Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter IV

He's back! After a three year absence, Lil' Wayne makes his long-awaited return with Tha Carter IV. In between his last studio album, he released two albums to tide fans over with varying degrees of success, 2010's miserable Rebirth and the more cohesive I Am Not A Human Being also released later on that year. Weezy aims to recapture his fanbase with an album that is a welcome return for one of the best rappers in the game today.

The disc opens up with "Blunt Blowin'" a steady, cohesive jam that is full of pure, unadulterated beats that don't need Auto-Tune or any technological advances to get its point across, all it needs is Wayne to do his thing. "MegaMan" is a futuristic sounding, thumping jam that shows off Wayne's lyrical skills which have evolved steadily over the course of his career and have gotten more complex as well. "6 Foot 7 Foot" features Cory Gunz and has a definite hook embedded within the chorus that will have you listening over and over again for quite some time to follow. "She Will" features new rapping sensation Drake and has a slowed down, steady beat that brings things down a couple of notches here and also gives a little bit of variety to its listeners as well. T-Pain guest stars on "How To Hate", bringing his familiar Auto-Tuned style to a uptempo, urban flavored jam that gives a little something for everyone while still retaining the gritty lyrical content that some of the prior tracks have exhibited.

We head into the disc's second half with "John", which also features Rick Ross and is a frenzied, beat infused track that takes it to a whole new level with a treat for its listeners that is one of the many highlights on this diverse and entertaining disc so far. R&B crooner John Legend guest stars on "So Special, a hybrid hip-hop/R&B crossover jam that blends in John's voice with Wayne's highly skilled rhymes blending in nicely with the simple, dynamic beats that add a great deal to a track that best displays Weezy's talents. My favorite song off the album is "How To Love", Wayne's first attempt at a love song that totally threw me for a curve and is actually one of the best songs that Weezy has made, featuring simple acoustic guitar arrangements blended in with downtempo beats that add a great deal of depth to a solid and well thought out album heard here so far. The disc gets ready to close out with "It's Good", which also features Drake & Jadakiss, who make a good combo here with an intense, lyrically driven track that hits at a different angle than the other tracks did with authentic, urban flavored beats that closes us out on a high note. Lil' Wayne has evolved steadily over the years starting from when he released his debut album, Tha Block Is Hot in 1999 when he was only 15 years old. Since that point, he has grown into one of the top rappers in the game today who continues to bring his own unique lyrical delivery to his listeners, some who might not understand what Wayne is saying at times, but that's one of the reasons why we love Lil' Wayne so much.

All in all, a solid and return to form effort from Lil' Wayne, who has more than made up for the lackluster disappointment of his past rock hybrid album and has crafted a remarkable hip-hop album that fully displays his true talents to a devoted audience. While this album is nowhere near as good as 2008's magnificent Tha Carter III, it still keeps Weezy in the public eye and still on top as one of the best rappers in music today!

                                                                                                                                Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Blunt Blowin'
3. MegaMan
4. 6 Foot 7 Foot (f/Cory Gunz)
5. Nightmares of the Bottom
6. She Will (f/Drake)
7. How To Hate (f/T-Pain)
8. Interlude (f/Tech N9ne)
9. John (f/Rick Ross)
10. Abortion
11. So Special (f/John Legend)
12. How To Love
13. President Carter
14. It's Good (f/ Drake & Jadakiss)
15. Outro (f/Bun B, Nas, Shyne, & Busta Rhymes)

Fall 2011 Music Preview!

Hey everyone!

Summer is drawing to an end unfortunately, and with that comes the fall where a slew of new album releases are heading your way! Traditionally, the fall has always been a hot time to release an album as labels push to get the records out before the holiday shopping season begins in November. This year's fall release schedule looks packed with a host of artists releasing hotly anticipated albums included the much talked about return of blink-182, New Found Glory, and Saves The Day. Here's a highlighted list of some albums that will making it's way into record stores this fall:

The Kooks - Junk of The Heart (September 12th)

British indie rockers The Kooks are slated to return this fall with their brand new album, Junk of The Heart. The follow up to 2008's Konk finds the band continuing to bring their harmless, fun indie-rock blend back to a willing and already devoted audience. The album's title track has started to gain some traction on radio and is sure to be an album that will be much talked about this fall and beyond.

Saves The Day - Daybreak (September 13th)

Saves The Day return after a 3 year absence with Daybreak, the final album in a trilogy that began with 2006's Sound The Alarm. The New Jersey bred emo-rockers are getting ready to release their brand new effort on a new label Razor & Tie, and looks to be a fresh start for the band and this is sure to be a welcome release for devoted fans who have been clamoring for new material for quite some time now.

Thrice - Major/Minor (September 20th)

Irvine, California's finest Thrice are ready to make their return with their brand new release called Major/Minor. The group's last effort, 2009's Beggars was another forward progression for the band and served as immediate notice that the band were taking full charge of their creative endeavours and would continue to make music solely based on their terms. The first single from the album "Yellow Belly" is an awesome, intricate track that is just a sliver of what the band have to offer to their fans on their latest release.

blink-182 - Neighborhoods (September 27th)

They're back! After an eight year absence, legendary So-Cal punk-poppers blink-182 are back with their much anticipated brand new album, Neighborhoods. We weren't sure when the band would be coming back or if they would release a new album at all, but the band made their promise to their fans that they would not go quietly into the night with a brand new release that is a welcome relief to their massive fanbase! The album's first single "Up All Night" is vintage Blink with a true, return to form sound that shows the fans that the group hasn't forgotten about them and are ready to reclaim their throne atop the pop-punk mountain.

