Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008!!! A new year brings about new experiences, new expressions, and of course a new goodie bag from my editor filled with new CD’s. Last year I unearthed some unexpected gems and shed some light on some worthless dogs (you know who you are). So let's see how the 2008 Best / Worst list begins!
The Val Papadins
“No One Wants to Move the Piano”
www.nicepromo.com/artists/thevalpapadins
Style (indie)
Something along the lines of a vaguely exotic indie sound reminiscent of what goes on in those side tents at places like Coachella or opening bands at an offbeat club; the bands usually hitting the stage at 7:00 or 7:30 before anyone gets to the club. If I’m kicking around my apartment alone with the shades drawn tight and the light from my last 60w bulb dimming and flickering I might toss this in my CD player and let the smoke rings from a fat Zepplin climb in my head. But if not experimenting with some form of mind altering meditation this is just too slow and meandering and not a sound I can get into.
Rating 1 ½
deSol
“On My Way”
www.desoLmusic.com
Style (pop / rock)
This CD has a backyard / beach party feel, kinda like Jimmy Buffet mixed with a little Carlos Santana and doesn’t step on anyone’s toes or egos. Fairly easy to listen to and some songs will get people dancing – “Santos” to name one. However, this sound gets boring quickly because the tempo on the CD is squandered and flattens out as the songs go from up-tempo to slow tempo, which in my opinion absolutely kills the mood. And as the CD progressed and tries to come back I found myself wondering about the next CD on my list, a fresh cold drink, and a plate of nachos.
Rating 2
Scum of the Earth
“Sleaze Freak” (issue #2)
www.myspace.com/scumoftheearth
Style (rock – with the monsters and zombies)
Being a Rob Zombie / White Zombie fan I like this music, the monster movie concept, and the accompanying artwork. Not to mention this music, just like Rob Zombie’s, works well for watching chicks get sleazy pole dancing, drinking absinthe, and has musical crossover ability, which are all plus’s on my score sheet. However, it’s too much of a Zombie copy, not hard to figure out since Riggs played with Zombie for a number of years. The glaring difference between the two, like the dull and sharp sides of a knife, lay with the lyrics, which are basic and lame as hell. Look, there’s no need to be super profound and prolific with song titles like “Bombshell From Hell”, “Hate X 13”, “Love Pig”, and “13 Freaks” but I’m damn sure there are more creatively expressive words than “fuck”. It’s like listening to a gansta rap album where the word “fuck” is used as noun, adjective, and verb; Pat I’d like to buy the vowel, the vowel "fuck" please. I haven’t checked in a while but aren’t there something like 20k or 40k words in the Webster dictionary?? An artist may have the best rockin’ sound in town but using the “F” word as often as this only cheapens the quality and shows rudimentary literacy, even if you are a Harvard graduate with a PhD in English Literature.
Rating 1 (too much of a copy)
Dub Trio
“Another Sound is Dying”
www.dubtrio.com
Style (rock / instrumental)
Wait a minute, if it looks like a finished CD then it must be a finished CD, right? Nope, not in this case because if I had to categorize this CD I would consider it a DEMO! What Dub Trio has created and released is an instrumental rock CD, minus the guitar shredding, presenting the music in rhythm, bridge, rhythm, bridge cadence, with no separation in a stylish opening book jacket. Only one song has vocals (incoherent in the beginning), which are provided by Mike Patten on track 9 but by then I’m done questioning why and moving on. I’m not a huge fan of guitar shredding CD’s, and I’m even less of a fan of rock instrumentals, but at least with the shredder CD’s the band creates separation with the guitar acting as a vocal, albeit an overly drawn out continuous solo. I don’t know the reason for not including a vocalist but this sound desperately needs more or all the band did was produce and expensive demo. So if you’re a singer looking for a rock band with an edgy sound check out this band. It's kind like making a stock with only the veggies and water, no bone marrow. Isn’t it just flavored water then???
