Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Legendary rockers Foo Fighters are back with their highly anticipated album, Wasting Light. The follow up to 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace finds the rock quartet still strictly adhering to their straightforward, clearcut brand of alternative rock that has garnered them so many fans over the years and has cemented their place as one of the top rock acts in music today and has also elevated Dave Grohl to the status as one of the preeminent frontmen in alternative rock today.

The disc kicks things off into high gear with "Bridge Burning" a loud, no holds barred track that takes off like a roller coaster with a barrage of hard edged guitar riffs and melodic undertones that keep the song going at a pretty good clip to the very end, with Dave's incredible vocals guiding the song along on a pretty smooth pattern. The disc's first single "Rope" is classic, vintage Foo with a strong melodic guitar pattern that blends in quite nicely with drummer Taylor Hawkins intricate drumming patterns that have become the Foo's trademark for so many years. My favorite track off the album is the classic era throwback track, "White Limo". The song has a distinct, 70's era classic rock tone to it that is so loud and gritty, you wonder where Dave's vocals got that immense power surge from. A track that takes no prisoners and one that shows off the Foo's immense talent and musicianship that they have worked so hard to cultivate through the years. "Arlandria" starts off with an intense, shooting guitar riff before teetering off into a mid-tempo, melodic groove that catches fire pretty quickly and shows off the depth and versatility of the band as well.

We get ready to start off the second half of the disc with "Back & Forth", a thumping, mid tempo arena rocker that sees Dave and the gang still adhering to their formula that sees them deliver a blistering rock tune that will be getting alot of plays on your stereo. The disc's latter half features some formidable tracks in the form of "Miss The Misery" a midtempo, melodic track that shows that the Foos can hit all angles in varying degrees of tempos, but yet still maintain that hard rock sensibility that makes them so unique and unlike all the other rock acts out there in the business today. "I Should Have Known" brings it down several notches with a mysterious, edgy tune that sees Dave's amazing vocals being presented in a different light and also shows the serious depth of their musical abilities which seems infinitely limitless at this point. "Walk" is the perfect track to close out the album with a melodic, reflective track that features Dave's pristine vocals and masterful guitar work once again working their magic on a track that brings everything together to create a dynamic and resourceful tune that brings together all the musical elements we've hard so far, and are mixed in together to present everything that the band can accomplish in one full swoop. When the Foo Fighters first came onto the scene in 1994, it was initially difficult for Dave to be taken seriously as a frontman as he was originally the drummer for Nirvana, and he also felt confined growing up in the shadows of legendary frontman Kurt Cobain and didn't even tell Kurt when he was still alive that he had written songs of his own that weren't going to be used for the band. After Kurt died, Dave felt that he was ready to prove to the music world that he was more than just a drummer, and was capable of crafting excellent arena ready alternative tracks that 15 years later, still stand the test of time and remains the Foo Fighters strongpoint that has made them one of the best alternative bands out there in the scene today.

Looking back, an excellent and well rounded effort from the Foo, who never cease to amaze their listening audience with a well constructed and dynamic effort that continues to build up the Foo's resume as one of the most consistent and successful rock bands of the last decade and a half. Highly recommended pick!

Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Bridge Burning
2. Rope
3. Dear Rosemary
4. White Limo
5. Arlandria
6. These Days
7. Back & Forth
8. A Matter of Time
9. Miss the Misery
10. I Should Have Known
11. Walk

Lollapalooza 2011 Lineup Announced!

Hey everyone!

With the summer concert season looming upon us, the lineup was revealed yesterday morning for the 2011 Lollapalooza Festival! This year's festival promises to be one to remember with a slew of superstar acts taking the stage for the 3 day festival. Some acts that have been confirmed to take part in this year's festival include the likes of Eminem, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Muse.

