Skin Deep ~ by: Lipstick Magazine
Back in July, All Access Magazine reported on the inclusion of the band Lipstick Magazine at this year’s Rocklahoma festival, when the group’s latest disk, "Skin Deep," was just about ready for release. The CD has been out since August, with respectable response since then, so now’s a good time for AAM to re-visit this New Jersey outfit again before year's end. Lipstick Magazine is fronted by powerhouse vocalist Toni Loyas, a gal who evidently spends time working out in the gym as well as on stage. The band includes two competent guitarists, Damon Marks and Nat Gardiner, who take turns tearing it up from song to song. Russell K plays drums, Marc Rabin plays bass, and David Loyas plays keys -- and on this album David serves generally as a supporting player and co-writer, rather than as a star soloist. The title track from "Skin Deep" fires up a pulsing glam-rock groove, built on a familiarly satisfying foundation of electric blues. But while that cut resounds with a glammy sheen (entirely appropriate, considering LM's association with such veteran glam-boys as Poison's Bret Michaels), the next song, “Against the Wall,” has an artier feel, sounding somewhat like Asia or Survivor. “Something You Should Know” and “All I Want” come across as stock-sounding power ballads, with Toni's potent pipes waxing sultry and saucy, maybe evoking memories of Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, or Patty Smyth of Scandal. In fact, "Okay to Cry" isn't so far from Scandal's "Goodbye to You," but after all, it's not a sound that many dudes and dudettes of a certain age necessarily want to say goodbye to. "Defenseless" is a wistful, sweet, almost-unplugged excursion into vulnerability, and "Keep Me Running" kicks things into a higher gear with a racing riff that's like a harder-edged version of Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream." Lipstick Magazine is a band whose members all feature fine range, and "Skin Deep" aims, and succeeds, at getting under the listener's skin.
Pity Girl ~ by: Mary Magdalan
What if you crossed Shamaya Otep with Courtney Love? (Oooh, scary!) -- You might come up with somebody like Mary Magdalan -- damaged but talented, and screaming for relief, release, and maybe resolution, like so many others in this brazen new world. This gal has a lot of voices -- like a veritable legion of tortured souls, and a little like a female version of Korn's Jonathan Davis. A glance at the song titles gives warning that it’s going to be a rough ride, with "Rage," "Cigarette Burns," Violence, "I Should Kill You," and "Wasted" coming one after another. The opening song, “Rehab,” is raw and compelling, showing what a clever rhymer Mary is, and co-conspirator Gzus (pronounced “Jesus”) blasts out hard-edged walls of sound that add to the arsenal. Mary writes from what she knows, which has been a hard road, up from a turbulent past, on the way -- maybe -- to a better day. The album is mostly hard and loud, yet departures occur, such as in “Touch Me,” with its gloomy piano. “Pity Girl” starts with spooky voices and a drum beat like a firing squad – and it drives on mercilessly, inexorably, pitilessly – and rockingly, for those who can handle it. Sometimes there’s a droning tone like that of Marilyn Manson (another singer with a reported past of substance use/abuse). “Debbie” starts tunefully, not initially alerting the listener that it’s a conversation with a deceased mother, ending with a dirge-like, heartbroken repetition of “Mama." Aptly, “Debbie” is followed by “Last Remains,” which marches on melodically, like a druggie's dirge, a lament for a way that no longer works, if it ever did. Listen, some say an artist must suffer for his or her art, and it seems Mary Magdalan has done so indeed -- and maybe her hellish visions can provide a healing catharsis -- for both herself and her fans. "Pity Girl" speaks for and about frantic folks in troubled times -- strong medicine for those who need a dose. www.myspace.com/marymagdalan
Loader ~ self-titled CD
Here's a So-Cal hard-rock outfit that isn't afraid to face hard questions and damaged perspectives, yet that also emerges with an underlying current of hope. From "Glass of Ambition" to "Space Funeral," the listener gets solid metallic structure and expert jamming, complete with discernable lyrics that don't just curse the darkness, but that actually, as found in a song such as "Light 'Em Up," endeavor to ignite a candle or two. "Light 'Em Up" features a percussive intro from Billy Idol's drummer Brian Tichy, leading first into choppy chords reminiscent of Collective Soul, and find singer Chad Snyder asking, "Will you take a stand?" "Love Song 9000" again pairs accessible melodies with good rocking, while "Moon Child" is more pensive, like "A Brand New Start," and finally "Space Funeral" -- a cut that doesn't actually play as grimly as the title might suggest, and which is actually much more melodic than metallic. Throughout the disk, guitarist Pete Nolte feathers his effect-modified solos, bolstered by bassist Lucky Islam and drummer George Dum, coming together in a sound that rocks hard while delivering tough questions coupled with positive responses. Get a load of these guys at: www.myspace.com/loaderrecords.
