With the start of a new school semester for the kiddies it’s time to sit down and pen some new reviews. I guess secretly I always missed writing book reports and these reviews help fill a void. But doing the reviews sure beats writing about Andrew Jackson and Albert Einstein.
Ape
“Ape”
www.myspace.com/apeband
Style (rock / metal)
The pros of this CD are it’s raw, heavy, and aggressive sound, conversely though are the poor vocals. Musically this is the type of sound I love blasting through my headphones when I’m at the gym throwing plates around. It’s got crunchy, rough guitars, thunder pounding drums, and is music that gets me jazzed. However, with the vocals being the yang to the yin sounding like Jethro Tull with a metal twang I’m second guessing it. If you can imagine listening to Godsmack with a high pitched singer whose voice draws too much negative attention away from the music then you’re in the ballpark with Ape’s sound. The vocals are too high pitched and need to be dropped into the belly to give the music a well rounded completeness. And something else to point out is the length of the songs. The CD has a total of 8 songs with 5 of them over 5 minutes each. Though I don’t find myself bored with the songs this style of music is best served with shorter more to the point length. Reason being all bands sink or swim based upon their live shows and listening to long winded music at home is one thing but being subjected to long drawn out songs in a club can empty the room really quickly.
Rating 2 ½
Of Hearts and Shadows
“Touching Base with a Chainsaw”
www.ofheartsandshadows.com
Style (hardcore metal)
For starters I love the creativity of calligraphy but don’t believe it’s in the best interest of marketing to make the writing of the band name and title of your CD almost incomprehensible? Sure it’ll look cool on a t-shirt but may get passed over in the record stores because people will have to work too hard to figure out the words. I’m just saying. As for the CD, I totally dig the black & white heavy contrast pictures. As for the music it gets moving right out of the jewel case but listening to the CD I’m hearing the same cookie cutter style engulfing metal these days by having both howler monkey vocals along with something ala ‘Linkin Park” style of sung lyrics. Except these guys aren’t in the category of rap metal. The vocal duality in my ears is adding too much distraction because the sung lyrics aren’t done well enough and the howler barking sounds better and fits the music quite well. I don’t know anything about this bands live show but given the punch and aggressiveness of the music I can image a rather lively mosh pit because this is definitely music to get the cyclone rolling. Accompanying bio stated the CD is due for release 10/24/07 so look for it then.
Rating 2 ½
Zonaria
“Infamy and the Breed”
www.myspace.com/zonaria
Style (hardcore metal / death metal)
I’m all for expressing ones self but I really have to question the need to put lyrics to songs or music like this. Seriously, save money, time, and effort and forget about lyrics altogether and just play instrumental because there’s no way anyone’s going to decipher what the hell you’re saying, or trying to say. Leaves me wondering if I’m missing a great message. Adding to the woeful lyrics is the same howler monkey / barking dog in need of a throat lozenger vocal style that’s simply pointless. Oh and the spooky spoken words in those couple songs are really unnerving me too… Maybe Rob Zombie can use your talents for his next horror flick. Musically this is brutally pointless and mindless speed accented by a machine gun rapid fire double kick that sounds like it was produced by a drum machine. And for kicks there’s the always simple and often rehashed guitar riffs and rhythms we’ve all heard a gazillion times from bands with this sound. The bonus is a gothic keyboard, which in all honesty is the best part of the music, and given my disdain for keyboards in speed metal is tough to admit. So are you death metal or are you goth metal? I really don’t give a flying “F” because this CD is absolutely horribly written, arranged, and completely unintelligible. I honestly don’t even think the guys in the mosh pit would give this stuff two spins of the cyclone. On track 8 comes a song with some OK arrangement and sounds interesting and intelligent but by track 8 the damage has been done.
Rating ½ (why? Oddly enough because of the keyboards)
The Secret Meeting
“Ultrashiver”
www.myspace.com/thesecretmeeting
Style (underground eclectic)
Hypnotic, meandering, fluid, flowing through water. Push open the dark nondescript doors and enter the opium den. Your senses quickly take in the smell of fragrant smoke as you wonder over to a corner bed of pillows. Adjusting to the dimly lit room, your spirit comfortable and intrigued by the dancing flickers of the candle light kissing the walls, a dragon chasing pipe full is handed to you, and with the background hum from the music you become intoxicated. Your spirit and mind set loose to dance with the smoke that clouds the room. Your mind is tripped out, your body relaxed, your eyes in a comfortable yet confusing haze. You have become one with the “Ultrashiver”.
Rating 3
Seasons of the Wolf
“Once in a Blue Moon”
www.myspace.com/seasonsofthewolf
Style (metal / gothic)
This CD arrived with a bunch of extras in the form of a DVD with music videos, a publicity photo CD, and bio. Lots of stuff to go through so this must be good right, WRONG! This is total crap, every piece of it!!! What this is is a band desperately trying to be dark and gothic, but has a singer who sings through his nose sounding like a nutless Udo Dirkschneider from Accept. This singing style is the reason metal got laughed at in the 80’s and in 2007 metal bands like this are still getting laughed at. Musically this is pitifully simple, bland, boring, and horribly written. The chorus in the song “In The Shadows” is by far the most ridiculous chorus I’ve ever heard from any music genre. And to think some German metal magazine in 2002 called this bands music “Psycho Hippie Doom Metal”. What the hell were they smoking? I’d rather listen to a scratched up vinyl of the Bee-Gee’s that skips then this crap. And I can’t overlook the insanely comical low budget videos (5 total) on the DVD. I especially liked the video with the funky neon outlines and how could I not mention the video recorded in someone’s room with horrible image layering. Look, you can make a cheap video that’s cool and interesting but at least puts some damn thought and effort into it. And what the hell’s up with the thin nylon black bat wings, an Ozzy rip-off I might add, the singer’s wearing on his arms in the live video. Dude, this is 2007!!!!!
