Sparta – Threes (c) 2006 Hollywood RecordsHummm………..Sparta "Threes", I almost want to say they sound familiar or in some respect similar to music I like and listen to, from I guess you would say the 80’s. Then again I have to say they definitely have their own sound and that makes them catchy as does their subtle depressing edgy lyrics and sound. I like it! And recommend if you like letting your mind wonder, you give Sparta a chance.
Category: General
Bad Lieutenants
Bad Lieutenants – Every Time I Come Around (c) 2006 Teenage Heat RecordsWOW – I've heard a lot of bad things. This is the worst crap that I've heard. I'm a bit beside myself. Try to find something worse, I dare you. Part Tesco, part Danzig, All crap. Completely derivative. I realy tried to give it a chance. I almost want to listen to main stream after this. I'm dissapointed. Did you read my other reviews before you sent this? I dare you to come to town. ok the gauntlet has been thrown down. Rock, I dare you!–Jerry Actually
Plain White T’s
Plain White T's – Every Second Counts (c) 2006 Hollywood RecordsNot rotten. Not awesome. Somewhere in between. Plain White T's "Every Second Counts" is super mega pop, like a Sum41 or a Blink, or many of their labelmates. Normally I'd just write that off as totally crap, but I do afford myself some guilty pleasures. Despite the songs dripping with radio friendly ooze, some of them are pretty damn catchy. The best thing however, is that Plain White T's managed to get the shitty Aerosmith song that has been stuck in my head all morning to go away.
Godhead
Godhead – The Shadow Line (c) 2006 Cement Shoes RecordsMusic today is becoming so bad that I expect the return of butt rock hair bands in droves any day. Godhead has much of the charm of an Alice in Chains or a Candlebox. The songs are mostly three and a half minute radio rock marvels. Apparently the band is looking to "get to that next level" whatever that is. If you ask me this is built to sell. Because of the excellent financial backing, however, Godhead's new CD The Shadow Line does include a bonus DVD. They also sent me a cool looking sticker and I must give them props for that. I do love the schwag!-Jerry Actually
On The Last Day
On The Last Day – Meaning in the Static (c) 2006 Victory RecordsNot my cup of tea, yet again. On The Last Day is a screamo band from Seattle. Whomever is responsible for their one sheet is sadly mistaken when they refer to them as hardcore. They are about as hardcore as Tool. Every song sounds remarkably like the one preceeding it. Musically, On The Last Day, holds some promise. Their musicianship appears to be high quality, however, there is a serious lack in the creativity department. Beyond that I think perhaps if I hear one more band with the forced snarl/growling vocal sound (you know exactly what I'm talking about), I may have to lose my lunch.
Mute Math
Mute Math – S/T (c) 2006 Warner Bros.This new Sting album is ok I guess. Wait, I mean this new U2 album is well, U2. Wait, is this Oasis? I have no freakin idea where Mute Math is coming from, other than New Orleans. I feel bad for the city of New Orleans. I really do. Aside from all of the other current problems, it has apparently been taken over by musical looters too. The brand new self-titled CD from Mute Math offers 13 tracks and 1 intro of insipid blandia. Mute Math is so new rock radio (yet at the same time sublty adult contemporary) friendly it makes me want to pull the ears off my head and stomp on them. Eventually all of this will be new Muzak.-Jerry Actually
The Black Maria
The Black Maria – A Shared History of Tragedy (c) 2006 Victory RecordsThe Black Maria, slang for the police "paddywagon" of yore and the name of Thomas Edison's movie studio, offers up 11 tracks of alterna-emo-rock much in the same vein as other alterna-emo-rock. The musicianship is solid and the production is clean, but "A Shared History of Tragedy" sounds like a soundtrack to me. Be it movie or video game, this isn't something that I would listen to out of personal preference, but it has enough appeal that it could accentuate some tense scenes in a teen-angst drama or an open highway stretch in a race game. Overall grade: B- -Jerry Actually
The Bronx
The Bronx – The Bronx (II) (c)2006 Island Records / White Drugs Records I'll be damned. A major label band that ain't too bad. The Bronx, though not in fact from The Bronx, transmit a gritty and streetable urban appeal. The tracks for the most part are up tempo and clock in under 3 minutes with the exception of the rather haunting "Dirty Leaves" The Bronx appear to be part of the major resurgence of rock and roll in L.A. and in the country in general for that matter. With Zeppelin like vocal wailings and rocking out rhythms like a more articulate Mudhoney, they definitely have the rock thing going on. I'll be honest. It is the first thing in the morning and I've barely sucked down half my coffee, but the report thus far is that I like The Bronx. They have a sound that sounds like something that I remember that I like, but don't remember precisely what that is.
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin – Phobia (c) 2006 Hollywood RecordsTrack one: Shitty intro, Track two: The Diary of Jane. You have heard the rest of the album already, you just don't know it yet. Take most of the bands you have heard on modern rock garbage radio ( Stained, Creed, Fallout Boy, Pan Full! of Crisco) and just kind of smash them all together until a bastard child emerges. Here he is! Breaking Benjamin. While I found most of the cover art and photography pleasing to my eyes, I can't say so much for my poor little ears. NO! NO! Don't break a Benjamin. Don't event break a Washington. Krystal Tolle
Drive By
Drive By – I Hate Every Day Without You Kid… (c)2006 Riot Squad RecordsHere is some more music on the Emo tip. Not quite as bad as the crap that I usually hate. Drive By has a bit of an Alkaline Trio feel albeit with less punk rock and more emo-pop driving it. I guess the drive by that they are taking about is the one where you drive by the flower shop and pick up some flowers for a funeral or something. Don't get me wrong though, I listened to the whole CD a couple times and not once did I run away screaming or try to stab myself in the ears with a pen. The debut CD from Drive By is definitely music for the depressed, the ones that are looking for catharsis.