Burn This ~ by: Star Off Machine
A band of head-bangers from Huntington Beach who don't need a "parental advisory" to accompany this worthy 12-song set of anger and affirmation. Some listeners might detect a taste of Creed's influence herein -- a suitable companion on the road to redemption. Singer Erick Holloway digs into his personal archives, as in "Lost," harkening back to seventh grade, over a busy riff and then equally active strummed chords, reaching higher, trying to taste the memories, feel the frustration, and achieve the just-out-of-reach possibilities. Guitarist Robin Charlet, teamed with bassist Jeremy Whitely and drummer Greg Tuthill, flesh out a sound that's a little like Collective Soul or Alterbridge -- in a totally good way. Check out "Say Goodbye" -- there's regret, yet hope, and a tuneful chorus to help "pick up the pieces." The melodies and chord schemes through the album rise and soar and drive on hard, propelling lots of radio-ready tuneage, from "Disaster" to "Ninth Floor," making "Burn This" a worthy disk to add to the stack. www.myspace.com/staroffmachine
Conversation with Francis Bakin ~ by: Francis Bakin
Excellent! Bay-Area AC/DC tribute band AC/DShe is musical home to drummer Clementine, who's also involved in a Led Zeppelin tribute project called Zepparella, and now she steps out in front of the microphone as part of a duo called Francis Bakin, along with guitarist Gretchen Menn. There's a lot of good rock on this CD, but of a flavor much different from her other projects. Francis Bakin is avant-garde, witty, tongue-in-cheek, quirky, and mostly self-assured. When Clementine gets "Poetical," she seems to invoke Alanis Morisette in an airy, self-contemplative way, and she appears to almost intentionally strays from perfect vocal pitch, to keep things interesting. Right after, she's all tough and "in-your-face" with a slide-heavy thumper called "Marathon Runner." Lots of keen slide work on this CD, not to mention an instrument called a "banjitar," played by Clementine on a couple of tracks. As sung in the opening track, let Francis Bakin "be your damn sunshine." www.myspace.com/francisbakin
Tomorrow Another Day ~ by: Debra Arlyn
Can you say "Blue-eyed soul"? Here's a young lady who's already been favorably compared with Alicia Keys, so let this review of her 2008 release serve as a confirmation of that complimentary connection. Coming from the great Northwest, Debra writes, sings, and produces her own songs, and plays her own piano, too. Arrangements often feature tasteful horns and mellow back-up vocals and harmonies. Debra's voice is clear and powerful, and she's capable of performing the same kind of vocal acrobatics so often engaged in by today's crop of singers -- but thankfully, she mainly projects for effect, without swooping out the vain, frivolous up-and-down warbling indulged in by others. These songs are all piano-based, with capable, often-jazzy instrumental support. It's funny to hear a young talent like Debra singing about what she's learning as she's getting older, as in a song such as "Does It Really Matter," which is filled with some pleasing horn accentuation. But no matter what she's seen and felt so far, as expressed in well-crafted tunes like "Forever" and "The Letter," dang it, she's really still just a youngster, and what a talented one, already with a good ear for the nuances of relationships. The disk's opening track is "Worth the Wait," and as Debra Arlyn continues to mature as an artist, her future efforts should likewise be worth waiting for. www.debraarlyn.com
Live in Germany ~ by: Joe Lynn Turner
Oh yeah, it fits, it figures -- to begin veteran vocalist Joe Lynn Turner's concert not too long ago in Germany, recorded on this CD, his band had to open with a few bars of "Somewhere over the Rainbow." Yep, Joe sang for a while with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, and also during one of Deep Purple's configurations -- and Joe's primal howl is right up there with that of another of Ritchie's former front-men, Ian Gillan. On this 13-song disk, Joe covers a sampling of songs from his illustrious career, and classic-rock fans will recognize FM staples such as "Power," "Stone Cold," "Can't Let You Go,"& "Street of Dreams," among other solid hits. This is a great live album, featuring Joe's great, still-strong rock-'n'-roll voice, along superb musicianship throughout, from guitarist Carl Cochran, drummer Michael Sorrentino, bassist Greg Smith, and keyboardist Carmine Gigglio. Each artist shines, as highlighted on the disk's closer, an incendiary interpretation of one of rock's all-time-great barn-burners, "Burn." Sure, the song was originally sung by David Coverdale, but dang, Joe does the deal quite nicely! Truly a solid live set from a long-respected rock singer. www.joelynnturner.com
Infernal Eclipse ~ by: Siege A.D.