New Found Glory - Radiosurgery (October 4th)

A close acquaintance of blink-182, New Found Glory aim to recapture the scene with their brand new album, Radiosurgery. The band's last effort 2009's Not Without A Fight was a return to form effort for the band, hearkening back to the Drive Thru Records era where the band defined the essence that is pop-punk and the Florida music scene as well. This new album, anchored by its title track as the first single, is another straightforward, direct pop-punk song that doesn't need to do much and solely relies on their melodic vocals and explosive pop-punk sound to create something that is truly insatiable.

Jack's Mannequin - People and Things (October 4th)

Andrew McMahon continues his musical exploration on his third album with Jack's Mannequin, People and Things. The Something Corporate frontman continues to inject introspective melodies into his music, and this album takes a deeper look at relationships and strides away from the more personal subject matter that permeated the first two albums to a certain extent. The disc's first single, "My Racing Thoughts" is a wonderful, glistening track that is destined to take over your fall playlist pretty soon.

These are just a few of the albums that will all be vying for supremacy both on the music charts and on your iTunes playlists as well! Other albums to take notice of in the months to come include the new self-titled effort from Evanescence (Oct. 11), Coldplay's brand new effort, "Mylo Xyloto" (Oct. 24), and Florence + The Machine's still untitled new effort (Nov. 7). Any albums you know of that I forgot to mention? Leave a comment here on the blog and fill me in on some albums that I may have missed!

BREAKING NEWS! Steve Jobs Resigns As CEO Of Apple!

Hey everyone,

Shocking news coming out of the technology world just now. Engadget.com is reporting that Steve Jobs is stepping down as CEO of Apple Inc., just weeks before a rumored annual press conference announcing the new iPhone 5 and other new products. Steve just published the following letter to Apple employees:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

What do you make of this story? Leave your comments here on the blog and I'll bring you more details on this story as soon as it comes in.

RoZwell Kid - RoZwell Kid LP

Fresh out of Sheperdstown, West Virginia RoZwell Kid has arrived on the scene with his self-titled debut release. RoZwell Kid is the stage name of Jordan Hudkins, drummer for his hometown act The Demon Beat. He's taking a little break from his gig as a drummer to step out on his own with this eclectic, electro pop effort that is decidedly different from the genre of music that he's accustomed to playing, and finds a common balance between the two that shows his ability to branch out in different genres with remarkable ease.

The disc opens up with "Rocket", a fun, straightforward rocker that has elements of his band thrown in to remind audience members that he hasn't completely forgotten about his roots, and aims to get currently established Demon Beat fans onboard with his side project. "Dylan, Don't Do It" is a fast moving yet pleasant track that features dynamic melodic undertones and strong, gritty guitar riffs that get through to the listener pretty quickly upon listening. My favorite song off the album is "New Mexico", a pop leaning, electro infused number that immediately opens up the realm of possibilities with a flurry of melodic guitar riffs and Jordan's vocals blending in superbly with the flurry of instrumentation laid out front, an eye opening and incredible track all around. "'93 Connie & Ronnie" is another fun, straightforward rocker that doesn't feel the need to do too much, and instead just relies on melodic guitar riffs and just a hint of electro infused matter that allows the song to pop and sizzle right out of the gate.

We head into the disc's second half with 'Ace Ventura, Pt. 3", a loud, intense rocker that picks up the pace from the previous tracks and gives the listener a little added extra jolt when listening to the songs that gives them a little variety, which seems to be the spice of life on this album! "Born 2 Drum" is a track that is a great opportunity for Jordan to showcase his talents as a more than capable drummer, and adds in a more explosive electro charge to further highlight his talents on a diverse and surprising tune. The album begins to draw to a close with "Hawaiian Shirt", a fast paced, melody filled delight that doesn't cease to amaze with its strong musical blueprint showed off in pristine fashion and gives the listener an idea of how he makes these songs in the first place. "Empty Glass" is a comprehensive, 11 minute opus that is a wonderful way to close out the album and this song is a condensed synopsis of all the musical wonders that we've encountered thus far and Jordan helps translate those experiences for us in musical terms that we can clearly comprehend. I saw his band The Demon Beat play at O'Brien's in Allston, MA a few months back and I was totally floored not only with his musical talents, but with his outgoing personality that he expressed on stage. As I recall, I remember him wearing a hat with his name printed on the hat and a green alien representing the letter 'O' in his name. An outrageous personality with an incredible knack for playing music inside and out.

Overall, a surprising and eclectic effort from RoZwell Kid, which is a platform for Jordan to express his talents beyond his current status as a drummer and shows that he's a supremely skilled musician who can juggle multiple tasks when thrown his way!

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Rocket
2. Dylan, Don't Do It
3. New Mexico
4. My Saturn
5. '93 Connie & Ronnie
6. Ace Ventura Pt. 3
7. Born 2 Drum
8. Sweets
9. Hawaiian Shirt
10. Empty Glass

Artist Spotlight: Viva Brother

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and time to check out this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we head across the pond to Slough, England and check out the sweet sounds of Viva Brother. Viva Brother formed just last year and the group consists of Leonard Newell, Joshua Ward, Samuel Jackson, and Franklin Colucci. The band have a strong alt/indie-rock influence to them, reminiscent of fellow British groups such as Blur and The Smiths, and have incredible melodic undertones spread throughout their music. The band's first single from their debut album Famous First Words is called "Darling Buds of May" and has been getting regular radio airplay on alternative rock stations across the country. I recently just had the pleasure of checking out this band a few weeks ago in concert at Hurricane O"Reilly's in Boston where they performed at an acoustic show sponsored by local Boston radio station WFNX. Another awesome British band The Kooks headlined the show (please check them out also!), but Viva Brother really left an indelible impression on me with their hooks and strong musicianship that was present throughout their performance. That concert left plenty to be desired from myself and everyone else who gathered there to watch them deliver an outstanding set!