Other acts from a host of different genres will also be sharing the bill and that list includes: My Morning Jacket, Cee-Lo Green, Nas & Damien Marley, Two Door Cinema Club, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Girl Talk, Kid Cudi, The Cars, Bright Eyes, Arctic Monkeys, Deftones, Cold War Kids, Cage the Elephant, OK Go, Portugal the Man, Sleigh Bells, Manchester Orchestra, Young the Giant, and Foster The People. Judging from this years lineup, it has more indie acts than last year's festival which makes it look even more amazing on paper and promises to be one to remember, that's for sure! To check out the full roundup of this year's performers and to purchase tickets for this year's festival, head on over to Lollapalooza's official website at http://www.lollapalooza.com/

Artist Spotlight: U.S. Royalty

Hey everyone!

Check out this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have an up and coming band right out of the nation's capital, Washington D.C. called U.S. Royalty. The band consists of John Thornley on lead vocals, Paul Thornley on guitar, Jacob Michael on bass, and Luke Adams on drums. The band has an intense, vivacious melodic undertone to them that sets them apart distinctly from other acts out there in the scene. The band's sound contains elements of classic rock acts from the 70's such as Fleetwood Mac with its nostalgic electric guitars and anthemic sound exploding out of the speakers instantaneously upon first contact. I had the opportunity to catch these guys in concert a couple of months back at Brighton Music Hall performing with Broken Records, and they really developed a first impression upon me with John's amazing vocal abilities and the band's incredible musicianship that kept me focused on their performance the entire night with great fervor and anticipation. The great thing about going to shows is finding bands you've never heard of, especially an opening band that really leaves a lasting impression on you that you'll remember for quite some time. Some tracks for you to check out from these guys include "Equestrian" and "Monte Carlo".

To check out more music from U.S. Royalty, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/usroyalty The band also has a Facebook page for you to check out at http://www.facebook.com/usroyalty To check out the band's official website, cruise on over to http://www.usroyaltymusic.com 

Artist Profile: Incubus

Today's Artist Profile is on one of my favorite bands from my high school years, Incubus. Incubus were formed in 1991 in Calabasas, California. The band consists of Brandon Boyd on lead vocals, Mike Einzinger on lead guitar and backing vocals, Ben Kenney on bass and backing vocals, Chris Kilmore on turntables and keys, and Jose Pasillas II on drums. Brandon, Jose, and Mike began playing together way back in the 10th grade, and a school teacher of theirs happened to have some contacts within the music industry, and was able to have the band booked to a host of legendary LA area venues including The Roxy, The Troubadour, and The Whiskey all before they even graduated from high school. The teacher also arranged some studio time for the band, which eventually led to the band recording their debut album, Fungus Amongus in 1995. The band released their major label debut effort, the Enjoy Incubus EP in 1997. The  EP was mostly re-recordings of songs from Fungus Amongus that aimed to represent a recording effort for the band while they toured with Korn in Europe. Later that year, the band released their sophomore album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E. The album contained tracks such as "Summer (Anti-Gravity Love Song)" and "New Skin". The album performed particularly well saleswise, selling over 100,000 copies and led to the band touring with a virtual who's-who of the rock world at that time including the aforementioned Korn, 311, and Sublime. The band toured consistently through 1998, and took a break before starting work on their brand new album, Make Yourself in 1999. This would be the album that would catapult Incubus right into the mainstream with such classic tracks like "Pardon Me",  "Stellar", and my personal favorite Incubus song "Drive". The album wound up selling over 3 million copies and cemented Incubus reputation as one of the top acts in alternative rock today.

The band released their next effort, Morning View in 2001 and went on to achieve almost the same exact success as the one prior, achieving success with such singles like "Wish You Were Here", "Nice To Know You", "Warning", and 'Are You In?" The album went on to sell 3 million copies and continued to increase popularity for the band. After a lengthy tour to promote the album, the band took a break before settling down to begin work on their brand new album A Crow Left Of The Murder, released in 2004. The album had a decidedly darker, more political tone than their other albums which was a huge creative risk, but it paid off in dividends for the band, going platinum on the strength of such tracks like "Megalomaniac" "Talk Shows On Mute" and the disc's title track. The band wasted no time in releasing their next effort Light Grenades, which came out in 2006. The album became the band's first effort to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and gave way to such powerful Incubus songs such as "Anna Molly", "Dig", "Love Hurts", and "Oil and Water".  The band is due to release their brand new album If Now Now, When? on July 12 and the first single from that album, "Adolescents" is already in the Top 10 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart. Incubus have always been that band that have stuck to their original sound all of these years, but have thrown in little snippets of experimental sounds that haven't deviated whatsoever from their original musical course. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Incubus and the path to which they are headed.

