Review: Schnauser "The Sound of Meat"

Schnauser is a trio from Bristol, UK (Alan Strawbridge - Guitar, Vocals; Holly McIntosh - Bass; John Fowle - Drums) that plays a brand of music so refreshingly strange that it defies classification. To call them quirky doesn't quite hit the nail on the head. Their latest, "The Sound of Meat", will be available September 21, 2010, five years after the debut release, "Kill All Humans". The new album contains lyrics just as inventive as the music, covering topics such as "the inglorious fall and inexorable rise of Noel Edmonds, Steven Spielberg's lachrymose remake of 'War of the Worlds', the dualistic nature of a brace of unsettling twins, and the fleeting tribulations of a celebrity TV vagrant."

Amidst the unorthodox blend of styles, each song on "The Sound of Meat" contains at least one element of melody that demands attention. Unfortunately, the unusual arrangements and juxtaposition of styles is going to distract listeners accustomed to more traditional pop and rock. I must admit that I am in the latter category, and therefore gravitate to the more straightforward numbers, such as the spacey groove of "Cosmic Ordering Service and the Elliot Smith sound of "Nobody Loves Me". The bouncy piano and catchy melody within "Justice" showcase some Beatles influence, and the rich harmonies and textures of "Last One Picked" makes this track a standout as well.

"The Sound of Meat" is innovative and original, and not for the musically tame. If you enjoy some experimentation in your powerpop, check out the highlighted tracks - the rest are for the more adventurous listener. Schnauser is for fans of The Flaming Lips, The Shins, and Soft Machine.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4, 8, 11

Schnauser on MySpace. Official site.

Rachel McGoye and Alex Band discuss "Ghetto Gloss" EP - free mp3

Press release:
"Since releasing her debut EP, "What Day is It?" in 2006, Rachel McGoye has spread her musical wings breaking new grounds on her latest EP, “Ghetto Gloss”. Sexy yet soulful, playful yet poignant, “Ghetto Gloss”, strikes a refreshing chord on love and relationships. Produced and co-written by Alex Band (formerly of The Calling), the melodies have a purpose; the sounds have a mission. From the catchy lyrics of her first single, "Ghetto Gloss," to the beautiful ballad, "Love Me Good," McGoye’s exceptional songwriting talent, earthy presence and rich, serene vocals are winning combinations. Rachel emits a creative energy that doesn’t go unnoticed onstage. Check out this exclusive performance and interview footage taken from her recent performance opening for Alex Band in San Diego, CA."



Interview with Rachel McGoye and Alex Band CLICK HERE

Check out our review of McGoye's EP here.

We also have permission to give you a free download of "Love Me Good" - click here!

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

EUROPE "Europe" (1983)

If you only know Europe very well from their crucial award-winning "The Final Countdown", then it's wise to start backtracking their old catalogue as this eponymous debut marked the awakening of the mighty Swedish melodic metal giant, featuring the youthful aura and enthusiasm of singer Joey Tempest and guitarist John Norum. Europe opened the new chapter of their career by winning the local rock competition that sealed them a contract deal with Hot Records and also rewarded Best Singer and Guitarist Award respectively to both Tempest and Norum.

Early Europe's music is pure traditional heavy metal and you can listen to the evident tracks such as "In The Future To Come", "Farewell", "Children of This Time" or "Seven Doors Hotel". The latter mentioned song is their best track here and the first single that's successfully turned out as a huge hit in Japan. Other tracks that I like are: "The King Will Return", a typical 70s bluesy hard rock track, "Boyazont" that puts Norum at the spotlight with its killer shred, and a nice acoustical/keyboard power ballad, "Words of Wisdom".

The production is raw and not very good, and aside from a thin and quite sound, the album felt way too short. "Future" and "Hotel" are probably their most memorable tracks from this album, but you also can't miss several other underrated tracks that you can't get from a greatest hits collection. If you like classic hard rock or early 80s heavy metal, Europe's debut is a pleasant pick. Good start!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Review: 8mm "Love and the Apocalypse" [EP]

Hot on the heels of their sweep of the International Indie Awards and national ads for Nip/Tuck and Yamaha, 8mm announce the release of their much-anticipated EP, "Love And The Apocalypse". The EP features six songs and is available at all major digital outlets. 8mm were founded by producer Sean Beavan (NIN, Marilyn Manson, No Doubt, Envy On The Coast), and his wife, Juliette, who has been described as Jessica Rabbit meets Billie Holiday.