To check out the music of Viva Brother and their debut album, head on over to their official website at http://acidlove.net You can also 'Like' the band on Facebook by going over to http://www.facebook.com/vivabrother The band can also be followed on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/vivabrother

Fletcher Leaving WFNX!!

Hey everyone!

Some changes are forthcoming in the local Boston radio landscape. It was announced last week that Fletcher, who has been doing morning drive at WFNX for the past 4 years, will be leaving the station at the end of this week to take a position as the program director over at WRXL in Richmond, VA. Here is the press release that WRXL put out last week making the announcement:

"I couldn't be more pleased to announce our new PD for 102.1 The X ... Dustin 'Fletcher' Matthews. Dustin is currently doing mornings/APD at WFNX/Boston, but is no stranger to Richmond as he worked at WDYL years ago. He’s also successfully programmed in Knoxville and Savannah. He’ll start early next month. During this process, we interviewed some of the most talented programmers in the country. Dustin was selected because of how strongly fits our needs -- a driving energy, a strong love and knowledge of the format and lifestyle, a sharp and creative mind, positive and collaborative approach, no BS or drama, a superb programming record, and people just say great things about him. Mason, Mojo, Virginia and now Dustin -- what an amazing local team! With Elliot and Nikki Sixx, and all the right pieces in programming and promotions, a new generation of Richmond listeners will no doubt know 102.1 The X as that 'great rock station!'"

"I've spent four amazing years at the legendary 'FNX here in Boston," said Matthews, "but now it's time to take my Papelbon jersey back down south for a new challenge. I'm thrilled to be joining the team at Clear Channel/Richmond and 102.1 The X. Elliot continues to dominate mornings and Mason (afternoons) has already become a star after just a year in the market. To work along side of Dave Symonds and Jon Zellner is truly an honor."

Fletcher was a part of The Sandbox morning show on WFNX for 3 years before it was cancelled in January 2010. Fletcher was then paired with Keith Dakin on the FNX Breakfast Show briefly before Keith Dakin left the station last August. Fletcher was then teamed up with newsman Henry Santoro as cohost for the morning show. Fletcher will be replaced by D-Tension on an interim basis until a new permanent cohost can be found.   

Interview w/ The Self Proclaimed Rockstars

Hey everyone!

Continuing on with my recurring feature of interviews with local artists that were featured as Artist Spotlight writeups here on the blog. This week, I have an exclusive interview with The Self Proclaimed Rockstars out of Wakefield, MA. This band has been featured as both an Artist Spotlight and I just reviewed their brand new album "Postcards From Purgatory" here on the blog as well which you can check out here: http://www.music-box-pete.net/2011/04/self-proclaimed-rockstars-postcards.html I recently had the pleasure of interviewing four-fifths of the band to get a little info about how they formed and what they have going on right now. Here is the full length transcript of the interview:

Give your names and what you do in the band? 

JOHNNY: I'm Johnny Malone and I am the singer.

MICK: I am Mick Greenwood. I play guitar, harmonica and sing just enough to make Johnny look better by comparison.

RJAN: I am Rjan. I guitar. I Rhodes. I producer.

JAMES: James Hogg. Bass.

MICK: If Steve were available he'd tell you he's our drummer and our head of recycling services. He would not be kidding about either of those.

How and when did The Self Proclaimed Rockstars form?

MICK: This version of the group started when Johnny and my old band (also called SPR) broke up at the end of 2009 and still had about 10 shows that we were committed to. We called the best kids we could find from our hometown and offered them temporary roles to get through the dates and then we figured we'd either shut it down or hold auditions. The shows went so well that everybody decided to stick around and make an honest-to-goodness run at success and now, here we are.

RJAN: A few years ago, Disney formed us as a "rockin boyband" to tour shopping malls around America, but abandoned the project before it ever got off the ground. We stuck together anyway and started writing our own songs. However, after all this time Johnny still doesn't realize that it's no longer a Disney boyband and constantly complains that the venues we play "don't have any good stores."

MICK: There's also that... 

How did you come up with the name The Self Proclaimed Rockstars? 

RJAN: We, stole it.

MICK: We did not steal it. I came up with it about 10 years ago. We all come from a hometown where, no matter how big you could ever become, they just weren't gonna care. We could make a platinum record and we would never be 'rockstars' back home. So, we figured we'd just nip that in the bud from the beginning and accept that we're self-proclaimed rockstars. It's funny because some people hear the name and think it's smug, when, in reality, we're making ourselves the butt of our own joke.

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

RJAN: Drug dealers, making hay, our respective crazies, whisky, quantifying faith, sluts, qualifications for military service medals, cold war tensions, lost blankets, and boats (that are actually penises) 

MICK: Why do we keep letting him answer first? Our songs tend to describe all of the things that come with being unsatisfied with the "normal " environment we hail from, but we are almost perversely upbeat about it. We're the kinda guys who are far more likely to have a drink after a hard day and get up the next morning and try again. We're not so much the whiny types and we sure as shit don't write any of that "lovers' lament" bullshit. You wanna wax poetic about trying to get through your day-to-day while still working toward a dream? Give our record a spin. You wanna cry about your ex? There's still plenty of New Found Glory for everyone.

