COOL riff. Not only the riff but the mixing and mastering of these tracks are absolutely perfect. I had to hit the Play button again and again on this one !

The drums and bass were the highlights in 'Resurrecting', while the track 'Control' finally had an intro with the bass, and the overall rhythm was powerfully controlled by the bassist. Now this riff reminded me of Deep Purple. Reaching the next one called 'Not your love', I could surely say the style is changing, with the band putting a lot more variety in the album. Even the guitar solo really matched with the song title!

'Hate me' had a metal sounding riff unlike others, and in 'Miss tragedy', sometimes I could feel a Def leppard style in the vocals and also a lot of inspiration. But its good to have a return of power ballads. Moving further to 'Bad motor girl', I personally was looking for a 'clean' track, maybe on the acoustic. So it got a bit bore for me, but nevertheless, the mind blowing riffs kept me going !

'Bad Love' pretty much was the best riff of this album for me. This riff was a lot original and creative. The album finally ended well with 'Underground', with a good job done on the drums, though the distortion could have been a bit low I suppose.

Summing up, except missing out on an acoustic track, this album is 'Riff-fully' amazing ! You just CANNOT miss out on these power packed riffs. It was like a journey back in time to the Rock n Roll era of our idols: Deep Purple, AC/DC and Def Leppard to mention a few.

Your neck would pain at the end. Trust me. It's wilder than you think.

Go get the album at iTunes, and check out their website : www.xxxrecords.com

My Education/Theta Naught: Sound Mass album Review

With a mere five tracks, I was at first tempted to call the My Education/Theta Naught album an EP. But further investigation led me to realize those five tracks make up 52 minutes and 18 seconds of well-crafted and detail-orientated music; I’d say that’s significantly more than an EP.

The album is an improvisational collaboration effort between both Theta Naught (Salt Lake City, UT) and My Education (Austin, TX). The lineup behind this album is :

James Alexander - viola
Briawna Anderson - harp
Darren Corey - drums
Henna Chou - cello
Chris Hackstie - pedal steel
Josh Ogzewalla - guitar
Brian Purington - guitar
Ryan Stanfield - bass, saw, banjo
Chris Stelly - drums
Scott Telles - bass

The 17-minute opening track (creatively titled “Careful With That Saw, Ryan”) begins gently, creating a peaceful and soothing soundscape. Halfway through, timid distortions on stringed instruments interrupt the tranquil sounds as the track gains momentum with the introduction of guitar and percussion. It climaxes with a marching drum beat and fluctuating instrumentals as calm as it opens with, but with more drive and definition.

Track two, “Nonet”, sounds more like a rock song than ambient sounds. Snares, bass, and strings open the song, riding the fence between an alternative rock interlude and more of the beautiful music from the album’s epic opening track. Following similar structure to “Careful With That Saw, Ryan”, “Nonet” opens lightly and builds to a climax, then instruments once again drop out until the music simply dissolves.

The album’s third and fifth songs, “A Casual Show For Yachting” and “Salt Lake City Film Society”, offer little diversity from “Nonet”, excluding stronger strings and edgier electric guitar. File them both under the umbrella of “easy listening”.

“Communion” is the album’s best track, incorporating the most noticeable amount of instrumentation and taking a few extra steps outside of their traditional sound. It’s ambient (My Education’s norm), but guitar plays a heavy role, noodling around on the song’s meatiest segment and finally meeting expectations of a band that defines themselves as a “rock” band.

In my opinion, it’s a stretch to call Sound Mass a rock album, though select elements of the genre are certainly present. Rather than exciting listeners to get up and dance, the mega chill tunes instead offer a universally appealing sound that’s more entertaining than elevator music, but could easily function as exactly that. It’s ideal for those who need something engaging to listen to while doing homework or writing a report but can’t be distracted by lyrics. And personally, I found the new age instrumentals to be particularly relaxing while lying in the tanning bed.

Both the artists' extensive cabinet of instrumentation is put to good use with proficient songwriting skills on Sound Mass. It’s not your next workout album or summer anthem music, but it will help you relax and ease the fast pace of life.

