Jaguar Love “Hologram Jams”

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Johnny Whitney’s (The Blood Brothers) new creation Jaguar Love is a combination of his previous bands (The Blood Brothers, Neon Blonde, and The Vogue) and synth driven rock that is weird but awesome. The record starts out with an 80’s pop synthesizer driven song called “I Started A Fire” and although this song and many of the songs on this cd are very poppy fans of Whitney need not worry he hasn’t lost that very distinctive whine and yelp he has exhibited in his other projects. This album is also nothing but schizophrenic. For instant on the song “Cherry Soda” Whitney breaks down and raps in both verses, which carries into a very Blood Brothers sounding chorus. “Don’t Die Alone” however maybe my favorite song on the album. This is song sounds like a CCR anthem but with Whitney’s voice and the catchy vocals it sounds like nothing I’ve heard before. The biggest surprise of this album was the bonus track at the end. This is a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart” and they really make it their own. Overall, this albums poppy beats combined with Whitney’s distinctive voice the album turns out pretty well however this album won’t be for everyone. Whitney’s voice is an acquired taste. By that I mean if you like the sound of a child being tortured over very cool beats then you’ll like this album as much as I did. Overall, I give this album a 7.5/10.

Jack Splash “King of Beats Vol. 1″

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

On this album Jack Splash certainly makes waves but to say he is the “King Of Beats” may be a stretch. This album is an ode to the old school of hip-hop ranging from groups like Run D.M.C. to the gangsta rap of the nineties like Eazy-E and Dr. Dre. This album gives tribute to these hip-hop legends with some of the high points on this album. For instance, the song “.38 Special” featuring Cee-Lo (Gnarls Barkley) has a very funk oriented beat, which corresponds well with Cee-Lo’s voice and Splash’s rhymes.  Track seven “It’s Not The Same” has a very Dr. Dre/ Snoop Dogg sounding beat which dates back to the early nineties. They talk about how it used to be “back in the day” and they really bring you back to their childhood growing up with a gangsta lifestyle. Lyrically, track 8 “Sly Stone (part 2)” is the best song lyrically on the album in that it has clever metaphors which are not only funny but make sense which is hard to find in hip-hop today. However this album has its setbacks. For example, there are instrumentals between every song, which is cool at first because the beats are good but in the end it just becomes annoying. Overall, I give this album a 6.5/10.

Craig Ramsey “Gift For A Party Girl”

Written by: Raisa Garvin

Rating: 7 out of 10

If pop is your thing, this is your album. Craig Ramsey’s Parting Gift For a Party Girl is an album full of quick, catchy songs. If you’re looking for something deep and meaningful bypass this one. The lyrics are straightforward and to the point but still pretty good. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio this man does it all from music production, writing, and performance. He is a member of the Indie Pop group, The Bears and also a drummer for the Afternoon Naps (another Cleveland band).

Album favorites are: If You Won’t Try, Some Days, Going to Bed and Some Things Never Change. The choruses are mellow at parts and “dancey” at others. It’s a nice pop album.

Arie Thompson “I’ll Know Who You Are When I See You Again”

Written by: Raisa Garvin

Rating: 7 out of 10

Actress turned singer, Arie Thompson, released her debut album just this year and has already racked up an amazing 6 Grammy nominations for 2010. Her nominations include “Best New Artist” and “Album of the Year”. Her album, I’ll Know Who You Are When I See You Again is a mix of pop vocals with elements of jazz and alternative soul. Her music tells a story of lost love, personal freedom, and longing. It’s really authentic and she really puts her heart and soul on the tracks.

Arie’s soothing vocals will surely make you want to sing along, but the music is really moody. If you’re looking for something upbeat this album is not for you. However, if you just broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend this is certainly an album that will reflect the mood; it’s really slow. She can be compared to the more classical likenesses of Billie Holiday and Nina. This isn’t a huge surprise since she lists these, amongst others, as her musical influences. Her songs are dramatic as one can expect that from a Broadway star. Overall, the album is a nice combination of soothing vocals and smooth jazz beats.

