BREAKING NEWS!! Davy Jones Has Died!

Some sad news just coming in this afternoon. Davy Jones, lead singer of the 1960's band The Monkees has died of a heart attack at age 66. The Monkees were formed in 1966 as the basis for a TV show of the same name that was broadcast on NBC from 1966-1968. The theme song for the show became one of their most well known hits including "I'm A Believer" and "Daydream Believer", both of which went to #1 on the Hot 100 chart. They were seen as a manufactured alternative to The Beatles, but their music was a relaxing and escapist departure from the late 60's hippie and Vietnam War era that consumed much of the nation around that time.

Flashback Review: Thrice - The Illusion of Safety

For today's flashback review, we take a look back at the sophomore album from the recently disbanded hardcore band Thrice. Their second effort was a perfect mix of hardcore and punk rhythms and was a glimpse into a band that was just starting to find themselves as musicians, and quickly became one of my favorite groups to this day.

The disc starts off with "Kill Me Quickly", a melodic mixture of hardcore and punk that shows off the still developing lead vocals of Dustin Kensrue, who adds a great deal of emotion and intensity to every single Thrice song that you can feel like if you were experiencing it right as they were recording it in the studio. "A Subtle Dagger" is a fast-moving, punk barrage that clocks in at just under 2 minutes that is an awesome and gritty punk breakdown that is no holds barred and takes no punches right from the get-go, a truly remarkable track from start to finish. My favorite song from this album is "See You in the Shadows", an incredible balance of hardcore and punk influences that is a perfect example of a band willing to merge two genres and feels the urge to go the extra mile to make an impression on its listeners, a masterful track from beginning to end. "Deadbolt" is probably one of the most well known tracks in Thrice's catalog, and was heavily requested at most of their past concerts, a mid-tempo rocker that provides for a certain amount of diversity on this album.  "In Years to Come" features Dustin's amazing and melodic vocal power pouring through every crevice of the song with remarkable precision that it leaves no holes to fill whatsoever.

The disc's second half gets underway with "A Living Dance Upon Dead Minds", a song that takes a slight detour from the intense melodic hardcore, but still maintains a strong musical ethos that permeates the entire track. "Where Idols Once Stood" starts off with an amazing and gritty drum solo courtesy of drummer Riley Breckenridge that fills the entire track with a certain heartbeat that powers all the instruments together and they work in conjunction with one another to create a gritty and powerful hardcore anthem. The disc gets ready to close out in the waning tracks with "To Awake and Avenge The Dead", a diverse, musically technical track that gets down right into the center of melodic hardcore with a song that pulls in every ounce of strength from the kinship of all the band members to create a sonic ear blast that is unlike anything ever heard before. The energy is brought down a notch on "So Strange I Remember You", but the song still packs a melodic punch and still retains the emotional intensity of the prior tracks. "The Beltsville Crucible" closes it all out with a mid-tempo sonic boom that reflects on the album as a whole and all the musical wonders that we've encountered along the way. Thrice have always been one of my favorite bands because they weren't afraid to experiment with different sound and genres, especially hardcore and punk and are probably some of the most musically skilled musicians I've ever heard. All musicians interpret songs different ways and have a different skill set that they obtained from their education, but Thrice always have and always will be the masters of music technicality.

All in all, a master work from Thrice, from their debut Identity Crisis to their final studio effort as a band, Major/Minor are a band that are experts in the craft and will always be looked at as pioneers within their respective genre.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 5/5

Track Listing:

1. Kill Me Quickly
2. A Subtle Dagger
3. See You in the Shallows
4. Betrayal Is A Symptom
5. Deadbolt
6. In Years To Come
7. The Red Death
8. A Living Dance Upon Dead Minds
9. Where Idols Once Stood
10. Trust
11. To Awake and Avenge the Dead
12. So Strange I Remember You
13. The Beltsville Crucible

Kingston 530 Named Semi-Finalist in WBRU's "Rock Hunt"!

Hey everyone!

Boston-based band Kingston 530 has been named a semi-finalist in WBRU's annual "Rock Hunt" competition! The band is among a group of 12 other bands competing over the course of 2 weekends from March 2nd & 3rd and March 9th & 10th. All shows will start at 9pm and there is a $5 cover charge to get in. All of these shows will be held at different venues in the Rhode Island area, so head on over to WBRU's Rock Hunt page to find out more info on the bands and where they'll be playing at:

http://www.wbru.com/2012/01/16/register-now-for-rock-hunt-2012/

Artist Spotlight: Troy Cartwright

Hey everyone!

Time to check out an all-new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we're going a little bit country with the amazing sounds of Troy Cartwright. Troy is originally from Dallas, Texas but resides right here in the Boston area, and his music is reminiscent of the type of music that is popular from his home state: pure unadulterated country music with a calm, mellow sound that can be easily enjoyed by listeners of music from all genres, regardless if you like country music or not. I must admit that I'm not an avid country music fan, but there is something to be appreciated by Troy and the way he approaches his music and how he conducts himself as he performs. You can clearly tell from listening to him how dedicated he his to his craft and his voice has a smooth, mellow finish to it that allows each and every song to float along at ease without much difficulty at all. Troy is an amazing and talented individual that is definitely primed to have a long lasting career. A good starting point for people looking to get into country music, but don't know where to start. Some quality tracks for you to have at a listen at include "Sweet Suzanne" and "Tiny Little Terrors".

