The one benefit of working for a local music magazine, especially if your editor likes you (I think she does), is the opportunity to get your hands of lots of indie CD’s. Sure I like the heavily commercial stuff but I also like finding those gems that I had no idea were out there. So on a recent visit to my editor at All Access Magazine I was given a goody bag full of various CD’s by local, national, and foreign indie artists. Within the bag of music I picked 10 CD’s and here’s what I thought about them. Rating 0-5
Ten West
- “title”????
- www.myspace.com/tenwestmusic
- www.tenwestmusic.com
My reaction to the first couple songs is that Ten West sounds too much like Dave Mathews with the usual upbeat progressive tempos and a Dave Mathews like vocal style. As the CD progresses it loses this similarity as the band tries to find a unique melodic sound but comes up short. To be honest this is the type of band that sells out because much of the audience is made up of family and friends but I don’t see them winning over strangers. Just to boring so bring on the next band.
Rating - 2
JDJ Band
- “Cruel Way”
I don’t know what this is. Check that. This is the type of music a farmer plays if he wants to keep crows off his seed, the type of music the pied piper would have played to get rid of the mice then got shot by the town folk because they had to endure this crap. I honestly can’t believe someone wasted time and money to record and press this dog. Definitely the work of someone (can’t call them an artist) who’s been bonging out way too much. Next!!!!
Rating - can’t go lower than zero
Sick Puppies
- “title”??
www.sickpuppies.net
A lesson in not judging a book by it’s cover, or its name. The jacket photos and band name gave me the impression this was a punkish band with an edge to their sound. Not even close. Sick Puppies sound is one of melodic pop that’s too polished and overly produced. But I’m guessing their live show sound may reflect their true nature and personalities more realistically then the CD does. Disappointed I am.
Rating – 2
Halie Loren
“Full Circle”
- www.halieloren.net
- www.myspace.com/halieloren
The minute I put this CD in I liked it. It’s got a Nora Jones quality without Halie sounding like she’s copying Nora’s formula. The sound is one I refer to as comfortable jazz. It’s smooth, comfortable, and emotional. The kind of CD I could put on during a dinner party or romantic evening mixed in with Coltrane and not have to worry about. And as a drinker who enjoys a fine tequila this is the type of sound I could enjoy in a darkly lit bar and fall into the music and forget about the world around me. Captivating, emotional, without being overly moody.
Rating - 4+
Diecast
- “Internal Revolution”
- Century Media
- www.diecast1.net
- www.myspace.com/diecast
This is a sound with some balls but yet doesn’t just slam you against the wall in a nonstop pointless assault like some metal CD’s. The songs are arranged constructively with solid flow, with vocals a mix of the typical howler monkey screaming style along with lyrics that are sung. Something different for most bands that play heavy / hard music. My first listen through was just a basic opinion ‘yes or no’ but then I left it in my CD player shuffle and found the more I listened to it the more I like it.
Rating - 4
Vains of Jenna
- “Lit Up / Let Down”
- www.vainsofjenna.com
- www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna
Reminds me a little of Bang Tango, Faster Pussycat, and Motley Crue. Very 80's Hollywood style with regard to their sound and their look, which has a “been drinking and partying all night” appearance. The songs are simple with a guitar sound that’s got a little crunch to it and some raspy vocals, which I dig, but so far I haven’t found that one hook song that grabs my attention. My opinion is that they are probably more fun to hear and see live but given that they’re an 80's clone playing in 2007 I’m not sure how well it’ll be received, especially here in Los Angeles. But I have seen a bit of press on these guys in different music publications so maybe they’ve got something the peeps want to relive. It’s a CD I won’t toss out though.
Rating - 3
Devon Allman’s Honeytribe
- “Torch”
- www.myspace.com/honeytribe
- www.honeytribe.com
This is the type of sound you hear playing at some county fair or come across on the radio while you peruse the seek on your car radio traveling through some small town. It’s got a classic rock style sound mixed in with hints of country. Don’t know if that’s because Devon is related to the Allman’s of the Allman Brothers and frankly I don’t care. It’s a bit lackluster but it does have a traveling music feel to it and I would have no problem popping in this CD while I’m on a road trip. At least for one play through.
Rating - 2
Xpeld
- “title” ???
- www.xpeld.com
Xpeld is a local Los Angeles band that plays in the San Fernando Valley regularly. Unfortunately I’ve not had the opportunity to hear them live but I’ve been told they’ve got a heavy sound and are good. However, listening to the CD there’s no way I could discern that. The CD contains numerous guest performers from bands Black Sabbath, Dio, Yes, and Quiet Riot just to name a few and typically this scares me because it signals a bands attempt to get attention garnered from the people they know instead of writing good solid songs that don’t need extra filler. Sure it’s cool if a member of “such and such” band sits in to play a song, or even to get the aid of a local musician to lay down some backgrounds, but a bands CD should be about the band, it’s core members, it’s songs, and it’s sound. Not one of guest appearances. And sadly the guest performers don’t add anything to help this CD and I’m really not digging it. In fact I listened to the first couple songs, took it out of the CD player and walked away not knowing how to describe it or whether I would say anything. But after a moment to clear my ears I’d describe it as having too many slow parts, not enough stand outs with regard to drums or guitars to hold my attention, and the vocals seem to have a pattern with the singer starting low and then working to a forced yell. Too boring and too predictable for my taste.
Rating - 1
Ill Nino
“The Under Cover Sessions”
- Roadrunner Records
- www.illnino.com
The first thing that jumps out at me is the combination of crunchy guitars and percussions (easily recognized latin influence), mixed with vocals that are both sung and yelled (Lincoln Park style). Then I read into the title and realize this 5 song CD contains two originals and 3 covers (“Zombie Eaters” by Faith No More, “Red Rain” by Peter Gabriel, and “Territorial Pissings” by Nirvana). Don’t be confused with reading latin influence because Ill Nino is a rock / metal band with a sound all their own that has some punch to it. And their style is carried over and applied to the covers quite effectively. I’ve not seen Ill Nino live but can imagine the crowd is a bouncing pit fueled by the energy they feel from the guys on stage. An excellent CD and I will definitely look forward to more from Ill Nino.
Rating 4
James Kennedy
- “Patch Work”
- www.heartconsortmusic.com
An instrumental CD. AWESOME!!!! Gotta love those. Look we all love going to concerts and hearing a killer guitar solo or drum solo but a CD filled with this stuff is not making it happen, especially for rock musicians. Never has, never will. My reasoning is that rock songs don’t transpire well to instrumentals, unlike jazz. Needless to say I’m not impressed with this CD. Yea I can hear the use of different string instruments and I appreciate the talent to play those but this is not a sound fitting my ears. On a couple tracks I hear a bluegrass influence, which is interesting and holds my attention, but this CD isn’t constructed well because instead of sticking with an influence inspired theme James Kennedy strays and attempts to show of his rock prowess, which quite frankly isn’t impressive. Truthfully the songs with the bluegrass influence are the better songs and if Mr.Kennedy had stuck with that I think the CD would have been more compelling.
Rating - 1
