What can be better than a summertime backyard BBQ with great food, cold drinks, good friends, and some killer tunes? I'm sure not many things but I guess it really depends on what floats your boat. And speaking of boats, there are those CD's meant to stay dry and then there are those CD's destined for Davy Jones's locker.
Tiamat
"Amanethes"
www.myspace.com/tiamat
Style (Goth / Dark Metal)
Listening to the first half of the CD I'm vaguely interested hearing the sad attempts to be moody and intriguing, but listening to the second half makes everything clear and I finally get it. This CD is meant to be played if I'm trying to slit my wrist by way of paper cut. Hurts at first but the upside is the ssssslllllllooooooowwwwwww boring turtle pace death at least gives me time to watch M.A.S.H. reruns. Honestly, was this dog worth a five year hiatus, which is how long this band waited according to their bio? The bio also stated this CD was diverse, sophisticated, and mature. Well if I'm reading between the lines to mean tired and worn out then the bio was dead on. I don't know any of this band's prior recordings, and this CD surely doesn't give me the impression I should bother, but if this musical pacing has been repeated in the past be sure to bring along some Jolt Cola and some uppers before checking out this band live. "Hello, is this thing on?"
Rating ½ (sending one to ya Davy)
Corporation 187
"Newcomers of Sin"
www.myspace.com/corporation187swe
Style (Death Metal / Thrash)
So is this a conglomerate of hired assassins or a play on the American code for murder? I'm guessing the latter but one really never knows so be wary before going to the show. Music wise, the songs are straightforward screaming (AaaaHHHHH, I shot my foot with a damn nail gun, AAAAHHHHH!!!!) vocals, psychotic double kick drums that sound like they were hooked up to a machine gun, guitars set on high voltage, but oddly thin bass licks. The music's understandably got speed, because really what's death metal thrash without speed, but surprisingly there are breaks, rhythms, and tangents. Go figure, a death metal band that actually produced a creative CD containing much more than just ballistic speed.
Rating 3
Josh Eagle
"Truthful Beginnings"
www.myspace.com/joshuameagle
Style (Singer Songwriter / Jazz)
Listening to this I feel like I'm back in Maryland driving on some two-lane country road with the sunshine broken up as it passes through the tall green trees. The windows of the truck are down and the cool comfortable breeze is swirling around my body. I'm heading somewhere but I'm in no hurry to get there nor do I want to leave the beauty of the green leaves or the smell of freshly cut grass. My soul is free. Eagle's voice and music evokes memories of being home. His voice is smooth and expressive, passionately delivered with a little raspiness, and blends wonderfully with the acoustic guitar to form a lasting impression.
Rating 3 ½
The Leo Project
Self titled
www.myspace.com/theleoproject
Style (rock)
The songs written by The Leo Project are melodic, have some nice rhythms, OK verses, and to a certain extent a very commercial sound. The singer stands out as the focal point, and is quite talented, but in all fairness the rest of the band are solid musicians in their own right. If I was a tour organizer I'd fit this band with groups like Seether, Staind, Puddle of Mud, or maybe even Three Doors Down. For those living in Los Angeles, or familiar with LA radio, this band would fit into 98.7's rotation. However two things bug me about this CD. The first is I'm not drawn to any one song strongly enough to say that's "the hit." My closest guess would be "Perfect World" or "Half As Good" for radio push. Secondly, because of radio overplay of Staind, and because these songs remind me too much of the writing style of Staind, The Leo Project I feel will find it tough getting a foothold in the national media. The song writing formula and production becomes predictable very quickly with songs starting out loud and raucous but then slowing down so the singer can belt out a bunch of opera held notes over slow music, then gaining in amplitude, then slowing down again. Sounds too much like another band to keep around for very long.
Rating 2 ½ (middle of the road so I'll choose to go no further)
Before the Fall
"In the Garden"
www.beforethefall.net
Style (rock / metal)
WOW does this sound like a 4 track produced demo, and it vary well may be one. The production quality is in the mud; the vocals are flat (filled with dead notes), guitars are held back lacking high end, and the drums and bass sound like they were recorded through the wall. Then the packaging on this CD, possibly only related to the copy I received because sometimes I only get promotional copies, is minimal at best. But at least the band had the wherewithal to include a website address, ON EVERYTHING!! Oh wait a minute, no they didn't! This is 2008 and almost everyone in the entire F'ing world (free or dictator) knows about the internet. Why the hell am I having to Google this band to find their damn website? Not to mention the dozen or so bands with the same damn name has me wondering why someone hasn't brought legal actions against the other bands by the same name. Have to say this stuff really turns me off, especially since the songs are pathetic. If they were good then I wouldn't mind scratching around the other dregs searching for hidden information. And I can't overlook the crappy band picture on the back. You've got to be kidding me!!!!
Rating ½ (Worthless sending out a CD without ALL the important information. Another for Davy's collection)
Katy Perry
"One of the Boys"
www.myspace.com/katyperry
Style (pop)
Sitting on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop chart at number 2 (up from number 4) - by the time this review goes to press - never hurt any artist. Her hit song "I Kissed a Girl" has commercial marketability that may have some legs and it won't surprise me if Madison Avenue finds a way to use this song, coupled with Perry's attractive looks, to sell products. As for the CD, the songs are very pop with excellent dance beats without being too sugar sweet, have catchy lyrics, and musical direction. Meaning there's a point to each song and Perry does a fine job getting there. Something else I like is that Perry's music has the right mix of girlish pop but her voice has a feminine confidence that as a guy is sexy as hell and tells me this is a woman and not a little girl.
Rating 3 ½
