You are here: Home / Archives for Reviews

Jonquil ‘Point Of Go’ Album Review

February 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Jonquil caught me off guard with their name. “Its so strange,” I thought. Then I decided I have to give them a listen with a name this strange. Lucky for me, their music was relaxing and soothing to the ears. A very relaxed and melodic indie band, Jonquil is a band I recommend everyone to listen to.

Their album, Point Of Go, begins with a song called “Swells.” This song starts with a quiet synth with a snare-less drum beat. The vocals ease in and sooth your ears. You suddenly realize that you are dancing along with the music. “Getaway,” the next song, is a little more upbeat and bass heavy, but it is still a song to relax to.

Songs like these guys are making remind me very much of the Fleet Foxes. They are indie, quiet, melodic, and most of all, beautiful. Jonquil has a different sound than the Fleet Foxes, but the comparison is noticeable.

“Run” is a song that is upbeat and ready-to-go. It is very catchy with the keys and synthesizer. The drums have a lot of quick fills, and the musicianship is more difficult. I must say this is the most beautiful pop song I have ever heard. “Real Cold” is another one of these upbeat songs. Featuring a catchy riff, the song makes it way forward with Hugo’s beautiful vocals and work on the synth.

“Mexico” is a tribal song that is happy and relaxing. The tribal beat makes you wanna dance and sing along, but this song can also be a great beach song. “History Of Headaches” gives you the furthest thing from a headache. If anything this song can replace Tylenol. Soft on the ears, this song is a great one for taking a nap to. The song builds near the end with the catchy guitar picking and the increasing drum roll. The end explodes into a sound of triumph and success. It is truly a beautiful moment in the album. As the song crashes at the end, the album rolls into the last song, which is instrumental. The piano and guitar are playing a soft tune together over a background of static. This is a beautiful way to end the album because it sums everything up in 60 seconds. Beautiful and clever.

Jonquil is a band I am excited to see grow. A mix of the Fleet Foxes and Tokyo Police Club, these guys are geniuses. They use such an array of instruments throughout their songs as well. You should listen for the horns in “Swells” and the cowbell in “It’s My Part.” There is even a hint of tambourine in “Run.” These guys are geniuses, and I cannot wait wait to see what they can accomplish.

For more information on Jonquil check out their Bandcamp, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Get Point of Go now on iTunes!

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Set It Free Album Review

January 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Set It Free and their self-titled album are great. They mix up the metal and hardcore genres but use clean vocals instead of screams. It makes it seem 80′sish. Its a new kind of heavy when using clean vocals.

“Home Alive” starts off the album. The first thing coming through my mind is some awesome metal music with screams. Instead I get a clean Escape The Fate sounding band. I was taken off guard because the music is so heavy, but as I kept on listening, it grew on me. I can no longer picture this song with screams being good

“Forget The Past” starts off as what seems to be a wall-of-death type song. It quickly turns into a catchy song. This is one of the catchiest heavy songs I have heard in a very long time. I am happy to hear a band that can do it so well and often.

“Everything In Motion” is a very alternative rock song. This is a song I can picture hearing playing in people’s headphones and on the radio. Its simple and catchy. Not only that, but it is less heavy than all other songs. “What Is This Love” continues on the less-heavy feel of the album. Starting with angelic instrumentation followed by peaceful drumming, this song is not what I expected this album to end with. It is a very different feel. Going from what I expected to hear screaming, a song like this reminds me of A Day To Remember’s albums. They always seem to sneak in a softer song on their records.

Set It Free uses a lot of diversity on their self-titled album. Sounding like Escape The Fate and A Day To Remember, this band is well on their way to playing big shows. They have a great sound that is very easy to get into. I promise you this, you will be surprised by what you hear on this album.

For more information on Set It Free check out their Facebook page.

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Electric Touch ‘Don’t Stop’ Album Review

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Electric Touch is a catchy, dance/pop band that really makes you wanna move. Comparable to bands like Family Force 5, Forever The Sickest Kids, and Bloc Party, Electric Touch really kicks off their EP with “Don’t Stop.”

“Don’t Stop” makes you wanna get moving from the start. The beat and the chorus are just killer. “Magnetic” is another song that doesn’t stop. From beat one these songs make you wanna stop being lazy and dance around with your friends.

“Dominoes” is a song that starts off soft and slow. Its one of those songs you wave your lighter to. Once the chorus hits, a great sing-along comes in. You want to pout your heart and soul into this slow and electric song. “Do It Again” goes back to Electric Touch’s natural sound. Catchy and fun. Whilst this song is more pop punk, it is one of those songs that just fits. It closes out the album telling the listeners they’re not all about the synthesizers. A head bopper, “Do It Again” is a fantastic way to end off the album.

Electric Touch is a band I highly recommend listening to. There is never a dull moment while listening to them. They are way to fun and catchy. Its almost as if you learn the lyrics the first time listening.

For more information on Electric Touch check out their official website, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages. Get Don’t Stop now on iTunes!

