Yellowcard - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes

Jacksonville, Florida's own Yellowcard are back with their brand new studio album, When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes. The follow up to 2007's dismal Paper Walls finds the pop-punkers returning to their roots after a failed foray into a darker, more abrasive sound that permeated their last two studio albums that didn't truly represent the band as a whole. This effort aims to get Yellowcard right back where they belong, and back to their sound they crafted on their classic 2003 album, Ocean Avenue.

The disc opens up with "The Sound of You and Me" a loud, steady rocker that shows off lead singer Ryan Key's simple and melodic vocals rapturing the audience amongst the high pitched guitars that are around at every turn. My favorite track off the disc is the roaring first single "For You, and Your Denial", which starts off with a nifty violin solo courtesy of Sean Mackin and an intense, melodic guitar pattern to accompany it that is classic Yellowcard from start to finish and is closer to their older material that most fans will instantly recognize upon hearing it. "With You Around" is a darker, edgier tune that still retains the simplicity of the prior tracks with Ryan's vocals powering the song at a reasonable level. "Hang You Up" brings the energy down considerably with a downtempo, reflective number that shows a different side of the band with toned down guitar riffs and Sean's impeccable violin skills heard in the background, adding a distinct emotional element to the song that really connects with the listener.

The disc's second half starts off with "Hide", a semi-melodic, pop-punk blast that generally hits the mark on a creative scale, but is not necessarily one to remember greatly from the album. "Soundtrack" percolates the energy a bit with a high-energy, pop-punk blast that lets all the band members display their talents equally, including their fantastic drummer Longineu Parsons who adds a unique playing style that quite simply can't be duplicated anywhere else. The disc's final two tracks "See Me Smiling", a rapturing, richly melodic tune that features intricate violin interludes that are Yellowcard's trademark and closely identify the band with authenticity and style. "Be the Young" closes out the album with a mid-tempo, reflective rocker that pieces together all the musical elements we've heard so far in one song, with deep guitar riffs, elegant violin solos, and a crisp, steady drum pace to show Yellowcard fans both old and new that they have returned to their roots and are ready to retake their throne. It's a commonplace for a group to abandon their sound that got them noticed in exchange for a broader, more challenging sound that could alienate long standing members of their fanbase. It's all part of taking a creative risk to see where it will take a group, and sometimes inevitably can lead to their downfall. That's what almost happened to Yellowcard, and took a brief hiatus following the release of the failed Paper Walls in 2007, realizing they needed some time apart and come back when the time is right. Now, Yellowcard have rediscovered their sound and most importantly, have rediscovered themselves as musicians.

In retrospect, a solid return to form effort from Yellowcard who have returned to retake their place among the pop-punk crowd and reunite with the sound that they prominently displayed on Ocean Avenue, and countless listeners in the process. This effort is a call to all of their fans that the band is back and ready to capture their undying attention all over again.

                                                                                                                                  Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. The Sound of You and Me
2. For You, and Your Denial
3. With You Around
4. Hang You Up
5. Life of Living Home
6. Hide
7. Soundtrack
8. Sing For Me
9. See Me Smiling
10. Be The Young

Artist Spotlight: Bars Brown

Hey everyone!

Ready for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight? This week, I bring to you an emerging hip-hop artist from Providence, Rhode Island called Bars Brown. Bars Brown is a supremely talented artist with a knack for producing beats and create complex and killer rhymes amongst those killer beats! Upon first hearing his music, I realized an incredible understanding of melody and rhyming skills within his music, which is a skill that is essential for any upstart rap artist to possess if they want to succeed in the rap game. There are a whole slew of hip-hop artists out there today who are experimenting with new and clever ways to entice the listener with a hypnotic set of beats and mind boggling rhymes that will leave your head spinning. Bars Brown can definitely be classified as one of those artists that isn't afraid to try something new for a change and try to get his name noticed among the thousands of other hip-hop artists out there who are all trying to get noticed out there in the music world! One of my favorite tracks from Bars is the track called "Hoodchick" featuring YoungMarquise.

