We hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We relaxed all day and watched the snow fall. Now it’s time to get back into the review process. Here are another five reviews for your perusal.
Artist Name: The Paranoid Style
Album Name: Underworld U.S.A.
Label: Bar/None
Genre: Garage Punk/Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Underworld USA; 2. Dominoes in Drag; 3. Hawk Vs. Prez; 4. I Believe you Believe you can Fly; 5. Dedicated Glare; 6. Revision of Love
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: This is not your typical punk, more like indie rock with a rockabilly edge. We love the lead vocals, and the rocking accompaniment fits the lyrical content and the vibe of the music. The songs are short and sweet and lots of fun. This is definitely a band we can get behind and fully support – we can only imagine how much fun they must be in concert. The punk edge does come out on “I Believe You Believe You Can Fly” and “Revision of Love,” but the former still has that rockabilly vibe. We love every song. We just wish there were more songs on this amazing EP. Hopefully they will grace us with a longer album next time.
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one.
Artist Name: Ben Lorentzen
Album Name: Pains & Pleasures of Intimacy
Label: Nordic Records
Genre: Alternative Rock
Track Listing: 1. Crows on the Wire; 2. I Miss You; 3. I Know how to Protest War (but now to Make Peace); 4. Victor Hugo Daza; 5. Tie This Alone Away; 6. Dead man in the Closet; 7. Alabaster Jar; 8. Lay Down in the Dark
Publicist: Nordic Records/Painted Black
Review: Wow – Ben Lorentzen knows how to ROCK. With vocals akin to Bob Dylan, and a musical style that screams PROG ROCK, his well crafted lyrics and melody rise and swell like a rock opera. His words are timely, like they were snatched from the headlines. This is the kind of rock music you turn up loud in your headphones and just escape into the pictures and sound that Lorentzen creates. This is what you want to hear on album rock stations. We love this one from start to finish, and can’t wait for more. Really love the strings on the final two tracks – so classy!
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one – it truly rocks!
Artist Name: Hang Tight
Album Name: Grind
Label: Standby Records
Genre: Punk/Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. The Rents; 2. Forget About It; 3. Pretty in True Blue; 4. Digital Age; 5. Be Mine
Publicist: Earshot Media
Review: Wow – two awesome punk bands today. Hang Tight has a harder edge than The Paranoid Style, but they are both amazing. This is just plain fun, but with only five songs, it’s much too short for our taste! Seriously, we can’t wait to hear more, as this EP was a nice appetizer of the great things we are sure are to come. We love every song, especially “Digital Age.”
Recommendation: You can’t go wrong with this one – Get it now.
Artist Name: ClueBagger
Album Name: RetroMod
Label: GuardBird Records
Genre: AAA/Singer-songwriter
Track Listing: 1. The Power of a Dream; 2. Always; 3. No Hoper; 4. Key West (The Last Resort); 5. Say Goodbye to London; 6. Temptation of Eve; 7. Longing; 8. Head Over Heels; 9. Love not War; 10. Prisoner of the American Dream; 11. Too Hot to Handle; 12. Girl in Trouble
Publicist: Powderfinger Promotions
Review: Scott Key aka ClueBagger has a very unique sound, reminiscent of a nasally Jimmy Buffett, with an island vibe. It is a soundtrack for a good time, and would make a good background for a summer outdoor party, or to take your mind off the cold winter months. He incorporates some interesting musical sounds into songs that just plain make you smile. It is the kind of sound that is perfect for college radio more than AAA, but stranger things have happened on AAA. “No Hoper” does have a 60’s kind of groove, which might be perfect if you’re in an Austin Powers mood. Our favorite tracks are “Key West (The Last Resort),” “Say Goodbye to London,” “Temptation of Eve,” “Head Over Heels,” Too Hot to Handle” and “Girl in Trouble.”
Recommendation: This one is worth a chance.
Artist Name: John McLaughlin
Album Name: Live @ Ronnie Scott’s
Label: Abstract Logix/Mediastarz
Genre: Jazz
Track Listing: 1. Meeting of the Spirits; 2. Miles Beyond; 3. Gaza City; 4. Here Comes the Jiis; 5. New Blues Old Bruise; 6. El Hombre que Sabia; 7. Sanctuary; 8. Vital Transformation; 9. Echoes of Then
Publicist: MAD Ink PR
Review: This amazing live set combines the wizardry of John McLaughlin with his band, the 4th Dimension, and totally reminds us of why we love live music. CDs are great, but nothing beats those same songs in a concert atmosphere. Back in the day when we were active in the San Diego jazz scene, this is the type of music we loved. It is the perfect opportunity for audiophiles to discover the joy of live music, and to see why jazz continues to be one of the most popular genres of music. This album also shows off the growth and longevity of McLaughlin and his music. We would seriously have loved to be a part of the audience at the taping. This album is the gold standard for live albums. This one truly is a “Meeting of the Spirits.”
Recommendation: This one is a must-have. Get it today!