For more information in Troy Cartwright, head on over to his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/troycartwrightmusic You can follow Troy on Twitter as well to get all the latest news on him, including tour dates at www.twitter.com/troycartwright His official website links directly to BandCamp where you can download his songs as well at www.troycartwright.com

WFNX Nominated For 2011 Radio Station of the Year!

Hey everyone!

Boston alternative rock station WFNX has been nominated for 2011 Radio Station of the Year by www.allaccess.com/ WFNX was the only alternative rock station in the country to be nominated for this award, so to vote for them head on over to www.allaccess.com/wwrs/vote You need to be a registered member of the site to vote for this award, so if you're a member of the music community, register at www.allaccess.com/register and vote for WFNX for Radio Station of the Year, they deserve it!

Flashback Review: Coheed and Cambria - The Second Stage Turbine Blade

It's been 10 years since the release of Coheed and Cambria's debut album "Second Stage Turbine Blade", and today we're going to take a look back at that album with a first in a series of Flashback Reviews that I'll be conducting throughout the year on the seminal anniversaries of some of my favorite albums that have helped shape my musical tastes up to this point. Released in 2002, this album formally introduced the prog-rockers and a sound that most people weren't too familiar with. The band made their sound instantly accessible to their demographic and instantly created one of the best debut albums by a prog-rock act in recent memory.

The album kicks off with the mellow and laid-back "Time Consumer", my favorite song off the disc that formally introduces frontman Claudio Sanchez and the clear, crisp guitar riffs hitting at you instantly and providing instant joy and gratification that can't be duplicated anywhere else. "Devil in Jersey City" is an anthemic, fierce rocker that charges out of the gates immediately and doesn't let up until the very end with its loud and insanely melodic guitar riffs that you will grow to love almost immediately. "Delirium Trigger" is a mid-tempo rocker that brings down the energy a wee bit and squarely focuses on the budding musical dynamic between everyone in the whole band that enables them to create a peaceful and unifying track.

We're in the disc's second half already and we come across "Hearshot Kid Disaster", another mid-tempo and glorifying rocker that has no frills attached and solely relies on the power of the guitar riffs and Claudio's dynamic vocals to allow the song to truck through at ease. "Junesong Provision" has hints of heavy-metal mixed in with the primary prog-rock elements to create a unique dual combination that provides a best of both worlds and enables the band to experiment with different genres while still retaining their original band dynamic. We get ready to close out the disc with "Neverender", a terrific, melody heavy tune that you wish could never end with it's indelible rhythms and Claudio's vocals making you feel at ease amidst the high charged guitar riffs gallivanting towards you. The disc closes out with "God Send Conspirator", a low-key, mellow tune that allows us to the look back on the album as a whole and pick up on all the sounds we've uncovered so far from high-charged anthems to low-key, mellowed out tunes. The album covers the whole nine yards and introduces us to a band that has helped get youth to experience prog-rock for the first time and opens them up to other similar artists within that genre including The Mars Volta. A terrific debut album from one of the most dynamic bands out there today.

All in all, a wonderful and captivating effort from Coheed and Cambria, who have introduced the progressive rock genre to an audience that wouldn't have found out about it any other way. A instant classic and highly recommended!

                                                                                                                           Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Second Stage Turbine Blade
2. Time Consumer
3. Devil in Jersey City
4. Everything Evil
5. Delirium Trigger
6. Hearshot Kid Disaster
7. 33
8. Junesong Provision
9. Neverender
10. God Send Conspirator

Artist Spotlight: Columbus

Hey everyone!

Time to get back into the swing of things with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight. This week, we're continuing our exploration of undiscovered talent in the Boston area with the local band called Columbus. The band consists of Princess Mason on lead vocals, Ian Barnett on drums, Aaron Liao on bass, Ben Allerman on keys, Bobby Wesley on guitar, Leon Cotter on tenor sax, Toby Forman on alto sax, and Jared Baca rounding everything out on trumpet. The band has a throwback, 70's era R&B/soul/funk hybrid that is insanely catchy, melodic, and grabs a hold of you instantaneously. Princess has incredibly rich and soulful vocals that really excite and make you want to pay attention to all of the kinetic energy that they have in store for you. I was able to catch these guys in concert a couple of weeks ago as they were opening for The Fates (another Artist Spotlight alumni) and was absolutely enthralled with every facet of their live performance from their stage presence, audience reaction, and most importantly their music. There wasn't a single song that didn't resonate with me and had my full undivided attention from the beginning of their set right until the very end. Some highly recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "Lemons" and "Shake".

For more information on Columbus, head on over to their Facebook page and 'Like' it at www.facebook.com/columbusfunk You can also follow the band on Twitter over at www.twitter.com/columbusfunk ReverbNation also has some of their music at www.reverbnation.com/columbusfunk

Help Advocate Record Their Full Length Debut Album!