Woodhands “Remorsecapade”

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 9 out of 10

This duo out of Canada is what 30H!3 would be if they had any talent. An electro-pop indie band with a punk sensibility, really showcase their talent on this record. Unlike most of the bands in the Electro-pop genre this band plays all their instruments live and don’t use samples or laptops during their live shows, which I hear are phenomenal and believe it after hearing this album.  The first four songs “Pockets”, “Talk”, “CP24”, and “Sluts” really blew me away (no pun intended). They have taken the electro-pop sound that bands like MGMT, Ratatat, and The Postal Service have perfected and made it their own with punky, catchy lyrics and fun beats. The fifth song on the album “Coolchazine” sounds like it could be a remix of a System Of A Down song, which sounds like a bad idea but actually turns out pretty well. “Dissembler” is the seventh track on the album and quite possibly the best. They bring in singer Maylee Todd on and the combination between her voice and the lead singer Dan Werb is nearly perfect in the bubble gum pop kind of way, which is delightful. Overall, this album really hits the mark in that it has great lyrics combined with a fresh sound that will have everyone hitting the dance floor. I give this album a 9/10.

United States “Instant Everything, Constant Nothing”

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

I REALLY wanted to like this band. Once I noticed their name wasn’t United States I automatically liked them a lot more. Plus the album is call “Instant Everything, Constant Nothing” which for some reason I find really insightful and cool. However, this band just isn’t there yet. They are a hodgepodge of many different genres including indie, punk, prog rock, noise/experimental, with pop elements thrown in and it doesn’t work as well as they intended. The first four songs on the album sound very similar which always is a pet peeve of mine however I think beginning with the fourth track on the CD “Grey Tangerines” they almost figure out what kind of sound they are going for. At times its extremely schizophrenic sounding reminding me of bands like The Blood Brothers or The Smashing Pumpkins in that the lead singer can go from a very soft singing to a scream in a matter of seconds which may have been my favorite part about this band (especially because musically, it doesn’t sound like their would be any screaming). I would describe him as going from a Thom Yorke (Radiohead) type vocal to a Johnny Whitney (The Blood brothers, Neon Blonde, Jaguar Love) type scream, which is interesting and awesome. However, at times there is too much noise going on to appreciate anything musically or lyrically going on which is definitely why the songs like “Unsilvered Mirrors” and “Not Fences, Mere Masks” fall short. Although, this album has a lot of things that bother me a part of me really enjoyed it because this band is on their way to making great music. Overall, I give this album a 7.5/10.

Butterfly Bones “Pretty Feelings”

Written by: Raisa Garvin

Rating: 8 out of 10

Butterfly Bones is an electronic-pop band. Even if you’re not into that kind of thing, you will still enjoy the extra-synthy jams over bass and drums. This album will take you directly to the summertime with it’s feel- good chords. Their album, Pretty Feelings is very sunny and light-hearted. Bloggers across the globe have exploded with their own analogies they associate with the band. The Burning Ear says it is, “Feel-good-chill out-drink up sun-shine pop.”

An album favorite “XOXO” contains back-to-back synthesized guitar solos that will be sure to get you moving. Not only is the album upbeat in tempo, it’s melodic enough to relax to if you want to just chill out. Compared lyrically to groups like Magnetic Fields and style-wise to MGMT, Butterfly Bones is truly a unique-sounding band. The vocals and beats are very light in nature and really create a good feeling after listening. At the very least it’s very good riding music. I rate this album 8/10!

Shearwater “The Golden Archipelago”