BREAKING NEWS!! TV On The Radio Bassist Gerard Smith Dies of Lung Cancer

Some sad news coming in from the music world today. It was announced today that Gerard Smith, bassist for experimental rock group TV On The Radio, died yesterday after a battle with lung cancer, he was 34 years old. The band announced last month that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, and he would not be able to take part in their upcoming concert tour to promote their latest album, Nine Types of Light, which was just released a couple of weeks ago.

Gerard had been a member of TV On The Radio since 2005, and made his debut with the band on their critically acclaimed effort, 2006's Return To Cookie Mountain. He also appeared on their last studio effort, 2008's Dear Science, which the band spent almost a year promoting with a heavy touring regimen. The band announced in 2009 that they were taking a brief hiatus to decompress from the excessive touring, and would reconvene in the studio next year to begin work on the new disc. The band has announced that they have cancelled all planned tour dates for the rest of the month, and will keep their fans updated on those cancelled dates via their official website. Please leave your comments on this story directly below.

The Self Proclaimed Rockstars - Postcards From Purgatory

Fresh out of Wakefield, MA The Self Proclaimed Rockstars are back with a vengeance with their brand new studio effort, Postcards From Purgatory. The follow up to their 2008 debut This Is Rock finds the group sticking to its guns with a fun, loud, and eclectic mix of rock n' roll that is sure to get the crowd moving and grooving all night long.

The disc opens up with the fast moving "Suburban Kingpin" a loud, furious rock n' roll anthem that introduces the audience to the vocal stylings of John Malone, whose gritty and energetic vocals add a rich, alluring flavor to it that attracts the listener and reels them in. My favorite song off the disc is "Haymaker" a richly toned, midtempo rocker that takes a change of pace rather quickly, but also shows the bands amazing depth and versatility with rapturous melodies and John's vocals making you feel at ease right away. The disc picks right back up where it left off with the party starter anthem "Whisky" a fun, edgy track that features great guitar work from Mick Greenwood, who adds his expertise to an entertaining and enjoyable listen all throughout.

The disc's second half begins with "Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma" a mysterious, toned down affair that features groove laden guitar riffs layered upon John's stellar vocals that make the song stand out when you're listening to it through the speakers. "No Purple Hearts For Self Inflicted Wounds" features a varying degree of guitars infused with a bevy of melodic undertones that give the song a nice advantage over all the others. The disc rounds out with "A Cold Sleep" a quiet, relaxing number that sees John's indelible vocals going places where they haven't been before, and Mick even adds some of his vocal chops into the mix as well that shows off a side of the band we haven't seen before on this record. "Let's Get Naughty (Let's Get Nautical)" is a silly, all out track that sees the band cutting back and letting loose a little bit with an "anything goes" type of rocker that sees the bands' more comical side and also shows their versatility and well roundness as a band. I had the pleasure of seeing these fellows a couple of months ago at McGann's in Boston, and they put on quite a show there that was loud, fierce, energetic, and was a true representation of what their music both feels and sounds like on the record. Not too many bands are able to add the same on stage dynamic and immediately transfer it onto the studio album, but you can tell just from listening to their music that everyone in the band is having fun and just being themselves.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen from The Self Proclaimed Rockstars, who have crafted a well rounded effort here that is an accurate representation of who they are as musicians and what they are like as regular people.

                                                                                                                                   Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Suburban Kingpin
2. Haymaker
3. My Crazy
4. Whisky
5. No Faith
6. Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma
7. No Purple Hearts For Self-Inflicted Wounds
8. Fallout (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Purgatory)
9. A Cold Sleep
10. Let's Get Naughty (Let's Get Nautical)

For all you Boston area fans, don't forget to catch their album release show this Saturday, April 23 at The Middle East Downstairs! Tickets are $15 and you can purchase them at the door. The show is 18+ so don't miss this exciting evening for the band!