The Turtles are back to their Research with ManKiller !

When I heard that Research Turtles were comin’ out with a new EP called 'Mankiller' , I was anxious to see what direction the band would take. The direction in which a band after an astounding debut album , decides to stick to the ‘winning’ formula and stagnate the sound without experimenting with various styles or the direction in which a band keeps belting out tracks at an unrelenting passion alongwith progressing sound – wise after every release .

Research Turtles , I’m happy to say , fall in the latter category . While their self titled debut effort was more of garage influenced stuff , this EP blends pop punk with Britpop to create a unique sound of its own . It’s not as if the garage influences have been totally knocked out , but they have seamlessly combined these genres together to actually create good stuff .

For those who don’t know , Research Turtles is a four – piece act consisting of Jud Norman on the vocals and bass guitars , Joseph Darbonne and Logan Fontenet on the guitars and Blake Thibodeaux handling the drum duties . Although their first album might have had critics debating on Jud's lesser variety in his vocals, this EP shuts them so frigging tight . Jud’s bass playing along with Blake’s skin slamming capabilities form the impeccable rhythm section which is perfectly supplemented by Joseph’s and Logan’s guitaring . Though this album doesn’t emphasize on the solo aspect of guitar playing , it experiments with guitar effects and layers .

The EP begins with a small song named ‘Girl Like You’ which is the softest track of the EP , with Jud singing with an acoustic guitar playing in the background . Next up , is a track called ‘You Are So’ which kicks off in a true Research Turtles style . The song is energetic , to say the least , and Jud’s bass playing is also commendable . ‘Bugs In a Jar‘ is a soothing track with an infectiously catchy chorus and a pop like quality of the song makes it one of the best songs in the EP . Following this is the title track , ‘Mankiller’ , which displays the change in direction (sound – wise) aptly. The bass playing is very groovy in this track . Jud shows that he cannot be stereotyped into a specific vocal range while Joseph’s and Logan’s Guitar work is aggressive , somewhat punk – ish , and Blake’s drumming is very impressive , to say the least . The EP ends with the track ‘Rhinestone Gal’ , which is my favorite track from the EP . This track is a belter of a track due to the presence of sheer amount of energy the listener can feel while listening to it . Guitar effects are very well complemented by Blake’s tight drumming . The last 40 seconds are the best part of the song , with a headbanging like quality about it .

My final advise to you all – DO NOT STARE at your screen. Go buy it and hell yeah , you are gonna love it.

Here's the link : http://researchturtles.com/store

THE CHAIN-A story of music maniacs!

Tribute bands are all about love. At least that’s how I see it. You encounter music that drives you crazy and before you know it, you’re in a trance that’s going to be with you till you bid the blue planet adieu. People look back at the 60’s and the 70’s and even parts of the early 80’s as the time where music finally evolved. Some people call it the Golden era; others merely remember it to be the time when “real music” happened. Fleetwood Mac was part of the same revolution and are major stakeholders in the change that we witnessed in that era. THE CHAIN are a similar bunch; they love Fleetwood Mac and are going to make sure people recognize, remember and most importantly enjoy the music the legendary British-American band were famous for.

THE CHAIN started out as Harder Edge in 1991 and comparisons to Fleetwood Mac have been rampant ever since. Be it facial resemblance to even the style of music they played, it’s basically been hard to ignore. So they decided a few years ago that they were ready for the next step-the same bunch of guys coming together under a new name to belt out tracks by their idols. In concert, these guys perform with an intensity that leaves people spellbound. The passion that they resonate as they swing about in their FM attire is epic.

And don’t mistake them to be novices. With years of music under their belt and a sound understanding of what people expect and what they stand for, they have turned into one among the best tribute bands on the scene. Never have they performed for a crowd that hasn’t been sold out or walked out of a place without the crowd going bonkers and swaying to their beats. They’ve done gigs at Hard Rock Cafe, Trib Amphitheater, Convention Centers and even performed for a private, "Real" English Royalty Party!