Here is found some solid shreddage from a furious foursome out of Buffalo, New York. This band has one of those singers who sounds like a Balrog from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, but a lot of metal fans appreciate that approach, apparently. It's some paint-peelin', whip-lashin' thrash, featuring all the appropriate components: pummeling percussion, crunchy machine-gun guitars, and a take-no-prisoners attitude. Siege A.D.'s "Infernal Eclipse" starts out ominous and crunchy, and doesn't let up throughout the entire nine-song effort. Solid metal for hard-core fans. www.myspace.com/siege2008ad
I'm Tryin' ~ by: Casper
If you look at a CD cover and see a pale dude with a baseball cap who goes by the handle "Casper," you might think, "Oh, another white rapper!" -- but really, he's not. Actually, Casper (also known as Ron Tuttle) has been known on the reggae scene for several years, and CDs such as his last one, "Flex Flex," show him to much more Caribbean than Comptonian -- despite the fact that he's really from Canada! Lately he has been exploring his soulful side with more r&b-related material, as seen in his new single, "I'm Tryin'." The song is essentially a melodic expression of gratitude and fortitude, consisting of sincerely straightforward verses on top of keyboards and light electronic percussion. On the disk released for review, there is first a "radio" rendition and then a "club" mix of the song, and both versions make plain that Casper is one earnest dude, singing from the heart. The vocals actually have quite a "done in the den" feeling to them, while a listen to most of Casper's other material reflects a more practiced, polished approach -- so if it's his intent to present the unvarnished self in this song's appeal to the Most High, then he seems to have succeeded. The "club" version does sound danceable, for those so inclined -- but interestingly, it falls somewhere between "slow jam" and "shake it." In the liner notes, Casper includes some positive words of inspiration to listeners and fans, emphasizing that there are indeed answers to the problems everyone faces, encouraging all, like the singer, to keep tryin'.
Once You Go Chocolate You Never Go Back and Like Cake on a Plate ~ by: Stiff Donut
Mike Hymson is one of those prolific artists who's not satisfied with just one stage for self-expression. In addition to Stiff Donut (as an alternative to a Limp Bizkit, eh?), his current projects include Estrogenocide and Totally F---ing Gay. One might wonder, has Mike inherited the mantle of the late, lamented, mighty and prolific Frank Zappa? Some might say yes, while others could call Michael Hymson a raunchy cousin to Jack Black of Tenacious D. Well, if you like Black and Zappa, you're probably gonna love Stiff Donut's crunchy chords, flashy riffs, and weirdly lovable vocals -- sometimes high and lively, sometimes low and gruff, sometimes squarely deadpan. Many of the titles require a "Parental Advisory," not to mention the lyrics themselves -- there's nothing sacred in Mike's world, and everything is fodder for musical mockery. But among his more printable lyrics are a few lines from "Sexy Goth Girl," the describing a lass who is sure that "Robert Smith would love to be with me -- we could paint each other's nails, and read each other's poetry" ... And come on, who wouldn't have a reaction to a title like "Gene Simmons is Right about Everything"? Moving on, inquiring wits will want to hear more about just what relation a woolly mammoth has to Donald Trump's hair. Funny stuff, for those who like to laugh while they rock. mrhymson@aol.com
Here In America ~ by: The Whale / Fiat Lux
Conceived and delivered by Michael W. McCormack, this is a five-song dose of "Americana" that's a tad more cynical, jaded, tongue-in-cheek, and disgruntled than the usual banjo-pluckin' minstrel homage to apple pie and farmland reveries. Amusingly, this disk, like Stiff Donut's "Chocolate" CD, contains a reference to money-man Donald Trump's peculiar hair! Now, the five tunes on the record are all hummable, but they fall more under the category of "satire" or social commentary than just as simple "roots" music. Check out "Working for Gas" and "The Land of Liberty" to recognize that troubled times are upon us, but if you don't know whether to laugh or to cry, then you might as well laugh! www.HereInAmerica.com / www.MySpace/fiatluxthewhale