Artist Spotlight: The Demon Beat

Hey everyone!

Welcome to this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we're going to check out an emerging artist from Shepherdstown, WV called The Demon Beat. The band is made up of Adam Meisterhans on lead guitar and vocals, Jordan Hudkins on drums, and Tucker Riggleman on bass. The band has a raw, dynamic garage rock/blues influence that is a refreshing change of pace from all the other music currently out there today. The band's intense vocals takes no prisoners and its primary focus is to make the listener pay attention and take notice of what the band has to say in their music. I managed to catch their show at O'Brien's in Allston, MA a couple of weeks ago and I was thoroughly impressed with their musicianship and their innate ability to communicate effectively with the audience, sometimes a very arduous task for any band to undertake. The band's set was loud, fresh, and had the full attention of everyone in the audience who enjoyed the songs that they had played on stage. A wonderful up and coming artist with plenty of potential for success in the future. Some standout tracks from these guys for you to check out include "Bad Man", "I'll Be Your Man", and "Get Outta My Head".

To check out more music from The Demon Beat, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/thedemonbeat The band is also on Facebook, and you can like their page by going over to http://www.facebook.com/thedemonbeat The band's music is also available for download on their BandCamp site, and you can access those discs along with other artists from their Big Bullet Records brethren by going over to http://bigbulletrecords.bandcamp.com

Artist Profile: Green Day

Today's Artist Profile is on one of the first bands that I grew up listening to, Green Day. Green Day were formed back in 1987 in Berkeley, California. The band consists of Billie Joe Armstrong on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Dirnt on bass, and Tre Cool on drums. The band got their start amid the Bay Area, California punk explosion of the late 80's that saw a burgeoning amount of punk bands all clamoring for attention amid the many local venues in and around the California area. Back then, they were known as Sweet Children, and made their live debut on October 17, 1987 at Rod's Hickory Pit in Vallejo, California. The band quickly grew through the punk scene and released their debut EP 1,000 Hours in 1989. The band adopted the name Green Day due to their like of marijuana, and the band immediately went to work on their debut album 39/Smooth in 1990 on Lookout! Records. Tre Cool officially joined the band in 1990, replacing original drummer Al Sobrante who left the band to attend college. The band embarked on a series of tour dates and released their second album Kerplunk 1n 1992. The album was a immediate success, selling a total of 50,000 copies which was a huge number for an album released on an independent label.

The band was courted by a series of major record labels, and eventually signed to Reprise Records and released their major label debut Dookie in 1994. This album immediately catapulted Green Day to mainstream success. The album contained massively successful tracks like "When I Come Around", "Longview", "Welcome to Paradise", "Basket Case", and "She". The album has sold over 16 million copies worldwide and is considered by many to be a landmark album in the alternative music scene. The band embarked on a massive worldwide tour, culminating with their most famous performance at Woodstock '94 which started with fans throwing mud on stage and the band members throwing it back at them. The band released their follow up album Insomniac in 1996. The album wasn't as successful as its predecessor, but it did give way to such hits like "Brain Stew", "Geek Stink Breath", and "Walking Contradiction". The band took a brief hiatus, but quickly reconvened to work on their follow up album, 1997's Nimrod. The album gave way to one of their most popular tracks "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", which was played at a host of proms, graduations, and even on the final episode of Seinfeld. Other songs from the album included "Redundant", and "Nice Guys Finish Last". The band took some time off to regroup, and returned three years later with Warning, which gave way to such memorable hits like "Minority", "Warning", and "Waiting".

The band took a long hiatus after that, making a massive comeback in 2004 with the concept album American Idiot. The album was a massive success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 14 million copies worldwide and producing such blistering tracks like "American Idiot", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams, "Holiday", and "Wake Me Up When September Ends". This album reinvigorated their careers and connected the band with a younger generation of fans who weren't even born yet when Green Day released their debut album, and earned them 2 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Record of the Year. The band embarked on a massive worldwide tour and even created a hit Broadway musical based on the album that has been nominated for 2 Tony Awards. The band returned 5 years later with another concept opus, 21st Century Breakdown. The album produced hits like "Know Your Enemy" and "21 Guns". This band has been the sole influence of me getting into music in the first place, I remember I was 9 when Dookie first came out and I remember listening to that album inside and out and watching their videos whenever they came on MTV. If Green Day never existed, I probably would've never gotten into music in the first place and I probably wouldn't be doing this blog either.

