What It Takes To Move Forward // Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)

This album is beautifully presented from top to bottom. It’s the first thick album booklet that I have seen in a long time. A photo accompanies every song, and they all have a nice filmy feel. The album took two years to record, and “is a living and breathing document.” It’s no wonder [...]

American Ghetto // Portugal. The Man

As this album was released to anyone and everyone at the exact same time via internet, this review is based on my immediate reaction and was posted two hours after I first heard any of the songs.

It only took a few songs to realize that this was an outstanding follow-up to last [...]

American VI // Johnny Cash

First things first- HAPPY 78th BIRTHDAY, MR. CASH! The unusual release date of AMERICAN VI Ain’t No Grave, February 26th, is a tribute to the birth of the Man in Black. It’s so hard to believe that this is it, all we’re ever going to hear from an American Icon.

The [...]

They Can't Hurt You If You Don't Believe In Them // Post Harbor

Let me just tell you, the bio that came along with this album was just the album cover with the words “THEY CAN’T HURT YOU IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THEM.” It’s so creepy looking, I can’t even begin to explain it. The first few tracks continue that feeling. The album is beautifully presented, and [...]

Fang Island // Fang Island

Brooklyn quintet Fang Island has created a 30 minute sonic journey of positivity and inspiration. Imagine winning the lottery…your first kiss…getting the girl…winning the game just at the buzzer…getting a promotion…having all your dreams come true. If your life were made into a movie, Fang Island would be playing very prominently in the background during [...]

Jonas Sees In Color // Jonas Sees In Color

Jonas Sees In Color have successfully written a feel-good pop rock album. Their self-titled debut is a genuinely enjoyable album. The difference between Jonas Sees In Color and many other pop-rock bands is that this CD has enough moments where their originality shines through that you know that they are capable of refining [...]

The Inevitable and I // Harvard

This is not your usual album. I was so impressed with this band that I actually begged their label to let me review the album early, and I’ve been listening it nonstop since I got it. It’s that good. This is the debut full length by the North Carolina five-piece, [...]

Thank You // The Little Heroes

“Say I’ll Be gone”
This entire song is a build up. Each instrument is added at a separate time. It starts out with a keyboard and the vocals, adding in bass which is followed quickly by the guitar and drums. Add in some ‘ba ba’s  and you’ve got me hooked. (I am such a sucker for [...]

Never Cry Another Tear // Bad Lieutenant

When I first heard about New Order members Bernard Sumner and Phil Cunningham’s new band Bad Lieutenant, I thought, ‘Wow, are they going to sell any albums? Music is totally different today…’ This is probably because I wasn’t around in the 80s, (and I’m also not even old enough to remember Nirvana!) so the only [...]

Found Again // The Dream The Chase

I’m always really excited for EPs from smaller local bands, especially when they’ve put up a few tracks on MySpace which sound very promising. The Dream The Chase are a band from Brisbane, Australia and their debut EP Found Again is friggin’ epic! It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up an EP where [...]