Review: Revel 9 “The Razorblade Diaries” [EP]

Modern rock
From the ashes of the Long Island band Gee Davey comes a reborn modern rock band christened Revel 9. Band founder, guitarist, and lead singer/songwriter DJ Pearlman is the force behind Revel 9, who led the retooling effort that redefined the sound he’s been chasing. The debut EP is a six pack called “The Razorblade Diaries” that loosely chronicles a familiar tale of a 20-something dude meeting the girl of his dreams, finding love and losing love, then finding any way he can to win her back. Sigh.

Yes, it is a tired story but there is always a new generation of 20-somethings going through it. So at least for that demographic it won’t be such a ‘been there, done that’ affair. For the rest of us, you’ll have to hope that you can extract some innovation out of the lyrical twists. What is going to make or break your opinion about Revel 9 has more to do with the music – pounding, thrashing, crank it up to 11 guitars and drums. Pearlman purposely steered towards the dark side to capture the sound he wanted for this EP, but he did that at the expense of maintaining a solid hook that would make the song more memorable. Pearlman wanted to avoid a pop sound, but doesn’t seem to realize that the most successful modern rock can be melodic without being coated in syrup.

Despite these shortcomings, there are some standouts that reach towards a more memorable musical experience. The intensity of opener “San Jose” is palpable and Pearlman impresses with his perfect rock vocal tone and blistering guitar licks. If anyone can bring back the guitar solo, it could be DJ Pearlman. “Only One” is another muscular highlight and the closing track “Without” has a moderately catchy chorus. If you like bands like Hinder, Hawthorne Heights, or Saliva, you might want to give Revel 9 a listen.

Revel 9 – Official site.

Review: fORMER “The Kids Deserve Cable”

Rock
You might be able to guess that this record has been in the planning stages for about 3 years now…otherwise the boys in the power pop and rock outfit fORMER might have entitled it “The Kids Deserve Netflix”. At any rate, I think many fans will agree that the ten songs on this new record were well worth the wait.

fORMER is headed by Denny Smith (vocals and guitars), and features Patrick Miller (guitars), Henry Go (bass and vocals), Billy Baker (drums, percussion, and vocals), and Lee Coram supplying additional keys, guitars, and vocals. Plenty of punchy, crunchy guitar bring these songs to life, and Smith’s vocals have a mild raspy quality that match the prototype for this genre. While virtually every track is a fun and engaging listen, one of my favorites is the built-for-radio mid-tempo rocker “How Does It Feel” – kind of a Cheap Trick – Tom Petty fusion. With its luscious harmonies, “Lie To Me” comes across just as strong – in a different decade, this could have easily been a top 10 hit. “Fix You” is propelled by an infectious guitar riff, building up to another rewarding chorus. “Come On” is another memorable highlight at the tail end of the record. If you want to hear a less commercial side of fORMER, check out tracks like “Blue Divide” or “Head Light”, which have a more contemporary Jimmy Eat World feel.

Check out fORMER if you like SafetySuit, The Gaslight Anthem, or Get Up Kids.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 4, 6, 10

fORMER – Facebook

Check out a video clip for “Lie To Me”:

Review: Augustana “Augustana”

Pop rock
Augustana has cranked out three terrific albums in their 8 years together and they are overdue for big name success. I became a huge fan when I heard their sophomore release back in 2008, “Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt”. The record was so good it inspired me to also check out their 2005 debut, “All The Stars and Boulevards”, which was also excellent. Their brand of piano-driven pop rock and knack for hooks and harmony was right up my alley.

Enter this year’s self-titled release. Usually when a band names a non-debut album after themselves it signifies a reinvention of sorts. One could argue that is the case here – the record feels more heavily polished and slick, resulting in a more epic kind of sound. “Augustana” sounds more contemporary, but I miss the charm and innocence that was palpable on the first two releases. While I have mixed feelings about this shift in direction, there are still plenty of well-crafted tunes in this batch that have those hooks and harmonies that keep my attention.

Singer Daniel Layus sounds a lot like Scott Bricklin (Martin’s Dam) – a perfect voice with a great rock and soul tone, with expert control that balances power with emotion. “Steal Your Heart” begins this affair, which does little more than set the stage. An excellent hat trick of songs follows with the radio ready “Wrong Side Of Love”, “On The Other Side”, and sparkling ballad “Counting Stars” – my pick for a favorite on this record. “Borrowed Time” has the promise of a pleasant acoustic piece, but the guitar squeaks are obnoxiously loud – try some Finger-Ease, dude. Outside of the decent “Shot In The Dark”, the remainder of the album quickly slides into mediocrity.

“Augustana” is a solid album from a very talented band, but not their best work in my opinion. Be sure to check out Augustana if you like O.A.R., Neon Trees, or Carolina Liar.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 4, 6,

Augustana – Facebook

Check out the video for “Steal Your Heart”

Review: Toby Hitchcock “Mercury’s Down”

AOR/Melodic Rock
Fans of the melodic rock community should be no stranger to the talent of Indiana native Toby Hitchcock, who was one half Pride of Lions (for the uninitiated, Jim Peterik of Survivor fame constituted the other half). Hitchcock has now partnered with another budding AOR legend, Erik Martensson, who wrote, produced, and played on the “Mercury’s Down” album. Hitchcock’s powerhouse vocals are often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), or Lou Gramm (Foreigner), and are easily the biggest highlight of this release. The combination of his voice with the AOR instincts of Martensson makes for quite the dynamic duo. True to the genre, Hitchcock belts out songs with straightforward lyrics about love and encouragement.

While still maintaining a keen sense of melody, this project is heavier and more guitar-driven than Hitchcock’s previous work. Favorites on this record include the huge anthem “Strong Enough”, “How To Stop”, “I Should Have Said”, and the thunderous “Tear Down The Barricades “. While there are no shortage of jaw-dropping notes that Hitchcock nails, “How To Stop” features some of his most amazing moments. Unlike most AOR records, the album is not plagued by too many slow songs, but there is a monster power ballad in “One Day I’ll Stop Loving You”. The record seems to get heavier towards the end, closing with the blistering rocker that serves as the title track.

“Mercury’s Down” should easily please fans of Pride of Lions, Eclipse, or Journey – it’s a great AOR soundtrack to ease us into autumn.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12

Toby Hitchcock – Facebook

Check out the video for first single, “This Is The Moment”

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

TESLA “Bust A Nut” (1994)

"Bust A Nut" was released in a weird year for hard rock. Many glam bands decided to split up or went into a completely different direction as grunge had taken over the world in 1993, but Tesla is one of the few that stayed true to their roots. Their faith, however, wasn't fully supported by their label as "Bust A Nut" was their last album with Geffen before the band split up to go their separate ways (Tesla reunited in 2000).

On this album, Tesla played their classic style, but the band smartly incorporated some thrashy elements and dark alternative moments. Among the fourteen tracks, I vote for these tracks as their best: "The Gate/Invited", a complex rocking tune with a catchy acoustical part and nicely done chorus; "Solution", with its head-banging chorus and thrashy riffs; "Need Your Lovin", a commercial power ballad that became their second single; "A Lot To Lose", another great ballad and the third single; and "Rubberband", a slow/fast typical Tesla track like their classic tracks "Getting’ Better" or "Heaven's Trail".

Some fillers such as "She Want She Want", "Earthmover", or "Mama's Fool" (ironically, their first single!) should have been removed, but this doesn't stop me from rating this album a solid 4/5 score. The production is also great. Tesla never disappoints me and this fourth album is another piece of evidence that Tesla still kicks it with lots and lots of high quality songs. An underrated album that should be at home in any hard rock fans' CD rack!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview



Raining Jane “The Good Match” – Eclectic LA-based folk-rock band Raining Jane is back with their latest full-length CD, “The Good Match”. Long time touring partners of Sara Bareilles, and musical collaborators with acoustic rock luminaries like Willy Porter and Jason Mraz, the girls in Raining Jane have a lot to brag about. The songs on this new album span a range of emotions and feature outstanding songwriting, silky smooth harmonies, and unorthodox instrumentation including an occasional sitar, cajon, and glockenspiel. The result: a light folk rock soundtrack best suited for a lazy afternoon. Highlights for me include the polished radio-friendly title track, the buoyant “A World That's Made For Me And You”, and the closing acoustic track “New Year” (which strangely reminds me of Johnny Cash’s rendition of the Nine Inch Nails hit “Hurt”). And be sure to give a listen to their haunting reworking of Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield”. Find out more about Raining Jane here.



Jason Dean “Coffee” [EP] - More acoustic rock goodness this week from singer/songwriter Jason Dean. With the backdrop of Virginia, Dean was inspired at a very early age by Hank Williams Jr, “not just a musician, but an entertainer as well”. Dean’s debut is this five song EP called “Coffee”, produced by himself and Pete Evick (Shinedown, Paramore, Bret Michaels). The songs are southern, bluesy and soulful, like too unlike what Kid Rock did on his last record, with hints of Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Allman Brothers, and Big Head Todd. Highlights include the groovy blues rock of “Only Wanna Be Me”, the Everlast vibe of “These Times”, and the breezy “Narrow Passage Creek”.
Jason Dean – official website.

Surprise of the week
And Dave Mustaine’s (Megadeth) favorite Metallica song is…
Click here to find out

News
35 years in the business and still going strong – Heart is planning a new album to follow up 2010’s “Red Velvet Car”. Can’t say I was a fan of that album, but I hold out hope…details here.

Motorhead is planning an album of cover tunes – should be interesting! Read all about it here.

Despite the death of Brad Delp, and the recent departure of Michael Sweet, Boston insists they are still together and will release the long awaiting album (the first since 2002’s "Corporate America"). Delp will be heard on this record. It is 85% finished according to the band, so that means we can expect it sometime in 2025. Details here.

Don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for these types of lists. Here are the top songs of the 80s, picked by Gibson.com

I admire Lita Ford’s take on aging! Ford says she still feels like the “20-year-old sexy rocker chick” at 51 and rejects plastic surgery, makeovers and working out…she looks fantastic. More here.

Details on Jani Lane’s final recording, “Sin”, done with Liberty n’Justice, a band featuring former Alice Cooper guitarist Keri Kelli, King Kobra’s JK Northrup and Bill Leverty of Firehouse. Lane’s last media activity was an appearance on VH1′s That Metal Show, which was due for broadcast on October 1 but has been brought forward to August 27. Story is here with an update here.

More Jani Lani news: 80s rockers (including Great White, Quiet Riot, LA Guns, Enuff Z'nuff) will be playing a free tribute to the late singer and songwriter. Details on that story here.

Random iPOD song of the week
“Impossible” by Anberlin…one of the finest modern rock songs I’ve heard in a long time.

Review: Airrace “Back To The Start”

AOR/Melodic Rock
How many old school rockers remember Airrace? The band formed back in London in 1982 and had a Beau Hill produced debut called “Shaft Of Light” (1984). The record didn’t bring the success it deserved, and it is now respected as an underground classic. Just a teenage guitarist at the time, Laurie Mansworth was able to recruit former Girl singer Phillip Lewis and none other than Jason Bonham on drums.

It took a 25th anniversary reissue of “Shaft Of Light” to reunite the band in 2009, leading to the release of a long awaited sophomore effort. The lineup for “Back To The Start” included Keith Murrrell (vocals), Laurie Mansworth (lead guitars), Simon Dawson (drums), Dean Howard (guitars), David Boyce (bass), and Toby Sadler (keyboards). While some of the personnel have changed, “Back To The Start” makes it clear that Airrace hasn’t lost their knack for crunchy guitars, airy keyboards, and big melodic choruses.

Standout tracks among this particularly strong set of songs include the Journey sounding opener, “Keep On Going”, the ultra catchy “Two Of A Kind”, and the autobiographical title track. Kids who grew up rocking in the 80s won’t want to miss the time capsule in a song, “What More Do You Want From Me”.

While “Back To The Start” teleports you back to the 80s, the record also has a grittier edge to it. Airrace will appeal to fans of Journey, Autograph, and Diving For Pearls. Essential listening for old and new melodic fans.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12

Airrace – MySpace.

Check out “Call Me Anytime”

Review: Andrew Adkins “Troublesome, My Love”

Singer/Songwriter/Folk
Andrew Adkins is better known for being half of the songwriter/singer duo in psychedelic/roots-rock band, Mellow Down Easy. Their last album, "COSMISUTRA" has been praised by critics from Rolling Stone, No Depression, Outlaw Magazine, Vintage Guitar magazine and a host of other publications as "the most original style in the last decade" and a "breath of fresh air" for the band's unique sound and mixture of influences. His music has also been used on MTV, ABC, and USA networks.

Adkins will mark his solo debut with “Troublesome, My Love”. The songs gracing this album touch on troubled love, social empathy, and heartbreaking poetic prose to the quest for everlasting hope. Ringing harmonica and a roadhouse beat on “Punch Drunk Commotion” opens the door to this new album. Serving as a fine introduction to what Andrew Adkins is all about, “Punch Drunk Commotion” features socially critical lyrics over contemporary roots rock – a modern day Bob Dylan. “A Little Bit Of Mercy” showcases Adkins’ mild rasp over tremolo guitars, buffered with sweet harmonies – with its hopeful message, we have another winning track. His penchant for storytelling in his songwriting comes through on the driving romp that is “We Knew It All Along”. One of the more accessible folk numbers is the pleasant “Flesh Blood & Bone” – the perfect song for watching the sunset from your porch. Other standouts include the subtle beauty of the down on your luck song, “Sometimes Lady Luck Blues” and the country-flavored rocker, “Two Of A Reckless Kind”.

There is more than one album’s share of ballads on this record, so it can get a little sleepy at times, and I often thought the hooks could be sharper throughout. But overall this is intelligently crafted modern folk rock that plays great during those reflective times. I’d recommend checking out Andrew Adkins if you enjoy Big Head Todd, Todd Snider, Will Hoge, or Bob Dylan. “Troublesome, My Love” comes out September 6.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 14

Andrew Adkins – Official site.

Review: David Cook “This Loud Morning”

Torster is on holiday - more Best Albums You Never Heard will return soon! Until then, here is a review for you...


Modern rock
American Idol winner David Cook returns with his sophomore effort, “This Loud Morning”. The young singer/songwriter has experienced some unfortunate events amidst his raise to fame, the most tragic being the loss of his older brother to brain cancer in 2009. Like most artists, Cook incorporates his personal experiences into his art and the result in a deep and dark record, more reflective than most others out there at the moment.

While the lyrics and Cook’s vocals have never sounded more inspired, the music by and large doesn’t match this quality. The tunes rarely get out of second gear despite a lot of bombast and flare. In my opinion, these songs are way overproduced, and the tendency to throw everything into them including the kitchen sink distracts listeners from the heart of the song. The songs are generally cumbersome and slow, and the orchestration is just too over the top (the overzealous strings ruin “Fade Into Me”). Cook does sound terrific, rivaling the powerhouse vocals of Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), and he has some amazing moments scattered among these tunes, but they're just too much of a chore to get to. In short, the record is too ambitious for its own good and it sounds strained because everyone seems to be trying too hard.

Devoid of instantly irresistible hooks, the record takes several spins before they start to grab you. Songs that do this sooner rather than later include “Right Here, With You”, “We Believe”, “Hard To Believe”, and “Time Marches On”. A couple notable guests appear on this record, including contributions from Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) and AOR master Marti Frederiksen. This record will appeal to fans of Alter Bridge, Big Wreck, and Switchfoot. It’s loud alright, but there is more mourning in this record than morning.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 5, 7

David Cook – Official site

Check out the video for “The Last Goodbye”

Review: Freddy Monday “Everything Anyhow”

Singer/songwriter
Freddy Monday is an earnest singer/songwriter based in New York, writing songs that are strongly skewed towards the pop rock end of the spectrum. On his latest, “Everything Anyhow”, his instinct for melody and ear for hooks truly shine. This record follows his successful debut, "Words In Pencil", which features some songs that have been heard on TV, such as "Burn Notice" on the USA Network, "Moonlight" on CBS, "Side Order Of Life" on The Lifetime Channel, and over a dozen airings on "The Young And The Restless" on CBS. Another cool piece of trivia that I love – his CD release party for “Words In Pencil” was on the same bill with Colin Hay (Men At Work).

“Everything Anyhow” is enhanced with mandolin and the occasional accordion, offering a dynamic flair that separates it from most garden-variety pop rock albums. The production is excellent, with everything crystal clear and well-balanced, and Monday’s vocals have that reassuring boy next door quality. The CD opener, “Give Me Your Heart” is a pleasant although rather innocuous pop tune. It takes a couple spins, but this one starts to sink in quick and you’ll find that chorus shaking around in your head later in the day. First single, “Please” (video below), is more immediately accessible with its contagious chorus and slide guitar solo. The playful, bouncy piano riff almost makes “Rain All Day” sound like a Sesame Street song – one of the happiest songs to sing the praises of rain, and it is irresistibly fun for all ages. The title track is one of my favorite upbeat numbers with an instantly memorable chorus and sunny harmonies that make it soar. Additional standouts include the infectious “She’s A Teaser” and the 80s throwback “Who Am I Gonna Dance With”, but this doesn’t mean the rest of the tunes are less than listenable by any means. And don’t miss the gorgeous piano ballad, “Fractured”, which allows Monday to showcase his softer side…and his heavenly falsetto.

“Everything Anyhow” is a fantastic sophomore effort that helps cement Freddy Monday as an up and comer in the pop rock arena. Recommended for fans of IKE, Cliff Hillis, or Ken Block.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8

Freddy Monday – Official site.

Check out the video for “Please”

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

MR. BIG “Lean Into It” (1991)

What makes this record personally memorable to me is that this is the first rock tape I bought along with Scorpions' "Crazy World" back in 1992. I bought it solely because of the mega-hit "To Be With You" that had been heavily played on TV and radio. My first impression is that I'm quite shocked to listen to tracks like "Daddy Brother" or "Alive And Kickin'" - very loud and noisy! There's something great about this album that makes me want to play that tape over and over again until it’s worn out. I was twelve back then and here I am playing this disc again 20 years later in my car this morning, and it's still as great as ever as it was in 1992.

"Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" is an explosive opening with Paul Gilbert ripping his guitars with an electric drill, the technique he had started using back in his days with Racer X (which was also later applied by Eddie Van Halen in “Poundcake”). "Alive And Kickin" has a punchy chorus and Eric Martin sounds awesome here, one of my fave singers with many capabilities. The commercial hard rock of "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" blasts in with the quick-tapping that young guitarists always want to learn to play. "Lucky This Time" is a blissful midtempo ballad, a great track on par with the other hits, "Just Take My Heart" and "To Be With You". Those last two are timeless classics, songs that I still like to strum on my acoustic in the living room.

The other tracks are also very strong, such as "Voodoo Kiss" with an infectious guitar lick and that 70s Aerosmith boogie; "My Kinda Woman" is a song that Tesla should have recorded in 1987; the lazy bluesy "A Little Too Loose"; and the groovy "Road To Ruin". Perhaps only "Never Say Never" is the weakest but that track alone still good enough to compete with the other average band's strongest track.

Putting aside the priceless nostalgic value, "Lean Into It" definitely has the power to stand the test of time and to claim the status of best album Mr. Big ever made. The virtuosity of each member is undefeatable, the songwriting is top notch, every little thing about this album is perfect. A true five stars!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Simon Felton “Surrender, Dorothy!” – This is the second solo record from Garfield’s Birthday’s Simon Felton. His last solo CD, “Failing In Biology”, was a notable nugget of smart Brit pop (read review here). Felton marches along the same track on “Surrender, Dorothy!”, constructing careful melodies augmented with airy harmonies and psychedelic overtones. The hooks take longer to sink in than last time and the abundance of slower tracks is going to make some people yawn. On the other hand, there is some more sizzling guitar work to be found – check out the solo on “Peepshow” for example. The main attraction is the pop perfection in “Marbles”, and “Novelty” is another highlight I’d encourage you to check out. Recommended for fans of The Smiths, XTC, and The Divine Comedy.
Simon Felton – Official site.

Surprise of the week
Footloose is being remade. But the surprise comes from looking at the soundtrack artists…dissing Kenny Loggins and recruiting the likes of Cee-Lo Green amongst a bunch of country stars and…Smashing Pumpkins?! What sort of musical schizophrenic is going to want this? Here are the gory details.

And if that isn’t bad enough, they are remaking Dirty Dancing too.

News
Swallow this: Poison frontman Bret Michaels believes the band will make another album when the time is right. Here’s to hoping they can recapture the magic of their heyday. Read the story here.

Whose gonna buy your wild reissues? Get a load of all you get with the 20th Anniversary edition of U2’s landmark record “Achtung Baby” – check it out here.

Another hodgepodge of “new” stuff is coming from Foreigner in September. A 3CD collection – one acoustic disk, one full of re-recordings of hits (why?), and one of a live concert. Read all about it here.

New Butch Walker called “The Spade” arrives August 30. In the meantime, grab a FREE DOWNLOAD of the first single, “Summer of ‘89”. Details here.

Michael Sweet has left the band Boston for his old band, Stryper. Good news, bad news, who cares? Story here.

Random iPOD song of the week
Pop perfection. Squeeze’s “Hourglass” – one of their finest moments.

Tribute to Jani Lane

I am saddened to hear the news about the death of Jani Lane, the former lead singer of Warrant. Below are some of my favorite songs by this underrated songwriter and performer. Jani Lane was also a member of the noted band Saints of the Underground (reviewed here). Thanks for the music Jani...I wish we had the chance to hear more.

Review: John and Brittany “John and Brittany” [EP]

Rock/Powerpop
John Faye and Brittany Rotondo comprise this songwriting duo from Philadelphia, PA. John Faye is no stranger to fans of BMF - formerly of the Caulfields and current frontman of IKE, he is simply one of the finest powerpop and rock artists around these days. In 2008, Faye met Rotondo and they hit it off instantly with their mutual love of the Beatles and the Ramones. They soon found themselves writing songs together, including "Last Act", which was included on IKE's latest release, "Tie The Knot With All That You Got" (reviewed here). In addition to their duo performances, John and Brittany have also started working with a full band, featuring Jay Miraglia on drums and Mike Vivas on bass. The group released their upbeat first single "Devil's Allure" in December of 2010 and now it is included with five other tracks on their self-titled debut EP.

In case you’re wondering, Faye takes the vocal duties here and Rotondo lends expert songwriting and guitar support. Faye’s years of powerpop experience shine through on each one of these infectious tracks, beginning with the driving spirit of “Dead Dog”. As if the chorus wasn’t tempting you enough to sing along, his affable harmonies step in to take it up a notch. “Dead Dog” is vintage John Faye and will appease fans of IKE. For those who like a darker sound, be sure to check out “Land Of The Unforgiven”. “Fancy Dance” is a pleasant get up and get on with it ballad with affable backing vocals and lovely 80s-inspired lead work – I like this one a lot. Closing track “Queen Of Mean” ends things on an upbeat note with sharp lyrics and one of the most instantly likeable choruses on the EP – not to mention and outstanding vocal performance.

Fans of John Faye, particularly of his work in IKE, should love this new project. For those who haven’t acquainted themselves with Faye yet, there’s no better time than the present and this little EP with Rotondo is a great starting point.

John and Brittany – Facebook.

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Honeymoon Suite “Racing After Midnight” (1987)

During my retail years of the late 80s, I did my damnedest to promote bands I liked in store, which was usually a refreshing reprieve from the alternative hipster stuff that the other employees tended to play during their shifts. For every Smiths or Joy Division record that was played, I usually counter-acted with some David Lee Roth or Whitesnake. And, when one of those resulted in a sale I was all the much happier.

One album that gained a lot of play from me was Honeymoon Suite’s AOR classic, “The Big Prize.” Not a spin went by that didn’t sell a copy or two, and sometimes I wondered if I generated more sales for the band than their own label did. Though it did generate the top 40 “Feel It Again,” platinum still eluded the band.

Now back in the day, I used to be genuinely excited on Tuesdays when all the new releases came out, and the particular day this album hit, I couldn’t wait to get one out of the box and go to lunch and for a ride, just so I could crank the volume. With one listen, I was so sure that the band had outdid themselves that surely this is the one that will have them selling out arenas and filling up MTV’s rotation with hit after hit. Obviously, that never happened.

Ted Templeman’s production was spot on and highlighted a set of songs that were big, brash and full of an attitude that could only come from a band that felt like they were on the edge of superstardom.

Whether it was rockers (seemingly custom made for MTV), like “Looking Out For Number One,” “Other Side Of Midnight” or the hit single in waiting, “Love Changes Everything,” the songs had a punch that still brings me back to top down summer days.





Not to forget their more melodic AOR side, how songs like “Long Way Back,” the massive “It’s Over Now” or the straight up arena rocker “Tears On The Page” didn’t get cigarette lighters afloat I still don’t know.



Even a throwaway like “Fast Company” still features some blistering guitar work courtesy of the vastly underrated Derry Grehan and the not atypical vocals of Johnny Dee, which both help elevate it above the ever more processed pop and rock of the year.

Also of note here is an excellent cover of i-Ten’s “Cold Look” and the keyboard dominated theme song from “Lethal Weapon 2.”



Although the debut generated the biggest buzz (thanks to their biggest hit “New Girl Now”) and “The Big Prize” is the one that seems to be the cult classic, over time, this is the album I reach for more often than the others. Just tweaks all the right spots...

The band would go on to release a “Singles” collection (which contained one of the band’s best songs ever in “Still Lovin’ You”) and 1991’s better than average “Monsters Under The Bed” before taking a low profile for most of the 90s. They wouldn’t release another album until 2001 with “Lemon Tongue.” In 2008, the band released “Clifton Hill” and more recently are still quite busy touring.

Review: Vic Kingsley “Turn On The Dark” [EP]

Singer/Songwriter
Hot new stuff from Forward Motion Records, this time from singer/songwriter Vic Kingsley. Kingsley writes songs with a multitude of other musicians, but his solo career is rapidly developing. His three albums, “These Frequencies” (2007), “Healing Music” (2008) and “Fake Smiles” (2010), have received critical acclaim and led to several television appearances and concerts throughout North America, including SXSW '08 & '09. The song "Fall With You" off “These Frequencies” won OurStage.com's contest for best alternative pop song in 2008, and he’s had songs placed in Toyota Commercials, a feature film titled “The Lavender Tapes”, and the hit TV show “The Parenthood”.

Kingsley's upcoming EP, "Turn On The Dark", consists of five tracks built on strong melodic foundations with intelligent lyrics. You could say this is light rock but it has some meat and muscle – whatever you call it, it is a pleasure to hear. Musically and vocally, I can’t help but hearing a lot of The Outfield when I listen to Kingsley – and that is a good thing! These five tunes are perfect adult contemporary rockers, and Kingsley’s warm tone and sweet falsetto makes each listen all the more uplifting. He’ll grab you right at the get-go with title track, with its staccato retro organ and radio-friendly chorus. One of my favorite tracks is served up next, the upbeat and catchy “Lucky”. The remaining three songs slow the pace down and showcase Kingsley’s gift for balladry. Honestly, I like the first two upbeat tracks better, but “I Try” is one of the slower numbers worth checking out.

Vic Kingsley – Facebook.

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

WILDSIDE “Under The Influence” (1992)

Another sensational band that came very late to the scene, unlucky to be shuffled out of business. They thought they could try to ride the wave with a grungy sophomore release (which no one actually gives a damn about it), but their debut “Under The Influence” is widely regarded as one of the most underrated gems in glam rock history.

Singer Drew Hannah reminds me of early Vince Neil with a slight Stephen Pearcy or even Axl Rose touch, and though he's retired from this business and focusing on the porn industry, he's remembered by the fans as the gifted kid with a superb voice. Dokken, Motley Crue, and Skid Row are probably the closest comparison of Wildside's music, and try cranking out "Hang On Lucy" as loud as you can - the youthful era of Crue's riffs are obvious on the arrangement, a truly magnificent track to open the album.

"Lad In Sin" is a sleaze beauty, "Hair of The Dog" is like a lost GNR track from the height of the 80s, "Heart-n-Soul" and "Clock Strikes" are brilliant midtempo tunes, "Kiss This Love Goodbye" is the best power ballad of the album, but the other songs such as "Just Another Night" and "Looks Like Love" are actually great as well. In fact, all the songs here are enjoyable but I must admit 2-3 songs are slightly weaker than the rest.

I remember hunting this disc down for several years with no luck, but eventually the lucky day came when I snatched a Japanese copy for a reasonable price. Well, my point is if your lucky day arrives, don't hesitate - it really doesn't come every day. Great fun disc and highly recommended for fans of latter-day glam metal!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview



Frank Palangi “Frank Palangi EP” [EP] – Frank Palangi is a solo rock artist from upstate New York cranking out a loud modern rock sound in the same vein as Creed and Godsmack. His self-titled EP was produced alongside Rogers Masson, who has worked with the likes of Marilyn Manson, and The Mavericks. The tracks are powerful and Palangi has a throaty vocal tone that is a cross between Daughtry and Scott Stapp. Some of his darker tunes, such as “Driving These Lines” sound like Marilyn Manson but without the crazy theatrics. While the songs are bold and lyrics interesting, there are two issues that dampen my enthusiasm. One, Palangi’s vocals just don’t do it for me – it sounds like he is imitating too much rather than trying to find his own voice. Two, despite their strong presence, most of the songs lack a sharp memorable hook. I hear potential in here though and wish Palangi luck in reaching his fullest level. If you like the aforementioned bands, Palangi’s EP is worth checking out. The release date for the EP has not been scheduled yet, but should be out before the end of 2011. You can catch the latest updates at Palangi’s Facebook page.

Surprise of the week
A picture is worth 1000 words? How about $360,000? That is how much some rare Beatles photos fetched. Read the story here.

News
Can’t wait for this one! Queens of the 80s, The Bangles, return September 13 with a new album! Even better, this one was recorded by Matthew Sweet. Full story and track listing here.

One of the best modern rock bands around. If you haven’t discovered Manic Street Preachers yet, this singles collection arriving this fall would serve as a great introduction. Check it out here.

The debut solo release from Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump will be called “Soul Punk” and drops October 17. He admits, "You may hate my solo music, [but] you may like the next Fall Out Boy record because of it." That’s clever marketing? More details here.

New ZZ Top is on the way! Billy Gibbons tells Mojo magazine, "It sounds and feels like Tres Hombres, with a few elements of the Eliminator period thrown in. A pretty wide range, from basic blues to slightly more fancy stuff.” Read more about it here and give the single “Flyin’ High” a listen here.

September 20th marks the release of “Mockingbird Time”, the long-awaited new album from The Jayhawks. The 12-track album is the first full-band studio release featuring both founding members Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995's “Tomorrow the Green Grass”. Read all about it here.

Should be an AOR fan’s dream: Toto's Bobby Kimball and Survivor's Jimi Jamison have teamed up for a duets album that will be release on October 14th in Europe and October 18th in North America. Details here.

Random iPOD song of the week
Awesome song that should have been a huge hit for The Outfield. “My Paradise” is about going back to your old stomping grounds.

Review: Ocean Grove “Another Place To Stay” [EP]

Pop rock
Ocean Grove is a pop rock quartet comprised of John Taylor (vocals/guitar), Ryan Liestman (Keys/backing vocals), Greg Garbowsky (bass/backing vocals), and Jack Lawless (drums)…otherwise known as the backing band for the Jonas Brothers. Now I know some of you are going to stop reading right here but don’t! These guys are first-rate pop rockers that have made an EP for all ages, and the balance is more towards the rock end of the spectrum thanks to mixing by Paul Hager (Van Halen, Goo Goo Dolls, American Hi-Fi). Their new EP, following the acclaimed “Little Record” EP, is called “Another Place To Stay” and was released back in June.

With a voice a little like Donnie Vie (Enuff Z’Nuff) and a backing band to match, Ocean Grove sounds like a long lost friend to me. Their style of music is instantly memorable and just makes you feel good for a change. Lead single, “Away”, is the perfect tune to get you ready for a vacation break. The breezy verses gently float through your ears before the huge sing-a-long chorus comes crashing over you like a wave. “Take It Easy” is another sugary treat that showcases how well these guys harmonize – they clearly built a fluid chemistry while on tour and playing together for so long. “The Best” is a biographical tune about getting the big record deal that many musicians will relate to. “Won’t Say Goodbye” is a terrific acoustic-based mid-tempo rocker that steers a little more towards the Tom Petty direction. Finally, there is a hidden track on the EP called “So Cool” that is a rewarding encore. There isn’t a bad or downbeat tune in this batch of five songs. If you are a fan of power pop rock in the vein of American Hi-Fi, Cheap Trick, and Enuff Z’Nuff, you simply can’t miss out on Ocean Grove. Highly recommended!

Ocean Grove – Official site.

Check out a video from their previous EP:

Get More: Ocean Grove, Music, More Music Videos

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Tsar “Tsar” (2000)

It’s a safe bet that by 2000, anything remotely glam was dead. Between rap’s “edge” and teen pop ruling the charts along with most rock bands downtuning their instruments and their looks, it seemed no one was interested in good ol’ fashioned “sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.” I guess the boys in Tsar never got the memo, and I’m actually somewhat amazed that someone at Hollywood records gave them a shot.

This album was a 10 song celebration of what made so much of the 70s and 80s great: fist pumping, lighter waving melodies bursting with hooky riffs and punchy leads surrounded by the Robin Zander-like wail of Jeff Whalen. All the songs here show the potential for filling an arena yet carry an almost indie-like cred to them that should have endeared them to both those still trying to hold on to their youth as well as that wanna-be alternative crowd. Judging by the sales, sadly they latched neither.

With songs like the infectious candy of “I Don’t Want To Break Up,” the immense “Kathy Fong Is The Bomb” and the slow yet not quite ballad “Ordinary Gurl” all screaming out to be the lost hit singles the NY Dolls never had, this is LA strip meets NY gutter meeting up somewhere in the heartland of America.





Worth hunting down is the “King Of School EP,” with remixes and B-sides from the album including a wicked rocked up cover of the Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life.”

The band would eventually follow up this release with the rather disappointing “Band-Girls-Money,” where gone was so much of the polish that made this debut so enjoyable. Apparently a new album is in the works. I hope so as this lot proves there’s still a massive void in rock waiting to be filled by someone not afraid to have fun.

Review: Richard Snow “Am I Really That Boring?”

Powerpop/Singer-songwriter
There is Snow once again in the forecast for this summer – this time in the form of Richard’s highly anticipated new album, “Am I Really That Boring?” One listen is enough to answer that question with a resounding “no!”

“Am I Really That Boring?” is the third release from Richard Snow, following his self-titled effort and “Tuesday Music” (reviews here). Snow sounds like he is in top form on this one, which will please fans who have been patiently waiting for new music. Snow plays tight Rickenbacker guitar riffs and his vocals are very reminiscent of Elvis Costello. Snow’s satire and cynicism are as crisp as a winter’s morning, but you get the feeling he has a sense of humor under it all as well. As if this list of ingredients isn’t enough to make the perfect smart man’s pop record, he heaps generous portions of sophisticated harmonies as frosting on the cake.

Launching right into it with the Byrds-inspired “Stop Your Crying” – he’ll have you with the first arpeggiation. Another infectious gem, “Middle Class Girl” (video below), showcases his ability to envelop a stinging lyric with sugary melodies: “Your face is like an angel but you’re no girl of my dreams” never sounded so sweet. Snow changes things up early with the gentle finger picking on the lovely “If You Don’t Rescue Me”. There is a jamming Hollies feel meshed with Partridge Family harmonies on the retro “Do You Want To” that a lot of people are likely to find too intriguing to resist. I prefer the more straightforward melodies of tunes like the affable “Take Me Back Home” or the relatable anthem in “Good Guys Never Win”. Snow saves one of his best – the title track - for last. What could have been a borderline novelty tune with its falsetto and amusing lyrics actually sounds undeniably cool.

Keeping true to his influences, Richard Snow will appeal to fans of The Byrds, The Left Banke, and Tom Petty. Without a single dud in the bunch, “Am I Really That Boring?” will be one of the top releases in its genre this year.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11

Richard Snow – Official site.

Check out the video for “Middle Class Girl”

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

SHY “Unfinished Business” (2002)

The similarity of Tony Mills' melodic screech with TNT legend, Tony Harnell - and with him joining TNT to replace the mighty Harnell - sparked my curiosity on Shy's back catalogue. Honestly, I didn't expect this 2002 release to be one of their best, but in fact it is! Jumping back to 1990 after “Misspent Youth” - a disappointing album according to the band - Shy still kept a lot of rough diamonds in the vault and when the opportunity arose in 2000 to do a new recording under Z Records, Mills and Harris decided it's time to finish the unfinished business.

"Skydiving" is an explosive melodic blast…you just can't believe there's a song like this in the year 2002. The soaring vocal, the thrilling guitar, it's basically like TNT in their golden years. "Change of Direction" didn't change anything, still grand and gorgeous. "Breakaway" is as strong as "Skydiving", another champion of the record and a huge contender to be the song of the year. "Mary-Anne" is another wow - power ballads have never been this good - it has that unimaginable beauty.

"Heaven Tonight", "Can't Stop Lovin' You", and "No Other Way" aren't slowing down and still racing to the top. Check out also the superb solos in "Whole Lotta Feelings", the song itself might not be as good as the others, but that solo guitar is killing everything. "Storyline" is another brilliant ballad in shape of classic Journey. I've told you before but now I need to tell you again, Shy didn’t spend two years recording this album for nothing: they managed to put out a ten-out-of-ten album in my book. Like my French friend said, "fantastique!"

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview


Paul Starling “All of My Heart” (single) – At the moment, there is only a single that has been released by Paul Starling (SideBMusic), but it is a very promising indication of things to come on his new collection entitled “Shipwrecked Commotion”. His dazzling single, “All Of My Heart” is a perfect beach tune…upbeat, radiant, sunny. Following in the tradition of power pop luminaries like Brian Wilson, Starling crafts a sugary melodic around warm and fuzzy lyrics. You just can’t help feeling a little lighter while listening to “All of My Heart” – check it out below.

All Of My Heart - Paul Starling by SideBMusic

Paul Starling writes and records original songs in the Ventura County area of California. He plays guitar, bass, drums, piano, banjo, ukulele and other instruments. Known for a 60s vibe with a modern twist, Paul Starling creates what he calls ‘nautical pop’. Music to sail to. Float to. Skip rocks over the Pacific to. To keep up with the latest from Paul Starling, find him on Facebook.

Surprise of the week
Remember Ugly Kid Joe (of “I Hate Everything About You” fame)? They’ve got a comeback album in the works, their first since 1995’s “Motel California”. Read all about it here.

News
Finally some new Shinedown is on the horizon. Details here.

Carolina Liar is back with a new single called “Drown” from their forthcoming new album “Wild Blessed Freedom” Details here.

The “Is rock dead?” debate continues. Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate sees a pretty gloomy future for rock bands, unless they can adapt to new ways of doing things. Read his interesting ideas on how rock can keep moving here.

Last week we announced the return of Bush (the band, thankfully). This week you can hear their comeback single, “The Sound Of Winter”. Perfect tune to release in the middle of a heat wave, right? The song doesn’t do much for me, but maybe you’ll dig it. Check it out here.

Random iPOD song of the week
A terrific lesser-known tune from Olivia Newton-John – “A Little More Love” from 1978.