To check out the music of Bars Brown, head on over to his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/barsbrown You can also follow Bars on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/barslife Don't forget to download his songs "Hoodchick", "Drop" and "Fantasy World" the latter two of which both feature Ne-Oh, will be released digitally via iTunes, Rhapsody, and other digital music outlets starting on April 5th! Here is the cover art for the "Hoodchick" and "Fantasy World" digital singles:

Artist Profile: Death Cab For Cutie

Death Cab For Cutie were formed in 1997 in Bellingham, Washington. The band consists of Ben Gibbard on lead vocals, guitar, and piano, Chris Walla on guitar, production, and piano, Nick Harmer on bass, and Jason McGerr on drums. The band took their name from a song that was written and performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in The Beatles 1967 film, Magical Mystery Tour. The song's name was taken from a pulp fiction crime magazine of the same name. The band initially began as a vehicle for Ben Gibbard's solo project. His first album, You Can Play These Songs With Chords was released in 1997 and eventually lead to being signed by Barsuk Records. Ben decided that with the huge success of the project, he expanded it into a full time band and recruited Chris Walla on guitars, Nick Harmer on bass, and Nathan Good on drums. Many of their early tracks were recorded in the basement of a home that Ben lived in the Bellingham area.

The group released the album Something About Airplanes in 1998, to generally well received reviews by the indie music press and followed that up two years later with We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes which was another critical success. The band later embarked on their first full U.S. tour and upon completion of that, went into the studio to work on their next album, The Photo Album which came out in 2001. Jason McGerr joined the group on drums in 2003, just in time for the band's next release Transatlanticism later that year. This album was the band's breakout commercial success, containing such memorable tracks as "Title and Registration", my personal favorite Death Cab song "The Sound of Settling", and the album's title track. The band 's music appeared in a number of hit TV shows including The OC, Six Feet Under, and CSI: Miami.

The band decided to switch to a major label, Atlantic Records for their next release, Plans which came out in 2005. The album eventually went platinum on the strength of such songs as "Soul Meets Body", "Crooked Teeth", and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark".  The band embarked on a lengthy tour after that and released their next effort, Narrow Stairs in 2008. The album debuted at #1 upon its release, selling 144,000 copies in its first week in stores, eventually going gold and producing such classic tracks like "I Will Possess Your Heart" "No Sunlight", "Cath", and "Grapevine Fires". The band was chosen to appear on the soundtrack for the Twilight film "New Moon" and wrote the song "Meet Me on the Equinox" for the movie, which peaked at #8 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart.

The band is set to release their next album "Codes and Keys" on May 31 with the first single "You Are A Tourist" world premiering today across most major alternative rock stations. Death Cab For Cutie were one of the first indie bands that I grew to appreciate almost immediately upon hearing them. Plans remains my favorite Death Cab album and is the one album I listen to when I need some quiet reflection, a companion for some late night drives, or just to simply escape from reality for awhile.

The Strokes - Angles

NYC's garage rock ambassadors The Strokes are back with the most anticipated album of the year, Angles. The follow up to 2006's inconsistent First Impressions of Earth finds the garage rock pioneers returning to their familiar sound that they crafted on their classic 2001 debut Is This It. This new effort is one of The Strokes best albums since their debut and is a real return to form for Julian and Co.

The disc opens up with the electronic infused number "Machu Picchu". Lead singer Julian Casablancas' familiar vocal presence returns in full force amidst the electronic backdrop and the familiar Strokes branded guitar riffs coming right back at you instantaneously. The amazingly spectacular "Under Cover of Darkness" is a sonic and instant melodic delight inside and out with Julian's familiar vocal refrains and Albert Hammond Jr.'s expert guitar skills driving the song full speed ahead to the finish line. "Two Kinds of Happiness" is a retro, 80's styled vintage tune that is chock full of electronic synthesizers and that familiar Strokes charm that you've grown to love and be accustomed to all these years. "Taken For A Fool" is a hybrid mix of electronic influences and garage rock rhythms that when blended together, create a sonically pleasurable experience that is one of the highlights of a pretty marvelous album heard so far.

The album's second half starts off with "Call Me Back" a mid tempo, quiet number that is the perfect showcase for Julian's echoing vocals to once again work their magic throughout the song. "Gratisfaction" is a wonderful, aural delight that features great bass lines from bassist Nikolai Fraiture, who adds a certain, distinct element to Strokes songs that doesn't get enough credit as he very well should. My favorite song off the album is the disc's closer "Life Is Simple In The Moonlight", a mid tempo rocker that encapsulates everything there is to love about The Strokes: Julian's awesome vocal abilities, Nick Valensi and Albert's dual guitar experiences blending together, Nikolai's fantastic bass licks, and Fabrizio Moretti's melodic and unique drumming style all adding a certain allure that has appealed to thousands of fans all over the world. When I first heard The Strokes back in 2001, I wasn't initially impressed with them and didn't really see much in their music to be desired. Over time, I grew to love them and finally came to realize their immense talents and what they have to bring to the table. Now, these strapping young gents are one of my favorite bands and have helped spearhead the garage rock movement as we know it today.