Adele - 21

Coming out of the Tottenham section of North London, England Adele is back with her highly anticipated sophomore effort, 21. The follow up to 2008's spectacular 19 finds the British crooner continuing to wow the crowd with her spectacular vocal chops and diverse, rhythmic instrumentation spread all throughout the album that stands as one of the best albums of the year so far and definitely the best of her career so far.

The album comes charging out of the gate with the ferocious first single, "Rolling In The Deep" a breathtaking, spectacular track that shows off Adele's vocal prowess in grand fashion and one that keeps you entertained a great deal all throughout as well. "Rumour Has It" starts off with a rhythmic drum pattern, and a cooing vocal chorus heard distinctly in the background later kicks in that also mixes in beautifully with Adele's stellar vocals. "Don't You Remember" continues the album's upward momentum with an acoustic based ballad that shows Adele pouring her heart and soul out on a pure and consistent track inside and out. "Set Fire To The Rain" is a piano styled tune with a fragrant melodic undertone that gives the song that extra kick to make it stand out among all the rest of the pack.

The disc's second half starts off with "Take It All", a piano fueled ballad that is elegantly guided along by Adele's crisp vocal power giving the song allure and substance that carries it right until the very end. "One and Only" is a passionate, heartfelt ballad that is the perfect song if you're thinking about a special someone or just a person that you can't get out of your mind. "Lovesong" is a calm, soothing acoustic styled track that makes you feel right at ease with Adele's passionate voice hitting you immediately after it comes out of the speakers. My personal favorite song off the album is the disc's closing track, "Someone Like You" a track that best encapsulates the wide spectrum of emotions felt on the album, mostly revolving around deep, passionate love and how it makes you feel inside. It's not very often you come across an album that makes a particular emotion stand out so poignantly and so vividly that you can feel it deep inside your bones as you're listening to it. This is the album that did it for me with Adele's passionate and captivating vocal presence greatly enhancing the impact of those emotions and making the album one that I'll have on repeat for quite some time to come.

In retrospect, a stunning and remarkable second effort here from Adele, who has made her case known as one of the top young vocal talents out there in the business today. A fantastic album from start to finish and one that should definitely be treasured for what it is, an exquisite masterpiece. Buy this album now, highly recommended!

                                                                                                                                    Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Rolling In The Deep
2. Rumour Has It
3. Turning Tables
4. Don't You Remember
5. Set Fire To The Rain
6. He Won't Go
7. Take It All
8. I'll Be Waiting
9. One and Only
10. Lovesong
11. Someone Like You

BREAKING NEWS!! RX Bandits To Disband After Summer Tour!!

This news just coming in over the wire... RX Bandits dropped a major bombshell on their fanbase today when they announced that they would disband right after their summer tour. The band made the announcement via their official website and Sargent House's website, their current record label. Here is the message that they left for their fans:

"Dear Friends,

We would like to express our love and appreciation for all that you've done for us and how much a part of our growth you have been. We have all mutually decided that this summer will be our last tour. We love each other and love you and hope to see you at the shows."

Much love & respect,

RX Bandits

RX Bandits released their most recent album Mandala in 2009. The band were signed to Drive Thru Records for their first three studio releases before signing with MDB/Sargent House Records in 2006 for their effort, ...And The Battle Begun. I'm so happy that I finally got to see them in concert last March at the old Harper's Ferry in Allston, MA after wanting to see them for so long. Matt Embree has always been one of my musical heroes, so it'll be very sad to see these guys go their separate ways. Feel free to leave your comments to this post directly below!

Artist Spotlight: Zech's Marquise

Hey everyone!

