Label: Astralwerks Released: February 4, 2008 Chuck and I tried this once before with Out_Circuit’s Pierce the Empire with a Sound. It went well enough that we decided to take another shot at it with Hot Chip’s latest, Made in the Dark. Things definitely had a better flow this time and I was surprised at how well we fed off… Read more »
E (aka Mark Oliver Everett of the eels) sent this letter to the president: Mr. President, My name is Mark Oliver Everett. I am the singer in an American rock band called EELS You may recall using our album “Daisies of the Galaxy” as an example during your campaign for the presidency in 2000 The album was supposed to be… Read more »
Label: Lujo Records Released: November 6, 2007 If I tell you that a band reminds me of ELO in any way and you’re turned off, it’s understandable. When I say it this time though, don’t tune out, because you’ll miss something very cool. Here I go. Mouse Fire reminds me of ELO. Now let me allay your fears a bit…. Read more »
Label: self-released Released: 2007 Many bands take the Great Leap Forwards approach to modernization, taking an older sound and dragging it kicking and screaming through recent history into the present. Clams doesn’t take that road though. Their self-titled EP channels 70s hard rock without forcing anything unnatural to happen. Whether the rhythms are driving or more laid back, the riffs… Read more »
Check out the review of their 7″ over at FensePost.
Label: Smithsonian-Folkays Recordings Released: 2007 New Lost City Rambler Mike Seeger (half-brother of Pete) serves up 28 traditional songs, some with vocals, some without. These are old songs, songs that have been around awhile, songs that Seeger probably learned from old scratchy 78s. Seeger approaches these songs with love, appreciation and authenticity. Some of the guitars he used are as… Read more »
Label: Metal God Entertainment Released: January 8, 2008 At the time, Judas Priest’s Painkiller seemed like a breath of fresh air. Ram It Down was a decent album, but not enough to assure metalheads that Turbo was a mistake Priest wouldn’t make again. Painkiller, on the other hand, seemed like Priest had not only abandoned their pop metal ambitions, but… Read more »
Label: White Knuckle Records Released: 2007 England’s Voodoo Six prefaced First Hit for Free, due out on March 24th, with this three song EP of their modern hard rock. “Faith” is the teaser’s first and best track. It takes 70s hard rock and filters it through the 90s, largely influenced by Soundgarden’s more mainstream, metally albums. The song isn’t particularly… Read more »
From their press release: “Album” meaning: full length vinyl, CD and digital formats; and “everywhere” meaning: local mom and pop Indie retailers, corporate superstores, supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, the band’s own website and any other location that could get the record up and going this quickly (some places couldn’t move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they… Read more »
Label: Deep Elm Records Released: December 10, 2007 Ride Your Own Bike’s debut, Bad News from the Bar, gets off on the right foot with “We All Have Our Own Shoes,” whose strings slowly give way, but never completely, to a more traditional rock arrangement. After that, the creativity is pretty hit or miss though. For every clever or catchy… Read more »