Looking back, The Strokes have completely reinvigorated their careers with a true return to form effort that shows the listening audience that they're back in full force and ready to pick up right where they left off. Highly recommended!

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Machu Picchu
2. Under Cover of Darkness
3. Two Kinds of Happiness
4. You're So Right
5. Taken For A Fool
6. Games
7. Call Me Back
8. Gratisfaction
9. Metabolism
10. Life Is Simple In The Moonlight

Artist Spotlight: Church & Chambers

Hey everyone!

It's time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! Today for you guys, we have a pop-punk band out of Metuchen, New Jersey called Church & Chambers. The group consists of Tariq Aly on lead vocals and guitar, Jenna Stefandl on bass, and Alex Vazquez on percussion. The band has a melodic, fun vibe to them that are reminiscent of classic pop-punk bands I grew up listening to such as Blink 182 and The Starting Line. Tariq's vocals resonate very strongly and echo through the hard edged guitar riffs that are richly abundant throughout their music. These guys know how to make varying degrees of songs at a wide range of tempos, whether it's a fast paced pop-punk track or a slower, more melodic and introspective track these guys know how to pounce on you at every angle with something different to throw your way for your listening enjoyment! Some of my favorite tracks from these guys include "This Reminds Me Of A Drinking Game I Played Once" and "Project Broadway Junction".

To check out more music from the guys in Church & Chambers, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/churchchambers The band also has a Facebook page for you to check out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Church-Chambers/130939583634196 As a special treat for all my readers, I'm giving you the opportunity to download two of their songs for free right here on the blog! Check out the tracks here at the following link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zmq2zn1t6t2qq3m

Artist Profile: Coheed and Cambria

Coheed and Cambria were formed in Nyack, New York back in 1995. The group consists of Claudio Sanchez on lead vocals and guitar, Travis Stever on guitars and backing vocals, Michael Todd on bass and backing vocals, and Chris Pennie on drums. The band got its name from two protagonists that appeared in The Amory Wars, which was a science fiction story written by Claudio. The band later created a story arc around these two characters that would be all tied in to all the studio albums that they would later create in a storyline called The Amory Wars. The band released their debut album on Equal Vision Records titled Second Stage Turbine Blade in 2002. The album contained such tracks as "Devil in Jersey City", "Time Consumer", and the title track. The band later appeared on the Vans Warped Tour which helped broaden their ever expanding fan base. Their next album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 was released in 2003. This was the album that helped introduce Coheed to the mainstream audience and the album contained such blistering tracks like "A Favor House Atlantic", my favorite Coheed song "Blood Red Summer", and "The Crowing". The album eventually went Gold, selling over 500,000 copies in the process. After that, the group signed with Columbia Records to release their major label debut Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness in 2005. This effort was almost equally as successful as the prior one, containing tracks like "Welcome Home" and "The Suffering". This album was the first part of the end of The Amory Wars storyline that would be continued on their next effort Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow, which came out in 2007. This album contained such gritty tracks like "The Running Free", "Feathers", and "Mother Superior".

The band then released a prequel to the four part The Amory Wars storyline titled Year of the Black Rainbow, which came out last year. Some notable tracks that came from this disc include "The Broken" and "Here We Are Juggernaut". Coheed and Cambria was one of the first bands I listened to that introduced me to the progressive rock genre and the whole album storyline format that permeates another one of my favorite prog rock bands, The Mars Volta. You don't really need to pay attention to the storyline to understand what is going on, all you need to do is let the music do the talking for you and after listening, the whole storyline element will start to make much more sense.

Advocate - Trial and Error EP

Advocate have arrived on the music scene with their debut EP, Trial and Error. The Clearwater, Florida group have been making a name for themselves with their own unique vision of hardcore rock mixed in with insightful messages pertaining to Christianity and how each member of the group lives by their religion each and every day.