So let’s meet the band!
Founder - Jim (Doc) Stamps –( Mick Fleetwood), Drums/Percussion
Kimmy Scholl – (Stevie Nicks), Lead Singer
Rob Gamerro - (John McVie), Bass
Sandy Anderson – (Christine McVie), Keyboards & Vocals
Keith Cole – (Jeremy Spencer), Guitar & vocals
Tony Acker – (Lindsey Buckingham), Guitar & Vocals
To those confused, the name in the parenthesis is the Fleetwood Mac artist they portray.
Check these guys out at www.thechainfm.com or you can even check out their blog at http://thechainfm.blogspot.com
Also, you can see them LIVE at Hard Rock Café, Pittsburgh on June 11. You can buy tickets via Ticketmaster.

It’s all about the love people.

Jeff Jones' RockHard: A Die-Hard HeadBanging Album!

We recently got to hear guitarist, songwriter and producer Jeff Jones' album 'RockHard', featuring his music with the band 'St. Elmos', as well other acts he was associated with. Jeff was a founding member of St. Elmos Fire and was also in Vamp le Stat from 1993- 1995 during the “Bloodline” era.

The album began with a glam rock headbanging soundtrack in 'Gonna get wild', and well, its actually true to its title too ! Next up was a classic rock piece, 'Madame blue' which had a nice change in the vocals and great harmonization.

'Mississippi wine' was filled with uber clean guitaring, a nice pattern and a great acoustic sound, that are perfectly well recorded. The guitar riff and vocals in the track 'Caught in the heartbreak' were so wonderful in bringing forth the emotions in the song. Jeff's voice showed the expressions and the drums showed the power. The bass maintained the balance in between very well. Excellent coordination !

'Don't Drop it' had a different beginning from the rest, and it was actually a welcome change that even I was expecting to see at some point in the album, though the drums didn't amuse me much.

Well yeah, Guitar players must have heard of 'Overdrive' in their pedals, but how about 'Powerdrive' ? That's what the next track is called! An awesome hard Riff, creative guitaring. excellent vocals and a powerful chorus sums up this track. Moving on to 'Hot n' love', technically speaking, this one's a strong soundtrack with a very power packed rhythm section.

'Into the night' was kinda my favorite in terms of the intros in other songs of the album.

'Warning from the sky' had an even more rocking intro, but later on, it lost the charm, but the chorus vocals turned out to be amazing.

The album then finally got off to a rock n roll finish with 'Breaking Out', loaded with a very impressive, strong, and speedy intro and amazing drum rolls. I bet you'll be rewinding the intro a lot many times in this one!

Well, Overall, this album is a MUST for a Rock n Roll fanatic. Power packed riffs, headbanging rhythm, and amazing vocals: What else were you craving for, eh ?

Go get The Trews "Hope and Ruin" album on your iPods!

Canada's THE TREWS had just released their fourth full-length studio album, Hope & Ruin. The album is a level-raising evolution for the Toronto-based rock band with two gold records, ten top-10 singles and 800-plus concerts logged. The album is currently NOTEWORTHY at iTunes and the title track is #7 at Active Rock in Canada.

The Trews, comprising of lead vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, drummer Sean Dalton and bassist Jack Syperek, are without doubt, one of the BEST rock groups of this era.

We got down to listen to their album, and well, just the first track was enough to get me hooked!

First up was a track called 'Burned', having a very peppy rhythm, nice lyrics and lots of creativity. It's really impressive and much beautiful. Next was 'Dreaming man'. Their excellent skills were evident in each and every moment of this track.

The title track 'Hope and Ruin' had a good riff, but the song is very high on the emotional aspect. Colin has an exquisite voice and even the lyrics had a certain feel to it. The next song, 'If you wanna start again' actually made me wanna play it all over again ! A pleasant intro, and beautiful, original music dominates it right till the end.

I was pretty touched while listening to 'I'll find someone who will'. Now that's what you call an amazing Vocalist! I don't think I've heard such a vocal performance in the recent past at all, even though I have actually been looking for such an amazing quality.