JOHNNY: Our songs are very tongue and cheek. We love to glorify the tragedy of the white middle class because it takes so much shit these days, but all well deserved. None of us have ever it very good or very bad so we're sort of trapped in the middle. I wish I could write some badass songs about getting shot then rising to the top, but the closest I come is a dart in the leg. We do however take the writing process seriously and every line is put there for a reason 

MICK: I like Johnny's answer the best.

If you had to categorize your music, what genre do you consider yourselves to fall under? 

JOHNNY: Gritty rock'n roll. We thrive on the essentials of what makes a good rock song and polish it up with dynamics

RJAN: Alternative rock. The sound of five guys who don't like a lot of the same music making music they all like. Led Zeppelin did that, they were all into different kinds of music that each of the other members weren't much into. They were Alternative Rock. But, when they started, Rock itself was still technically an alternative artform, so "alternative rock" would have been a tautology. They were an alternative to that. Fuck. Yeah.

JAMES: Somewhere between "butt-rock" and "genius".

MICK: You know, I have nothing to add.

How did you come up with the title of your latest album, “Postcards From Purgatory”? 

RJAN: You'd have to ask Mick, though I suspect he intended it as an allegory for the "liberal bias" in mainstream "Zionist" media, whatever that means.

MICK: Close! No, it's about being frustrated with and trying to escape from an environment that, at the end of the day, is still "home". You can't quite leave, but you don't quite fit. You're stuck. I think a lot of people feel this way, especially since pretty much everything we were taught about success in society turned out to be bullshit. This is a record for people like that.

What are your favorite songs from the new album? 

RJAN: Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma, Fallout/A Cold Sleep

MICK: Haymaker and Fallout

JOHNNY: Haymaker and Let's Get Naughty, Baby (Let's Get Nautical)

JAMES: Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma and A Cold Sleep

What do you guys like to do in your spare time when not playing shows? 

RJAN: Write music, practice, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, watch the History Channel when it's about aliens or the end of the world, orgasm when those two things overlap and it's a show about aliens ending the fucking world, then when that's done and that fucking Larry the Cable Guy atrocity comes on I flip over to the Discovery Channel hoping for more scifi hysteria only to find American Chopper is on, flip over to History International and it's some bullshit about Jesus, go outside and smoke more, then I'll go on eBay and CraigsList and look at guitars and pedals for when I have money. I love to read, Dostoevsky is my favorite author, also Voltaire, Kerouac and Kafka. David Hume and Aristotle are awesome, too, when I don't want stories. I have a lot of heroes as far as music goes, but Richard Feynman is my absolute idol as a human being, I want to go back in time and make him sniff glue so I can be just like him when I get older. 

MICK: I love performing, so when SPR doesn't have things going on I tend to play the occasional solo show and have even been trying my hand at stand-up comedy. The day job keeps me pretty busy, but I make sure I participate in the creative community every single day (it's the only thing that keeps me sane). I'm also the music producer on The Steve Katsos Show which is a lot of fun and has filled the void that was created when the open mic I used to host got cancelled.

JOHNNY: I teach good ol history in a public high school. Working with kids pushed my patient meter off the charts, but I do love the challenge. When Im not working or playing music, I love to box. I've only been at it for a year and a half but the science of the sport is fascinating. 

JAMES: Drinking, Eating, Playing Bar Games, Sleeping

What does the rest of the future hold for The Self Proclaimed Rockstars?  

JAMES: Good things I hope!

RJAN: So unbelievably fucking excited about the future. In the not-too-distant future, we've got Dewey Beach, then our October residency at Precinct, the last show of which kicks off the Annual SPR Holiday Trifecta: Zombie Rock All-Stars, ThanksDrinking Day, and Christmas Sweater Jamboree. And that's all well and good; but, what I'm most excited about is the new material we're writing. We actually set out to record in December despite James' "recording in the winter sucks cause it's cold and low light and Seasonal Affective Disorder..." fuck that shit we're recording in fucking December cause we can't wait until spring and fall is gonna be too busy. And really, I'm absurdly excited about this new shit. Granted, bands always say they're so excited for their new material cause it's earth-shattering even when it's fucking U2 coming out with their bland new "I'm sorry we tried to change in the 90s here's some pretty delay pedal riffs that remind you of when you listened to us in college" record. Whatever, that's not why I'm saying it. Ask anyone in the band, I don't get excited about things, I'm a very morose person, and I'm really excited about what we're gonna be releasing next year because everything we've written for it so far has been really interesting, engaging music that gets stuck in my head when I leave practice.

MICK: Annual SPR Holiday Trifecta...I like that. The Dewey Beach Music Conference is something I'm really looking forward to. I think it's gonna be a blast and I can't wait. 

JOHNNY: Our goal is to become full time musicians who don't live out of a van. The music industry is a vicious beast but we feel confident in our music and business plan to not come away from this empty handed.  

MICK: There goes that lucrative RV sponsorship...

Any words you would like to give all your fans? 

JOHNNY: The sincerest thank you for keeping this dream alive. I love to thank fans by supporting them in their endeavors. Our fans are self-proclaimed writers, directors, business owners, etc... trying to make a name for themselves. It is so important that we show them the same support they show us

MICK: If you have a passion, go do it. Life and society have been designed to put themselves in the way of the pursuit of passion. Don't let it. It's never easy and it's often unsuccessful but it's so much more rewarding then letting the days of your life slip away paying bills and checking boxes. We all have day jobs and 'normal lives' and it's not easy to keep a balance, but I don't think we'll ever quit because it's who we are. We embraced this part of our identities and we're always so happy to encourage anyone to do the same.