Described as "The glamorous neo-noir love-child of David Lynch, Aimee Mann and Portishead", 8mm has been critically acclaimed and named as one of the Top Bands You Need To Know by Alternative Press and a Buzz Band by the LA Times; they've also been featured on Greys Anatomy, Kings, One Tree Hill, Cold Case, Moonlight, and the Mr. & Mrs. Smith soundtrack.

For those of you who haven't heard 8mm yet, you are missing out on some outstanding adult pop. The songs that grace this EP are mellow and soothing, but never boring. Juliette is a remarkable vocalist, with an angelic voice that floats gently into your ears. Even better, the voice is not wasted on banal pop songs, but is well supported by interesting melodies, contemplative lyrics, and plenty of gorgeous harmonies. We've featured a free download of their brilliant reworking of CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" before (get it here), which introduced you to the vocal talents in 8mm. The "Love and the Apocalypse" EP now proves to us that this duo can write some great original songs as well.

The EP begins with "Los Angeles", a terrific starter that sets the stage with a beautiful piano run to accompany the longing for home in Juliette's voice. The tune also features a great post-chorus guitar part with a rather unorthodox, haunting chord progression - very cool. "Never Go Back Again" is my favorite in the batch, a contemporary piece with a seductive hook in the chorus - a little Tasmin Archer meets Nina Gordon. A final tune I'll highlight is the reflective, laid-back "Life Is Good", which blows over your ears like breezy folk, interspersed with an equally breezy reggae bridge. With bands like 8mm, life is good indeed.

8mm on MySpace. Official site.

Powerpopaholic CD of The Week - Duncan Maitland

I am very excited to announce a new feature here at BMF. We're welcoming Aaron Kupferberg (from Powerpopaholic) as a contributor, who is going to tell us about some of the best new power pop records by way of his new audio review. This week's featured CD is Duncan Maitland "Lullabies For The 21st Century" - just click on the video below and enjoy!



Read Aaron's Powerpopaholic review here.

News: Help Bleu with his new CD "Four"

Bleu (reviewed here) is preparing his latest CD, "Four". You can go check out cool album previews, pre-order the CD, and donate to its cause here at the Kickstarter campaign. Check it out today and help make what promises to be another milestone in pop rock music come to light.

FROM BLEU:

hellO,

...thank you so much for visiting my Kickstarter page...i've been working hard on my new record "FOUR" for several years now and i'm oh-so-very psyched to finally get it out in to the worLd....

..the duckets that you donate here will not only get you a whole slew-mess of neato (mosquito) stuff, offering you the best of my (only) talents (such as...my new CD!, a concert in your home, songwriting, dinner cooked by me, or even a full recording-session), your support will allow me to distribute my new record "FOUR" and work with PR companies that can help my music reach more people like you..which will in-turn allow me to make mOre records, mOre often...

....every bit of your contributions will go directly to the distribution and promotion of this record (even the tiniest donations help...)...but if i don't reach my modest goal, the Kickstarter-program doesn't disperse any of the money.....so please, give what you can, so that we can, do, what we, cAN!....(and please help me spread the word to your family and friends who like music!)

...you guys have given me so much over the years..honestly..i would probably not still be making solo-records if it wasn't for all the love and support you've thrown my way...it truly means the worLd to me...i think this is a really exciting time to be making records for, and releasing records directly to...you......programs like Kickstarter will allow us to collaborate, and work towards a common goal...

..i thank you from the deepest-bottom of my weird little heart for sticking with me, and joining me on this wonderful journey....

xo,
-bleu

p.s. this is indeed my dad...and me...when i was 4:

LISTEN to most of "Four" on SoundCloud

Review: Luke Wesley "Because We Never Talk About It"

It is not all that easy finding piano songs that rock out these days. Luke Wesley is poised to change all that with his remarkably enjoyable debut, "Because We Never Talk About It". Born and raised in Shelby, Ohio, Wesley is now heating up the singer/songwriter scene in New York.