Well, moving on to the track called 'Misery loves company', I was actually amused at the wonderful, unique titles they have for each track. Now that's creativity at its BEST ! The song 'One by one' began with a very soothing intro. Though I thought the vocals to be a bit out of place, but still it sounds too good. I was forced to get up and dance along !

'People of the deer' was much different from the rest of the songs in the album, and that's what I loved about it. The next one, 'Stay with me' is a simple song with a simple meaning and even simple lyrics, but it has a certain depth to it and thats what made it so pleasant.

Then with a powerful riff in 'The World I know', the album ended with a very romantic feel in 'You gotta let me in'.

Summing up, this album is just PERFECT, and so is the band ! I have the whole album on my iPod, and I bet yours too would crave for these tracks once you hear them out.

The Trews are planning to tour the U.S. in June. Look up their website for details : http://www.thetrewsmusic.com

Check out this video of the track 'Hope & Ruin' below:

The Dave Goddess Group: A 'Classic' Rock Act!

Classic rock is a dying genre in today’s music scenario. Bands playing alternative rock / metal , grunge and hard rock are present by more than a dozen everywhere . Be it radio , television or the internet …they’re everywhere .

So what does a classic rock fan listen nowadays ? Well , they either wander off to new genres or their music collection stops expanding , their music players stuck in a loop. Listening to records of Bruce Springsteen , Led Zeppelin , Thin Lizzy , Pink Floyd , Deep Purple, The Doors and many others.

Well, thankfully, the Dave Goddess Group brings life back to a dying genre with their album ‘Something New’! The Dave Goddess Group is a four piece act consisting of Dave Goddess on the vocals as well as the guitar . Tom Brobst is a multi – instrumentalist who plays the keyboard , saxophone , trumpet and the flute with equal finesse . The Bazylek brothers , Mark and Tom , take care of the rhythm section pretty damn good . Mark’s excellent bass playing is evident throughout the album and Tom’s tight drumming forms the backbone of the band , who shifts between high energy songs like ‘Something New’ and ballads like ‘The First Lie’ with ease .

The album begins with the title track ‘Something New’ which has a nice classic rock riff to begin the album with . The vocals are good and though Dave doesn’t have much variety in his vocal range , he manages to pull it off very well with his smart lyrics . Next up is a track named ‘Call Of The Wild’ . Guitar work is exemplary throughout the album and this song is a perfect example of that . Wah – wah guitar effects are thrown in along with guitar solos , which makes the listening experience so good. This song would sound great as a soundtrack of an Animal Planet documentary .

‘Sweet Miss Understanding’ : A single sentence conveying multiple meanings. This track is a typical classic rock song with keyboards forming the background rhythm section and a small guitar solo in the middle. Catchy rhythm section coupled with saxophone , trumpets and keyboards dominate the song. I knew I was gonna love this one just from the intro itself !

‘Lucky Guy’ stands out in the album due to the presence of a mid – section where only the drums and bass are present and a saxophone solo joins them . A groovy bassline dominates the song. Addition of trumpets is a pleasant surprise in 'It's about love'.

As the album progresses , it progresses towards the softer side of the musical spectrum . ‘The First Lie’ is a track on the mellower side of things . Violins and flutes also make their presence felt . The guitar solo is wonderful as well !

A single album featuring a variety of instruments alongside a traditional rock and roll setup is indeed so refreshing, and infact, so rare! ‘Love Over Blue’ is a perfect example of combining various instruments & still be able to retain the rock feel . Dave Goddess is a complete package of good vocals and guitar riffs. This is time and again evident in the album . ‘Better Man’ is a ballad about being sorry & promising to be a better man after a horrible mistake has been committed . The song ends with an amazing guitar solo .

The lyrics of ‘Cant Fight Sitting Down’ are aggressive , unlike all the other songs present in the album . The album finally ends with a song named ‘I Can Dream’ which is a nice track to finish the album .

