A Suitcase Full Of Broken Hearts: Black Stone Cherry's "Between The Devil & The Deep Bllue Sea" Review

InReview: Black Stone Cherry's ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’

Black Stone Cherry has returned with their first album release since 2008’s ‘Folklore & Superstition’ and have teamed up with producer Howard Benson to help make their third solid album in a row.  ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’ is an accumulation of everything fans have previously loved about the band as heard on their self-titled debut album and their second outing ‘Folklore And Superstition’.

However this time around, Black Stone Cherry tries to improve on the slower and more heartfelt songs that were first seen on their last attempt. Tracks like ‘Won’t Let Go’, ‘Stay’ and ‘All I’m Dreamin’ Of’ all aim to reach out to new fans who don’t necessarily like their heavier songs. The track ‘Let It Roll’ is one of the stand outs of the softer crop and features a John Mellencamp-esk guitar riff and lyrics that help paint a vivid picture of driving across the American countryside in the summer. The music in this track builds up to showcase one of their best choruses to date; “I roll like the hills under the California sun, Burn through the desert like the devil on the run…”

Yet for the fans that prefer their Black Stone Cherry louder and heavier, you won’t be disappointed. The heavier tracks on the record, including ‘Such A Shame’, ‘White Trash Millionaire’ and ‘Change,’ all sound like they could be lifted straight off their debut albums b-side scrap heap, but they’re fine tuned to feature even meaner riffs. All these songs incorporate pounding bass lines; Chris Robertson’s shining southern fueled vocals, grungy guitars and driving drum beats. With the best of both worlds this album really is accessible for anyone.

In conclusion ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’ sees one of the most underrated American rock bands of the modern day soar and continue to deliver their unique blend of southern influenced modern rock. Black Stone Cherry has also pushed some different boundaries, with the somewhat funky song ‘Blame It On The Boom Boom’ and with the softer attempts that are written to pull on listeners heartstrings. This release maintains Black Stone Cherry consecutive solid record releases and it’s only a matter of time before one of their songs becomes a huge international hit and they become a common household name in Australia.

Rating: 8/10

Stand Out Tracks: White Trash Millionaire, Such A Shame, Like I Roll, Blame It On The Boom Boom, All I'm Dremin' Of

Check Out Black Stone Cherry At:

www.blackstonecherry.com

www.myspace.com/blackstonecherry

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Stone-Cherry/8509615068

We've Got Friends, Chicks, Guitars And No Beer: Bowling For Soup's "Fishin' For Woos" Review

InReview: Bowling For Soup's "Fishin' For Woos"

Bowling For Soup are back yet again to present the world with their 11^th album and it’s one of their best yet! ‘Fishin’ for Woos’ sees the Texan pop-rockers continue to deliver top notch albums showcasing their signature sound.

To be honest, Bowling For Soups last effort ‘Sorry for Partyin’ sounded tired in parts and I didn’t have high hopes for this release. However, as tracks off this record started to make their onto the internet early, I listened and loved them.  The new album is chock full of everything fans love about the group including party anthems and hilarious lyrics. Bowling For Soup have also taken a more serious tone on a number of tracks on this album; which emphasize that this is also their most mature album to date.  Tracks like ‘What About Us’, ‘Turbulence’ and ‘Guard My Heart’ all show how this band has developed over the years to include a more serious touch to some of their music. ‘Turbulence’ is a prime example of ‘Fishin’ for Woos’ with its acoustic guitar, sincere vocal approach and background strings. This track comes off as a very heartfelt attempt to connect with listeners and features the brilliant chorus: ‘ And We’re all just passengers tonight, And We’re all just travelling through our lives, We will reach our destination so just hang on for the ride, say a prayer and close your eyes. It’s just a little turbulence.’

Whilst Bowling For Soup have incorporated some serious songs into the mix this time around, they still haven’t forgot how to please long time fans of the band.  Bowling For Soup are renowned for their hilarious lyrics, catchy choruses, driving guitar rhythms, upbeat musicianship and overall ability to make the listener feel extremely happy. Jaret Reddicks gift of writing consistently catchy and comical lyrics is not something to be scoffed at. Eleven albums in and their song writing has never been stronger. Songs like ‘Let’s Pretend We’re Not In Love’, ‘Here’s Your Freakin’ Song’ and ‘I’ve Never Done Anything Like This’ are some career best songs, which is a very good sign for a genre that tends to get outdated and overly repeated. The track ‘I’ve Never Done Anything Like This’, in my opinion, is one of Bowling For Soups best songs to date. It features everything loved about the band, a great dynamic with female vocalist Kay Hanley, and even a reference to the rock band Tonic!