Rating 1 (only because this made me laugh)
Shark Island
“Gathering of the Faithful”
www.myspace.com/sharkisland
Style (rock / pop)
I’m intrigued by the name Shark Island, and along with some cool packaging and bio, which I’m actually reading this time, I’m ready for something interesting. Well I’ve lost count how many times I’ve gotten stung by looking at the bands name and packaging thinking a CD would be good. To put it simply, the southern phrase “that dog won’t hunt.” sums it up best. The artwork has this artsy, tripped out, funky presentation, that I dig but that’s where the imagination stops. The music is weak rock pop with no riffs, no hooks, no soul, and simply lays there like a bag of wet cement. This is like being in a club hearing music that’s forced with no emotion or personality, and is boring as hell, and all I’m hoping is for the sound guy will do the right thing by tripping and “accidentally” yanking out and severing the power chord – opps, sorry guys, set’s been cut short. Honestly, what’s the point of writing rock pop, or just rock for that matter, which contains no hooks? Isn’t one benefit to playing music like this having the chicks sing and dance along? This CD comes up well short of that benefit. Time to chum the water to see if a tiger shark really will eat anything.
Rating 1 ½ (kudos to whoever did the photo work)
Landon
“Defying the Stereotype”
www.myspace.com/landoncentral
Style (rock / pop)
A four member band fronted by a female by the same name whose vocal style reminds me of Alanis Morisette. The vocals have that “wild cat” quality with plenty of angst and aggression along with a certain level of sex appeal, which frankly never hurts any singer (female or male). The music is poppy with a crunchy rock guitar sound which combines well with the vocal style The songs are short but what’s tripping me out is there are 8 songs listed on the packaging but a total of 12 songs on the CD. Either this is a major printing error or the band decided to include 4 bonus tracks. If bonus tracks I think this might hurt them in the buyer department because given these songs are short some buyers may pass it over because they’ll feel they’re not getting a decent amount of music for the money. If a printing error then there’s some explaining to do. In any case the songs are good. My one issue with the CD given the style and presentation is it’s lacking that ONE song with all the hooks and grooves that grabs your attention and serves as the prime marketing force. Overall a good CD.
Rating 3 ½
Tiffany
“Just Me”
www.myspace.com/tiffanymusic
Style (indie / singer)
Typically I don’t review artist who in the past have sold 15 million records but since this CD ended up in my goodie bag from my editor it’ll receive my normal scrutiny. And what a person did in the past has no bearings on what’ll happen in the future. My first reactions to the CD are easy listening, comfortable, confident woman whose created music that fits nicely with her vocal range and lyrics. The girlie pop mall icon sound has given way to a sexy grown up woman’s voice singing heartfelt lyrics. But a couple things jump out at me about this CD. First off I’m not finding one song that really sells her style and passion. Sure “Feels Like Love” was the radio push but that’s not the best song on the CD – “Hiding Behind the Face” is better. And secondly, the inside jacket photo with the red eye lashes is possibly the worst portrait photo I’ve ever seen and I can’t believe someone of her talent and past history of being photographed would let a picture like this be taken let alone published as CD art. This critique is definitely directed more to the photographer who took it (credited as Ron Davis) but Tiffany and her people have the last say and should have said something. I don’t just judge the music, I look at the whole package and that photo is clearly a mistake.
Rating 2 ½ (bad choice of photos)
August Burns Red
“Messengers”
www.myspace.com/augustburnsred
Style (hardcore metal)
The blitzkrieg is in the house!. This is fast, zero – 100 in an instant, metal. Staying with the text book hardcore speed metal style with howler monkey vocals, blazing guitars and rapid fire double kicks it’s tough to say things that haven’t already been said with regard to originality. The one noticeable part of the music that caught my attention right off is the somewhat hollow production of the double kick or drums in general. Far better serving this sound would be to produce the drums with more depth and fullness, which overall makes for a more thundering power sound. Especially since rapid fire drumming is such a key component in speed metal. Looking on their MySpace the band has quite a tour scheduled so if moshing is your thing look for these guys at a club near you.
Rating 2
Walking Bicycles
“Disconnected”
www.myspace.com/walkingbicycles
Style (alternative)
I’m always a fan of CD’s with a slightly rough production sound because it gives the music an organic quality. The bands fronted by a female singer and I’m not sure if it’s because of this or it’s just how my ears are hearing it but the music has a female quality to it. And I don’t mean this in a bad way, quite the contrary. The music has a “finding my way” quality that reminds me of how a woman in her early 20’s is learning how to be a woman and by the time she enters her 30’s is more comfortable and confident and is fully embracing and starts to understand womanhood. Osmosis through learning and change. If you’re looking for something alternative with a smiggin’ of punk influence then this is a CD to check out.
Rating 2 ½