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Suddyn ‘Before the City’ – Hard Spelling, Easy Listening

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Suddyn’s crisp, collected sound is proof that not all electro-rock bands have to sound like a five-year-olds first hour with a Casio keyboard. Technically solid bands are becoming harder and harder to find as anyone with a Mac seems to be making songs and putting them on YouTube. It’s clear that brothers Alan and Jarrett Steil have taken the time to hone their skills.

Cutting their teeth while touring in Ireland the band can crank up the tempo of a song to get the crowd involved while still maintaining control to keep their attention. This attention to the intricacies of making and performing music give Suddyn a firm base for their music.

Any successful artist can trace what they’ve achieved to having a strong foundation. From there they were able to build on that foundation with their own originality. This leaves Suddyn with a jumping off point, that when infused with their own individual style, can catapult them to stardom. “Naked Prophecy” is a song that easily could garner radio play with a chorus that will stick in a listener’s head and wake their feet up. However, the group is still in need of something more in order to grow an interested fan base. This is the type of band to watch, they could easily breakout in the coming years with some added edge to their sound. Don’t be surprised if you’re telling your friends you listened to Suddyn before they were famous.

For more information on Suddyn check out their official website, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Get their album Before the City now on iTunes.

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ugly Kids Club- ‘Ugly Kids Club’ (EP) Review

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Grammy Nominated Steve Wilson has brought his genius to Ugly Kids Club as the producer, songwriter and guitarist, whose other musical half is Aliegh Shields. The pair came together in 2011 after discovering their love for music and electronic rock.

This affection for bands like Crystal Castles, Sleigh Bells and The Kills can be seen in their debut EP Ugly Kids Club, which is a great introduction to the duo, who mix their deep expressive voices with heavy drumming and synths to create a fresh new sound.

Songs like “Diamond In Your Fire” and the opener “My Soul,” showcase the talent of this band whose sound may be reminiscent of bands like the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and The XX. Throughout the EP, Ugly Kids Club manages to keep their sound uniform, almost making the whole album sound as one fun, dance-able, long continuous song. It is this uniformity and cool mix of electronic sounds and lyrics that makes this band stand out among all of the electronic bands that populate the charts today and makes them the ones-to-watch.

For more information on Ugly Kids Club check out their official website, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Get their self-titled EP now on iTunes!

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Midnight Mosaic ‘Fetish’ Album Review

December 30, 2011 By 1 Comment


Rarely, are bands that incorporate different genres successful at producing a cohesive sound and much less an album. However, New Jersey natives Midnight Mosaic are the exception, who with their new EP Fetish manage to bring to the forefront a new sound mixing hip-hop, folk, country and R&B.

Tracks like the opener “Victorious (L.M.N.H)” and the third track “Sex Soldier,” display how Midnight Mosaic bring something new to the music industry with a new cool, yet at the same time almost retro sound. It is this mix of the old and the new that will gain this band many fans in those that search for good drumming, guitar and lyrics in an industry that is currently flooded with bass drops and auto tune.

Reminiscent of classic bands like the Police and Rush, Midnight Mosaic is a band whose sound one cannot judge from the first listen but grows on the ears by the second or third listen. This five song EP is a return to the roots of real music with a raw and refreshing sound.

The closing track titled “Fear No Audience” closes off a great introduction to this band that truly does not fear an audience or critic. Their music gives the listener the feeling of a live performance; one that would be packed with energy and some remarkable tunes.

For more information on Midnight Mosaic check out their official website, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages.

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With:

The Reveling ‘Tributaries’ Album Review

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment


The Reveling is a punk band that kicks it old school. Instead of going for the modern sound of punk, they went 90s on us. Sounding very much like Bad Religion and Anti-Flag, The Reveling on Tributaries creates a pure punk sound that you can’t ignore.

“Revival” and “Charlotte Thompson” are the first two songs on Tributaries and they start the album off right. They aren’t the fast-paced NOFX style punk songs, they are more the melodic, jazzy beats from Bad Religion and Anti-Flag. “Revival” starts off with what all punk albums should have, group vocals. Although the song starts off a little slow, the punk beat kicks right in, and there’s nothing you want to do more than get into a circle pit and dance and sing.

“Left At Forkright” is a song that screams punk rock. It comes in with the strong chords and the danceable beat. Another thing that is great about The Reveling’s punk sound is there short songs. The entire album is under 30 minutes long. Punk songs are typically very short, especially the songs from the 90′s and before. The Reveling fit the bill well for a great punk band.

The middle portion of Tributaries is a lot more melodic than the rest of the album. It’s a nice change of pace because it gives you a second to breathe and sing along for a few tracks. “Black And Tan” is one of these songs. It’s a simple song that you just want to go and sing along to while skanking in the circle pit.

After “Black And Tan,” the songs pick up more than they did at the beginning of the album. These songs are the short, fast-paced punk songs that were written in the 90s. Songs like these is what got punk started in the first place. Having them end their album off with songs like “Unglued” and “Invitations To Alleyways” puts their mark on the punk scene. It shows that they were going 90′s, and did it successfully.

Any true punk-rocker would appreciate The Reveling. They have a pure sound, and a unique one at the same time. You don’t hear bands like them too often anymore, so having them around is a great thing for the modern punk scene. So take a listen and enjoy a truly great album by an underground punk band that just wants to pay homage to their predecessors.