Bowling For Soup sound completely refreshed and have written some truly rocking songs which harp back to their ‘Drunk Enough to Dance’ sound. The decision to include more mature songs on this album helps to keep the band sounding new and re-energized. They have even written a song named ‘S S S-Saturday’ that hasn’t given a day of the week a bad name like Rebecca Black’s ‘Friday’ did.  After many peers in this genre fail to consistently produce quality releases, Bowling For Soup have bucked the trend and manufactured the possible ‘best pop-punk album’ of 2011!

Rating: 9/10

Stand Out Tracks: I've Never Done Anything Like This, S S S-Saturday, Turbulence, Here's Your Freakin' Song

Check Out Bowling For Soup At:

www.bowlingforsoup.com/

www.myspace.com/bowlingforsoup

www.facebook.com/bowlingforsoup



Your Not Gonna Paint Me Red: Michael Strong And The Ghost Anyway's "Black Room White Room" Review

InReview: Michael Strong And The Ghost Anyway - "Black Room White Room"

Although Michael Strong and the Ghost Anyway may have only had a short career thus far, it has been a career that has turned plenty of heads towards them. The band released their debut full length album ‘On the Outskirts of Logic Town’ in 2009 and received a large amount of praise from their local area. Recently they have been back in the studio to record a follow-up record and the final result is titled ‘Black Room White Room’.

 ‘Black Room White Room’ is the second release from the Perth outfit and builds steadily on what they already know, yet adding another level of sophisticated depth to their original sound. The lead track of the EP kicks off with a funky bass driven beat and mixes it with some rather haunting vocal work. ‘All Your Devils’ also features a prominent guitar riff which causes the listener to be completely drawn into the music structure itself.  For example due to the tempo and change in momentum heard in the second half of the song, along with the music’s ability to draw the listener in, you completely get the sense of falling. This sense of being one with the music creates a richer experience and leads perfectly into the next track. ‘Country Shopkeeper’ consists of a slow build up and Michael Strong’s voice used in a more natural manner. The earthy, country vibes to this song exude poise and show the listener how the musicians take care with sculpting their music.  After ‘Country Shopkeeper’ cools down to a nice finish, ‘Young Heart’ follows and yet again shows the band’s talent in another light.

‘Young Heart’ is the lead single of the release and is the most radio friendly. It’s a very solid track which is driven home by a powerful bass riff, warm vocals and a sing-along chorus. Hints of piano can also be remotely heard, adding another light touch to the song. More unique light touches can be heard on the remaining two tracks of the album. ‘River’ features the best vocals heard on the record; these stop on a number of occasions only to pick up stronger shortly after. However this song becomes repetitive towards the end of the track and perhaps could have been slightly shorter. ‘Revelation Road’ is the last track on the EP and the most musically deep. This song is the longest track on the release and builds up to a frantic yet beautiful ending. A guitar solo also sweeps the listener away towards the ending of the track, helping it to excel above the rest.        

Michael Strong and the Ghost Anyway have once again shown their uncanny ability to craft songs that captivate the listener and which makes them feel one with the music. I believe this ability to completely hypnotize the listener is a rare thing to find in music and only bands who persist with it become leaders in the industry. Future refinement and commitment by Michael Strong and the Ghost Anyway will see more boundaries being pushed and more doors being opened. Their unique blend pop-rock of has huge potential to cross into mainstream music, even if takes time for the majority of people to warm up to their music, I’m sure they’ll be cosy in no time.

Rating: 8/10

Stand Out Tracks: All Your Devils, Young Heart, Revelation Road

Check Out Michael Strong And The Ghost Anyway At:

www.myspace.com/michaelstrongmusic

www.facebook.com/msatga

But The Devil Can Hear You: My Darkest Day's "My Darkest Days" Review

InReview : My Darkest Days - "My Darkest Days"

As I turned on the radio the other day, I was absolutely stoked to hear the Canadian band My Darkest Days blasting through the speakers. I have been following My Darkest Days since their self titled debut album was released last September and was delighted that their hugely successful single ‘Porn Star Dancing’ has now graced Australian airwaves. Hearing My Darkest Days on the radio has prompted me to write this review and showcase a band that is destined for success.

The first track on My Darkest Days self titled debut album is a catchy riff-laden number called ‘Move Your Body’, which immediately demonstrates what this band is capable of. The song is heavy, yet maintains a dancy beat and is followed by the massively popular track ‘Porn Star Dancing’, which follows the same musical direction. ‘Porn Star Dancing’ is another sex fuelled party anthem that is much stronger than the previous track. The inclusions of Chad Kroeger, Zakk Wylde and Ludacris, strengthen this track and have helped it attain the success it deserves.