Written by: Kole Ross
Rating: 10 out of 10
Shearwater’s latest outing, The Golden Archipelago, fits nicely alongside the band’s previous albums Palo Santo and Rook. Whereas Palo Santo was about the horrors of war, and Rook was about the splendor of nature, The Golden Archipelago marries the two concepts and explores how man’s brutality affects the natural world.
“This is how I learned the lie that power breeds regeneration.”
Shearwater has come into its own, and can no longer be considered a side-project of fellow Austin, TX band Okkervil River. Shearwater Mk. II’s output has been consistently haunting, atmospheric, and environmentalist. Their lyrics and melodies paint an impressionistic landscape, with images that jab out with stark vividness before fading back into the ether.
The Golden Archipelago is a narrative album, based on frontman Jon Meiburg’s travels to islands in the Pacific. This trip followed the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a radio operator in World War II. His grandfather’s story frames the album, contrasting his military life with the islands that were being destroyed in the fight.
“His eyes on the waves, and a god below the waterline.”
Meiburg’s vocals remain his best strength, as he sings with tremendous clarity and range. In a single song, he will transition from a falsetto whisper into a bellowing wail, as in the album’s first single “Castaways.” What’s remarkable is that he’s often kept low in the mix, obscured by the wall of sound that’s built around him. When his voice pierces through, it leaves an indelible mark on the song.
The cerebral nature of the lyrics and softness of the melodies makes the band difficult to classify… Until you hear the drums. Percussionist Thor Harris ushers the compositions along with driving, often tribal beats on tracks like “Corridors” and “Landscape at Speed.” Where drums are inappropriate, Harris mans the vibraphone, contributing to the complexity of the melodies. A drummer named Thor hammering on the skins? That sounds like a rock band to me.
“Where the hull scrapes the silent eyes and the gulls on the frozen ropes.”
The standout track of the album is “God Made Me,” which brings the family aspect of the story to the forefront. It starts out with timid strings mimicking a chorus of insects, coalescing into a simple melody alongside Meiburg singing about witnessing some horrible catastrophe. The song builds to a tremendous crescendo of exploding electric guitar chords… Suddenly halting, giving way to a short denouement of strings and guitars, like fading air-raid sirens, as if nothing had happened at all.
The Golden Archipelago is not a perfect album, but it’s pretty damn close. It’s solid gold from start to finish. It has a story to tell, and a bitter message to deliver about the wholesale destruction of natural beauty in this world. The album drifts in and out of focus, like a waking dream, pulling you in with its atmosphere and subtle complexity.

Corinne Bailey Rae “The Sea”

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

On Rae’s second effort she reinvents herself from the “overnight” success of “Put Your Records On” and does so in an impressive manner. Being a fan of her self titled first album I was tentative to put this in my CD player. If you’re a fan, don’t be afraid. Her second effort keeps the great upbeat soulful songs she had showcased on her first effort but adds so much more to the second. For instance, on songs like “Loves On It’s Way” and “Paris Nights/ New York Mornings” she has a very indie sound which sounds like it could be on the soundtrack to the next movie Zach Braff directs. However most of the album has a very soulful R& B feel. For instance, on the first single from the album “Closer” has a very funky, bouncy beat which really meshes well with Corinne’s vocals. She also slows it down on this album as well. For example, on the song “I’d Do It All Again” she croons over the soft beat of the drums and it sounds nearly perfect. Overall, this album has something almost everyone can enjoy and even if you don’t enjoy the music she’s not too hard on the eyes. Overall I give this album a 8.5/10.

Johnny Cash “American VI – Ain’t No Grave”

Written by: Blake Hammond

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

On Cash’s final recordings (which we produced by Rick Rubin) he accomplishes the great folk/country sound he has had throughout his career and more which makes this album very special. Nine out of the ten songs on this album are cover songs (excluding Corinthians I 15:55), but you couldn’t tell when you hear them. When Johnny Cash covers a song it is no longer a cover, it becomes his own. He begins the CD with the songs “Ain’t No Grave” and “Redemption Day” which obviously discuss death and Cash sings on them as if he knows his day is imminent. Although normally songs about God and heaven bother me but the way Johnny sings them really captures you and makes you believe every word he is saying. However this album is far from gospel. On songs like “Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound” and “Satisfied Mind” you get glimpses of a younger Cash and he could still sing these meaningful folk songs just as he did as a young man. However, the most out of the box song on the album, “Aloha Oe” which is a Hawaiian Hymn, is a very different song and may not fit as a whole with the album but is a great leap for Cash and it works in his favor. Overall, Johnny Cash has given the world one last gift with this CD and the whole “American” Collection and it makes you wonder what he would have been able to create if he was still alive today. I’d give this album a 9.5/10.

R.I.P.- The Man In Black

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