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The Midway State – Holes

February 19, 2009

Oh how I wish this review was going to go well. A lot of people like The Midway State. Hell, I’m sure a lot of people really love this album. I want to like it, but I keep getting hung up on things. I know two things will happen with this review. First, anyone who is a massive fan of The Midway State is going to nail me to the wall and then stone me to death. Second, I’ll have to actually listen to the whole album through two more times to actually find songs that I like.

Wait, those could be out of order. It doesn’t matter, they’ll both happen one way or the other.

Butch Walker – Sycamore Meadows

December 8, 2008

I have been waiting for a long, long time for a new album to come rolling out from this man. The album was supposed to come out a while ago, but when your house burns down due to some forest fires that are ruining the local forestry… well I can understand a delay.

Thankfully after my faithful wait, I have been rewarded with his new release: Sycamore Meadows. After giving this album a couple of listens, it has quickly become one of my favorites for all time. It’s both amazingly happy and startlingly deep, many times simultaneously.

Datarock – Datarock Datarock

November 20, 2008

Oh my God.

Datarock is easily one of my new bouncy favorites. The only way I can describe them is disco acid pop. There’s probably a better way of explaining them, but that’ll work for lack of the creation of new words.

As an aside, I want to apologize for the title of this post. I’m using the normal format, but their first album is actually called “Datarock Datarock” so it makes for some crummy article titling.

A Classical Admittance

September 29, 2008

I’ve got something to admit to. A secret that I’ve had for a long time. Something that very few people know about me, and I’ve kept this quiet for a very long time. I’ve had somewhat of a re-awakening to something that I though I had left behind me.

I like classical music. Beyond that I’m a fan of opera, all forms of choir music, and even musicals. I even have a keen spot in my heart for well-arranged soundtrack of both T.V. and Movie.

That’s right people, I’m basically a monocle-wearing classical enthusiast.

Roark – Break Of Day

August 28, 2008

Break Of Day is one of those albums that every time I come across it I don’t realize who the artist is, but I always think the songs sound fantastic. Then I’ll check my iTunes and realize that once again, it’s a song from Break Of Day. Then I say to myself “I really have to review this album! It’s so good!”

Then another month passes, and no review has been written, at least not by my own hands. Well I’m changing that today, because I ended up listening to the entire album from start to finish and I am not totally in love with this album.

Deezer vs. Last.fm

August 11, 2008

I’ve found myself using online music sources when I’m not around my home computer or too lazy to plug in my iPod. I’ve found myself going between two different programs: Last.fm and Deezer.com.

Both have pros and cons, and I felt that it’d make a good article to compare my findings and contrast the two services. I’m not going to gives scores, because comparisons like this are subjective. I’ll let the readers come to their own conclusions.

Coldplay – Viva la Vida

August 7, 2008

I have to start by saying that I’m not a huge Coldplay fan. Short of some of their more well-known songs (Green Eyes, Yellow, Clocks) I’ve never been much of a fan; a fact my girlfriend has never quite understood why. Coldplay as a rule, have never really done it for me; their music tends to border on the hyper-sensitive, and though I like sensitive music, theirs was a brand I just couldn’t stand behind.

Then they came out with Viva la Vida.

Motion City Soundtrack – Even if it Kills Me

May 19, 2008

I’m a bit of a sleeper fan of Motion City Soundtrack. I had their albums available to me for over a year before I listened to them. The only reason I really gave them a chance was because I was driving through a snow storm and the radio couldn’t pick up anything. I was really shocked when I went through both albums that I had of theirs (Commit this to Memory and I Am the Movie) and was craving more. Their bouncy, feelgood sound had me totally hooked. I listened through them all again, and I realized that in contrast to their sound, much of what was said bordered on major depressing.

Panic! At The Disco – Pretty. Odd.

April 3, 2008

Panic! At the Disco actually made a second album? I totally thought that they were going to burn out after their first album “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” but apparently I was mistaken. I mean the first album was self-contained, and it’s fairly obvious that you can’t really go anywhere from it. If they released another album that sounded like it, they’d be accused of repeating themselves and it wouldn’t have the impact that the first CD did. Tack on the fact that ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ got played to death, and you get a mixture for disaster should they continue on the path they were on.

They didn’t, which shocked me.

Ben’s Brother – Beta Male Fairytales

March 31, 2008

I very recently came across Ben’s Brother due to Dentynes newest commercial. I like many, many others were drawn in by the addicting song selected. ‘Stuttering’ is the name of the track, and it’s performed by Ben’s Brother. I’m sure this track alone will launch them into new realms of stardom. As I tend to give bands the benefit of the doubt, I decided to get my hands on their latest (and only) album “Beta Make Fairytales”. As it turns out, they are not a one-hit-wonder. They are, in fact, a rather talented band that reminds me faintly of Coldplay, Maroon 5, and even Snow Patrol.