Strangely enough the rest of the album strays away from the sexual themes, which the first two tracks relied on. In my opinion My Darkest Days sound much more natural when they don’t try to be the life of the party. Songs such as ‘Set It On Fire’ and ‘The World Belongs To Me’ feature great hooks and are very catchy, whilst not being very groundbreaking are still going to be popular with listeners. My Darkest Days also tone it down even more with songs like ‘Like Nobody Else’ and ‘Can’t Forget You’, which also shows little, hints towards pop rock. These two songs are perfect inclusions to make the album more diverse and appealing to a wider audience.

Overall My Darkest Days have created a record that is extremely catchy and maintains a strong sense of modern rock throughout it. The album is very polished for a first released and has been well produced. A number of these songs were stuck in my head after only one listen, which proves they know how to write a hook. Many people and critics will disagree with me, saying that these guys bring nothing new to the table, but that doesn’t bother me. I hope these guys continue to receive air play on Australian radio, because they are a band that deserves to be heard. This is a great release and I would like to see many more from My Darkest Days in the future.

Rating: 8/10

Stand Out Tracks: Can't Forget You, Like Nobody Else, Porn Star Dancing, Set It On Fire

Check Out My Darkest Days At:

http://www.mydarkestdays.com/

www.myspace.com/mydarkestdays

www.facebook.com/MyDarkestDays

Rock Music Videos Segment Launch

2011 is truly going to be a massive year in rock music and below are some new music videos to get you excited about some upcoming albums! I have also included a music video which i have just discovered, but will rock you just as hard! I will try to make this a bi-weekly segment, with all your latest music video news. Cheers!

3 Doors Down - 'When You're Young'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j7h_b-YA5qM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Rise Against - 'Help Is On The Way'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JHiqGqoIGII" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Trust Company - 'Heart In My Hands'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/poZFDBz32CQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Foo Fighters - 'Rope'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kbpqZT_56Ns" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hollywood Undead - 'Hear Me Now'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pdoIs1jZbCY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bleeker Ridge - 'Small Town Dead'

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rSwkRQ2pHU8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cheers, Joel

Present Me A Reason, Why You Should Take Our Freedom: Dam Few's "The Bitter Beginning" Review

The first attempt at any project is a tough ask, with many chances to fail.  It is especially hard to create your debut EP in the music industry and to be able to set yourself apart from all the bands before you. It takes a very special kind of band that draws ideas from their influences and uses it to excel in their own musical territory.

A local Perth outfit, ‘Dam Few’, have found a perfect balance in their music and have crafted a strong debut EP tiled ‘The Bitter Beginning’.  The first track of the EP ‘Americide’ is the strongest song from the EP and gives listeners an ideal first impression of the band. ‘Americide’ takes time to build up and combines intelligent lyrics with soaring vocals. The song rebuilds itself through the second chorus only to be broken down again by a collection of audio clips during the bridge. The addition of these audio clips taken from various speakers throughout history, reflecting the effects  of war, further pushes the point of what the song’s about –the futility of war  The next track ‘Break’ starts off energetic, before flowing into a section of catchy riffs. This song is nowhere near as accomplished as ‘Americide’ but does have an extremely well crafted guitar solo in the bridge. The bass guitar receives a good work out, thundering along the whole song while the use of clapping hands keeps the band’s unique little twists flowing. ‘Dining With the Jackals’ follows next and regains the catchiness the band displayed on the opener. This song is mostly upbeat and the ending shows off the band’s ability to be tight with their musicianship. The remained songs of the EP run together a little, with the highlight being the track ‘This Life’. But it’s the first song of the EP that gets straight into the singing and features excellent harmonies with layered vocals. The drumming that drives this track, keeps your feet tapping and helps make it the catchiest song out of the lot.

Overall the whole EP flows really well, but some tracks do sound alike and require a few spins in order to differentiate them from one another. ‘Dam Few’ are a very talented young band, whose tight musicianship and amazing vocals will help them hit the big time one day. The EP sounds raw, yet full of unique little surprises which keep the ears entertained. The strong ending of the EP makes the band’s future seem all the more hopeful and exciting. ‘The Bitter Beginning’ is a very strong attempt at a debut EP and even though the albums cover is terribly boring, the music is anything but.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

Stand Out Tracks: Americide, This Life, Dining With The Wolves

 

Check Out Dam Few At:

 

www.myspace.com/damfew 

I Sink Myself Beneath The Water For Her: Place Of Indigo's "Place Of Indigo EP" Review

Rarely do I come across a band that captivates my imagination to a point where their uniqueness grabs a hold on to me and doesn’t let go. But when I manage to find a band that does that such thing, it adds a much richer experience to the music itself. The latest proof I have that this kind of music still exists can be summed up in three words, Place Of Indigo. Place Of Indigo’s self titled debut EP is an infectious blend of dreamy sonic landscapes, crisp vocals and melodic guitar. For those of you who haven’t heard of Place Of Indigo, they can be compared to late 80’s band The Cure, with a darker modern age undertone. Certain points on the release are also reminiscent to American band Dredg, from an artistic standpoint. Despite these comparisons, Place Of Indigo are entirely a breed of their own. 