Hey everyone!

Florida based hardcore band Advocate need your help in recording their full length debut album! The band will be traveling to Chicago on March 10th to record the effort, and the band are using a brand new service called Kickstarter to help raise the funds needed to record the album. The band are aiming towards a fundraising goal of $1,000, and your pledges will aim at making their dreams of recording this album a reality! The minimum for all pledges is $1, but it's encouraged to donate whatever you can to fund this project. There are different donation levels where you'll receive different rewards, for example I donated at the $15 level where I'll receive a digital copy of the new album, plus guitar tabs for all of Advocate's songs, a vinyl sticker and your name being mentioned in a video update directly from the studio, plus a personalized thank you e-mail from the band. The deadline to reach the fundraising goal is March 9th, so get your donations in as soon as you can!

To donate to Advocate's Kickstarter campaign, head on over to the donation page at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/advocateband/advocate-album-launch?ref=users

Interview w/ City of Squares

Hey everyone!

Continuing on with our series of interviews with musicians who've had prior coverage here as an Artist Spotlight featured artist. This week, I present to you an artist right out of Boston called City of Squares. These guys were featured here on the blog this past September and have been playing at venues in the Boston area such as The Middle East Upstairs and Copperfield's, and have slowly been making their way through the reins of the local music scene and have been gaining more notice and traction as of recently as well! I just had the pleasure of interviewing frontwoman Jenna Paone and we touched up on the band's beginnings and their experiences of playing in the Boston area. Here is the transcript from that interview:

- Give me your names and what you do in the band?

   Jenna Paone- Vocals/Keys

   Jon Francis- Drums

   Bill Ferri- Bass

- How did you come up with the name "City of Squares" for your band?

City of Squares is a very obscure name for Cambridge, MA (because of Harvard Square, Central Square, Porter Square, etc.) We originally used it as the name of a song, but we were looking for a new band name at the time and this is the only name that everyone could agree on. Since we had our first show in Cambridge, it seemed fitting.

- How did you guys all meet to ultimately form the band?

Jon and I met in a music production class that Jon was teaching, and I finagled him into agreeing to record my solo demo. Jon ended up really responding to my music, and brought longtime friend Bill Ferri on board to collaborate on the project. The solo work eventually evolved into a group effort, and over the years, the music has taken on a whole new sound.

- What popular artists would you compare your music to?

We write high-energy rock-pop tunes, and would describe our sound as Maroon 5 meets Fiona Apple, with a little Coldplay thrown in. We place a great emphasis on writing catchy melodies without sacrificing musical complexity, and do our best to write everything from fun dance tunes to more contemplative pieces.

- What have your experiences been like getting the band started in the Boston area?

The great thing that we've experienced in Boston is finding people who really respond to our music. We've gotten some awesome positive feedback and have picked up new fans at every show we've played. Also, as the music community is on the small-side, it's a tight knit group and we've been lucky enough to have worked with some fantastic and supportive bands, producers, etc. On the other hand, live original music still seems to be an afterthought by a lot of club and bar owners in the area. It would be great to see the Boston original music scene expand into new venues beyond the most commonly known.

- What is it like performing in a live setting?

Playing a live show is like running on pure adrenaline. It's a complete rush and it's really amazing to be on stage in a loud, crowded bar and see the energy in the room change as you play. Whether you're making people dance or getting them to take a minute and listen closer, that relationship and interaction with the audience is something that drives all of us in the band to give 100% at ever performance. It's like having a very cool conversation with a roomful of people...that might involve some fist-pumping and chest bumping.

- What are some of your favorite songs to perform live?

It always seems like our favorite song is whatever on we happen to be working on at the moment, but really, we only release songs that we truly love and that we think other people will love, too. We're especially proud of the collection of songs that we've put together for our upcoming full length album release- they're cohesive, sophisticated, and lots of fun. We can't wait to hear what people think.

- What do you and the band hope to achieve in the near future?

Being rich and famous! Seriously, though, we do hope to achieve success through our music. We'd love to have a few more albums under our belts, be touring on a national and international level, and, making a living doing what we love.

- What do you and the band like to do in your spare time?

In addition to being a professional musician, I serve on the executive board of a non-profit called Boston GLOW. We do programming for girls and women in the Boston area and run an essay contest and scholarship program called The Ignite Change Essay Contest, which is aimed at helping girls in the Boston area achieve their educational goals. More information can be found at www.bostonglow.org In my free time, I love working out. I'm a classically trained dancer, so I take ballet and jazz classes, and I run, practice yoga, kickbox, and go to the gym. I'm a huge sports fan (especially when to comes to the Patriots) and a beach bum in the summer. I also love to cook, paint and have a blast going to museums, plays, ballets, and live music shows.

Jon is an outdoor enthusiast. He runs, rockclimbs, camps, skis, hikes...pretty much if you name an outdoor activity, he does it. He also devotes a lot of time to his work as a sound engineer and producer, as well as playing for several other bands. He's a Boston sports teams fanatic, too.

Bill is a huge movie buff and loves a good glass of wine. He has many leather bound books and his furniture is made of rich mahogany.

- Are you and the band planning to record any new material in the near future?

We are currently recording a full length album, which we hope to release in late spring/early summer, and also have plans to increase the frequency and range our our touring. We'll have lots of updates posted on Facebook and our website.

- Lastly, what is the one thing you hope fans take away from your music?

At the end of the day, our goal is to make music that people can love. We try to capture particular moments in our songs, and hopefully that will speak to our audience. Whether it's a song that might help someone through a difficult time in their lives or a song that's going to get someone excited for a fun night out, we want to write songs to define and amplify these moments.

Thanks once again to Jenna from City of Squares for being so generous with her time in conducting this interview! Keep an eye out for more interviews with Artist Spotlight featured artists in the coming weeks.

Dr. Dog - Be the Void

Coming out of West Grove, Pennsylvania psychedelic indie rockers Dr. Dog have returned with their all new studio effort, Be The Void. The follow up to 2010's "Shame, Shame" finds the group still sticking to their guns and what they know best, psychedelic enhanced indie rock rhythms brought upon a grander scale this time around.

The disc opens up with "Lonesome" a mellow, laid back tune that shows off the group's dynamic musical output. Lead singer duties are handled equally by bassist Toby Leaman and lead guitarist Scott McMicken, contributing a dual vocal harmony that shows the group's unity and togetherness as a group. "That Old Black Hole" is a more upbeat, high energy track that showcases the group's eclectic musical dynamic with an array of rhythms and fantastic guitar rhythms that will have you dancing a little bit all the way through. My favorite song off the disc is "How Long Must I Wait", a song that strikes a perfect balance and finds a way to incorporate low key, melodic rhythms and pairs them with honed in guitar riffs that make the song an outstanding track that best exemplifies the band's creative dynamic and how they make their music. "Get Away" is a mystical, beautiful track that features great vocal syncopation and fantastic guitar rhythms that make this song worthy of being repeated over and over on your iPod.

The album's second half opens with "Vampire" a rich, musically embodied track that features dense guitar licks and rich vocal patterns that show off the group's psychedelic roots that are represented in one way or another in their music. "Big Girl" is a high energy, melodic romp that showcases the group's musical persona in an entertaining way with rich, melodic hooks that reel you in upon first listen while still maintaining the group's indie rock aesthetic. "Over Here, Over There" is a pure folk based tune that features incredible acoustic guitar rhythms that show the group's raw and earthy folk roots that are spread all throughout the album intermittently at times. The disc heads into the night with "Warrior Man" a fuzzy, distorted track that shows the band isn't afraid to take chances with a terrific track that shows off the group's technical side. The disc closes out with "Turning The Century" a low key, folk influenced track that wraps the disc up perfectly and showcases the band's organic and dedicated playing style that is unlike any other band currently in the music scene today. One of the more interesting aspects of Dr. Dog is that each band member has a nickname, and usually that nickname is a descriptive adjective of the person, whether it be a physical characteristic or something about their overall everyday lives. For instance, one of their former members' nicknames was Andrew "Trial" Jones because he was a licensed attorney. This is a fun and goofy way for the band to amuse themselves and let them be more productive at the same time, allowing the members to have a laid back, mellow persona gives the band a more public identity within the music scene as well.

All in all, another great effort here from Dr. Dog, who continue to bring their organic blend of psychedelic influenced indie rock that is unlike anything currently out there in the music scene today and is a nice departure from all the other music that is being released today.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Lonesome
2. That Old Black Hole
3. These Days
4. How Long Must I Wait
5. Get Away
6. Do The Trick
7. Vampire
8. Heavy Light
9. Big Girl
10. Over Here, Over There
11. Warrior Man
12. Turning The Century

Bonnaroo 2012 Lineup Revealed!

Hey everyone!

It's time to get ready for Bonnaroo! The annual music and arts extravaganza is back for another go around with a lineup that will knock your socks off! The festival will be held from June 7-10 in Manchester, Tennessee and the lineup includes the following: Radiohead, Phish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, Bon Iver, The Avett Brothers, The Shins, Foster The People, Skrillex, Dispatch, Feist, The Roots, Alice Cooper, Ludacris, Ben Folds Five, Flogging Molly, Mac Miller, Umphrey's McGee, Young the Giant, Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, and many more acts that are way too much to fill here!

For ticket information and for a full list of this year's performers, visit the Bonnaroo festival's official website at www.bonnaroo.com Tickets for the show start at $234.50 while VIP packages for 2 will run close to $1400.00. There's also payment plans available plus rentals for RV's, tents, and information on other travel packages and hotels in the area.

Artist Spotlight: Canary

Hey everyone!

Kicking off Valentine's Day (or Singles Awareness Day if you're single) with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight. This week for you guys, we're presenting some local flavor in the form of a band named Canary. The group consists of Jackie Berkley on lead vocals, Dean Davis on drums, Alex Hartley on piano, Kyle Hovland on bass, and Amy Mantis on guitar. The band has an eclectic mixture of R&B and rock influences that have a raw, organic component to them that is unlike anything else currently in the music scene today. Jackie has loud and dynamic vocals that make you feel the passion running through each and every song the band creates, something that other acts try to duplicate but often times fail due to overachieving or not having enough charisma to get the words out correctly. This band has just the right amount of determination and musical enthusiasm that will carry them a long away in this highly competitive music business. An awesome local band that is destined to go places in the near future. Some great tracks to check out from these guys include "Sorry Johnny" and "White Boy Blues".

To check out more music from Canary, head on over to the band's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/canarytheband where you can get the band's latest schedule of shows around the Boston area. The band also has a Twitter feed where you can follow them at www.twitter.com/canarytheband The band's official website is www.canarytheband.com and the band also has an YouTube channel filled with video clips of past live performances at www.youtube.com/canarytheband Speaking of which, the band will be performing at The Loft at Tommy Doyle's in Harvard Square this coming Thursday at 9:00PM. If you sign up for the mailing list there, you also receive a free burger courtesy of B. Good. Enjoy a free burger while doing your part in supporting local music!

UPDATE: Whitney Houston Died Of Prescription Overdose!

An update on the death of Whitney Houston. According to TMZ, Whitney's family has been told by the LA County Coroner that she died of an overdose of Xanax mixed in with other prescription drugs and alcohol, not drowning as what was initially believed. There was not enough water in her lungs to make her drown and authorities said that Whitney was already dead before her body was submerged in the bathtub. Her body was found by her aunt, Mary Jones and she began administering CPR when she didn't come out of the bathroom.

BREAKING NEWS!! Whitney Houston Has Died!

Hey everyone,

As some of you may already know, singer Whitney Houston died earlier this evening at her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. She was 48 years old. Police found her in her hotel room at 3:55pm PST and paramedics immediately performed CPR, but it was already too late. No cause of death has been revealed yet, but police don't suspect that foul play was involved. According to TMZ, various prescription pill bottles were found in her hotel room. She was found in her bathtub, but police don't know if she drowned or OD'd at this point. The singer had battled drug addiction for a number of years.

Whitney burst onto the scene with her self-titled debut album in 1985, producing a string of hits including "Saving All My Love For You" which was her first of 7 consecutive #1 hits (a record which still stands to this date). Her sophomore album "Whitney" came in 1987 and became the first female artist in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Her most famous song came in 1992 with "I Will Always Love You" from the movie The Bodyguard, which was a cover of a Dolly Parton song that hit #1 all across the world. Her life spiraled out of control after marrying Bobby Brown that same year and started dabbling in marijuana and cocaine use that caused her music career to greatly suffer after that. She was an amazing talent who inspired countless entertainers today and left an indelible mark on the music industry.

2012 Grammy Predictions!

Hey everyone!

It's that time of year again, The Grammys! The awards show where anything can happen, including have ODB jump on stage after Shawn Colvin won an award back in 1998, Eminem and Elton John performing together in 2001 amid a firestorm of controversy, and Esperanza Spalding shocking everyone by taking home Best New Artist at last year's ceremony. This year's Grammys promises to be an exciting one, as we'll see if Adele will be crowned the queen of the night after receiving 6 Grammy nominations this year. Today, I'm going to run down the major fields and give you my take as to who will take home the Gramophone come Sunday night. And without further ado, here are my predictions:

Album of The Year

Adele - 21
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Bruno Mars - Doo Wops and Hooligans
Rihanna - Loud


This one's a no brainer, It's going to be Adele. No other artist on this list has had a better year than Adele. "21" has sold 6.4 million copies to date, 17 million sold worldwide, three #1 hits on the Hot 100 chart, sold out concerts across the globe, no other artist on this list has much of a commercial and crossover appeal than Adele has. This one's all on Adele. Foo Fighters I don't see being much of a threat, but they'll clean up nicely in the Rock categories, Lady Gaga might take home one or two in the Pop categories, but the album's discount to 99 cents on the Amazon MP3 store hurt this album's chances significantly of taking home the award. Bruno Mars and Rihanna will be contenders in the other categories, just not in this one.

Record of The Year


Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Bon Iver - Holocene
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Katy Perry - Firework


Do you even need to ask? Adele takes this award in a landslide. "Rolling In The Deep" was a huge smash this year, spending 7 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 singles chart and becoming her huge, defining hit. Bon Iver is the major surprise in his category, but I don't see him taking home the award for this category, but is definitely a contender for Best New Artist, Bruno Mars made a terrific song with "Grenade", but it's not worthy to take home the gold in this category, but might pose a challenge in some of the other categories it's nominated in. Mumford & Sons is really the only thing standing in Adele's way here, with a marvelous song in "The Cave", and Katy Perry doing a fantastic job as well with "Firework", but Adele has this thing locked away.


Song of The Year


Kanye West - All of The Lights
Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Bon Iver - Holocene
Adele - Rolling In The Deep


Adele will perform a three category sweep of the major categories culminating with this one. "Rolling In The Deep" was one of those songs that only comes around once in awhile and totally defined what was on commercial radio the past year. Kanye West had a great song in "All of The Lights" that should do well in the Rap categories, but doesn't have enough oomph to get the award here. Mumford, Bruno, and Bon will give it their best shot, but ultimately it's Adele's award to win here.


Best New Artist


Bon Iver
Nicki Minaj
J. Cole
The Band Perry
Skrillex


This one's a tricky one to predict here. Bon Iver seems to be the clear favorite here, but I'm going to take a gamble and go with Nicki Minaj on this one. Out of all the nominees, she seems to be the one that was the most visible and most commercially successful of the 5 nominees this year. J. Cole had a great first year, but I don't see him taking the award in this category. The Band Perry had a terrific debut last year, but I don't seem them fairing too well in this one. Skrillex I see being as sort of a dark horse in this one, sort of like last year with Esperanza Spalding, so I would keep an eye on him.


Best Rock Song


Mumford & Sons - The Cave
The Decemberists - Down By The Water
Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Foo Fighters - Walk


Another tough category to pin down here. However, I strongly feel that Foo Fighters will be able to pull away with the award here. Traditionally in the past, almost every award that Foo Fighters have been nominated in, they go on to win and this one is not that different here. Mumford & Sons could pose a challenge with "The Cave", and The Decemberists "Down By The Water" was a great song, but not enough merit to draw them a Grammy here. Coldplay could have a chance with "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall", but it will ultimately fall short. Radiohead will do well in the Alternative categories, but it won't pull away with the Grammy on this one.


Best Rock Album


Jeff Beck - Rock N Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown
Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You
Wilco - The Whole Love


This category is a very diverse one, but the only one that stands out here is Foo Fighters yet again. "Wasting Light" was one of the only rock albums in the past year that was most popular in regards of album sales and critical acclaim, something which doesn't matter to Grammy voters as they are looking for "artistic merit" when placing their votes. Kings of Leon made a terrific album with "Come Around Sundown", but it doesn't have enough thunderpower to take it home. Red Hot Chili Peppers returned big last year with "I'm With You", but it was released with too short of a window to make it into consideration for a win here. Wilco made a great effort with "The Whole Love", but it doesn't have enough to make an impression on the Grammy voters here.


Best Alternative Music Album


Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys
Foster The People - Torches
My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Radiohead - The King of Limbs


An extremely diverse and talented group of folks here vying for the Best Alternative Music Album category. Looking at this list, the strongest nominee who I think has a chance to win is Foster The People. I'm shocked that they didn't get a nod for Best New Artist (If they were nominated in that category, they would definitely win), but they had an amazing year with "Pumped Up Kicks" dominating both pop and alternative radio and becoming a strong act to watch out for in the years to come. Bon Iver and Death Cab For Cutie both have an equal shot with their albums, and pose the greatest threat to Foster The People. My Morning Jacket has the littlest chance of winning among all the nominees here with "Circuital", but Radiohead could be the dark horse here with their "The King of Limbs" album.


And there you have it, my list of predictions for this year's Grammy Awards ceremony! Feel free to leave your comments here on the blog with your predictions as to who you might think will take home the hardware! The Grammys will be held this Sunday at 8PM on CBS and don't forget to 'Like' me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter as I'll be doing my annual wire-to-wire coverage so that you don't miss a single beat of Grammy coverage!

Interview w/ The Fates

Hey everyone!

Returning once again with my ongoing series of interviews with local artists that have received initial exposure here on the blog. Today, we have an interview with Boston's own The Fates. The Fates were an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog back in October and have quickly become one of my favorite local acts in the scene today. Recently, Beau and the boys took some time out of their hectic schedules to do a brief interview that allows us to get to know them a little bit more personally. And now, here we go:

- Give your names and what you do in the band?
Beau Cassidy (Vocals), Jon Greene (Guitar), Josh Friedman (Keys), Dan Alport (Bass), and Tyler LeVander (Drums)

- How did you guys meet and when did the band form?
That's a complicated answer... Jon and Beau have known each other growing up in Ft. Lauderdale, and Jon met Tyler and Josh at the Berklee 5 Week Summer Performance Program in 2007, Tyler and Josh met Beau in the fall of 2010, as well as Dan. The band formation happened over the fall of 2010, starting with Beau, Tyler, Jon and I and our ex-bassist David playing cover gigs in Allston basement parties in the fall of 2010 and then recording "Drama Dropout" in January.

- How did you come up with the name "The Fates" for your group?

Haha ok. So we had a bunch of names we were throwing around for several months, and "The Fates" just seemed to work the best. It's kind of a projective test for a band name, it's so broad, which allows people to take alot out of it individually, that's something we really liked about it. Objectively, "The Fates" evokes this kind of epic quality which is something we haven't gotten with any of the other tentative names, and "epic" is what we always strive to deliver in our music.

- How would you describe the sound of The Fates?

Pop/Rock, all the way. As individuals we all come from a pretty solid rock background (Tyler and I played in prog/rock bands in high school, Dan is obsessed with My Chemical Romance). Beau's got a pop voice and writes poppy shit, and as songwriters we definitely try and gear our songs to hook-centered melodic ideas. We're always trying to strike a balance between bringing the energy and technicality of a rock band with the polished catchiness of pop music.