"Because We Never Talk About It" is an infectious pop rock record, plain and simple. Wesley knows how to draw the listener in with catchy piano beats and witty lyrics. He has great instincts for pop and strives to place a tantalizing hook in each song he puts to tape. It is easy to compare him to legends like Billy Joel or Elton John, but there is an air about Wesley that will draw comparisons to Ben Folds as well. His vocals are clear and warm, somewhere between Marc Cohn and Will Hoge.

The songs on "Because We Never Talk About It" are generally upbeat and bouncy, virtually guaranteed to place you in a brighter mood. Wesley wanted to capture his energetic live sound and I think it obvious that has been achieved. The lyrics shoot from the hip, and Wesley succeeds in articulating the honesty that many of us would if we had the courage, often with clever tongue-in-cheek humor. There are many highlights, but for me the cream of the crop include "Pretty Boy", "Here Is Your Ballad", and "Sorry I'm Not Hotter".

A solid piano pop rock record, "Because We Never Talk About It" is a most impressive debut - this CD is going to monopolize my player for months to come. The album was released on June 1, 2010 by Engine Room Recordings. Don't miss it if you like Ben Folds, Josh Fix, or The Fray.

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

Luke Wesley on MySpace. Official site.

Rare CD: Logan “One Step Closer”

"LOGAN “One Step Closer” CD. Logan International 1992 / 6 tracks. Incredibly good HARD/GLAM album released in 1992 by this fantastic band from Hostoun-Texas/USA. The sound quality is excelent, all the six songs are powerful and solid, in the same style as early Lillian Axe (Johnny Logan was the first L.A.´s vocalist) Joker (US), Erotic Suicide, Raquel, Dirty Blond and Child´s Play. One of the best Hard/Glam indies out there today, only a few hundred were pressed independently. This fantastic indie is disputed by many, another hyper rare cd."

Sold for $111.27 on ebay.

Rare CD: Sam Harris

"SAM HARRIS (Star Search Grand Champion) Self-Titled Original 1984 CD release

This SUPER RARE and LONG OUT-OF-PRINT CD is in Excellent Playable Condition. CD is Not A Cut-Out. Genuine Made in U.S.A.

This CD includes the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Top 40 Chart hit: "Sugar Don't Bite" in 1984

Track Listings:
1. Out Of Control (3:41)
2. Sugar Don't Bite (4:04)
3. I've Heard It All Before (4:13)
4. Hearts On Fire (4:25)
5. I Will Not Wait For You (4:20)
6. Pretender (3:22)
7. Don't Look In My Eyes (4:08)
8. You Keep Me Hangin' On (4:49)
9. Inside Of Me (5:52)
10. Over The Rainbow (3:01)

CD made by Motown (c) 1984 catalog #MCD06103MD UPC #05010-96103-2
A must own for Sam Harris fans and RARE CD Collectors!"

Sold for $129.99 on ebay.

Rare CD: Bret Michaels "Country Demos"

"BRET MICHAELS
Country Demos
original CD
from 2000
On Poorboy Records / Bret Michaels Entertainment

VERY RARE!

Tracks:
Future Ex-Wife, Hot Dang Mama, The Other Side of Me, The One You Get, Like I Do I Do, Play One For Me"

Sold for $133.50 on ebay.

Rare CD: Stallion “Stallion”

"STALLION “Stallion” CD. Self-Released by the band 1997/ 11 tracks. If you never listened this obscure band from Germany, you are losing a great piece of MELODIC HARD-METAL. Excelent and well structured melodic and powerful songs from the first tracks until the end, the sound is a mixture of the best typical german bands like Accept (“Eat the Heat” era), Jaded Heart, Reward, Steeler, Boysvoice and Crack Jaw"

Sold for $151.50 on ebay.