Review: The Fire Apes “A Life In Letters”

Pop Rock
Inspired by bands like Fountains of Wayne, Green Day, and Oasis, John Seymour is a singer/songwriter who records under the name of The Fire Apes. His brand new eleven track CD, “A Life In Letters” sounds like a professional release ready for radio to jump all over. The songs sound brilliant thanks to helping hands from Eric Bass (Shinedown), Sean O’Keefe (Fall Out Boy, Plain White T’s), and Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne). You may have already heard some of his songs on MTV’s “The Hills” and “Parental Control”. Seymour is racking up all kinds of airplay, and one listen to this Fire Apes CD will tell you why.

The Fire Apes had me at track one, with the Cheap Trick-ish opener, “It’s Over”. Not only do we have an abundance of hooks and well-produced crunchy guitar tones, but Seymour blows us away with a tremendous vocal performance – this dude can sing. He downshifts right away into an affable power ballad with “Killing Me From Inside”, showing us up front that he’s no one-trick pony. But he quickly wakes us back up with the peppy “Hey Kate!”, which sounds as commercial as anyone can get. There is another radio-friendly ditty in the pleasant “If Things Don’t Look So Good Today”, which has a sunny AM radio feel to it. We advance to the 80s with the Cheap Trick meets The Cars feel of “Only You Could Make Me Happy”. For you younger music fans, this one is very close to Fountains of Wayne. “Lori” is another highlight and I can’t help but wonder what Kate thinks about it!

Overall, “A Life In Letters” is a modern pop rock triumph not to be missed.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10

The Fire Apes – Official site.

Check out the video for “It’s Over”

Review: The Handcuffs “Waiting For The Robot”

Rock
The primary links in the Chicago-based band The Handcuffs are lead singer Chloe F. Orwell and drummer/songwriter Brad Elvis (formerly of the band Big Hello). The duo sites their influences range from David Bowie to Burt Bacharach, PJ Harvey to the Pixies, White Album to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with some Ting Tings, T. Rex, and Sparks tossed in for good measure. Two albums down already, “Waiting For The Robot” is due to arrive September 6.

Overall impressions: Orwell and Elvis have crafted a record that truly pays homage to their influences without ripping them off. Elvis is a fantastic drummer and his beats are a highlight throughout the record. The rest of the band is tight, helped along by masterful production from Mike Hagler (Wilco, Pulsars, Neko Case). Orwell is a solid rock vocalist that brings Shirley Manson (Garbage) to mind - not all that remarkable, but it suits the musical style of The Handcuffs. There is some filler weighing the record down and one could argue that the best tunes should have been pulled for an EP release.

The blistering opener “Dirty Glitter” is hot – it sizzles with intensity and has a juicy hook lifted by T. Rex-styled backing vocals. On this track the band reaches its full potential. The closing track is my favorite - a moving, contemplative ballad called “The Scary Side Of Me”. This song is truly beautiful, and Orwell’s vocals sound right at home in this well developed piece. There isn’t anything else on the CD that soars to the heights reached by these two tunes, but most of it is still a fun ride. Some of the songs are spiced up with some horns, which provide an interesting dynamic, but usually not enough to rescue the song from mediocrity. Some of the more melodic highlights include the danceable “Ooh Baby Baby” and the acoustic-based pop rocker “Eight Down”. Some other tracks, like “Kiss This Goodbye”, probably work better live on stage.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4, 5, 13

The Handcuffs – Official site

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Cutting Crew “Broadcast” (1987)

I doubt there’s a person older than 30 that hasn’t heard the massive #1 single “(I Just) Died In Your Arms,” but for whatever reason, the massive success of the single failed to translate into album sales and I never could quite understand why. Listening now, it stands firmly as a period piece and yet is filled with enough layers and textures that almost 25 years later holds up better than most of that year’s efforts. Caught somewhere between Tears For Fears and Night Ranger, it’s a release that all at once both sums up a decade musically while having the potential to look forward and be so much more.

Produced to absolute perfection by a team more associated with the harder rock of Rush or Tesla (Steve Thompson, Terry Brown, John Jansen and Michael Barbiero), it really is one of the best sonically sounding discs from the era. From the chiming arena rockers “One For The Mockingbird” and “Don’t Look Back” to the more subdued balladry of “I’ve Been In Love Before” and the soaring “Sahara”, this should and would have appealed more to the “90125”-era Yes/Journey/Genesis crowd rather than the end of the new wave romantics they seemingly were promoted to. I can only imagine that a lack of touring combined with Virgin’s inability to see beyond a quick hit single did them in.





The band followed this release up with two more albums that sank with little fanfare. Though co-founder guitarist Kevin MacMichael went on to play with Robert Plant, he sadly passed away in 2002. In 2006, vocalist Nick Van Eade gave the band another try with the release of “Grinning Souls,” and had limited success touring the nostalgia circuit. Whether there’s another Cutting Crew release or tour in the future is anyone’s guess.

Review: The Webstirs “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk”

Rock/Power pop
We last covered The Webstirs with their release of “So Long” in 2009 (review here). Strongly influenced by the pop craftsmanship of Brian Wilson, “So Long” was one of the best offerings that year for power pop rockers. But the Webstirs actually debuted on the music scene back in 1994. Their latest offering, “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk”, is a re-release of that debut, which provides fans with a real treat to experience the band’s humble beginnings.

True to form, “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk” is a friendly nod to Brian Wilson’s long lost album “SMiLE”, which finally saw the light of day in 2004 as “Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE”. However, it should be noted that “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk” is not strictly a re-release…it has been completely reworked. The band remixed, remastered, added unreleased goodies, and shuffled the order and redid the artwork. In the words of keyboardist Mark Winkler, “It’s a total reboot of the original”.

It is always a joy to discover older material written by a band that you recently became a fan of…and “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk” does not disappoint. The band was just as good during their start in 1994 as they are now. There are plenty of well structured tunes in the power pop tradition, bolstered with well placed accordion, jangling piano, and gentle horns. You’ll be hard pressed to find a bad tune in the batch, but the Webstirs really knock these out of the park on cuts like “You Can Hang Around”, “Old Enough”, and “It’s Over Now”. Recommended if you like Brian Wilson, Jellyfish, or Jellybricks.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

The Webstirs – Official site. Visit now and get a free download!

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

SHARK ISLAND “Law of the Order” (1989)

Gazzarri's was a popular nightclub in Sunset Strip (demolished in 1995 and replaced by Key Club) which was a home to many big names such as The Doors, Van Halen, and Motley Crue, long before they were discovered. Shark Island was one of the home bands in the 80s that has been highly praised for their energetic and bombastic live performances. Richard Black, the lead singer, was the trump card of the band – he was the champion that was responsible for introducing the seductive snake dance and tight bike pants (soon to be copied by Axl Rose), he had a large range of vocal capability.

If only this album came out earlier, Shark Island could've been big in LA, but fate wasn't on their side. Not only did it fail commercially, but Richard Black's name faded away like an ash in the sand. But one thing for sure, "Law of the Order" was immortalized by many glam freaks as one of the most fantastic albums of 1989, unleashing excellent tracks from "Paris Calling" to the spectacular "Shake For Me", and from the emotional ballad of "Why Should I Believe" to the mid-tempo "Bad For Each Other".