- What themes and/or subject matter does your music cover?

A lot of "Drama Dropout" is kind of slices-of-life of Beau Cassidy. You have energetic, live in-the-moment Beau Cassidy ("Jump"), relationship Beau Cassidy ("Miss America", "Photographs"), introspective Beau Cassidy ("Grave", "Atmosphere"). Overall, we like to think that the personal anecdotes resonate with our fans... I like the idea of having these intimate stories that you feel like you've experienced as well. Makes you feel like you're a part of something big (epic, again).

- For people who have seen you in concert, many have noticed that your keyboardist Josh wears an eye patch, do you feel like that makes you stand out from all the other bands out there?

As of right now, I do not believe there is another keyboardist who wears an eye patch, so we definitely feel like that makes us stand out a bit haha.

- What has been the response to your music so far from the general public?

We've had amazing feedback, our Fans on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. have been immensely supportive of us and when we see posts like ""Photographs" by The Fates played on my iPod today and it really helped me get through the day." or "Wow does Beau have nice teeth." It's quite heartwarming. We have incredible fans.

- How do you guys spend your free time when you're not making music?

Honestly, we hang out with each other non-stop. We're all actually best friends, so usually it's getting food with each other, watching Dan eat gratuitous amounts of cupcakes, or driving to the only 24-hour donut shop in Boston at 2am (I just realized how fat we are. We also go to the gym. Sometimes.) Individually, we're all either students or working part-time ... Jon's actually a pilot, for real.

- If you could describe your band in one word, what word would you choose?

FunLovingRockPartyBeau'sTeeth

- Lastly, what does the future hold for The Fates? Will you be playing any shows or releasing an album later on this year?

We are currently working on a buttload of new material, so a new album this year is looking reeeeally likely.

Thanks once again to Beau, Jon, Josh, Dan, and Tyler from The Fates for being so gracious with their time in doing this interview. If you want to check out their music, visit their website at www.thefatesmusic.com and 'Like' them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thefatesmusic and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thefatesmusic Just a quick reminder for Boston area readers, they'll be playing at the Middle East Upstairs tomorrow night at around 11:15pm, so be sure to get your tickets now and arrive there early to catch the other acts in action!

The City Calls Release Music Video For "Meet In The Middle"!

Hey everyone!

Southampton, U.K. band The City Calls have just released their brand new music video for their single "Meet In The Middle". The song was produced by Josh Partridge, who has also worked with fellow U.K. band Sell Your Sky. The band is going to be heading out on tour in the coming days with Forever August and Malokai in tow to deliver their blend of pop-punk to the masses! Below is their latest tour itinerary along with their music video for "Meet In The Middle":

2/15/2012 London - The Good Ship
2/16/2012 Nottingham - The Maze
2/17/2012 Yeovil - Tabernacle Junction
2/19/2012 Winchester - The Railway Inn

For more information on The City Calls, head on over to their official website at http://www.thecitycalls.co.uk Check out the band's Facebook page to stay on touch with them at www.facebook.com/thecitycalls You can also catch up with the band via Twitter by going over to www.twitter.com/thecitycalls If you want to purchase the band's EP "A Spark To Ignite" via iTunes, you can do so here: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/a-spark-to-ignite/id456015129

Low-Fi - What We Are Is Secret

Fresh out of Naples, Italy Low-Fi have arrived on the scene with their debut release, What We Are Is Secret. The electro-pop rockers first arrived on the scene in late 2010 with their self titled EP that gave music listeners something a little different and a little less predictable than all the other music out there. And on this, their first full length, the band shows its listeners that they are ready for the big leagues with a well rounded effort that shows off their fantastic musical skills in one, cohesive effort.

The disc opens up big with my favorite track off the album, "Something" a fuzzy, electro tinged blast that shows off lead singer Alessandro's melodic and distorted vocals that blend in together perfectly with the type of music that they're normally accustomed to playing. "Daylight" is a basic, simple format rock tune that features much less electro enhanced rhythms that the prior song contained, and moves as more of a bare bones alt-rock tune that allows the band to be more diverse in their musical influences. "Speed Control" finds a perfect balance between simple guitar arrangements and electro stylized beats that gives listeners appreciative of both genres to find a common ground and enjoy this track equally. The album's title track is a creepy, ominous sounding tune that finds Alessandro and Adriano's vocals adding the perfect amount of dynamic energy to a surprisingly diverse album heard so far.

We're entering the disc's second half with "The Evidence of a Missing Link", a electro rock delight complete with synths, distorted vocals, and slight guitar riff undertones that gives the album a little nudge towards the finish line. "On The Scene" starts to settle towards the end of the disc with a downtempo number that brings the overall energy on the album down as a whole and gives the listener a perfect balance between the tempos of the various songs. "Steinhaus" features much of the same distinct musical characteristics that the previous song displayed, and segways perfectly into the disc's finale, "Piano Metal" a dazzling, electro infused track that wraps up the entire album and allows the listener to look at each track one after another in succession and see how the album started off in the first place and how it ended. You may remember Low-Fi as an Artist Spotlight featured artist here on the blog back in November of 2010, and I was amazed at how different they were in terms of the musicians that I normally cover here on the blog and how they didn't conform to any of the musical stereotypes associated with bands developed by major labels. These guys have a clear and definite sense of style and enthusiasm that is is clearly expressed through their music and will definitely be around for some time to come.