The EP starts off with "Rebuke", a mysterious, intricate number that starts off quietly before slowly settling into a melodic, hardcore groove that gets stronger as the song goes along. Lead singer Aaron White sounds absolutely splendid with his vocals adapting particularly well to the song. The song builds right into the next track "Hope", a brutal, no holds barred track that features a onslaught of dark yet melodic guitar riffs courtesy of guitarists Danny Mills and Adam Renfroe who each add their own unique playing style and allow it to naturally meld with the sonic delights omnipresent throughout the song. The next track "Define" is another stellar track, distinctly reminiscent of another Florida area metal band Underoath, who employ a similar Christian inspired theme in their lyrics that is reflected deep within their music. This song adds layer upon layer of guitar riffs and pounding drums courtesy of drummer Chris Costanza who makes sure that the drums sound absolutely clearcut and intense until the very end. My favorite track off the EP is "Exalt", an exorbitantly melodic track that features Aaron's fierce and dynamic vocal range traveling a great distance to be heard in the song with pounding guitar riffs and indelible bass lines courtesy of bassist Caleb Flanigan. "Embers" closes out the disc with a dreary, intricate tune that weaves in and out between interludes to deliver a song that leaves you wondering what else the band has up their sleeve. There aren't many bands out there today that are willing to tackle the topic of religion in their music, but these guys aren't afraid to express who they really are and why they believe in what they believe.

In retrospect, a well constructed and thought out effort that introduces Advocate to the listening audience. Regardless of whatever your religious views may be, just listen to the sheer power that is Advocate and understand where they come from and what they have to offer you.

                                                                                                                                  EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Rebuke
2. Hope
3. Define
4. Exalt
5. Embers

Artist Spotlight: Phone Calls From Home

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and you know what that means, it's time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have a little local flavor to add into the mix as we have a band right out of Boston called Phone Calls From Home! The band consists of Dave Place on lead vocals and bass, Zack Gowan on guitar, Danny Stockman on drums, and Jason Vieira on guitar. The band has an intense, youthful pop-punk sound similar to the likes of All Time Low and another local pop-punk band making it big, Boys Like Girls. Dave's vocals have an intense, melodic energy that permeates through the whole song and enhances the allure of the guitars, making the sound protrude through the speakers. There's a huge crop of pop-punk bands out there today that are hard to sift out and gather the true message of what they're trying to say in their music, but this band has true heart and passion for what they're doing and they have that message in their music that they can convey to their listening audience and one that the audience can identify with as well. Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "Coming Back To The World" and "Gone".

For more info on Phone Calls From Home and to check out their music, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/phonecallsfromhome To like them on Facebook, head on over to http://www.facebook.com/phonecallsfromhome You can also follow the band on Twitter by going to http://www.twitter.com/pcfhband

Artist Profile: Brand New

Brand New were formed in the year 2000 in Long Island, New York. The band consists of Jesse Lacey on lead vocals and guitar, Vincent Accardi on backup vocals and lead guitar, Garrett Tierney on bass, Brian Lane on drums and percussion, and Derrick Sherman on backup vocals and guitar. The band released their debut album, Your Favorite Weapon in 2001 on Royal Crown Records, which contained such memorable tracks such as "Soco Amaretto Lime" and "Jude Law And A Semester Abroad". The album went on to become a moderate success, selling a total of 50,000 copies in the process. It wasn't until their sophomore album Deja Entendu in 2003 when Brand New's career really begun to take off. The album received enormous critical appraise upon its release, featuring such classics like "Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades" "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light" and "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows". The album eventually went gold, cementing Brand New's reputation as one of the pioneers of the burgeoning Long Island alt-rock scene including their peers (and former foes) Taking Back Sunday.

The band moved over to Interscope Records for their next release and major label debut, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, which was released in 2006 and contained such standout tracks like "Jesus Christ" and "Sowing Season". Their next album Daisy followed in 2009, which was their most musically intricate effort to date. The album contained such jarring tracks such as "At The Bottom" and "Bought A Bride". I'll never forget the time that I first listened to Deja Entendu: It was in January 2004 and I remember listening to the whole album straight through without skipping over one single song. Every one of those songs on that album still resonates strongly with me today as it did when I first listened to it 7 years ago. Every one of the songs is a masterpiece and shows what each of the members of Brand New were feeling at the time the album was recorded. It's one of the few albums in my collection where I listen to every single song all the way through and never get sick of it. Since then, no other album has come close to matching the glory and power that is Deja Entendu, a true gem and a instant classic!