Well, the members have perfect coordination throughout, and each of them is awesome on their respective instruments. Though, due to so many tracks in the album, I expected it to be less on variety, but I got just the opposite! Each song had 'something new' in it, and I was hooked on to it right till the end !

All in all , this album is your quintessential classic rock record . Though the album gets a little repetitive at times , in terms of structure and music , it is a statement that screams ‘classic rock is not dead’ . As long as bands like Dave Goddess Group are existing , classic rock is far from being dead . Go get it folks, Its indeed "Something New" !

Check out this video of rocker Dave Goddess talking briefly about the fight for relevance and the longing to create Something New.

From Rock n Roll, to Hope & Ruin !

For those of you wondering what this is all about, It's The Trews' fourth full-length studio album: Hope & Ruin, due out on The Trews Records on April 12 ! It is much of a level-raising evolution for the Toronto-based rock band with two gold records, 10 top-10 singles and 800-plus concerts logged.

Just to get a feel of what the album would be like, Check out their self-titled single :

Loaded with a super cool riff, awesome vocals, and a perfect head banging rhythm, I couldn't keep myself from watching the video again and again, humming all along! Recorded live-off-the-floor, they captured lightning in a bottle, resulting in a sound that is raw, electric and igniting.

The Trews, owing to their original sound and amazing musicality, seem to be, arguably one of the BEST rock artists of the current era.

Check out their official website : THE TREWS

Now That's What We Call a Rock Mandolin !

Folks, Now this is really a creative band called "The Poland Invasion", and though the name's got nothing to do with the World War 2, they actually got named after its founder, Jen Poland, who also happens to be the vocalist and the Lead 'Mandolinist' too ( Yes, she plays the Mandolin, on DISTORTION ! ).

Not only does the band feature an electric distorted mandolin as a lead instrument, an animal on drums, and a groovy bass, but all members are film makers. As of now, there are six members in the band and all of them have been actively producing films and videos for the last few years.

I got to watch two of their music videos, and I must say, I quite liked the sound of the Mandolin on distortion. Now that's something different, something unique, and that's exactly what these guys are all about. Following are those videos to check out :

This track, "Ice house" had a really nice 'rock n roll' riff, an amazing blend of the mandolin and the guitar. Though I'd have to say that the vocals were not as good as the music is, but nevertheless, I liked it much! Throughout the song, the bass is very well maintained. And finally, the Mandolin solo brought out a 70's touch into the track.

"I got something" has an awesome Bassline, with some really well balanced drums. The rhythm throughout this song is very strong. Overall, I'd say that this was an amazing track.

Overall Rating: 8 on 10 !

It's Christmas with The Puppini Sisters!

Our Editor, Dr. Glenda Cosenza, got down to listen to a recently launched album titled "Christmas with The Puppini Sisters", and here's what she had to say :

This album is extremely "retro"! The Puppini Sisters are reincarnations of the 1940s girl group, The Andrews Sisters-- close harmony and the standard swing style of the 1940s and early 50s. So for people of my mom's generation, this will be VERY popular indeed, but, I do not really see it attracting a younger audience.

The performances are GOOD, but not of a professional level in terms of the quality: Intonation issues; quite unexciting musical material. A kind of a standard good, amateur quality.

The sound quality was average: The vocals are very PROMINENT, and the instrumentals are just OK. Again, everything is so retro; it's rather startling. The kind of thing you would hear in the department stores on the P.A. system while you are holiday shopping!

So folks, if you're into the Retro style of the 1940s, you can give this album a try, else, It hasn't got much in store for you !

You can visit their website here.

What? Here come The Sho-stoppers!

WOW! This time it's a band all the way from Dubai, who call themselves, "Sho?", meaning "What?" . Well, the name sounds quite unusual, but, I have to admit, these guys are AMAZING!

Sho? has Rizal as the lead guitarist and Zara on the vocals, and well, from Punk to Rock to Metal and even Reggae, Sho? does it all !

Sho? made a mark on the Rock Music circuit when they won the Diesel U Music Road to Sound City competition, and became known all over Dubai. Recently, they released their first EP entitled "I Don't Wanna Go", which we got to listen to, and all I can say is, "I really Don't Wanna Go away from this album!"

The album began with a self titled track called "Sho?", having a strong Rhythm, excellent beats, impressive, meaningful lyrics, and unique, original vocals. The vocals were quite at par with many eminent female rock vocalists too!

The next track called "Crash" reminded me of the 80s Metal era. Having heard this track, I can surely say that this band is highly skillful. I'd give full credit to the Guitarist, Rizal, for giving this song the perfect feel. A special mention to the drummer, as he maintained the same emotions throughout the song, which was commendable!

"Pride" was a bit not as good as I was expecting it to be. Though they tried their best to make it sound different, but somehow, the music wasn't matching the lyrical point of view. The Vocals could have been better too.

The track "Winter", having a great distortion, coupled with a nice metal progression, was awesome. Zara showcased a great Vocal style in this one yet again.

Summing up, Overall, the band is TIGHT, and energetic. Coordination amongst the members is too good. Their lyrics especially, are noteworthy, apart from their creatively origingal compositions.

So, folks, Sho? is definitely a band you'd wanna get hooked to! Seems we might be writing "Sho?" instead of "What?" in the near future !

To know more about the band and their upcoming gigs, click here to visit their website.

The SAW 3D Soundtrack: Bang ON !

The world is divided into 2 kinds of people-Saw lovers and Saw haters. It is impossible to ignore this franchise. People who are unfortunate enough to have missed out on it have at least heard of the blood and gore associated with it. Among all this people tend to miss the awesomeness of the plot and that’s rather unfortunate. I recommend anyone and everyone who watches it to do so without any preconceptions of any kind and then judge based purely on what you experience. October ended this year with the 7th movie in the series, Saw 3D, releasing. Imagine all the fear with an added dimension! Anyways, 3 days before the movie released, the soundtrack of the movie was released. A movie like Saw has its fans expecting adrenaline pumping music which is in tune with the on screen action and I daresay, we have a winner!

It is not always that movies come out with great Soundtracks. I mean, it is usually not given much thought or it’s just a crappy compilation. But when composers like Chester Bennington(Linkin Park), Chad Kroeger(Nickelback),Hinder and Saving Abel contribute towards a album, you expect music of a certain quality. Add Kopek, Saliva and Karnivool to the mix and we get one among the best film soundtracks in recent times. The music is not too dark or esoteric-it’s just rock music that blows your head off. And that my friend is Hard Rock at its best. The album kicks off with Saving Abel’s “Never” followed by Chester’s side project Dead by Sunrise throwing “Condemned at you”. Hinder start their single “Waking Up the Devil” with an aptly placed evil laugh which gets you in the groove. This song reminded me a lot of Lacuna Coil’s “Heaven’s a Lie”.

One of the best songs of the album is “The World belongs to me”. Kroeger joins forces with fellow Canadian band My Darkest Days to belt out a beauty. There are songs by bands which you might not have heard of before but they do a brilliant job of keeping up the tempo of the album with numbers which keep you head banging for hours. Notable among these are “What Goes Around Comes Around”(Boom Boom Satellites) , “Scream”(Adelitas Way) and “Hoodoo Woman”(Krokus). We wrap things up with Japanese band Dir en gray’s composition “Hageshisa to”. This song along with it’s predecessor “Ram the Crush” leave every rock fan in a trance.

So the verdict? This is easily a rock lover’s paradise. And if you want to judge it on basis of how it relates with the movie, then rest assured-they are in total sync. Each song enriches the movie experience and does perfect justice to it. It seems we finally have a perfect soundtrack complimenting an awesome movie.

Fur State by The Boxing Lesson: A Perfect Instrumental Composition!

I just got to listen to a Duo band, called "The Boxing Lesson"(they don't give Boxing Lessons ! ), who have released an instrumental album, "Fur State", and trust me guys, These guys were AWESOME !

The Boxing Lesson has :

Paul Waclawsky - acoustic guitar, synthesizers, drum loops
Jaylinn Davidson - synthesizers, field recordings

All the instrumentals in the album are so well composed,versatile and very interesting indeed !