JAMES: Thank you very much!

RJAN: Hi mom.

 Thanks once again to Johnny, Mick, James, Rian, and if he could be here Steve for this interview. They are hilarious guys and deliver an absolutely amazing show. If you haven't checked them out in concert, please do so it's well worth the price of admission. To check out the music of The Self Proclaimed Rockstars and to get info about upcoming dates near where you are, head on over to their official website at http://www.sprband.com Keep an eye out for a couple more interviews in the days to follow.

Vampire Weekend Settle Lawsuit!

Hey everyone!

A quick update on a story I originally brought to you over a year and a half ago. You may remember that Vampire Weekend was sued by a woman named Ann Kirsten Kennis, who said that the band didn't have permission to use her picture on the cover of their most recent album, Contra. Well, you'll be happy to know that the band have officially settled their legal dispute with Ann, who received an undisclosed settlement from the band while the photographer Tod Brody who took the photo remains embroiled in ongoing legal litigation.

Vampire Weekend and their record label, XL Recordings always said from the beginning that they took the proper procedures in obtaining the rights to the photograph, and blamed the photographer for any wrongdoing that transpired as a result of this. Even if the photographer misled the band, the court still could have found that they didn't provide enough due diligence, paying the photographer but not conducting enough research pertaining as to where the photo originated from. By reaching a settlement with Ann, the case against Vampire Weekend has been dismissed.

However, the story is not over. When Ann originally sued the band, the band in turn sued Brody for misrepresenting his rights to owning the photograph. Apparently it took weeks to actually track down Brody, and his lawyers quit the case back in June citing that he ignored their phone calls and avoided paying the legal bills. Brody is now representing himself regarding this matter. What do you make of this story? Make your presence known by leaving a comment here on the blog and tell me what you think!

Foster the People - Torches

Fresh out of Los Angeles, CA Foster the People have arrived on the scene with their debut release, Torches. The trio have crafted a high energy, electro infused album that is primed and ready for the fleeting days of summer and for whatever event you have planned that requires music to be played!

The disc kicks off with my favorite song off the album "Helena Beat", a bombastic, high energy electro infused track that reveals the vocal chops of Mark Foster (originally I thought a woman was singing in the group, but obviously that's not the case), who does a great job of navigating his vocals through the terrain of synthesizers and keys omnipresent at every turn. The next song is the inescapable summer jam of 2011, "Pumped Up Kicks", a fantastic, laid back synth jam that features Mark's vocals once again doing an impeccable job all throughout and the instrumentation just takes its course naturally right until the very end, a truly terrific song. "Don't Stop (Color on The Walls)" makes brilliant use of the guitars, which sound more evident and prominent this time around and help the synth sounds echo throughout the song and ring in your ears after hearing it. "Waste" is another solid track that continues to lean in a synth-heavy direction with Mark's wonderful vocals blending in nicely with the thick and diverse instrumentation set forth here.

The disc second half continues on with the dance floor ready "Houdini" an energetic, fast paced dance track that is sure to get your summer dance party off to an incredible start with an array of vivacious rhythms and synth heavy melodies that will both get you on the dance floor and put a smile on your face at the same time. "Life on the Nickel" is a little bit more toned down in nature, but still packs a melodic punch with some strategically placed synth melodies that mix in well with the instrumentation and Mark's high energy vocals. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end as we get ready to close out the album with "Miss You", another mid-tempo song that offers up some diverse instrumentation and a barrage of synth infused melodies that looks to keep that dance party energy extended a little bit longer to allow yourself to get some of that energy out there on the danxe floor. The disc's closing song, "Warrant" is a happy go lucky song that puts you in a happy mood right away, surrounded by the people you care about in a party focused setting, a great way to close out the disc. A few upstart acts have experimented in the electronic arena previously, and that has produced a couple of memorable dance songs over the last few years, including MGMT with "Electric Feel" and Phoenix with "1901". Alot of people think that synth and indie rock don't mix well together, but you'll be quite surprised to find that they were meant to be brought together and looks to be a more prominent theme through the alternative and indie rock genres within the next few years, trust me.

Wrapping it all up, Foster the People have made an indelible mark on the general public with a fantastic debut album that marries the worlds of indie rock and electro/synth into one big, massive dance party with an assortment of melodies spread out all throughout the disc and provides you with enough fuel to carry you through your party and beyond!

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Helena Beat
2. Pumped Up Kicks
3. Call It What You Want
4. Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)
5. Waste
6. I Would Do Anything For You
7. Houdini
8. Life On The Nickel
9. Miss You
10. Warrant

Artist Spotlight: Dan Masterson

Hey everyone!

Starting off your Tuesday with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have an emerging singer-songwriter right out of Boston named Dan Masterson. Dan has a unique, simple vocal style that is reminiscent of such classic performers like Billy Joel, but with a modern day sensibility thrown in to make it sound current and contemporary. The overall simplicity of his music is breathtaking with dynamic piano melodies inter weaved through his delicate and passionate vocals that enhance the overall emotional intensity of each song with remarkable precision. It's very rare nowadays to find performers that keep it simple with an organic approach to each song that when played, gives the listener the feel that they're actually in the studio with the artist as they're recording it. Dan is a truly talented and gifted individual and his talents shine very brightly on each and every composition he records. Some of my favorite tracks from Dan include "Father Time" and "Jack and Jill".

To check out more music from Dan Masterson, head on over to his Facebook page and 'Like' it by going over to http://www.facebook.com/danmastersonmusic You can also follow Dan on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/dan_masterson To check out his latest EP titled "The Father Time", head on over to his BandCamp site by going to http://danmasterson.bandcamp.com and behold the wonders and immense talents of Dan Masterson.

