Artist Spotlight: Stars Above

Hey everyone!

Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving!! I'm back after the long Thanksgiving break and I present to you this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week I introduce you to a band called Stars Above! Stars Above are a band based out of Lynn, Massachusetts that consists of James Morrill on guitars and vocals, Andrew Greeley on drums, and Steve Heddon on bass. The band has a intense, youthful pop-punk feel to it, very reminiscent of the bands that I would hear playing in VFW halls and community centers back when I was in high school. The band has a very strong musical relationship with one another and each member contributes  equally to the musical dynamic heard here. With intense lyrics, blazing guitar riffs, and intricate bass lines, Stars Above has it all for you in one package! Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Where Did I Go Wrong?" and "You Were Only Mine".

For more info on Stars Above, head on over to their MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/consequencesofanabsence  and check out their list of upcoming shows to the Boston area! To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, jump on over to  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stars-Above/139680159375558

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Hey everyone!

Today is a big day here at The Music Box Blog! Today marks the 1 year anniversary of when I first started this blog! It has been an incredible first year for the blog doing weekly album reviews, Artist Spotlight features, and occasional breaking music news pieces. The very first album review I did here on the blog was Person L's "The Positives" and it's one that I'll always remember as getting word of mouth about them and I feel that's what got the blog off the ground in the first place! First and foremost, there are alot of people that I'm very indebted to for all their support and those people are you guys! I personally want to thank each and every one of you who have viewed the blog, left a comment, or have come up to me in person saying how much you've enjoyed the blog and what I've had to say in my posts! It means everything to me hearing all the praise and the effect that my work has had on readers in purchasing certain albums and on local musicians in general. I've had the distinct pleasure of doing writeups on several up and coming musicians from the Boston area and beyond, who have clearly demonstrated their unique ability to entertain and inspire others, and I want to thank those artists from the bottom of my heart, you know who you are!

Since I've started the blog, I've had readers from countries all over the world including Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. I never imagined that my words would be viewed all across the globe, so I would like to send a special thank you to all my overseas viewers!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to announce some major changes to the blog that will greatly enhance the viewing experience for all! These changes include:

- A Facebook fan page where I'll post updates on new posts to the blog! Click on the following link and become a fan of The Music Box Blog! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Music-Box-Blog/142351515814847

- A Twitter page to keep readers in the loop about new posts to the blog! Click on the following link to head on over to the Twitter page: http://twitter.com/TheMusicBoxBlog

- A brand new e-mail address to send in album review submissions, Artist Spotlight features, or any music related topic: peteramara@musicboxpete.net

I've also begun construction on a brand new website that will serve as the future home for this blog! The new site should be up and running sometime in early January 2011, so stay tuned to the blog for periodic updates! Again, thanks everybody for all the support, I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!

The Beatles on iTunes!!

Hey everyone!

I'm sure you've heard the news by now that The Beatles, who have long been holdouts of making their music available digitally, have finally agreed to have their music available digitally for the first time ever, exclusively on iTunes! This has been a long in the making saga for the group, who have been embroiled in a lawsuit with Apple Inc. for the better part of 30 years. The lawsuit stems from an alleged copyright infringement suit, which was filed back in 1978. After the suit was settled in 1981, Apple Inc. came to an agreement with Apple Corps. (The Beatles record label), that they would stay out of the music business. When Apple Inc. launched the iTunes Music Store in September 2003, Apple Corps. sued them for violation of their agreement not to sell music. Eventually, the two parties agreed to a settlement in 2007 where Apple Inc. will own all the trademarks related to Apple, and will license those trademarks back to Apple Corps.

All 13 of The Beatles studio albums from Please Please Me to Let It Be are available, also including their Past Masters compilation discs, Vols. 1 & 2, and The Beatles 1962-1966 (Red Album) and 1967-1970 (Blue Album) compilation discs. Individual tracks are priced at $1.29 each, individual albums go for $12.99, double albums are priced at $19.99, and their entire catalog box set retails for $149.99, which also includes some retrospective documentaries, and video of their first ever concert on American soil at Washington Coliseum in 1964. What do you make of this news, do you think this is a watershed moment in digital music history or do you already own The Beatles entire catalog and feel this news is over hyped and unwarranted? Leave a comment here on the blog and tell me what you think of this!

Artist Spotlight: Manny Alcantara

Hey everyone!

