Review: Annabel - Now That We're Alive

Label: self-released

Released: Summer 2008

My wife is a great cook. When she makes something, it tastes great, but it also looks great. She tells me that the appearance is important, that the appearance shows that she cares about what she's prepared for us to eat. I may never have thought of that had she not brought it to my attention. I'm too busy stuffing myself with Hippy Burritos to notice, so she doesn't do it to entice me to eat, she does it because she cares about what she's doing.

What does this have to do with record reviews, you ask? Everything if the record is Annabel's Now That We're Alive. You see, before even playing the album, it's clear that they care about what they've done. The CD and card come in a handmade cloth pouch. When was the last time you got a CD in something like that? Probably never, because you just don't come across that many bands who care that deeply for what they've produced and choose to honor their work in a similar fashion. So, before even listening, I'm already impressed.

Of course, the album (like the burritos) has to have more than just a nice exterior or the appearance, no matter how much care went into it, is meaningless. So the question still remains: How is the music?

Annabel play a low-key indie rock that combines hints of both noise and twee pop. The jangley guitars and throbbing bass line of the opening track are instantly engaging, but that does nothing to prepare your ears for "Castles in the Air," a more understated twee-oriented song whose sublime pop sense would make Brian Wilson jealous. They push the pop envelope even further on "Bouquet Mines" whose Woo-ooo's layer pre-Bealtes AM pop over angular rhythms. It says a lot about those two tracks that the Casiotone pop of "...And Elsewhere," which is nearly on par with the Postal Service, is actually a bit of a let down. While the album finishes, as it began, on an edgier note, it's the pair of songs in the middle that make it.

So, like one of my wife's meals, Annabel not only shows that they care enough about their music to wrap it up in a unique and personal package, but that the music itself is worthy of that honor. Better yet, it's great in a way that's almost impossible to pinpoint, so don't bother thinking, just let the pop wash over you.

Ratings
Satriani: 6/10
Zappa: 8/10
Dylan: 8/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.


Contact me if you want the recipe. They're seriously good.

Warped Tour 2008 Interview: Kristina Grossmann of Rock for Health

One of the great things about the Warped Tour is its desire to showcase activist and charitable organizations. Rock for Health is one such organization whose goals center around health care and advice for musicians who are frequently without any resources. Kristina Grossmann, president of Rock for Health, answered a few questions about the organization and its presence on the tour.

RnRnMN: You are a relatively new organization, formed in October of last year. How much have you been able to accomplish in the last 10 months?

KG: ROCK FOR HEALTH has accomplished a great amount in the last 10 months. By December of last year, when we were two months old, we already had Warped Tour confirmed. We received an invitation to SXSW this year, have done numerous press such as FUSE TV and Radio&Records Magazine, locked down a few tours, and have helped countless artists! The organization is growing very quickly - I'm very pleased!


RnRnMN: With the election this year and health care being an increasingly big issue at the state and federal levels, do you do (or hope to do) any advocacy work?

KG: Part of RFH's mission statement is advocating health and preventative care for artists. The biggest misconception about my organization is that we are an insurance provider -which we are not. We partner up with health insurance and health benefit agencies to help artists get affordable care. In advocating preventative care, we work with nutritional companies and other health companies to educate and offer artists healthy alternatives. I created a tour manual for artists that contains locations of free clinics, hospitals, ambulance services, pharmacies, ear/nose/throat doctors, chiropractors - you get the gist - in every major touring city. It also has information on how to stay healthy on the road, such as tour exercises and what to eat when at a gas station. RFH is an organization that makes people thing - "Why didn't I think of that?"


RnRnMN: Is your goal strictly health advice for musicians or do you hope to ultimately provide a means for musicians to obtain health insurance?

KG: One of the companies that we work with is a health benefit agency called MEDILINQ. We have a plan with MEDILINQ that for $39.95 a month, a whole entire band up to 15 members receives 40-60% off on prescription drugs, doctor visits, dental, urgent care, chiropractors, etc. We have already signed a few bands up for this service and they absolutely love it. I had a client save over $600 on a root canal! I have since been dubbed "The Healthcare Angel."

RnRnMN: How has your presence with the Warped Tour helped?