The EP kicks off with a slow dream inducing epic entitled ’12:15’, which will remain in your head for days. Well structured lyrics and the use of synths help push this song beyond the boundaries. The bridge of ’12:15’ builds up a sense of urgency which packs a punch but also offers a lush ending. The next song ‘Mary-Go-Round’ allows no time for building and begins the track straight away with a pounding bass line. The track shows Place Of Indigo continuing their art laden dream rock with yet another catchy chorus. The repetition of ‘Mary we go round and round and round’ works wonders as a hook. ‘The Drowning Dream’ follows next and is the best track on the EP. The musicianship on this track is superb, whilst they capture the essence of sorrow and yet somehow make it beautiful. The other thing that sets this song a tier above the rest is the echoing guitar solo in the bridge. The next few tracks ‘Secrets’ and ‘Another Lonely Face’ run together to an extent but are still adequate additions to the EP. It’s where Place Of Indigo go after these two tracks is what is truly impressive.  The closer ‘Purple Ceilings’ is epic concoction of sounds that sparks the imagination. After building up from a slow start it becomes the most musically depth track on the release and begs the listener for more.

Place Of Indigo have built some solid ground work with this self titled release, but they are not done yet. Once this band has time to grow and further refine their own style, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Keep Place Of Indigo on your must watch list in the upcoming year, because they are going places.    

Rating: 8/10

Stand Out Tracks: 12:15, The Drowning Dream, Purple Ceilings

Check Out Place Of Indigo At:

www.myspace.com/placeofindigo

www.last.fm/music/Place+of+Indigo

www.facebook.com/pages/Place-of-Indigo/32479131563

This Moment Is What You Die For: Trust Company's "Dreaming In Black And White" Review

Trust Company has just unleashed their first album for six years and “Dreaming In Black And White” is not a release to be taken lightly.

Trust Company has produced an album, that is not only the best of their career, but is also a contender for rock album of the year. Their sound has matured dramatically since the 2005 release “True Parallels” which was marked with nothing but average reviews. “Dreaming In Black And White” hits harder than ever before, whilst still incorporating melodic guitar riffs and Kevin Palmer’s unique ghostly voice into the mix. The first single to come off the album was released late last year and is titled “Heart In My Hands.” It features a thunderous bass line and infectious chorus, perfect for a lead single. Some of the other highlights off the album are slower, more emotionally charged songs where Kevin Palmer’s sincerity shines through.

 Songs such as “Stumbling”, “Alone Again” and “Letting Go” are perfect examples of such tracks and the acoustic version of “Stumbling” feels even more natural than the original. Unlike some modern rock albums over the last few years, this is one album that does not feel over produced. Trust Company have always managed to sound raw in their recordings then other bands, even in 2011 that shines through. In short Trust Company has stamped their foot down yet again on the hard rock landscape and have nothing but positives to look forward to.

“Dreaming In Black And White” has already been met with high levels of praise from critics and will hopefully be the album to put these guys back on the map, after they have been missing from it for far too long. 12% of people dream in black and white, so if Kevin Palmer falls into that percentage, it sure has helped him and the boys from Trust Company create a terrific album.

Rating: 10/10

Stand Out Tracks: Heart In My Hands, Reverse & Remember, Alone Again, Letting Go, Don't Say Goodbye

Check Out Trust Company At:

 www.myspace.com/trustcompany

www.last.fm/music/TRUSTcompany

http://trustcompanyband.net/

Life Is Not Always Preachy!

I have noticed that Christian rock is something a lot of people tend to stray away from, unless of course you are Christian. People who follow other religions will tend not to listen and for those who don’t believe don’t want to be preached too. I have found though that not all Christian music overtly tries to convince the listener into worshipping God. I myself do not belong to any religion, yet I still listen to many Christian bands and am happy to purchase their albums.