David Ford – Songs for the Road

February 28, 2008

I was recently at the El Mocambo with Theresa to watch Ingrid Michaelson, and one of the opening acts was David Ford. As soon as this guy hit the stage, he won my heart with his shear moxy at having many instruments that could record and repeat audio. He played them all, which involved him dashing around the stage singing into a microphone, or mashing the piano, or playing the guitar, or the maracas, etc.. He easily won top marks for the technical portion of the night. He was actually fantastically funny, and very, very English. Complete with the swanky accent and a wit so dry that you could start a fire with it, he won over the crowd with his banter and his craft.

Butch Walker – Leavin’ the Game on Luckie St

February 21, 2008

I love Butch Walker, but I’ll try and be objective with this review. I could review many of his albums that I happen to have in my possession, but as this is the newest one out and available for free (or 6 bucks if you want to) I figured I’d try and be current and edgy and what have you.

Now there are certain artists that sound good on albums but come up short in live shows. There are other artists that rock live performances like they were born to it, but fail to translate this to their recordings (Live ones aside, obviously). Then there are artists that do both exceptionally well. This is where Butch Walker falls.

Matthew Good – Hospital Music

February 5, 2008

I have always wanted to be a fan of Matthew Good. I’ve loved a couple songs that he’s made over the years, but I’ve never managed to be a huge fan. He’s just one of those guys that people I wanted to hang out with seemed to like. You can laugh all you want, but I was young and therefore stupid. As it worked out, my time would come when he released his latest album, “Hospital Music.”

Abandoned Pools – Armed To The Teeth

January 9, 2008

What can I say? I’m a fanboy of Abandoned Pools. No, that’s not true; I’m a fan of talent, and that’s something that Abandoned Pools has in spades. I will admit that Armed to the Teeth came out in 2005, making this review a little dated, but I feel that Abandoned Pools is a band (artist, to be more accurate) that I’ve had since it came out (please refer to my fanboy comment).

Boys Like Girls – Boys Like Girls

December 5, 2007

Boys Like Girls self-titled album came out in August of 2006, and I only found out about them in August of 2007 (or was it July…). My friend linked them to me and I got my grubby little hands on the Album as soon as I could. Drawing parallels to All-American Rejects, Acceptance, and even a hint of Abandoned Pools I just can’t put my finger on, this album has a weird blend of pop-punk and rock. I found it really hard to pick favorite on this Album, because to be honest there are only two tracks that I don’t like. I made my choices though, and I stick by them.

The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

November 16, 2007

I wish I could say I listened to indie music more, and that I was well versed in it. Truly I wish I could, but the fact of the matter is I am an outsider to the genré and as such, my opinion here is literally just that: opinion. I’m not saying that all my other music reviews are based on scientifically music-based fact, but at the very least I know what I like and dislike and can compare it to something. The closest thing I can compare The Weakerthans’ new album, Reunion Tour, would probably be The Shins or Bright Eyes. Please don’t send me hate mail for being unable to notice the subtle differences that separate these artists. I don’t see them and I don’t really care.

Abandoned Pools – Humanistic

November 7, 2007

If you’ve ever watched Clone High, you’ve heard Abandoned Pools. I’m fairly certain that all of their songs from their first album are used throughout the show, including the intro video which is not actually on any of their Albums. In any case, Humanistic is one of the longest running albums existent in my library and easily on my top ten, if not my top five. Flat out I’m going to say that it’s simply a wonderful album and worth listening to. It has a subtle darkness to it, and manages to convey a stunning amount of emotion considering how “happy” some of the songs happen to be.

The Higher – On Fire

October 29, 2007

What happens when you take Panic! At The Disco and tell them to emulate Backstreet Boys? You get The Higher. Their album On Fire is amusing to listen to, at the very least. You can’t take this album too seriously, and if you’re looking for deeper meaning or an answer to one of life’s mysteries, just keep walking. If you feel like dancing to something with a solid beat and like pop-ish music? This album is a must have for your very shallow, expensive shelf.

Mute Math – Mute Math (Teleprompt Edition)

October 25, 2007

Mute Math: Teleprompt Edition is one of two release versions (the other being the Warner Bros. release, which I have not listened to, though they are fairly close I’m told) exists for a very interesting 52 minutes. The tracks start off small (ranging from one to four minutes) but quickly move into the six to seven minute range. One reason I can possibly find for this is the over all ambient feel to the Album. The whole thing reeks of “chill,” which I don’t want to say is a bad thing. You do however need to be in the mood to listen to it. This is not an album I would listen to when working out. Yoga maybe, but not for anything that required me to be pumped.

No I do not do yoga.

The Spill Canvas – No Really, I’m Fine

October 18, 2007

No Really, I’m Fine is the third fourth (it pays to do research) official album (I don’t count EPs as albums) by The Spill Canvas, and I’ve noticed two things. They’ve become more mainstream sounding, and they’ve really tightened up their sound. I don’t want to make conclusions that one of those points begets the other, it’s merely an observation.

A Fine Frenzy – One Cell in the Sea

October 12, 2007

The debut album by A Fine Frenzy, this CD features 14 tracks that I could play on repeat for god only knows how long. A Fine Frenzy is the result of the hard work of Alison Sudol, and this album is proof that great music still exists in the increasingly commercial music industry. It reminds me faintly of Chantal Kreviazuk, though Alison has a softer voice and simpler sheet music.