Aaron Gillespie - Anthem Song

Hailing from Clearwater, FL Aaron Gillpesie releases his eagerly anticipated solo debut, Anthem Song. The former drummer of Underoath and the current frontman of The Almost expresses his multi-faceted talents in his first gospel album that fully displays his Christian beliefs that he lives by each and every day into song.

The album opens with the jovial "All Things" an acoustic, melodic track that keeps up at a manageable pace where the listener can take notice of all the beauty laid out before them. "Hosanna" picks up the pace a little with wonderful guitar riffs and Aaron's breathtaking vocal ability guiding the song along to greatness. "Earnestly I Seek Thee" is a pure acoustic ballad as Aaron delivers a vocal performance to remember as his passion pours through every single note of the song, leaving you breathless by the end. My favorite track off the album is the disc's first single "We Were Made For You", a richly melodic tune that blends in instruments from all fronts: guitars, drums, and a few others when combined together create a truly groundbreaking Christian anthem. "I Will Worship You" is an acoustic based song that takes a bare bones approach with light drum taps heard faintly in the background that give the song that authentic touch and makes it feel like you're in the studio with Aaron as he's recording it.

The second half of the disc commences with the title track, a melodic and instrumental opus that adds in piano and violin to give it an epic, grandiose sound and makes it feel like you're at the peak of accomplishment. "You Are My Everything" adds a little electric guitar into the mix to make the song approach borderline rock status, while still remaining within the confines of the Christian genre. We get ready to draw the album to a close with "Your Song Goes On Forever", a mid-tempo, breezy tune that finds Aaron singing passionately in a song that is written as a worship song, but it can be interpreted in a different way as a love song for some members of the listening audience. The disc's final track, "I Am Your Cup" demonstrates all the talent that is Aaron Gillespie with his wonderful voice echoing through the lush acoustic guitar arrangement that ties all the elements of the disc together in one cohesive package. I've been thoroughly amazed with the wide range of talents that Aaron has clearly demonstrated since when I first heard him when he was with Underoath. He drummed and sang simultaneously in some songs with furious passion and vigor, and was also frontman for the pop-rock band The Almost when Underoath was on hiatus from touring, now The Almost is his full-time gig. He's my favorite musician, one of my musical heroes and is also in my opinion, one of the most passionate, committed, and crazy talented musicians that I've ever come across in my lifetime, and he's also had a deep and profound impact on me as a person and the way that I listen to music.

To sum it all up, Aaron Gillespie has made a strong foray into the Christian market with a wonderful solo debut that displays his full range of talents adequately. Even if you aren't a fan of Christian music, you can't help but appreciate his talents and what he's got to say in his music.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. All Things
2. Hosanna
3. Washed Away
4. Earnestly I Seek Thee
5. We Were Made For You
6. I Will Worship You
7. Anthem Song
8. You Are Jesus
9. You Are My Everything
10. Your Song Goes On Forever
11. I Am Your Cup 

Artist Spotlight: Joey Primero & Living With A Ghost EP Review!

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and it's time for this week's Artist Spotlight feature! This week, I present to you an artist originally from Miami, FL named Joey Primero. Joey is a wonderfully talented musician who studied at the Berklee College of Music and the depth and range of her talent is quite evident in her recordings! She has an unique and uncanny ability to channel her voice and burrow it into the instrumentation where it allows her songs to burst with energy and the melodic power that results keeps the listener honed and tuned in until the very end. It's very rare to find singer-songwriters these days who can use their voice as an melodic component that can carry the song along right until it ends. Joey has tremendous vocal talent and range, and the types of songs that she sings fit in perfectly with her voice and allow her to feel relaxed and comfortable when she sings. Some of my favorite songs from her include "Cig Ciggy" and "Living With A Ghost".

To check out more music from Joey Primero, head on over to her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/joeyprimero or you can go on over to her Reverb Nation page at http://www.reverbnation.com/joeyprimero

I recently sat down and listened to her debut EP titled Living With A Ghost, and you can read my review of it right here!:

Originally from Miami, FL Joey Primero has arrived on the scene with her debut EP Living With A Ghost. The disc is a refreshing mix of laid back pop gems mixed in with Joey's melodic and calming vocal presence to make the songs pop and sizzle when you first hear them.