Time to check out this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we're centered on a prog rock group emanating from El Paso, Texas named Zech's Marquise. The band consists of Marcos Smith on guitar, Matthew Wilkinson on guitar, Manfred Rodriguez-Lopez on bass, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez on drums, and Rikardo Rodriguez-Lopez on keyboards. The band plays an eerie, delicate blend of prog-rock very similar to the likes of The Mars Volta. And if you're probably wondering, Manfred, Marcel, and Ricardo are brothers of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta, and Marcel also plays in Omar's side project, The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group. One thing you might notice about the group is that there are no vocals whatsoever, just instrumental solos that shows each members' contribution to the group and how they each devote time, energy, and space to every composition that they make. It appears that success runs through the bloodline of each of the members of the Rodriguez-Lopez family, as each of the brothers contribute a great deal to their music and are extremely talented gentlemen with bright futures ahead of them. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys twice in concert, once last year with RX Bandits and I Am The Avalanche at the old Harper's Ferry in Boston and just last month at The Middle East Downstairs along with the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group. While watching them perform, I noticed that the band had alot of The Mars Volta's striking influence embedded within them and I honestly didn't know until afterwards that Marcel was Omar's brother, and then it started to become more clear to me where they got their influence from. Some of my favorite tracks from these guys include "Sirenum Scopuli" and "Rotten Candy".

For more info on Zech's Marquise, go over to their official website at http://www.zechsmarquise.com/ To check out the music of Zech's Marquise, head on over to their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/zechsmarquiseofficial  and you can also follow the band on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/zechsband 

Artist Profile: Foo Fighters

Today's Artist Profile is on none other than the Foo Fighters! The Foo Fighters were formed in 1994 out of the ashes of Nirvana shortly after Kurt Cobain's death. Dave Grohl had written Foo Fighters songs when he was still a member of Nirvana, but he felt that the songs didn't exactly fit the style of music that Nirvana were accustomed to playing, so he kept the project a secret from Kurt and the rest of the band. Dave  recruited a handful of musicians to round out the band including Pat Smear on lead guitar and rhythm guitar, Nate Mendel on bass, William Goldsmith on drums, and Franz Stahl on lead guitar and backing vocals. The band released their self titled debut album in 1995, giving way to some classic Foo tracks including "This Is A Call", "I'll Stick Around", and "Big Me". The band toured shortly after that, then entered the studio to begin work on their follow up album, The Colour and The Shape. It was around this time that Goldsmith left the band and Dave recruited a brand new drummer Taylor Hawkins, who is still with the band today. The Colour and The Shape went on to become the Foo Fighters most well known and successful album, going platinum on the strength of songs such as "Monkey Wrench", "My Hero" my personal favorite "Everlong", and "Walking After You".

In 1998, there was another lineup change as Franz Stahl was fired from the band, making way for guitarist Chris Shiflett, who is still a part of the group today. The band released their new effort There Is Nothing Left To Lose a year later, giving way to such memorable tracks like "Breakout", "Learn to Fly" and "Next Year".  The album was also the first of three Foo Fighters discs to receive a Grammy award for Best Rock Album. The band then embarked on a lengthy touring schedule after that and took some time off before releasing their next effort, One By One in 2002. The album contained tracks to the tune of "All My Life", "Times Like These" and "Low". The band took some time off before settling down on their next effort In Your Honor in 2005. The album contained gargantuan tracks like "Best of You", "DOA", and "No Way Back". The band wasted no time releasing their next effort Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace in 2007. The album contains the track that spent a whopping 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart, "The Pretender", "Let It Die", and "Long Road To Ruin". The band is expected to release their latest album, Wasting Light tomorrow and the first single from that album, "Rope" is already at #1 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart after just three weeks of radio airplay. Foo Fighters have always been that band that I've enjoyed each and every time and one that has always put out a consistent record time and time again, and a group who also put no filler on their records whatsoever. They always make sure that each track is loud, rocking, fresh, and one that you'll never get tired of.

Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Fresh out of Omaha, Nebraska Bright Eyes are back with their first studio effort in 4 years, The People's Key. The follow up to 2007's Cassadaga finds the indie folk band continuing to bring their unique blend of folk rock to their open minded and devoted audience who have followed Conor Oberst and Co. over the years and have seen him develop into a seasoned folk veteran, and this album furthers his musical progression that has been prominently displayed on his last few studio albums.