The album began with a song titled "One", and though I won't say that it was a unique sound, but definitely, there is something that attracts the audience till the end. I was actually searching for a particular point where I could stop playing the track. But I felt like their music was dealing with a story,which made made me connect with your song and hear it till the end!

The next track , Two, had a beautiful beginning ! Generally speaking, I prefer short instrumentals and this was a perfect piece. It was simple and short. Many musicians have a psych of including a hell lot of creativities in a short track. But here I felt something different!

"Three" made me dance right up ! Great intro ! Good arrangement of the synths. Really nice stuff! Creativity is present in each song of this album. Not too long and not too short !

"Four" was a decent track, not that attractive as compared to other tracks of this album. Still, it was a nice,soft piece of music.

The next track, "Five" was different from the other tracks, but still it felt as if all songs of this album are interconnected ! A storyline was maintained. It was like: If a single track is excluded from this album, then it would seem incomplete ! The Continuity will be lost !

Moving on, "Six" was TOO GOOD ! This sound can give you a sensational feeling! The blend of the acoustic guitar and the synth had brought a real charm into it, which is though, really hard to describe but quite easy to be felt and connect with!

I found "Seven" to be a bit boring, though I was eager to listen to a long instrumental from this band. It could have been a bit more interesting ! The album ended well with "Eight", their last track.

Overall, This Duo is Great ! No criticism at all guys ! The album is definitely worth a buy ! Though It would have been much better if they could have given some names to their tracks, as I felt like all the tracks were interconnected, so some prominent names could have made this album a perfect storyline !

To know more about the band, Click Here!

A Musical Journey Into Jack Jeffery's Passage to Agadir!

The Guy's a Musical Genius ! With Pretty enchanting vocals and exquisite guitar parts, I could very well say that ! He's not David Gilmour though !

I'm talking about an independent artist, Jack Jeffery, who indeed has influences from Pink Floyd, The Beatles and a few others.


I could get a pinch of Pink Floyd in every moment of his album ! That's what made me so much engrossed till the end !

The album began with a song titled "Whiskey Burns", which had a nice intro and amazing vocals. Though I found the bass drum a bit too loud !

"You've Lost Tomorrow" had an awesome backing bass line, while "Passage to Agadir" was a soothing instrumental composition. A guitar solo would have made it quite interesting !

The next track, "Misty Morning" had a welcome plucking intro. Just the song you would really wanna listen to in a Misty Morning! Beautiful Chorus ! My Favorite song in terms of vocals from the album !

"Where's the Ambient Jam? " had A Foot Tapping intro and was really a peppy number. Wonderful composition on the Piano. I was left amazed when I heard Jack's guitar solo that I had to rewind the song and hear it again and again ! My Favorite Composition from the album!

"Being Myself" had a nice plucking intro and very enchanting vocals. The ending was well composed!

Reaching over to the next track called "Acoustic Mojo", I was like: "Gosh ! Jack's great on the acoustic guitar as well" ! Commendable work !

"Auf Weidersehen !" was another foot tapping track ! Much like the "Moby" types !

The next track, "I will be there for you", might confuse you for Bryan Adams, but folks, This is Jack Jeffery, a very original musical genius playing another beautiful soulful track of the same name !

"Interstellar Echoes on the Dark Side", as the name suggests, The song begins with Echoes followed by a cool riff along with great licks in between !

Parsonian Seque was a rock-psychedelic-trance track. Now that's 3 genres in just 1 track!

The last track, "Overture for Galaxies and Stars" had a Commendable intro, perfect beats and was yet another wonderful composition !

Well, Summing up, I'd like to add that truly, Jack Jeffery's album "Passage To Agadir" has been like a soulful, enchanting journey that makes you so engrossed right till the end ! Jack Jeffery is a very original, fabulous musician and definitely, this album is worth a listen, especially for all the Pink Floyd fans out there ! I bet you'd surely wanna rewind each track once more !

Click here to visit Jack's page.