Artist Spotlight: Dr. Strangelove

Hey everyone!

We've got a great Artist Spotlight for you this week, but when have I said otherwise? This week we have a hip-hop instrumental artist right out of Nashville, TN called Dr. Strangelove. Dr. Strangelove (whose real name is Spencer Lawrence) has created a truly ingenious instrumental effort called Thoughtcrime, whose theme is based upon the novel 1984 by George Orwell (my favorite book of all-time, by the way), and uses samples from the movie based on the book to create a truly unique and awesome theme based instrumental album that is unlike anything that you've heard before. It's very hard these days to find hip-hop albums that are based on themes (albeit ones that contain vocals versus ones that are solely instrumental based) that really rapture the listener with its sounds that blend in beautifully with the type of theme that it's trying to convey to its listening audience. Another former Artist Spotlight artist G. Jonz employed a theme revolving around cooking titled "Check the Recipe" that was wholly unique and original. This release by Dr. Strangelove breaks down the barriers of creativity and he allows himself to think outside of the box in ways never thought possible. An incredible and unheralded effort.

To check out the music of Dr. Strangelove and to listen to "Thoughtcrime" in its entirety, head on over to his Band Camp page at http://strongbonesproductions.bandcamp.com/releases and listen to the amazing work that Dr. Strangelove has prepared for you! He also has more music available for public listening on his Soundcloud page at http://www.soundcloud.com/the-real-dr-strangelove

UPDATE: Coheed & Cambria Bassist Michael Todd Kicked Out Of The Band!

Hey everyone!

A quick update on a story I broke to you a few weeks ago. You may remember of an incident involving Coheed & Cambria bassist Michael Todd, who was arrested shortly before his band was to take the stage at the Comcast Center in Mansfield for holding up a Walgreen's in Attleboro, MA. It was announced yesterday on Coheed & Cambria's official blog that Mike has officially been kicked out of the band. Here is the full transcript of the blog post that went up yesterday afternoon:

"After a lot of thought, introspection and discussion, Coheed and Cambria will be continuing our journey without bassist Michael Todd.  We have spoken to him and this is a mutual decision between both parties. Michael was a great contributor; our hearts go out to his family and to all those who appreciate his talents. We wish him nothing but the very best.
We are currently writing and recording songs for a new album, as well as a couple compilations this fall.  We are very excited about how the songs are shaping up and can’t wait to share them with you.
We’d like to thank Wes Styles for filling in for the live gigs in the interim, including the upcoming South America and Mexico shows. A belated thanks to Rob Gill for covering in Boston; and the biggest thank you to all of you for your unwavering support.
A new chapter awaits."
Love,
Coheed and Cambria

If you remember, Mike was arrested on charges that he threatened a pharmacist with a bomb in order to acquire bottles of Oxycontin. He was given 6 bottles of the drug and then hopped in a cab headed for the Comcast Center, where his band was slated to open for Soundgarden. He was quickly apprehended upon arrival to the venue and was charged with armed robbery and possession of a Class B controlled substance. Mike was subsequently released on bail and is slated to face charges of armed robbery and drug possession in Attleboro District Court on August 9th.

Interview w/ Will Tenney of Call Me Anything

Hey everyone!

Continuing on with our special series of interviews with artists that have been featured here on the blog. This week, I have an interview with Will Tenney, the lead singer of Call Me Anything. Call Me Anything were the subject of an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog back in May and have been keeping really busy this summer, touring with the likes of Follow Your Hero (another Artist Spotlight alumni), and are gearing up to head into the studio to begin work on their debut release. Will was gracious enough to take some time after wrapping up their tour to conduct this interview, and here is what Will had to say:

- Give your name and what you do in the band?
Hey everybody! You can call me Will, and I play guitar, piano, and sing in Call Me Anything.

- How and when did Call Me Anything form?

It's a pretty long story to be honest, but the short version goes: Brandyn and I toured together for a long time in a band called White Rose. Then after about 3.5 years, we were approached by a management firm that really pushed us to be more serious. We signed, changed our name, changed our line-up, and BAM! Call Me Anything was born.

- Take us behind the bands' songwriting process and where you draw inspiration from to write your music?

That's a tough one. I really draw inspiration from all around. I certainly have my fair share of songs about girls and touring, but I write a lot about the weather/seasons as well. I think the calendar and forecast are such interesting things, and so often play into my mood. I don't know, that's just me. I'm weird. Did that answer the question? haha

- What themes and/or topics does your music cover?

Ahh buzzkill, I sort of just answered this one in the question before. But definitely the weather and seasons. I try to be really introspective and observing with my writing. I carry a notebook everywhere I go, and scratch down everything from lyrics to ideas to drawings of pigs. Whatever I'm thinking really. I'm secretly a huge oversensitive sap. Or not so secretly. You decide.

- What other bands in the pop-punk scene do fans liken your music to?

Haha well I'm not 100% sure we're in the "Pop/Punk" scene, but other bands that people compare us to? Hmmm, Jack's Mannequin we get a lot, A Rocket To The Moon, The Maine, etc. Sort of these more "on the edge" Piano/ Rock n' Roll bands.

- What means did you use to generate your fanbase and do you keep in contact with them?

A lot of people don't believe me when I say this, but the majority of our fanbase came from one thing: Touring. So many bands today are so artificial with 354,087 internet fans that they've never met, but I can honestly say that 90% of our fans came from the hard work we put in. I went on my first tour when i was 17 years old, and haven't stopped since. We've been as far South as South Carolina, as far West as Missouri, and everywhere in between. We do our best to stay real with everybody. If there's one thing that separates us from every other band in the scene, it's our work ethic.