Rating 2 (only because I dig the sound)
Curt Yagi
“What’s Come Over Me”
www.curtyagi.com
Style (singer songwriter)
A simple, unpretentious, basic presentation with easy rhythms and vocals, with some horns added for accent. The unassuming, uncontroversial, and middle of the road musical personality in the lyrics, guitar, and vocals, however lumps this into the middle of the road CD stack. Nothing wrong with playing this style of music, and I would probably enjoy Curt’s sound more if I caught his set in a divvy offbeat lounge with a tequila in my hand. But there’s not enough energy and emotion coming through this CD to keep me interested.
Rating 1 ½
The Soul Deacons
“Skippin’ Church”
www.souldeacons.com
Style (Blues / R&B)
I chose this CD because of the band name, CD title, and cover photo (right hand on a steering wheel of an old car, with a cigar, and plastic hulla dancer on the dashboard). Given how much I completely dig the visual presentation I can’t say the same for the music. The sounds is a throwback to the 50’s & 60’s Motown bands. You know the ones we see on those CD infomercials late at night – “get all 12 CD’s for The Legends of Motown for just $19.95..plus shipping and handling.” The music, complete with horns, harmonies, and all those sound characteristics of the guy bands of the Motown era, is it’s too happy sounding and lacks that down dirty, smoky, throaty, knock back a double bourbon with a beer chaser appeal given the name, CD title, and song titles like “Stool Pigeon”, “The Chicken”, “You’ve Got to Hurt”, and “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You”. Talking about pulling a magician switch arooh, watch the left hand while the right hand pulls out the rabbit. It’s like having the song “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” sung and rearranged by Barry Manilow so it loses all imagery and impact and now sounds all warm and fuzzy.
Rating 1 ½ (only because I like the visual presentations.)
Seven Witches
“Deadly Sins”
www.myspace.com/sevenwitchesmetal
Style (metal)
Here’s a metal CD with some killer grooves and hooks (complete with guitar solo’s), sung vocals (complete with well placed in tune high pitched screams), and pounding drums. If you dig the 80’s metal head banging sound, fattened up with lots of meat on the bone, with strong belted out vocals this will be right up your alley. What I like most about the CD is the tempo which is steady and consistent. And given the band name and CD title it would have been real easy for this band to present some gothic monster movie music that falls into a pitfall of pathetic theatrics sucking the life from my ears and my poor CD player. Fortunately they have not done this and in the process have produced a good sounding CD.
Rating 3 ½
Big Cock
“Motherload”
www.myspace.com/bigcockrocks
Style (rock)
Am I reading the band name correctly? Big Cock, really??? OK, who in the band is a chicken farmer and an award winning rooster breeder? Oh well is what it is. Aside from the comical value I take away from such self promoting manly manifestations in the band’s name I actually dig the music. This is pure 80’s hair metal without the big hair, studded leather, and make-up; although we couldn’t escape the power ballad. Neither are these guys 20 something street junky kids fresh off the bus from middle America plying Wonder bread and lunch meat from some chick they met at The Whisky. These dudes are a little older and because of this the sound is fuller, more developed, straight forward rock and roll with attitude. Vocally the singers got an excellent rocker raspy quality in a mid to mid-high range which fits superbly with the guitar sound and bashing drums. This CD gives me the impression these guys wouldn’t be a bad party band, and I can imagine a bevy of topless chicks at that party.
Rating 3 ½
Egypt Central
“Egypt Central”
www.myspace.com/egyptcentral
Style (alternative)
Playing through the CD my reaction is one of complacency. Basic run of the mill stuff you’ll hear being pushed on KROQ and other alternative rock stations across the country and then dropping only because it sounds like everyone else but isn’t requested or selling like Lynkin Park. Live in a club these guys would probably be entertaining but because they’re not breaking any new musical ground on this CD, and have the same quality production value I hear everyday on KROQ and 98.7, I’m passing. The CD is set to release January 2008 so if you’re inclined to dig alternative rock go online or to your local music store and pick up a copy.