For more information on the Reveling check out their official website, MySpace, and Facebook pages.

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Erick Serna And The Killing Floor Album Review

December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Erick Serna And The Killing Floor is a one-man-band that crosses between the Black Keys and old-school Southern Rock. The songs have a lot of distorted guitar and heavy bass lines. Along with that they add elements of bluegrass, country, and southern rock into all of this to make a truly unique sound.

The Grip is an incredible compilation of songs. Some songs will sound country, others will sound heavy, and others will sound indie. You truly never know what to get with these guys, but no matter what it is, its awesome.

I didn’t know what to expect when I was told to listen to them. What I got is the farthest thing from what I expected, though. The self-titled track, “The Grip,” starts the album off with a fantastic mix of different genres. It felt like I was listening to the Black Keys with a southern twang. I had never heard anything more unique and perfect in my life.

“I’ve Been Walking” is a bass heavy song that is slow and quiet. It is a simple song with complicated guitar fills. As the song progresses, though, it builds up into a loud jam of a song, and at the end it goes back to the jazzy, mellow, bass-heavy song it was at the beginning. This song is a great song to just drive and bob your head to.

The album closes out with a slow, sing-along song called “Dear McKenzie.” This song is a change from the rest of the album. It is melodic, soft, and vocal heavy. The instrumentation is still impeccable, though.

With Erick Serna And The Killing Floor, you never know what to get. The Black Keys, George Thorogood, Alice In Chains, or straight up southern rock. It is fantastic and as unique as anything I’ve ever heard. These guys are going places, too. They shared the stage with Circa Survive this October at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. I recommend people go online and download “The Grip” from Erick Serna’s website because it is a great and engaging listen.

For more information on Erick Serna and the Killing Floor check out their Bandcamp, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

We Are The In Crowd ‘Best Intentions’ Album Review

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment


We Are The In Crowd‘s debut album Best Intentions is a work of pop-punk genius. Every song makes you wanna jump around and sing like a 15 year-old girl. The dual vocals of Taylor Jardine and Jordan Eckes is masterful. Its like they are singing their own songs to each other. The songs are a mix of Paramore and All Time Low.

The album starts off with a energetic song in “Rumor Mill.” “This Isn’t Goodbye, It’s BRB” is another song that flows from “Rumor Mill.” Songs like these are songs that people run and jump around to at shows. They give you a feeling of euphoria because nothing else matters but dancing.

“Kiss Me Again” is a slower song that is unbelievably catchy. This song is a great sing-along. It also tells a great love story that will win the hearts of all listeners almost immediately. Who doesn’t love a nice upbeat love song every once in a while?

“See You Around” is a duet song that has Jordan singing about a girl and Taylor singing the part of the girl. This song is a great song of heartbreak. Again, they use their lyricism and musicality to create an upbeat song about something everyone goes through. This song can cure the hearts of many as they experience heartbreak because if offers both sides of the equation, and not just one.

“You’ve Got It Made” is the one song on the album that isn’t upbeat. Even though its a slower sad song, the sing-along status is still through the roof. When you listen to it the first time, you just want to sing the words, even though you do not know them.

We Are The In Crowd has created a great album. An album that I haven’t heard since my high school days when All Time Low and We The Kings came into play. Its been a long time since I heard a really good pop-punk band enter the scene. I am ecstatic to see that a band like this is making music. The duel vocals, the sing-alongs, the dancing, all of it makes this album genius. Anyone who likes catchy music should give this band a listen. They’re different, yet similar at the same time.

Fore more information on We Are The In Crowd check out their official website, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Get Best Intentions now on iTunes!

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

MayOrWest ‘We, Reborn’ Album Review

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hoboken, NJ natives, MayOrWest, are an in your face band. Formed in 2005, MayOrWest has had its time playing music. We, Reborn is an album of loud and heavy instrumentals and smooth vocals. MayOrWest uses a lot of gang vocals, especially in their opening track, “Chaos In D Minor.” Their gang vocals when mixed into the choruses make it seem like they are getting in your face and yelling at you about something.

The title track is a catchy song from the middle of the album. The drumming is fast and skillful, the gang vocals aren’t overdone, and there are a lot of clever fills thrown in there. The song makes the album what it is, and truly shows the colors of MayOrWest.

“Print Is Dead” is a song that comes in with a nice guitar riff backed by a punk drum beat. As a journalist, I agree that print is dead, and think the song is quite well put together. It has a nice punk feel to it; fast drums, quick chords, and gang vocals. They went from a hardcore sound to a punk sound, which is never a bad change of pace in my book.

MayOrWest not only has a clever band name, they have an interesting way of writing music. There aren’t many bands who go out there and use gang vocals as much as they do, unless you’re 30 Seconds To Mars. They play fast and in your face. They throw in many short breakdowns into their songs. In the end, their music is always loud and in your face. We, Reborn is an album I highly recommend anyone to take a quick listen to, you won’t regret it.

For more information on MayorWest check out their Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages. Get We, Reborn now on iTunes!

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »