Artist Spotlight: American Verse

Worcester, MA's own American Verse help us close out the week with Artist Spotlight! These hard rockers consist of Dylan Massucco, Kevin Garcia, and Ryan Pinto and have been making a name for themselves with their hard nosed blend of melodic pop-punk similar in vein to Saves The Day with a clear and concise vision of the type of music they want to play and the ranges of emotions they want to convey to the listener. I had an enjoyable time listening to these guys, and really appreciated what these guys were aiming for when they were conjuring up these tunes while in the studio. These three guys plain love being together while criss-crossing the country and exposing their sound to a receptive audience who will definitely appreciate the message that comes across during the course of their listening. A terrific upstart act definitely worthy of mentioning here. Some tracks to keep on the lookout for include "Decay" and "Heaven's In Your Head".

For more info on American Verse, 'Like' them on their Facebook page located right over here and see what they're all about. Follow them on Twitter from this locale here and find out when the guys will be venturing through the New England area again sometime soon. Their most recent effort, "Heaven's In Your Head" is now available for streaming and purchase on their Bandcamp site located here among a string of other digital music platforms.

Oakland A's Josh Reddick Uses Wham's "Careless Whisper" As His Walk-Up Song

For those hardcore baseball fanatics out there, you're going to love this one. Oakland A's outfielder Josh Reddick has had a slow start to say the least so far this season, and he's trying to change things up with his new walk up song which appears to be working and is a big hit with the fans at the O.co Coliseum. He has chosen Wham's "Careless Whisper" as his walk up song and it worked with his on field production, scoring a couple of big hits in their game against the Chicago White Sox. I'm always a big proponent of using music to allow players to feel loose and limber up at the plate, as you probably recall my MLB Player Music Special I did before the start of the season. This will probably be his walk up song from here on out if he continues to get massive production at the plate, and he has left me envious of his Civil War era beard that is beyond handsome in any stretch of the imagination, and this track has sort of acted as love making music of sorts as he comes up to the plate.

Tales of Olde To Throw Album Release Party on May 28th at Great Scott

Boston based folk sensations Tales of Olde are gearing up to throw an album release party in support of their upcoming debut EP, scheduled for release sometime this summer. The EP is preceded by the first single "Why", an intense, lyrically driven tune built upon an intense level of communication between the two husband and wive duos in the band, plus the phenomenal rhythm section of bassist Jeff Kinsey and Al Cleveland who both take their exceptional musical skills to test here and provide a rich and dynamic sound that is completely unique and original, and speaks to mind about the depth of creativity flowing through the band and the strong musical bond and kinship that has formed as a result of it.

The show will be taking place on May 28 at Great Scott in Allston, MA. The show gets underway at 9pm and for more info and to purchase tickets, head on over to this link here and you can also download "Why" over on iTunes at this link right here.

Artist Spotlight: Pull Strings

Take the day off and relax with another edition of Artist Spotlight from New Bedford's own Pull Strings. The band consists of Dylan Fleming on bass, Adam DaSilva on guitar and vocals, John Collins on drums, and Tyler Allain on guitar. The band's sound is a fast moving, frenetic experience with hard nosed punk rhythms finding its way through the mainframe and coupled with the explosive and dynamic vocals abound, it provides for a raw and fleeting listening experience that if you're a hardcore punk fan, will grow to love and appreciate the second you first hear it. What I loved about these guys was their sheer musical ability and focus, plus their raw and unadulterated sound that didn't feel the need to succumb to any musical gimmicks or shortfalls that showed they had an understanding of the music they were creating and the audience that they wanted to focus on. A terrific up and coming band that is slowly making its way on the upswing soon. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Transparent" and "Sleeping In".

For more info on the guys in Pull Strings, head on over to their Facebook page located here and give it a 'Like' if you enjoy what you hear. Follow the guys on Twitter from this locale here and find out the latest on upcoming tour appearances in the Boston area. Their Bandcamp site right over here contains all of their music they have released thus far, including their latest "The Upside of Going Blind" available on a name your own price basis.

Fierce Bad Rabbit Premiere New Track "Crystal Ball" From Upcoming "Living Sleep" EP

Based out of Fort Collins, CO but with some roots here in Boston, Fierce Bad Rabbit has just unveiled their brand new track "Crystal Ball" from their forthcoming "Living Sleep" EP. The track blends together the worlds of folk and dance into something that is immensely enjoyable and can be easily adaptable to any musical setting, especially sitting on your back porch partaking in the weather and an ice cold beverage in your company as this song plays majestically in the background. I found this track to be very comforting and subtle in nature, as it doesn't feel the need to be too overly loud or extravagant and instead finds a way to play it safe, which from these guys is quite alright by them.

