Label: 316 Productions Released: 2007 At their best, Seizure Crypt is a rehash of 80s New York hardcore, wavering between its earlier thin punk and later more metallic veins. Those high points are energetic, aggressive songs with the typical trappings of the genre: unbridled speed alternating with slow churning grooves, metallic riffs, growls, infectious anger. Both “The Deadend” and “Thankless”… Read more »
Label: Volcom Entertainment Released: May 22, 2007 If I were to write that Birds of Avalon mix grandiose prog, upbeat power pop and riffy psych and leave it at that, most people would scratch their heads and just assume that Bazaar Bazaar was an erratic affair that couldn’t possibly find itself. That assumption seems like a good one, but it’s… Read more »
Label: Frog Stand Records Released: September 4, 2007 Clare and the Reasons find their inspiration somewhere between the old pop standards of the 40s and 50s and a vaudeville show, but their music is only partially a revival because they bring their modern selves into the mix. It’s clearly intended to have a retro feel, yet all the years of… Read more »
Label: Daykamp Records Released: December 4, 2007 While hard rock is probably one the easiest genres to play, it is probably one of the hardest at which to succeed. It’s has been played by so many for so long that it’s really hard to be a standout. Sure, the old hard rock regulars will flock to anything that reminds them… Read more »
After writing that Blackmore’s Night review, I had to post something as a reminder that Richie Blackmore wasn’t always pathetic. I guess knowing that he once did some great stuff makes his sad attempt at bring the renaissance to rock even worse. Label: Polydor Released: 1976 Any disappointment that Deep Purple fans must have felt when Richie Blackmore departed in… Read more »
Label: Alive Natural Sound Records Released: 2006 Formed out of the ashes their previous band, Thee Shams, which was limited to some extent by its love of the Stones, the Gabbard brothers find a much more expansive, heavier sound with Buffalo Killers. They dip generously into the heavy psychedelia of Cream and Hendrix and alternate that with a dose of… Read more »
Label: CD Baby Released: January 8, 2008 The first thing you notice about Glenna Bell’s music is her voice. It can be delicate and bold, rich and breathy. She has this amazing vibrato that you can feel as much as hear. It would make for great country music even if the songs were awful. But they’re not awful, they’re actually… Read more »
Label: Nice and Friendly Records Released: October 16, 2007 Those with a superficial appreciation of Chuck Dukowski’s old (and considerably more famous) band, Black Flag, will be rather shocked to hear his new material. However, anyone with a deeper understanding of Black Flag will see CD6 as a logical progression. Black Flag was, after all, essentially a psychedelic band. Not… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: December 18, 2007 Frankly, I expected the third volume of the Kissology to be the least essential. While the Revenge tour material was likely to be decent and the Unplugged reunion with Ace and Peter shouldn’t be missed, the rest followed them through their years of touring with the make-up back on and the stage… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: August 14, 2007 I’d be surprised if anyone expected the Kissology installments to get better as they progressed just because the band clearly peaked during the period covered by Vol 1. I didn’t find it odd that Vol 2 didn’t have the thrill of the first one, but I was surprised at what a step… Read more »