Rating 2
Red
“End of Silence”
www.redmusiconline.com
Style (rock / alternative)
From the accompanying bio it states this band is a Grammy nominated group. Ok, I offer my congrats but since art is exceedingly subjective and those awards are fluff popularity contests it really doesn’t matter. But don't get me wrong though, being nominated looks great on the resume. But resumes don’t pay the bills. And just like the review I wrote for Egypt Central (a second mention I might point out) this is a sound we’ve all heard over and over again on every alternative rock station across the country. The production value is good and I’m sure the girlies will be sitting in their cars stopped at a stop light singing to every word. And right now I’m questioning my reason for not getting power windows installed.
Rating 2
S.S.S.P. (Aka - Skinheads Still Scare People)
“For Life”
www.koirecords.com
Style (hardcore)
I dig music that gets the body moving and pump up causing A-bomb collisions in the pit, and this definitely fits that mold. And live I’m sure this stuff kicks! It’s hardcore punk style played by two guys (don’t know if they add a bass player for the live sets) fast but not as fast as I was expecting, but fast enough. The characteristic I’m most drawn too, and the most critical about, is with the production, which is thin and desperately needs to be remixed to have it fattened up. Maybe it’s just my ears because typically punk influenced music tends to be lacking a fat bottom end but this really needs something more to make the sound more in your face abusive.
Rating 3
The Humbell
“Super Amazing Laser Beam”
www.myspace.com/thehumbell
Style (Progressive Rock)
I like the first track “Get Ready” but from then on I’m thinking it would be more fruitful riding the elevator, stopping at all 70 floors, peering through the opening and closing doors to check out the different paint schemes. Maybe I’d get lucky and there would be painters putting on a new coat and I could watch the paint dry for kicks. I sure hope it’s sunny outside so at lunch I can sit under a leafless tree and watch the browning winter grass grow. And if the stars are aligned properly, I should be so lucky to get stuck in 2 hour traffic on the 10 east for the 20 mile drive home. Get the point??
Rating ½ (only because the CD art entertained me more)
Scott & Aimee
“Sitting in a Tree”
www.myspace.com/scottandaimee
Style (rock / alternative)
Edgy, up-tempo, fun, attitude are words readily coming to mind as I play through this CD. Aimee’s got a great female rock raspy sexy voice matching fantastically with the crunchy walking the knife edge guitars. This is the range and type of female rock voice most female singers of this genre wish they possessed and Aimee’s got it. The subject matter, as can be expected with a female singer and lyricist, is based on female issues related to such things as hatred, confusion, and love (sometimes tough love) with song titles “I’m Not Your Girlfriend”, “Miss America”, “Girl with Issues” and ‘Silence is Violence”. The songs are strongly presented on the CD and if the band members, especially Aimee, have larger than life charismatic (a bit on edge) personalities the music should transfer well to the live set.
Rating 3 ½
Joe Granata
“A Long Road to Hell”
www.joegranata.com
Style (rock / metal)
An artist’s confidence can be as fragile as an egg shell, and sometimes I don’t like cracking those eggs, but honesty and truthfulness will ultimately help a person grow as an individual and an artist in the long run. So I’m going to say what many around Joe are not being honest and telling him. “Dude, you can’t sing!” The guitar playing isn’t bad if you dig a typical basement garage sound. But the singing has got to stop. Not sure why Joe decided to handle the guitar, bass, and singing responsibilities for his CD. Maybe thinking he was better than any singer he auditioned or maybe he couldn’t find a singer. Whatever the reason is, being tone deaf and flat are far worse and will quickly turn people off your music regardless of how well you may play guitar or bass. Luckily the CD only has 6 tracks on it. I’m also not sure about the CD title. It’s real tough to sell concepts like “hell”, “death”, and “destruction” looking like a nice kid from a middle class family.
Rating ½