To take a listen to "Crystal Ball", head on over to their Soundcloud page located right over here and for more info on Fierce Bad Rabbit, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter at this locale here. Be on the lookout for their "Living Sleep" EP which will be out by sometime this Fall.

The Black Keys - Turn Blue

From the blue collar town of Akron, OH The Black Keys have returned with their eighth studio set titled Turn Blue. The follow up to 2011's El Camino finds the blues rock duo continuing to strictly adhere to their raw and grimy blend of blues and indie rhythms that have made them a hot commodity as of late, and ensures that they remain at the top of the music heap where they squarely belong.

We kick things off with "Weight of Love", a nearly 7 minute long opus that finds frontman Dan Auerbach and drummer Pat Carney clearly focused and ready to drudge ahead with a strong classic rock influence permeating the outset of the song and features delicately placed melodies throughout that coincide well with Dan's organically laced vocals. The title track provides some delectable melodies conjured up by producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse who helmed the last 4 Black Keys efforts including this one and is also a successful musician in his own right with Broken Bells featuring James Mercer of The Shins. The first single "Fever" is my favorite track off the album, a frenetic listening experience coupled with the band's signature blues element maimed all throughout and hearing Dan's familiar vocal refrain working its way through the tunnels of the song brings about a remarkable feeling of comfort and warmth, knowing you're going to get a quality and thorough listening experience as a the result of it. "Bullet In The Brain" is a more downtempo number than the other musical creations, but still packs a powerful punch nonetheless and gets us ready for the second half of the effort with great fervor and anticipation.

The second half charges out of the gate with "It's Up To You Now", featuring some outstanding drum work from Pat that will leave you totally floored and speechless, and seeing how it sounds stacked upon layer after layer of instrumentation leads to one of the most impressively constructed tunes laid out on the disc. "Waiting On Words" is another exemplary effort that really signifies the deep musical bond between Dan and Pat that is manifesting itself and blossoming even deeper right before our very eyes into something purely magical and transcendent. We finish up the final two tracks on the disc with "In Our Prime", a piano laced effort that really nails it and hits it right out of the park with thoughtful musical precision setting the stage for the final track, "Gotta Get Away" a supremely and impeccably produced effort has an extremely consistent melody all the way throughout and is flawless in terms of its effect on the listener and the ability it possesses to wrap the whole album up neatly and succinctly. The Black Keys have never ceased to amaze me with each album they put out and their flawless and electric musical presence have left me constantly gasping for air as I can't seem to contain myself and ask the question, "How can music be this good?"

All in all, a supreme and delectable musical effort from the Black Keys, a band who are clearly in their prime and have no reason to improve upon from their last effort because it's just as good and are one of the premiere acts in music today.

                                                                                                                                Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Weight of Love
2. In Time
3. Turn Blue
4. Fever
5. Year In Review
6. Bullet In The Brain
7. It's Up To You Now
8. Waiting on Words
9. 10 Lovers
10. In Our Prime
11. Gotta Get Away    

Cali Based Some Ember Stream Brand New Track "The Thrashing Whip"

California's own synth wave duo known as Some Ember have just released their brand new and dreamy synth laden tune called "The Thrashing Whip". The song has a mysterious and ethereal quality to it that sets it apart immensely from all the other acts currently out there, and establishes a link between the listener and artist that is wholly unique and creates a universal feeling of wonder and astonishment with the duo entertaining the audience with their musical strengths that will be extremely well received on the other side. I didn't really know what to expect from these two, but I definitely felt the synth heavy vibe that was coming my way with lush musical arrangements and thoughtful musical precision that worked its way into the crevice almost immediately upon impact.

To take a listen to "The Thrashing Whip" for yourself, head on over to Dream Recording's Soundcloud page right over here and for more info on Some Ember, 'Like' them on Facebook here and give them a follow on Twitter right here. Check out more of their musical concoctions over on their Bandcamp site at this spot here.