The disc opens up with "Cig Ciggy", a melodic and pleasant track that introduces the audience to Joey's mellow and relaxed vocals that carry the song a long distance right until the very end. My personal favorite song off the EP is the title track, a perfect pop delight with warm acoustic guitars and Joey's vocals once again taking over the song with full power and allowing the song to explode with life. "Rainbow Song" is a simple, straightforward tune that has a bit of a folk vibe to it that offers up something different this time around, but still retains its melodic composure that builds up until the very end of the song. We get ready to close up shop with "Take My Picture", which starts off with intermittent electric guitar riffs that meld into the song and finds Joey adding a bit of diversity into her music and mixing it up a bit that sets her apart from the other singer-songwriters out there. "Without A Word" closes out the EP on a quiet, somber note that displays Joey's beautiful and stunning voice at its purest form once again holding up the song and breathing life into it. Joey is one of those rare talents that comes along once in awhile where her voice is the primary catalyst of the song to push the instrumentation a little bit further along and give it that that extra push to make it sound great. A well done effort!

In conclusion, a wonderful debut EP from Joey Primero, who has crafted beautiful harmonies interwoven with her own delicate voice that is sure to please and delight countless listeners near and far!

                                                                                                                                   EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Cig Ciggy
2. Living With A Ghost
3. Rainbow Song
4. Take My Picture
5. Without A Word

Artist Profile: All Time Low

All Time Low are a pop-punk band based out of Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland just outside of Baltimore. The band consists of Alex Gaskarth on lead vocals, Jack Barakat on lead guitar and backup vocals, Zack Merrick on bass, and Rian Dawson on drums. The band initially started out as a Green Day cover band, and signed their first record deal with Emerald Moon Records where they released their debut EP, The Three Words To Remember In Dealing With The End in 2004. Their first studio album titled The Party Scene arrived a year later and just before they graduated from high school in 2006, signed with Hopeless Records and released Put Up Or Shut Up, which mostly contained re-recordings of songs from their prior EP plus 2 new songs. The band made a huge mainstream push with their second full length album So Wrong, It's Right which was released in 2007. The album contained such pure pop-punk gems such as "Dear Maria, Count Me In", "Six Feet Under The Stars", "Poppin' Champagne", and my personal favorite ATL song "Remembering Sunday". The band released their follow up album Nothing Personal in 2009, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 album chart and producing such memorable classics such as "Weightless" "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)" and "Lost In Stereo". The band have just wrapped up work on their brand new album Dirty Work, which is slated for release sometime this Spring.

When I first came across these guys a few years ago, I was totally blown away by their musicianship and the way that their melodies were exploding out of the speakers. They have the same goofy pop-punk sensibility that Blink 182 displayed on their first two albums, but they had their own distinct sound to call their own and their own distinct personalities which set them apart from the countless number of pop-punk bands dominating the scene these days. I'll be seeing these guys in concert on May 6 at the House of Blues in Boston and couldn't be more thrilled to see first hand what these supremely talented guys have to deliver to the audience in action.

Artist Spotlight: Merrimack Delta Dub Set & "Cover to Cover" EP Review!

Hey everyone!

Kicking off the midweek point with a special edition of this week's Artist Spotlight! Today, we focus on a band coming out of Haverhill, Massachusetts called Merrimack Delta Dub Set! The group consists of Sean Stanton on lead vocals and guitar, rapper OD on vocals, Alan LaFranchi on bass, Matthew Migliori on lead guitar, Brandon Hill on drums, and Clark Zlindra-Short on saxophone. The group is a bunch of like minded individuals who jam together regularly and came up with a unique and fun blend of reggae and hip-hop fusion that add to a particularly exciting and entertaining listen! Alot of groups have unique ways of blending together reggae and rock, such as 311 and RX Bandits, but these guys do it in a way that is unique and grabs your attention at the same time too. With Sean's richly abundant vocals and OD's clever rhyming skills, they have created a masterfully organic outfit here that is quite simply like nothing currently out there today and one group whose sound is starting to make big waves in the local Boston area music scene. Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "Cover to Cover" and "Let Me In".

To hear more music from Merrimack Delta Dub Set, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/merrimackdeltadubset To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, hop on over to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Merrimack-Delta-Dub-Set/60975385571 I recently came across their debut EP "Cover To Cover", and I'm featuring it this week as my featured album review for the week! And without further ado, here it is!:



Haverhill, MA's own Merrimack Delta Dub Set have arrived on the scene with their debut EP "Cover To Cover". The disc is a refreshing blend of reggae and hip-hop that is guaranteed to get you up and grooving along to the beat of the music from the very first note.