A tremendous unnoticed album of the 80s, two thumbs up!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Afterlife Parade “Death” [EP] – A bit of a throwback to the post-Radiohead bands, gentle pop rockers Afterlife Parade are focused on writing reflective lyrics set to atmospheric sonic textures. As one can surmise from the title, the theme of their debut EP centers on endings – the ending of an era, a life, an idea, and even the world. To counterbalance this happy topic, a follow-up EP will be entitled “Rebirth”. Afterlife Parade is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Quinn Erwin, who has a Thom Yorke quality in his voice, with hints of Mike Peters (The Alarm). The title track, “Death”, is not a harsh or even haunting tune, but quite light and radiant with an expertly picked acoustic guitar riff carrying the verses forward to a rewarding chorus. “Nothing But Love Can Stay” sounds like a Springsteen penned tune performed by Coldplay – quite beautiful, but not the most melodic ballad. “Arrows Fly” may be the strongest cut lyrically, but failed to engage me at a musical level. My favorite track on the EP is the closer named after the project itself, “Afterlife Parade”. This song actually gets past 50 beats per minute and the upbeat pace is refreshing, as are the wonderful harmonies in the chorus. Considered with “Death”, the song “Afterlife Parade” gives me hope that Erwin can better surround his terrific lyrical ideas with catchier melodies. Recommended for fans of Palo Alto, Arcade Fire, and Travis. More on the band can be found here.

Surprise of the week
Lady Gaga is not the only one to give Weird Al Yankovic a hard time about doing a parody of their songs. Paul McCartney actually refused Weird Al’s request to parody “Live and Let Die” as “Chicken Pot Pie”. Sounds like it would have been pretty funny to me, but Paul didn’t want to promote the eating of animals. More on the story here.

News
Finally some new Soul Asylum on the way to follow-up the excellent “Silver Lining” release from 2006. New record is tentatively entitled “Rough Air” and features guests from Prince and Replacements alumni. Check out the story here.

Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is ready to release his solo album, and according to him it is brilliant. Read about it here.

You call this a reunion? Bush is said to be back together to release a new album, “The Sea of Memories” in September – their first since 2001. The “reunion” only consists of Gavin Rossdale and drummer Robin Goodridge. More on the story here.

Iconic rock n roll magazine “CREEM” is coming back! Check it out.

Random iPOD song of the week
“Him” was the follow-up to Rupert Holmes’ smash hit “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”. I think I like “Him” better.

Review: Escape Directors “The Crowded Room” [EP]

Rock
The Escape Directors are back with a new five song EP entitled “The Crowded Room”, which follows their noteworthy “Ladders” from last year (reviewed here). For fans of bands like Coldplay, The Fray, or O.A.R., the Escape Directors specialize in atmospheric pop rock featuring brilliant sonic textures, smart lyrics, and top notch production. When they combine their studio know how with a memorable melody, the results can be breathtaking.

The first three songs are the best on the new EP. The opening track, “The War Outside” is a slow burner that claws its way into your memory cells with a soaring chorus and dramatic vocals. “Set Fire To A Crowded Room” sounds more like Snow Patrol – a compelling lead guitar line carries the verses, building up to a powerful chorus that tempts you to sing along every time. One of the more upbeat tracks, “The Distant Past” could be my favorite Escape Directors song yet. “The Distant Past” is propelled by an engaging rhythm and shines with gorgeous harmonies. Don’t let “The Crowded Room” escape you – look for it on July 16.

Escape Directors – Official site.

Check out the video for “The Distant Past”

Review: The 99ers “Everybody’s Rocking”

Punk rock/surf
The 99ers are a punk surf band from the Twin Cities. The founding members are Steve Shannon (guitars and vocals), Colin Selhurst (drums), and Molly Holley (vocals). Their three musical rules are: bang it out, keep it short, and no messing about. The 99ers are named after the band's favorite dessert - a 99 - which consists of a soft serve ice cream cone with a Cadbury's flake (a British chocolate bar) stuck in it. But is their music as sweet as that confection?

You’ll see plenty of homage to cavemen (!) and Minnesota in the song titles, including the amusing “St. Paul Girls” (St. Paul, Minnesota being their hometown). Steven and Molly (who sounds a lot like Blondie) trade off singing lead vocals and often come together to harmonize effectively. The music is a clear throwback to the classic days of punk and surf rock, stacking a thick layer of distorted guitar on top of solid 1950-ish song structures. The 99ers are most reminiscent of bands like The Ramones, with maybe a little bit of Social Distortion – they are proud of this comparison and praise their influences on a song called “Ramones Forever”. “Minnesota Day” is track that represents the sound of the band at their best. Among the other highlights in this lengthy set include the raucous title track, the melodic “Just Like Jonesy”, and “Play Around”. There is also a cool cover of Brenda Lee’s “Sweet Nothings”.

At 18 songs, their brand of music starts to stretch a little thin about halfway through “Everybody’s Rocking”. But at least the album is consistent in style and delivery. For fans of punk/surf, The 99ers are a must to check out – they are doing it better than most these days.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 13

The 99ers - Official site

Check out a video:

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Eric Martin “I’m Only Fooling Myself” (1987)

Sometimes “best” depends on what you’re in to. If you’re tastes run to the eclectic or different, than this album is not for you. But, if you’re like me and can appreciate a finely performed pop song as much as you can a Led Zeppelin blues jam then this over-produced slab of confection (and that’s meant with nothing but affection) is for you.

The transition from the mid to late 80s were an interesting time in pop music. Punchy new wave guitars were being pushed aside for as much keyboards as you could fit into a 3 minutes song. Suddenly every song on the charts sounded like it came straight out of a movie.

Eric Martin released a rather spunky hard rocker a few years earlier to little success. Trying a different approach on this second outing by surrounding himself with some of the best studio musicians and songwriters in the business, the result is a superior vocalist singing the crap out of simple almost danceable tunes and elevating them far above where they ended up.

Kicking off with the “how it never was a hit single is beyond me” track in “These Are The Good Times” (which also featured on the Iron Eagle soundtrack), things find a a comfortable groove and never stray far. From the beautiful soul of “Everytime I Think Of You” the infectious swing of the title track to the outright arena rock of “Crazy World Like This” the whole affair brings to mind Steve Perry’s “Street Talk,” Phil Collins affliction for horns and the best of Hall & Oates white boy soul. There’s really not a song here that, with just the right push, couldn’t have been pulled aside and made into a hit.





Obviously, Eric Martin would go on to much bigger things as the lead singer for Mr. Big and most of these songs would go on to be covered by other artists.