Artist Spotlight: Citizen

Starting off your Tuesday and another week of Artist Spotlight with a band splitting its time between Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio that goes by the name of Citizen. The band consists of Mat Kerekes on lead vocals, Nick Hamm on guitar, Jake Duhaime on drums, Ryland Oehlers on guitar, and Eric Hamm on bass. The band sound is an intense, youthful pop-punk dynamic with a heavy emphasis being put on melody to get a stranglehold on the listener right away and take them in right away to introduce their sound to a fanbase that has a veracious appetite for all things music. I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience with these gentlemen, and really appreciated how they kept things on a level playing field with their intense guitar riffs and extremely well written lyrics being the highlights of a band that is well on their way to achieving a great deal of success around here and across the pond as well. A terrific upstart act that is definitely worthy of some plays in your iTunes library. Some songs to check out for yourself include "Young States" and "I Still Shut My Eyes".

For more info on Citizen, head on over to their Facebook page located right here and give it a 'Like' while you're over there. Follow the guys adventures on Twitter from over here and find out when the guys might be venturing through the Boston area sometime soon. Visit their official website here for more in depth information concerning the gentlemen, including links to purchase their music on iTunes and in CD and vinyl formats as well.

Guided By Voices To Release New LP "Cool Planet"

Dayton, OH based indie rock pioneers Guided By Voices are set to release their brand new album tomorrow titled "Cool Planet". The album is preceded by the song, "Table at Fool's Tooth" a gritty, dynamic track that gives the band an opportunity to recapture the magic and spirit of yesteryear with an inventive and raw musical wavelength that shows Robert Pollard and the band's days aren't numbered just yet and still know how to bring in the masses with a clear and concise collection of tunes that brings back fond memories of the band's heyday in the early 80's. The band will also be hitting the road in support of the new effort with Doug Gillard and Atomic Forces opening on select dates. Here is their tour itinerary:

5.22.14 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theater

5.23.14 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

5.24.14 Washington, DC - Black Cat

6.02.14 Des Moines, IA - Wooly's

6.03.14 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room

6.04.14 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre

6.06.14 Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory

6.07.14 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom

6.08.14 Seattle, WA - The Showbox at the Market

6.10.14 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre

6.11.14 San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom

6.13.14 Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre

6.14.14 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern

6.15.14 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

6.18.14 Lawrence, KS - The Granada

6.20.14 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre

To check out "Table at Fool's Tooth" for yourself, it's now available for streaming on Fire Records Soundcloud page right over here.

The Echo Friendly Release "Fuck It And Whatever" Vid Clip

Greenpoint, Brooklyn's own The Echo Friendly just released their intriguing new music video for the song "Fuck It And Whatever". The effort features a split screen set of the duo in separate bedroom settings while moving along to a subtle, low-key indie sound that highlights the growing tension between the two that is apparent if you watch the action in the video really closely. I was very impressed with the creative angle taken in this video to illustrate the bond between two people disintegrating and using the melody of the music to tell the story that does an excellent job of rapturing people into the story that will leave them fascinated and spellbound by the end and unable to turn away as a result of it.

For more info on The Echo Friendly, 'Like' them on Facebook here and give them a follow on Twitter over here.

Toronto Based Bordeen Releases "Broken Bones" Video

From the land of the Blue Jays, Toronto's own Bordeen have just released their clever and inventive video clip for the song "Broken Bones". The vid features different shots of the band spliced together in a unique fashion that goes along well with the upbeat blend of indie rock that they present on a daily basis both on record and on stage. It all flows together cohesively as it should, and it does a great job of presenting the band's strengths in a unique fashion that gives a prospective listener who may have not heard of them an idea of what their music is all about and what it hopes to accomplish once all is said and done.

For more info on Bordeen, 'Like' them on Facebook here and give them a follow on Twitter over here.

Artist Spotlight: Donovan Wolfington

For Friday's edition of Artist Spotlight heading into the weekend, we head down to the land of Mardi Gras known as New Orleans, LA where we come across the vibrant and diverse sounds of Donovan Wolfington. The band consists of Neil Berthier on guitar and lead vocals, Matthew Seferian on guitar and vocals, Savannah Saxton on keys and vocals, Chris Lanthier on bass, and Michael Saladis on drums. The band sound is a mixture of about half a dozen different genres where the sound can't possibly be pinned down to one specific location, but runs the gamut from grunge to punk to everything in between with a sharply driven musical focus run amok that is destined to illicit a positive reaction from the audience who will genuinely appreciate the band's creativity and style much like I did. These guys are absolutely brilliant to say the least, and I love how the group has a unique style and image where they just throw everything out there, much like they do in the photo above where all the members strip down to their underwear showing some skin and look mighty fine at doing it. A terrific band with an extremely bad ass name that is well worth your listening time.