Get ready for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I present to you an artist straight out of Lynn, MA named Manny Alcantara. Manny has been making big waves in the local music scene with his debut release Call Me Manny! Manny has been writing his own music since he was 12 years old and started recording a couple years later when he turned 14. His music is a blend of R&B and reggae that isn't too overwhelming and finds a comfortable medium in between with captivating R&B styled ballads and mid-tempo reggae hybrid tunes that get people moving on the dance floor! He evokes a very smooth, charming style that is clearly evident in his voice and one that is guaranteed to make the ladies swoon! While I don't usually listen to this genre of music a great deal, I'm really impressed with his musicianship and his unique ability to express his talents. Some of my personal faves from his debut release include "All I Need" and "Guardian Angel".

To check out more of what Manny has to offer you, head on over to his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/callmemanny To become a fan of his on Facebook, bounce on over to http://www.facebook.com/callmemanny781 To purchase his debut CD "Call Me Manny", it's available for purchase over at iTunes!

Underoath - Ø Disambiguation

Hailing from Jacksonville, FL Underoath are back big with their 7th studio effort, Ø Disambiguation.  The follow up to 2008's Lost in the Sound of Separation finds the metalcore group finding more ways to expand on their sound from their previous effort, and have succeeded in making this effort the best album of their career so far.

The disc gets off to a roaring start on "In Division", a powerful and intricate composition that greets you with frontman Spencer Chamberlain's intense, screaming vocals gnawing at you with ferocious intensity among the fast moving guitars and powerful drums. "Catch Myself Catching Myself" starts off with an exquisite drum pattern, courtesy of their brand new drummer Daniel Davison, replacing Aaron Gillespie who left the group earlier this year. The newest member picks up right where Aaron left off with intense drumming patterns complimenting the sea of melodies laid out before you. My favorite song off the disc is the first single, "Illuminator", a melodic and haunting opus that features Spencer's amazing vocal abilities and guitarists Tim McTague and James Smith are equally as impressive with each member's guitar skills getting more and more impressive as their prior albums have shown. "Driftwood" is a mostly synth based tune, whose sound is courtesy of keyboardist Chris Dudley, who adds a level of sophistication and is the technical mastermind of the group. While this not a pure metal tune, it is one of Underoath's trademark sounds and one that has helped them get initially recognized among their now loyal and immense fanbase.

The disc's second half continues to roar with "Who Will Guard the Guardians", a stripped yet intense tune that still retains the aural velocity that the first half displayed, but is still slower in both tempo and nature. We begin to wrap up shop with "Vacant Mouth", a ferocious and unrelenting tune that leaves a pile of carnage in its wake with Spencer's ear splitting vocals and Tim and James's masterful guitar work being the sole parties responsible for this jaw dropping tune. "My Deteriorating Incline" is another formidable tune with Spencer's screaming vocals stinging so loud, you may have to get your hearing checked after hearing it. "In Completion" wraps up the disc with a concocted mixture of all the ear-splitting sounds you've heard so far, all presented to you in one unique package. Underoath is one of the very few bands out there today who get progressively better with each and every album that they make, something that is almost unheard of these days, but these guys make it look easy by realizing ways they can improve each song by making it louder and experimenting with electronic based sounds as well. Despite the departure of Aaron Gillespie, who is my all time favorite drummer and one of my musical heroes, Underoath's resolve has never been stronger.

In retrospect, a spectacular and unheralded effort from Underoath who keep their winning streak alive with an intense and resonating effort that cements Underoath as one of the best metal acts out there today. Highly recommended! BUY NOW!!

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. In Division
2. Catch Myself Catching Myself
3. Paper Lung
4. Illuminator
5. Driftwood
6. A Divine Eradication
7. Who Will Guard the Guardians
8. Reversal
9. Vacant Mouth
10. My Deteriorating Incline
11. In Completion

Artist Spotlight: Sirs & Vas Deferens EP Review!

Hey everyone!

Welcome to this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I present to you a band out of Purchase, NY called Sirs! Sirs consists of Justin Jurgens, Hart Seely, Kyle Seely, and Dave Benton. The band plays an eclectic blend of punk mixed in with a little hint of indie rock that provides for a thorough and enjoyable listening experience. And with the EP coming in at just under 20 minutes long, it provides plenty of bang in that short span of time with indelible hooks and wonderful melodies that will captivate you upon first listen! And without further ado, here is the review of their debut EP, Vas Deferens!


Hailing from Purchase, NY Sirs have made a remarkable first impression with their debut EP, Vas Deferens. The music is a blend of punk rock and indie rock that results in an aggressive outpouring of emotion both vocally and musically that sets this band apart from all the others on the scene.

The leadoff track, "Starting at the Chin" is a fast moving, melodic juggernaut that features loud, piercing vocals and a flurry of guitars that will leave you wondering how these guys put all these remarkable sounds together. "Ready, Boomerang" is another frenetic pleasure with a mix of aggressive guitars and passionate vocals that packs in alot for a track that is only 1 minute and 35 seconds in length. "Is This Your Shirt?" is a little more mellowed out than the other songs we heard previously with chilled out guitars and pleasant sounding rhythms to give the listener a little bit of variety in the process.