- Tell me the inspiration behind your just released single "Let's Talk" and how all that came together?

Oh, man. Alright, here's the story. I had a huge crush on this girl all through high school, but we never really hung out in the same groups, or had any reasons to be in contact. So as soon as we graduated, I came up with some bogus reason to text her, and from there we started hanging out a little bit. About halfway through the summer, I left for a 3 week tour, and she, strangely enough, was getting ready for a 4 week cross-country road trip. Long story short, we left from our last show at 1 AM and drove straight from South Carolina to Connecticut so that I could see her. When we got there, she wouldn't come out of her room, and I haven't seen her since. So in the end of the song, i compare her to the rain and the sun, as in, She was good and bad. But finally decide, that no matter, I shouldn't let the weather bring me down. That's just the way I saw it. Sorry if that was really long, that's how it happened, haha.

- What do you guys like to do in your spare time when you're not playing shows?

Honestly, when we're not on the road, we're ridiculous human beings. That's not to say that we aren't ridiculous on the road as well, but our home lives are just absurd. Matt lives about 25 minutes north of Brandyn and myself, and Brandyn shares time between his mom and his dad. So since we're always together, the ongoing joke with this band is, "Which one of our 7 homes did I leave ______ at?" Because at any given moment, there's no saying whether your clothes are at Brandyn's house, My house, Matt's house, the van, etc. It's nuts. After this last tour, we spent 5-6 days living in a pool house together. It was pretty insane. We managed to only start a minimal amount of fires.

- What are the bands immediate plans for the rest of the year?

We're going to be doing a weekend tour with Floral Terrace and Atlantic Avenue at the end of August, then we have a headline show in Boston on September 25th at The Middle East Upstairs. We'll be releasing our music video sometime around then, and hopefully sealing up a deal with Second Chance Booking Agency.

- Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans that have supported you all along the way?

Hate to be cliche, but THANK YOU! We don't have fans, we just have a lot of really good friends that like music as much as we do, and that's more than I could ever ask for. I hope we continue to support each other in the coming years, and do great things. Thanks for reading, and hit me up anytime at facebook.com/callmeanythingband, I'd love to chat.

Thanks once again to Will of Call Me Anything for taking a little time after recuperating from a lengthy tour schedule to do this interview. These guys are ridiculously talented and are definitely a band to keep an eye on. This won't be the last you'll be hearing from them, that's for sure! Keep it tuned in here on the blog for more interviews all throughout the summer.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Eau Claire, Wisconsin's own Bon Iver (a.k.a. Justin Vernon) is back with his much anticipated, brand new self titled studio release. This effort finds the singer-songwriter continuing to bring his organic and dynamic blend of indie folk to a receptive and understanding audience who really connected immensely with his last studio release, 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago.

The disc kicks off masterfully with "Perth", a bombastic and upbeat tune that finds Justin bringing his deep and resonating vocal patterns front and center with this diverse and resourceful track. "Minnesota, WI" makes great use of the instrumentation at hand to create a sonic delight that makes you feel like you're outside in a log cabin, deep in the woods experiencing this track being created right before your very eyes.  "Towers" is a track that is brimming of positivity right from the get-go with its incredible electric guitar rhythms and Justin's emotionally gripping vocals taking ahold of you almost immediately after first listening to it. "Michicant" brings the energy level down quite a bit with a ethereal and passionate tune that hearkens back to the dreary, emotional energy that permeated Bon Iver's last album and is one that you'll have to draw up alot of composure to withstand and not break into tears while you're listening to it.

We head into the disc's second half with "Wash.", a piano laden, downtempo tune that finds Justin bringing his beautiful and emotionally signifying vocals to a whole new level with an dazzling array of instrumentation to bring the emotional intensity to a whole new level never displayed before. My favorite song off the disc is the album's first single, "Calgary" an emotional, tearjerker ballad that you will feel the effects of as soon as you hit 'Play' with Justin's dazzling vocal power once again put on display to captivate the audience with unwavering emotional power. I guarantee that there won't be a dry eye in the house after hearing this song, if you aren't crying by the end of this song then there's something definitely wrong with you! The disc comes to a close with "Beth/Rest", an appropriate tune to close out the disc with a sea of amazing piano patterns coupled with some dazzling guitar riffs that brings everything we've heard so far on the disc in one amazing display of musicianship and power. It's not too often that we find a disc that brings out the emotions of yourself and anyone else who might be in the same room, either listening to music on the stereo or watching an artist perform live. Bon Iver has found the perfect formula for allowing people to unravel emotionally and show their true colors and know that it's perfectly normal to display emotion while listening or watching music being performed live, it's all a part of the human experience.

All in all, a fantastic and well rounded disc from Bon Iver, who has captivated and dazzled audiences once again with an emotional and defining album that shows off the amazing musical talents that he has and how he eloquently communicates with his listening audience through the power of song.

                                                                                                                                 Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

    1.    Perth
    2.    Minnesota, WI
    3.    Holocene
    4.    Towers
    5.    Michicant
    6.    Hinnom, TX
    7.    Wash.
    8.    Calgary
    9.    Lisbon, OH
    10.    Beth/Rest

Artist Spotlight: Run On The Sun

Hey everyone!