The disc starts off strong with the title track, a bombastic, urban flavored jam that sets the gears in motion with some cool saxophone sounds and rapper OD's fantastic rhyming skills giving the listening audience an idea of what's to come. "Little Senorita" is a slowed down, guitar driven anthem that lets lead vocalist Sean Stanton strut his stuff with his passionate and captivating vocals being felt right through the speakers and driving the song along at ease. My favorite song off the EP is "Let Me In", a mid-tempo, melodic delight that greets you with an onslaught of guitars and Sean's impeccable and inspiring vocal power making the song the best on the whole EP and the song that best encapsulates the style of music that they play.

The second half of the EP starts off equally as strong with "Confused", a low key, reggae jam with OD's laid back rhymes blending in very nicely with the song's easy going nature. "Again" gets us ready to close out the disc with a fast paced groove and light saxophone sounds heard faintly in the background that add to the allure of the song and make it sound authentic. "Recognize" is the perfect song to close out the disc with a slow paced reggae groove and Sean's yearning vocals best showcasing the sheer power of Merrimack Delta Dub Set.

All in all, a wonderful and tightly focused effort here from Merrimack Delta Dub Set, who have made their presence known with a tightly knit effort here that showcases the wide range of talents they have gathered together to create a harmonious effort that sets them on their way for possibly even greater things to come in the future.

                                                                                                                                    EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Cover To Cover
2. Little Senorita
3. Let Me In
4. Confused
5. Again
6. Recognize

Artist Profile: 311

Hey everyone!

Today, I'm kicking off a brand new feature on the blog called Artist Profile where I'll showcase some of my favorite artists that I listen to on a daily basis. I'll pick one artist from each letter of the alphabet and offer some background info on the artist and why I love them so much!



Today's Artist Profile is on one of my favorite bands growing up, 311! 311 were formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1988,  the band consists of Nick Hexum on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Aaron Wills (AKA P-Nut) on bass, Chad Sexton on drums, SA Martinez on backup vocals and turntable, and Tim Mahoney on lead guitar. The band started out playing a handful of shows at local venues in the Omaha area such as The Ranch Bowl, selling homemade cassettes and CD's at their shows and drawing in thousands of local area fans in the process. The band recorded a 6-song demo titled Hydrophonic that was released in 1992 and within a few months, the band was signed to Capricorn Records.

The band released their debut album titled Music in 1993, producing such classics as "Freak Out", "My Stoney Baby", and "Do You Right". Their follow up came a year later called Grassroots and that gave way to standards such as "Homebrew", "Lucky", and "Applied Science" However, it was their self titled effort, commonly referred to as The Blue Album in 1995 that officially put 311 on the map. The album produced the #1 charting Billboard Modern Rock hit "Down", "All Mixed Up", and my personal favorite 311 song of all time, "Don't Stay Home".

The band released their most ambitious effort Transistor in 1997. The 22 song album produced such memorable tunes as "Beautiful Disaster" and the disc's title track. Their last album on Capricorn Records called Soundsystem came in 1999, and had hits such as "Come Original" and "Freeze Time". The band signed to Volcano Records in 2001, where they released From Chaos. The album produced their biggest crossover hit in the form of "Amber" which charted at #27 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart. Three more albums followed over the years including Evolver in 2003, Don't Tread On Me in 2005, and their most recent set, Uplifter came in 2009.

311 was one of the first bands that I listened to where I immediately became an avid and devoted fan of them upon first listen. The first bands that I listened to growing up were Nirvana and Green Day and while I liked those artists to a certain extent, I wasn't a completely rabid, devoted fan as I was of 311. 311 completely defined for me what it was that I liked about music, their unique blend of rock, reggae, and hip-hop tunes completely reeled me in hook, line, and sinker and their immediate stage presence left me in complete awe of their musical abilities. I've had the pleasure of seeing them in concert twice and I can tell you that they're well worth the price of admission! 311 concerts are more like gatherings you see at football games where people have tailgate parties and hang out in the parking lot before the show. I have met lots of great people at these shows where the atmosphere resembles that more like a festival than just a regular concert. There's nothing better than kicking back in the parking lot on a hot summer day with food, beer, and the company of your fellow 311 peers who have all gathered to be in the presence of each other's company and to enjoy the same band that you grew up listening to when you were younger.