All in all, a seasoned and well executed effort from Low-Fi, who give listeners who may not be too familiar with them the chance to see what they have to offer them and what they bring to the musical table in the process.

                                                                                                                           Album Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Something
2. Daylight
3. Dead Disco Syndrome
4. Speed Control
5. What We Are Is Secret
6. Private Revolution (f/NO MORE)
7. The Evidence of a Missing Link
8. On the Scene
9. Steinhaus
10. Piano Metal

The Demon Beat To Release Split 7" With Elephant Child!

Hey everyone!

Sheperdstown, West Virginia natives The Demon Beat are getting set to release their split 7" with Elephant Child! The set is complete with 3 songs, 2 from The Demon Beat and the other one from Elephant Child, and this set also marks The Demon Beat's debut on the Funny/ Not Funny Records label. Elephant Child have never been featured on a vinyl release before and the two have also never been featured together on any release, so this makes for a number of notable firsts for both groups. If you're a fan of heavy hitting, distortion filled garage rock, then this effort is just perfect for you!

If you would like to preview The Demon Beat/Elephant Child Split 7" and pre-order it, head on over to Funny/ Not Funny Records website at http://funnynotfunnyrecords.com/post/17223115130/pre-order-the-demon-beat-elephant-child-split-7 To check out even more music from The Demon Beat, head on over to their BandCamp page at http://thedemonbeat.bandcamp.com

Artist Spotlight: Skrillex

Hey everyone!

Ready to go with another edition of Artist Spotlight this week! Today for you guys, we have an artist who is nominated for a Best New Artist award at this Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony, Skrillex! Skrillex is the brainchild of Sonny Moore, whom you may remember as the former lead singer of From First To Last several years back. Now, Sonny is ready to step into the electronic realm with an amazing transformation that shows you the depth and creativity that he is capable of as a musician. I had heard alot about this artist fairly recently, and I had no idea that Sonny was behind this project and was absolutely amazed at how groundbreaking this project was. Complete with dubstep heavy grooves, grinding electro rhythms, and little spurts of post hardcore energy, Skrillex has the melodic thunder power to bring electronic music to the forefront and make it more user accessible to the listening audience at the same time. A superb talent with a whole wealth of potential for greater success in the years to come! Some recommended tracks for you to check out from him include "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" and "Bangarang" from the recently released EP of the same name.

For more information on Skrillex and to check out his music, head on over to his official website at www.skrillex.com You can 'Like' him on Facebook by going over to www.facebook.com/skrillex and you can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/skrillex Don't forget to check out the Grammy Awards this Sunday at 8PM on CBS where Skrillex can hopefully take home some hardware!

Call Me Anything Reveal Track Listing For Debut EP!

Hey everyone!

Boston-based band Call Me Anything have revealed the title and track listing for their debut EP! The EP titled "Celebrity" will drop on March 13th, and features 4 tracks from the band. The band have been working feverishly on this effort for the past year, and now all the fruits of their labor will finally be revealed for the world to see! Below is the cover art and track listing for the new effort:

1. Celebrity (f/Dylan Owen)
2. #OverIt
3. Unforgivable
4. Holiday

Check out my review of the EP the day after it comes out right here on the blog!

Vacationer - Gone EP

Hailing out of Philadelphia, PA Vacationer has released their debut EP titled "Gone". This is a highly experimental effort that brings together elements of dream-pop and indie-rock rhythms to create something truly extraordinary and groundbreaking and one that has never been heard before.

The EP opens up with my favorite track off the disc "Trip", a hypnotic, mystical track that immediately transports you to a world of paradise and earthy, wondrous dream pop rhythms similar to that of Beach House, but taken to a whole new level never before thought possible. The vocals coo and weave in and out of the insatiable rhythms to create something that is totally out of this world. "No Rules" is another stellar and amazing track that takes a different trajectory of the prior track and continues its ascent into greatness with more toned down dreamy rhythms heard this time around, giving the listener a little bit of a different flavor. The vocals sound at their best on this particular track and instantly makes the listener feel relaxed and right at home on this one. The EP's title track takes a journey through some light synth arrangements and the spectacular and breathtaking vocals aiming directly for the skies with genuine, heartfelt emotion tugging at you instantly upon the time you hit 'Play'.

Overall, a spectacular and groundbreaking here from Vacationer, who have made a great first impression and have brought together a plethora of musical influences to the forefront and have created something that has never been heard by human ears before.

                                                                                                                                EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Trip
2. No Rules
3. Gone

Note: Vacationer's debut album will be released on March 20th! For more information on the band, visit their website at www.vacationermusic.com and 'Like' them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vacationermusic and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nuhula