For more info on Donovan Wolfington, head on over to their Facebook page located right here and give it a 'Like' so that you can stay in the know of everything happening in the band's world. You can follow the group's adventures on Twitter from this locale here and find out when the band might be coming to the Beantown area sometime soon for a concert appearance. Their latest album is titled "Scary Stories You Tell In The Dark", and is now available for streaming and purchase via their Bandcamp site conveniently parked right here.

Artist Spotlight: Neck Deep

Artist Spotlight is ready to go for today, and we jump across the pond to Wrexham, United Kingdom where we stmble upon the finely tuned pop-punk sounds of Neck Deep. The band consists of Ben Barlow on lead vocals, Lloyd Roberts on guitar, Matt West on guitar, Fil Thorpe-Evans on bass, and Dani Washington on drums. The band's sound is chock full of effervescent pop-punk rhythms and is mostly reminiscent of all the bands I grew up listening to in high school such as The Starting Line and New Found Glory, and those influences bubble up to the surface prominently and the overall sound is first rate and really touches upon you emotionally the moment you first hear it. There is almost nothing not to like about this band, and they've been a huge commodity over in England and they deserve a boatload of success here in the States where their sound will resonate strongly with its listeners just as it has over in their native land. Some songs for you to check out from them include "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" and "Up In Smoke".

For more information on Neck Deep, head on over to their Facebook page located here and give it a quick 'Like' while you're at it. The band is also on Twitter from this spot here and find out when the lovely lads will be making their way to the U.S. sometime soon for a concert appearance. Visit their official website over here for more in depth information regarding the band, including links to buy merch and tickets.

The Foresters - Living Hold

Bethany, CT based The Foresters have just released their latest album titled "Living Hold". The follow up to their 2012 self-titled release finds the youngsters coming into their own as musicians who are venturing into their mid-teens with the wisdom and musical fortitude of someone much older than they are, but the kids know how to keep everything in check and take it all in stride right here.

Things start out with "Fade To Black", a raw and dirty rock track featuring frontman Evan Nork's exquisite vocal work that has gradually evolved from their prior releases, and shows a group that are more than capable of handling everything thrown their way, which they accomplish with remarkable accuracy and pinpoint precision. "Addiction" features some more dynamic punk influences inspired by Green Day and shows the musical talent of Evan's brothers Hayden and Liam who do exceptional jobs on the bass and drums respectively that really is a collaborative effort and a wonder to see unfold right before you musically. "Big Mountain Fudgecake" is my favorite track off the effort that shows some White Stripes influences seeping through the walls with the boys' musical depth growing right before our very eyes with garage rock influenced vocals and tightly wound instrumentation that shows a remarkable leap forward in terms of musicality and raw talent.

The second half of the effort features "Way Up High", a track that echoes the sentiments of youth today with its references to "teenage girls that will break your heart" which youngsters can relate to and ones that will connect even further with their peers in the same age range that will definitely take this track to heart more than the other ones featured on here. "Good Clean Fun" gets us ready for the conclusion of the album with a series of "whoa-whoa-whoas" featured within the lyrical framework that melds in together wonderfully with the hard nosed rhythms in place that shows that the boys know exactly what they're doing and where they're headed musically. "Take Your Makeup Off The Wall" concludes our musical stay here with a mostly acoustic number that shows the diversity of the group with the boys working together to deliver a quality, standout track that listeners will remember and look back fondly on as the signature song of the album that ties everything up and presents us with a scrapbook of sorts as to what we've heard musically just now. It's been a pleasure seeing these boys evolve from when I first covered them on the site just 2 years ago, and they've made a huge progression forward in terms of maturity and giftedness that I can't possibly believe and I can safely say that they're not kids anymore, but they're teenagers coming into their own as musicians who genuinely love what they do in their spare time away from their schoolwork.

Looking back, a terrific and well produced effort from The Foresters, a band who are taking the next step up the musical ladder and into a different phase of their lives with an effort that adequately expresses their musical desires and dreams that are slowly coming into fruition right before them.

                                                                                                                      Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Fade To Black
2. Addiction
3. Big Mountain Fudgecake
4. Julie Sue
5. Way Up High
6. Good Clean Fun
7. Take Your Makeup Off The Wall