The remainder of the disc's tracks "Hibernations Sometimes", a mixture of rock hard rhythms and slowed down melodies, "You're Gonna Be Great!", which features an incredible transition from mid-tempo melodies to harder edged breakdowns, look for it on the last half of the track, and "Hand Check, No Hands", a track that blends together all the rhythms we've heard before and mixes them together in one, cohesive package gives the prospective listener a clear impression of what sound to expect from the band, especially if they aren't familiar with the band at all.

All in all, a great listen from Sirs, who are sure to be a welcome addition to your iTunes library, and have a very promising future ahead of them.
                          
                                                                                                                                   EP Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Starting at the Chin
2. Ready? Boomerang!
3. Is This Your Shirt?
4. Hibernations Sometimes
5. You're Gonna Be Great!
6. Hand Check, No Hands

For more information on Sirs, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/wesirs To check out their EP Vas Deferens in its entirety, head on over to their BandCamp site at : http://sirsmusic.bandcamp.com/ and from there, you can also download the EP free of charge!

Lil Wayne Released From Jail!!

Hey everyone!

Hot off the presses! Lil Wayne AKA Weezy is finally out of jail! Wayne just completed a eight month jail sentence for weapons possession in a New York state facility and is getting ready to return making some music!

Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to weapons possession in October 2009, after admitting in court that he had a loaded, semi-automatic .40 caliber gun on his tour bus after a concert in Manhattan. He started his sentence in March, but got time off his sentence for good behavior. However, he was disciplined and sent to solitary confinement after it was found that he brought in a charger and headphones for a digital music player, which is deemed to be contraband by prison officials. Wayne kept in touch with fans via letters and his website http://www.weezythanxyou.com/ where associates of his typed up letters from him describing his daily routine in prison and new songs he heard on the radio that he really liked. He sent a letter to his fans saying that he's thankful for all the support that he's received while behind bars:

"I laughed with some of you, reasoned with some of you, and even cried with some of you. I never imagined how much impact my words and life can have. I will be the same Martian I was when I left, just better."

Lil Wayne is currently headed to his home in Miami, where a massive welcome home party is planned for this Sunday. A flurry of excitement has come from dedicated fans and well wishers, even former President Bill Clinton has sent his regards, stating in a radio interview that he hopes he has a good life now. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on this story right here on the blog!

Artist Spotlight: Low-Fi & EP Review!

Hey everyone!

It's time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I'm proud to present to you a band out of Naples, Italy called Low-Fi! Low-Fi have been collectively together as a group since 2005, and the group consists of twins Alessandro and Adriano. Alessandro is in charge of vocals, bass, and synthesizers, Adriano also takes care of vocals and mans the guitar, while Marco brings up the rear on drums. The band has a very unique blend of garage rock influences a la The Strokes and occasionally dabble in the electronica genre that makes them stand out from all the others in the music scene today. The band recently released their self-titled EP on Octopus Records and is currently working on their full length debut album which should hopefully be out by the end of the year. And without further ado, here is the review of that EP!:




Coming out of Naples, Italy Low-Fi have made a very strong first impression with their self-titled debut EP. The EP is a daring mix of indie rock and electronica that is bristling with a plethora of unique sounds that you won't hear anywhere else and sounds like nothing you've heard before.

Leading off, we have "Garage Floor", a fast paced, electro rock hybrid that evokes influences of Interpol with a tightly honed, driven sound that never veers off course with its sharp, piercing guitar riffs and Alessandro and Adriano's finely laid out vocals. "No Morning" is a straight forward rocker with echoing guitar riffs and a nice drum pattern from Marco that make this song a real treat. My personal favorite song from the EP is "Something", a fast paced, electro rock hybrid train that takes off right out of the station and never slows down with indelible guitar riffs and Alessandro and Adriano's prominent vocal power taking stranglehold of the song. The last two tracks, "White Lane", a mid tempo rocker that is a bit slower paced than the other tracks, but provides a slower transition into the next song "Wrongness", a  fast paced, indie rock gem that features electric infused guitars and rich, prominent vocals that make this song a great way to wrap up the EP and a good start to a potentially long lasting career.

                                                                                                                                  EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Garage Floor
2. No Morning
3. Something
4. White Lane
5. Wrongness

For more info about Low-Fi, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/lowfiband To become a fan of them on Facebook, jet on over to http://www.facebook.com/lowfiband and if you like what you hear, buy their EP from the Octopus Records website!:  http://www.octopusrecords.net/shop/Home.html