Rare CD: SAFIRE “Safire”

"SAFIRE “Safire” CD. Self-released by the band 1995/6 tracks. Superspecial aussie MELODIC HARD ROCK indie cd released independently by the band in 1995 in very limited number. In my opinion one of the top 10 MHR indies ever released, ideal for fans of ultra melodic hard rock similar to HotBoy, Touris, Xavier, Friction, Sinnocence, Ship of Dreams and Adrian Dodz. Very catchy album with a powerful voice, marvellous choruses, tremendous guitar/bass work, excelent drums, nice keyboards, and an amazing production for an indie. Absolutely recommended, an obligatory item to any good collection. Very rare cd!!"

Sold for $167.50 on ebay.

Rare CD :Thyme "Luna Beam"

"BAND : THYME
TITLE : LUNA BEAM
LABEL: SMALL INDIE LABEL

HERE YOU GUYS GO NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAVE YOU? THYME IS A GREAT INDIE BAND FROM THE USA THAT PLAYS CATCHY MELODIC HARD ROCK . CD WAS SELF PRODUCED AND IS ROCKER FROM START TO FINISH . CD HAS 10 KILLER TRACKS... MAKE YOUR BID COUNT AS IT WILL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN AND THIS IS MY ONLY COPY AND IT IS STILL SEALED

Fans of THE MOVIES / FOXX / NVS / BRONX ZOO / SGT ROXX / MATI HARI / FIRE DEPT..... CD IS STILL SEALED"

Sold for $202.49 on ebay.

Rare CD: Roman Holliday "Fire Me Up"

"This listing is for a like new condition CD: Fire Me Up - Roman Holliday. Japan CBS/Sony Pressing # 32DP 190. Ultra Rare.
Track Listing:
1. One Foot Back In Your Door
2. Fire Me Up
3. Strangest Feeling
4. Keep The Night
5. Runaway
6. You Know Me Well
7. Red Turns To Blonde
8. Hear It In The Night
9. I'll Wait
10. A Touch Too Much
11. Don't Take It All Away"

Sold for $249.97 on ebay.

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

CINDERELLA “Night Songs” (1986)

Cinderella's story began in 1983, formed by leader Tom Keifer and bassist Eric Brittingham where eventually two of the original members left to build another rival band, Britny Fox. With a little luck, Jon Bon Jovi spotted them performing in a club and referenced the band to Mercury that sealed them a recording contract. "Night Songs"' album sales crawled slowly when it was released in 1986, but thanks to the huge ballad hit, "Nobody's Fool", Cinderella seized triple platinum in 1987. Ironically, that song had always become my least favorite track of the album, and in my opinion, it’s probably the worst ballad ever penned by the band.

"Night Songs" featured a 40-minutes high octane rock and roll ride that was highly influenced by AC/DC and listening to Tom Keifer's raspy vocal style, you can't deny the close comparison to Brian Johnson. Their singles, "Shake Me" and "Somebody Save Me", are classic tunes, concert regulars, and definitely their best tracks here. Don't bother to look for any wasteful fillers, the rest are extremely enjoyable from the cool and sleazy "Nuthin' For Nuthin'", the heaviest monstrous track "Hell On Wheels", to the hard kicker, "Push Push".

The sound is raw, signifying a hungry quartet ready to break and crack. If you want to catch Cinderella at their primal start, "Night Songs" won't disappoint. Cinderella moved forward with a more bluesy approach onto their next release, "Long Cold Winter", so it's wise to always start exploring them from this album. Sadly, with over 25 years of experiences, Cinderella only produced four studio albums, and though this ain't their peak, it remains their essential album to have.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Review: Red Wanting Blue "These Magnificent Miles"

Red Wanting Blue hail from Columbus, Ohio, but they probably call the road their home. They've been in perpetual motion for 10 years now, taking their classic roots rock and pop to every town that would have them. As you can surmise from the title "These Magnificent Miles", their latest record was written while on the road and tells stories of life on the road. These stories provide us with a rare glimpse into the highs and lows faced by a band touring relentlessly and fighting for survival.