Kicking off the first Tuesday of August with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have a piano infused pop/rock act out of Greenwich, CT called Run On The Sun. The band consists of Brett Steinberg on lead vocals and piano, Alessandro Chille on bass and backup vocals, Ethan Armstrong on drums, and Itamar Gov-Ari on guitar and backup vocals. The band has a straightforward, organic component to them that is reminiscent of acts such as Jack's Mannequin and The Fray with the piano melodies blending in nicely with the breezy guitar arrangements laid out in plain view here. The band's sound is primed and ready for summer and you'll find a great companion to take along with you to the beach, on your summer road trip, or whatever you have planned for the day. It's comforting to hear a band that doesn't need to rely on synthesizers or any type of electronic gizmos to express their sound and just rely on ordinary, natural instruments to express who they are as musicians and also a glimpse into who they are as people. Some tracks for you to check out include "Rhythm of Life" and "New Empire".

For more info on Run On The Sun, head on over to their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/runonthesun From there, you can stream their songs directly from the Music/Show Dates button located in the left hand menu of the screen. You can also follow the band on Twitter by going over to http://www.twitter.com/runonthesunband The band's official website can be accessed by going to http://www.runonthesunmusic.com and from there, you can get a full list of tour dates, video, and even purchase merch as well! Also, the band's debut single "Hold On" is now available on iTunes for your listening pleasure, so download your copy today!

BREAKING NEWS! Kings of Leon Cancel Remainder of U.S. Tour!

Hey everyone!

Developing story just coming in over the wire. Kings of Leon have abruptly canceled the remainder of their U.S. tour following an incident that occurred while the band was performing in Dallas on Friday night. Apparently, lead singer Caleb Followill felt that his voice wasn't at his best, so he then stormed off stage and said that he was going to throw up and then drink some beer. Temperatures in Dallas were in the 90's,  and reports said that Caleb suffered from heat exhaustion that caused his vocal cords to deteriorate quite a bit. The band released this statement just a short time ago detailing the announcement:

"We are so sorry to say Kings of Leon are canceling their entire US tour due to Caleb Followill suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion, The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break. Unfortunately, the US dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band's international tour schedule,"

Caleb's brother and fellow bandmate Jared Followill hinted at deeper problems resonating through the band. He said on his Twitter account, "I love our fans so much. I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade." This definitely smells of a breakup imminent with the band, what do you guys think? Leave your comments here on the blog and tell me what you think!

Artist Profile: Yellowcard

Today's Artist Profile is on a band that I discovered the summer before I went to college, Yellowcard. Yellowcard were formed in 1997 in Jacksonville, Florida and the band consists of Ryan Key on lead vocals and guitar, Sean Mackin on violin and backup vocals, Ryan Mendez on lead guitar, Sean O'Donnell on bass, and Longineu Parsons on drums. The band's name is derived from the term "Yellow card" that is used in soccer when an player is penalized for a serious rules infraction, and also from the fact that the members of the group are huge soccer fans. Longineu and Sean met each other while attending the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and had a different lineup when they released their debut album Midget Tossing in 1997. The album had a more hardcore punk sound starting out, but their sound changed when Ryan Key joined the group and took over the reigns as lead singer in 2000, just in time for the band's next release, Where We Stand. This release featured a more straightforward pop-punk sound that was slowly starting to become popular around the Florida area. Their third release, One For The Kids followed a year later and The Underdog EP followed in 2002. It was shortly after the EP's release that the band signed with Capitol Records and immediately began work on their major label debut, Ocean Avenue. This album came out in 2003 and slowly became an immediate success with both devoted and new members of their fanbase, producing incredible tracks like "Way Away" the monster smash "Ocean Avenue", and "Only One". The album eventually reached platinum status and the band undertook a national tour in support of the release that was very successful as well.

The band later went into the studio to begin work on their next album, Lights and Sounds which was released in early 2006. This album had a decidedly darker, more abrasive feel than their prior material and therefore wasn't as well received as its predecessor was, but it did produce some memorable tracks in the form of my favorite YC song "Lights and Sounds" and "Rough Landing, Holly". The album reached gold certification and the band went on tour to support the album after its release. The band then hunkered down to begin work on their follow up album Paper Walls, which came out a year later. Again, this album fell short of expectations both from fans and critics who were expecting a more return to form sound for the band, but they fell short again this time around yet produced a solid track in the form of "Light Up The Sky". In 2008, the band announced that they would be going on indefinite hiatus and the members retreated into a non-musical lifestyle, deciding that they would return if and when the time is right. The band emerged from their hiatus in 2010 and began work on their first release in 4 years, When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes released earlier this year on their new label Hopeless Records. The album was the nostalgic, return to form effort that fans and critics were clamoring for, and gave way to awesome tracks like "For You and Your Denial" and "Hang You Up". The band embarked on a co-headlining tour with All Time Low this past spring and are in the midst of a summer excursion that will take them across the country. I had the pleasure of catching them on their spring tour with All Time Low and it was like an immediate blast from the past for me. Just seeing a band that I had waited so long to finally see in concert brought back so many positive memories from back in the day and it felt like a revisit to the spirit of my youth that was coming back full circle for me.

This wraps up my 4 month recap of all the artists that have helped shape and define my musical experience. For those of you keeping track, here's a look back at all those artists:

311
All Time Low
Brand New
Coheed & Cambria
Death Cab For Cutie
Eminem
Foo Fighters
Green Day
Incubus
Jimmy Eat World
The Killers
The Mars Volta
Nirvana
The Offspring
Paramore
Radiohead
The Starting Line
Taking Back Sunday
Underoath
Vampire Weekend
Weezer
Yellowcard

If you would like to share some of your favorite musical artists (one from each letter of the alphabet), comment on this post and share some of the musicians who have helped shape who you are today!