The album kicks off with "Firewall" a standard issue, powerful folk ballad that gives the listener a glimpse into the sounds of Conor Oberst, whose gritty yet powerful vocals add a resourceful dynamic to each and every Bright Eyes song and one that has become their hallmark and their most identifiable characteristic. "Shell Games" adds a hint of piano into the mix and even some synthesizers sneak their way into the mix which seem to come out of nowhere, but it's a welcome surprise for the listener who can appreciate the musical risks that Conor and the band have undertaken on this particular track. "Approximate Sunset" is a melancholy, dreary track that features simple folk melodies layered over Conor's poignant and prominent vocals that stand out amidst all the flurry from the scattered instrumentation strewn about throughout the track.

The disc's second half starts off with my favorite track off the disc "A Machine Spiritual (In The People's Key)" a pleasant, optimistic sounding track that features vivacious acoustic guitars and Conor's vocals once again doing their job beautifully on this one. "Beginner's Mind" is a reflective, introspective number that features simple acoustic guitar arrangements and Conor's vocals echoing prominently at various points throughout the song. "Ladder Song" is a piano laden track that dims the lights low a bit and lets Conor's vocals stand front and center and it also shows what a talented musician and person he is inside and out. The album's final track "One For You, One For Me" is a more melodic, defined track that is also a culmination of all the different sounds that we've heard so far and how that distinct diversity has blended together to create something that works together pretty well. Folk music today is undergoing a sort of renaissance with acts like The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons enjoying increased exposure, especially from the mainstream media. Bright Eyes can also be added to that group of musicians who are all helping to add a more organic component to music that is noticeably absent and sorely needed today, something that can offer up some escape from the doldrums of our everyday lives.

Looking back, a solid and well thought out effort from Bright Eyes, who have continued to advance musically on each and every album they make and have blended together different influences while still maintaining that folk sensibility that has defined who they are since they began their careers.

                                                                                                                                  Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Firewall
2. Shell Games
3. Jujune Stars
4. Approximate Sunlight
5. Haile Selassie
6. A Machine Spiritual (In The People's Key)
7. Triple Spiral
8. Beginner's Mind
9. Ladder Song
10. One For You, One For Me

Artist Spotlight: Mike DeBenedictis & Environs Album Review!

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and time to check out this week's Artist Spotlight featured artist! This week, we have an up and coming singer-songwriter hailing from Bourne, MA named Mike DeBenedictis. Mike DeBenedicitis is a very unique and rare talent who uses his home grown talent to create a sound that is organic and earthy. When hearing his music, you get the feeling that you're watching Mike perform outside on your front porch on a cool summer night with the breeze flowing and the calming sounds of Mike's acoustic guitar to keep everything flowing. Upon first hearing this, I was very impressed with his uncanny ability to meld together the sounds of nature with his own music to give it that authentic, down home feeling that is very hard to come by these days. As we anticipate warmer weather coming our way very soon, his music will definitely make you long for that warmer weather even more with simple, concrete acoustic guitar arrangements and Mike's melodic, down home voice putting everything at ease.

To check out the music of Mike DeBenedicitis, head on over to his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/mikedebenedictis He also has a Facebook page where you can connect to him and you can go over to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-DeBenedictis-music/112119945531289 to access that site as well! I just took the time to listen to his debut album, Environs and you can check out my review of it right below:

Hailing from Bourne, MA Mike DeBenedictis has arrived on the scene with his debut solo album Environs. The mostly acoustic inspired album is littered with pure, unadulterated acoustic tunes that are the perfect companion for a cool summer night watching the stars.

The album opens up with "Brass Tacks" an earthy, delightful tune that features Mike's soothing vocals permeating the airspace in and around the song. If you listen closely, you can hear the sounds of crickets chirping in the background, making the song sound real and authentic. "Wayward Stay" is a short, straight to the point acoustic tune that blends in electric guitars to give the song a little balance and offer up something new for the listening audience. "The Machinist's Son" is a passionate, heartfelt ballad that sees Mike really letting his talents shine with his vocals adding emotional intensity to the track.