Not many Christian bands tend to cross over into mainstream music, but still manage to receive a huge fellowship due to the fact Christians can relate to their music. Of course with Christian music there is no vulgar language, so anyone can enjoy its simplicity and subject matter. Some bands that have cracked into the mainstream markets are the likes of P.O.D., Lifehouse and Switchfoot. These bands may openly express their beliefs, but this does not make the music suffer. So many people I have known over the years cringe as soon as I mention “Christian rock” and I still don’t know why. Sure there are some Christian bands that come across as preachy and whose lyrics focus solely on about praising the lord, but not all of them. Most of the Christian bands I like also focus on relationships and everyday life, like regular rock bands. So what’s not to like?


There are many lesser known Christian bands that have released several albums, which are fine rock albums but no one outside the Christian community has heard of them. Bands like Kutless, Red, Skillet and Pillar are all in my top 50 artists. The fact that they are Christian bands has never fazed me or made me stop listening. If the music is good enough for me to pay attention to it than they are doing something right.
I would like anyone who has read this article to take something away from it and go listen to a Christian band. This of course is coming from someone who doesn’t go to church or belong to any religion. I am simply trying to guide those who are like me towards some Christian music, because it’s not as bad as some think. These artists have extreme amounts of talent and deserve as many people as possible to listen to them. Most of the songs written about God (by the bands I will list down below) aren’t even that easily to depict as such. The lyrics are written in a way that could relate to a number of things, for example “You’re the light that is guiding me home”, taken from the track ‘Guiding me home’ by Kutless.


So now it is time for you to stop reading this article and head of to check some of my favorite Christian bands. You will enjoy these bands and will be rocking along to them in no time!

Christian band that will rock you: Kutless, Lifehouse, Pillar, P.O.D., Red, Skillet, Switchfoot, Decyfer Down, Day Of Fire, Relient K, Underoath, Sent By Ravens
Cheers Guys

Talk Is Cheap, Can You Afford A Little More?: Sleepwalker's "Living Dead" Review

From the moment you place Sleepwalker’s debut release ‘Living Dead’ into your CD player, you can hear these guys mean business. The E.P kicks off with the title track ‘Living Dead’, which incorporates melodic guitar, soaring vocals and a catchy chorus all into one song. ‘Living Dead’ seems to be the most radio friendly song on the record and is sure to receive adequate amounts of airtime. The next few tracks slot in perfectly for the midsection of the release and see the band varying their sound in places, whilst maintaining their signature sound.

On the track ‘Sleeper’s Beware’ amidst crashing cymbols a chant can be heard shouting the title of the song. This layered vocal effect adds eeriness to the ending of this track and in my opinion makes it the stand out song from the album. The slow to fast paced flow of the E.P continues until the final track finishes, but not without a few more surprises on the way.

‘This Grand Illusion’ showcases the band’s ability to start a fire with their music and let it burn rapidly. It’s fast pace, echoing guitars and use of piano makes it a pleasant thrill ride for your ears to enjoy. It also boasts one of the best lines off the album which states ‘Talk is cheap, can you afford a little more?’

Overall this recording is very solid and well structured for a debut release. I’m sure overtime Sleepwalker will develop their sound further and set themselves apart from their peers. Sleepwalker sound like a young Senses Fail and despite their name they certainly don’t do any ‘sleepwalking’ on this first effort. They know where they want to go and exactly how to get there.

Rating: 7/10

Stand Out Tracks: Living Dead, Sleeper's Beware, This Grand Illusion

Check Out Sleepwalker At:

http://www.myspace.com/sleepwalkeronline

http://www.last.fm/music/Sleepwalker



The Beginning Of A Phenomenon

Well now, it’s about time I’ve posted a second entry into my new blog! I’ve been really slack lately when it comes to blogging, but I’m putting a stop to that now.

The thing that has mainly been taking up the majority of my spare time is a story I’ve been writing. This is no ordinary story either. It’s heavily influenced by the thing that I am the most passionate about, music. The story is very creative and features a twist that is rather unique. What makes this story stand out from the crowd is in its subject matter. The story must feature a certain artist or band and include every song/album title they have in their catalogue within the words of the story. Challenging hey! Once I had the basic idea for the story, I shared my thoughts with a good friend of mine, who is now completely onboard and teaming up to co-write it with me.

The band we have chosen to highlight in the first story is none other than CHEVELLE. That’s right, a complete written story paying tribute the hard rockers who hail from Chicago. Once the story is complete we are going to send it to Chevelle as a gift for their 10^th Anniversary celebrations. I’m hoping we will hear a response from the band once they receive it. If we don’t hear a response, it doesn’t really matter, but I will continue to use this idea to craft intelligent short stories to share with the world via my blog. The Chevelle story is near completion and will be posted on my blog as soon as it’s done. So if you’re interested stay tuned!