"These Magnificent Miles" was actually released in 2008, but since signing with Fanatic Records (EMI/Caroline) earlier this year, the CD will be released nationally this week. The roots rock atmosphere is palpable on "These Magnificent Miles", helped along by two things. First, the rugged baritone vocals of Scott Terry (who sounds like a cross between Brian Vander Ark of Verve Pipe and Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge) are perfectly suited for Americana - a man with such a warm and earnest voice should be doing nothing else but singing. Second, the record was produced by Jamie Candiloro, who has worked with Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, and R.E.M., all of whom could easily share a stage with Red Wanting Blue.

"These Magnificent Miles" starts incredibly strong, opening with "Gravity", a veritable tribute to this physical force. Appropriately, the song pulls you into the world of Red Wanting Blue and doesn't let go easily. Next is "You Are My Las Vegas", another catchy tune with imagery that helps make it a favorite to anyone who has been to Sin City. "Where You Wanna Go" is a ballad with a mild country flavor, boasting yet another winning melody in the chorus. Quick to pick things back up, "The World Is Over" sounds like the perfect bar sing-a-long song. The latter half of the record is almost as strong as the beginning, with "U.S. Bumper Sticker" being another favorite. And don't miss the last song, simply entitled "The Band" - it is not about what you might think.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12

Red Wanting Blue on MySpace. Official site.

Read my interview with Scott Terry of Red Wanting Blue at Rock and Roll Report!

Review: Pearl "Little Immaculate White Fox"

Pearl Aday is a self-proclaimed "Rock Child" and has every right to that title. The daughter of larger-than-life rocker Meat Loaf, Pearl has never known a day without music. In addition to singing back-up for Meat Loaf from 1994 to 2003, she has done the same for Motley Crue. I guess to ensure her progeny are homozygous for musical genes, she has married Scott Ian (Anthrax).

Just a few bars in to her debut record, "Little Immaculate White Fox", it is easy to hear her primary musical influence - Janis Joplin. Incidentally, her biological father played drums in Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band. Pearl's name comes from Joplin's nickname, which is also the title of her landmark 1971 album. Follow all that?

Pearl's band is comprised of members of Mother Superior, and "Little Immaculate White Fox" features guest appearances by Ted Nugent ("Check Out Charlie"), Jerry Cantrell ("Anything"), and of course, her husband Scott Ian. The record is an explosive debut, featuring powerhouse vocals in the finest rock tradition mixed in with meaty guitar and groovy beats. Paying homage to one of the greats, Pearl has included a cover of Tina Turner's "Nutbush City Limits" among her original tunes.

All of the ingredients for something absolutely mind blowing are here, but what limits "Little Immaculate White Fox" is the uneven songwriting. There are some terrific highlights, such as the autobiographical "Rock Child", "My Heart Isn't In It", "Nobody", and "Worth Defending", but most of the other tracks come up short in the melody category. While the performances and lyrics are good, this is not enough to make some of the songs as memorable as they could be. A final exception is the closing ballad, "Anything", where Pearl shows us that she is 'well rounded' and can deliver an achingly tender love song.

Pearl could be the Joan Jett for this generation - a true, red-blooded rocker who lives and breathes rock and roll. Check it out to hear a truly gifted rock vocalist.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 6, 7, 8, 11

Pearl on MySpace. Official site.

Check out a live performance of "Mama":

Interview: Tony Harnell

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tony Harnell to talk about his past with TNT and his new solo album with The Mercury Train entitled "Round Trip" (review here).

Q: To start, let’s go back to the beginning – what event took place in your life that made you realize you wanted to rock for a living?

A: I had just moved to New York from California and was driving around in my car, I was about 16, and some local dudes with long hair came up to my car at a stop sign and told me they’d been looking for me for weeks...

Read the interview at Rock and Roll Report!

The Martial Arts - download new song for free

Free download of new track by Glasgow indiepop/power pop band The Martial Arts, first new material since their acclaimed debut album, "Your Sinclair".

Download here!

The Martial Arts on MySpace.

New video - American Hi-Hi "Lost"

The new video from the upcoming CD by American Hi-Fi (reviewed here) - "Lost":