The album's second half continues to take shape with "Old Northern Roads" a fast paced, melodic acoustic track that switches tempos from the earlier tracks to provide some vivacity that makes the song feel refreshing and exciting. My favorite song off the album is "The Sight, The Sense" a calming, mid tempo acoustic number that shows off Mike's unique talents in one song that makes it short and sweet to get the point across to the listener. The final track "Union Pacific" is a simple, reflective number that allows Mike to relax and let it all roll out on a fantastic track. Mike is one of those rare talents that only comes around once in awhile where the performer has a communal bond with nature. Some of the songs have the sounds of crickets in the background and other natural sounds that give the songs a big, emotional facelift and add some character and depth to the tracks as well. A very exciting and pleasurable listen!

Overall, a great debut effort from Mike DeBenedictis, who has brought his own unique method of performing to a higher platform to give the curious listener an idea of what his music is like and what to expect to hear from him as the album takes its course.

                                                                                                                                    Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Brass Tacks
2. Pine Forests of the Northern Sun
3. Wayward Stay
4. The Machinist's Son
5. Instrumental
6. Old Northern Roads
7. Like A Virginian
8. The Sight, The Sense
9. Union Pacific
10. Reprise

Artist Profile: Eminem

Today's Artist profile is one of my favorite hip-hop artists out there today, Eminem. Born Marshall Mathers and raised in Detroit, Michigan Em was discovered by hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre, who immediately signed him to Aftermath Records upon first hearing his demo tape. Em released his debut album The Slim Shady LP in 1999, producing such hits as "My Name Is", "Guilty Conscience" (f/Dr. Dre) and "Role Model". Em didn't waste any time working on his second album, released a year later and titled The Marshall Mathers LP. The album went on to become his breakthrough effort and his most successful album. The album sold 1.7 million copies in its first week, the highest first week total of any male artist in history and a record that still stands to this day. Some classic Em tracks are found on this album, including "The Real Slim Shady", "The Way I Am", "Stan" (f/Dido), "I'm Back" and "Bitch Please II" (f/Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Nate Dogg) The album has sold over 10 million copies to date and is considered one of the landmark hip-hop albums in music history.

Em released his next effort The Eminem Show in 2002 and went on to become another commercial success, selling over 1.3 million copies in its first week and has sold 10 million copies to date. The album has a much more playful, reflective tone than his last album, and has such memorable tracks such as "Without Me", "Cleaning Out My Closet", "Superman", and "Sing For The Moment". Around this time, Em made a foray into movies, starring in the critically acclaimed film 8 Mile, which Em was able to make the song "Lose Yourself" for the film's soundtrack. The song was a massive success, spending a total of 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and earning Em a Academy Award for Best Original Song for the film. His next effort Encore followed in 2004, and had tracks like "Just Lose It", "Mosh", and the album's title track which also features Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. This album was not as successful as Em's prior releases, as his shtick of aiming at celebrities and other figures was starting to get old, but it sold close to 4 million copies anyway.

Em disappeared from the scene for a few years, and returned in 2009 with his long awaited studio effort Relapse. The album had memorable tracks including "Crack A Bottle" and "We Made You", but the album maintained the same lyrical jabs at celebrities as the previous effort did, providing much critical derision among critics and fans alike. Em released his latest effort Recovery just last year, producing such monster tracks like "Not Afraid", "Love The Way You Lie (f/Rihanna), and "No Love" (f/Lil' Wayne). The album was his most critically well received album in years and proved that he's well past the Slim Shady moniker that was part of his first few albums and has grown into a more confident, well rounded MC. When I first heard him, I was immediately impressed with his lyrical abilities and how he was able to weave intricate storylines within his tracks that were autobiographical in nature and made his music that much more real and authentic. I never really understood what all the controversy was about regarding Eminem with his lyrics considered to be by many as violent and homophobic, drawing protest from many domestic violence and gay rights groups. Em's lyrics were basically portraying a story and didn't necessarily represent his views on violence and homosexuality. Em still continues to amaze me everyday with his incredible lyrical abilities and real authenticity that is noticeably absent in hip-hop today.