KG: Warped Tour has helped RFH immensely! With over 130 bands on the tour and an average venue size of 15,000 kids, Warped has been great. The best part is seeing how fast the company grows everyday while on the tour. I get more and more people coming up to me on the tour telling me how they heard about us or how they saw a certain artist on the tour wearing one of our shirts. More and more kids buy shirts everyday, more and more artists wear the shirts everyday, and we are helping so many more people in such a short period of time that we ever would have been able to. It's very humbling meeting people that are so genuinely thankful for an organization like this, and seeing the happiness of bands when they find out that someone is
tackling an issue like this. We are the only non-profit on this tour that is for the musicians themselves. With so many bands on the tour and so many people within the scene with connections to other artists, this tour is a no-brainer.


RnRnMN: Have you been able to enjoy the music or has it been all work on the tour?

KG: With me, it's always all work! But I love it. I absolutely get to watch bands on the tour - especially the bands that I am working with. Some of them are so hard to find that sometimes finding them at their set is the only option! I show them support for their support of ROCK FOR HEALTH.


RnRnMN: How do you envision Rock for Health growing over the next few years?

KG: In the future, I would like to have the funds to sponsor research on musician related illnesses, such as an ear/nose/throat doctor studying a singers vocal chords. I'm going to be having ROCK FOR HEALTH sponsored tours, benefit shows, etc, as well as being able to donate money to artists who are in some sort of health bind.


RnRnMN: Other than donations, how can fans help?

KG: To make a donation, you can visit our webpage or myspace. Donations are tax-deductible! Buying tee-shirts also helps, as that money goes into helping the artists. Fans can help by adding me on myspace and volunteering at shows and tours that we participate in. Everything from handing out fliers, posting our banner on your site, wearing tee shirts, to telling people about the organization helps us out so much!



Website

Myspace

Facebook

See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Warped Tour 2008 Pictures: We the Kings

Here's some shots from We the Kings' set at the Warped Tour, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD on 7/16/2008.



See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Song-a-Day 3.0

There are plenty of this-a-day and that-a-day (and don't forget Skull-a-Day) sites out there these days. Matt Green is doing Song-a-Day. It's not an original concept in and of itself, but Green isn't just churning out songs for the sake of it. It's an exercise for him to grow as a songwriter, so he's giving you a glimpse into his own evolution. He's done this before and on July 23rd, he's giving it another shot with Song-a-Day 3.0.

Website

Myspace

Warped Tour 2008 Interview: Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem

When you go to a fest like the Warped Tour, there's so many bands that you have to make choices, but the Gaslight Anthem made it easy, because there wasn't anything that could trump catching their set. After a listen to their upcoming album, The '59 Sound, I had high expectations and the band met them. I had a chance to catch up with singer Brian Fallon to find out how the Warped Tour was (this was their last date) and what's up next for them (and a little talk about Springsteen).



RnRnMN: How has the Warped Tour been treating you?

BF: The Warped Tour was pretty fun for us. It was hot, but of course it was hot, it's July! We were in a van and trailer, but hey, we make due. We had a good time.


RnRnMN: What made you decide to join the Warped Tour this year? Has it lived up to your expectations?

BF: We did it to see the Bronx for free. We just wanted to do it. It's all about gaining experiences when you're a touring band and the warped tour is definitely an experience. It's really a pretty good time if you don't sit around and complain all day about the heat.


RnRnMN: Are these the biggest crowds you've played for? How does it compare to playing smaller shows?

BF: Actually we were on one of the smallest stages. We get much bigger crowds on our own tours. We really had to fight to get seen, so we just turned the live show up a notch and it worked. By the last day, there were a lot of kids watching us.


RnRnMN: Who is the best band you've seen on the Warped Tour this year?

BF: The Bronx, the Bronx, the Bronx. Amazing!


RnRnMN: There's a lot of bands to choose from. It's overwhelming when you get here and look at the schedule. Why should someone see you?

BF: You won't see any other band doing what we do live. I'm not saying we're the best, I'm just saying we're making a noise you don't hear so often nowadays. We've got our hands in the Motown pot. That's where we're drawing from.


RnRnMN: The Warped Tour has corporate sponsors like AT&T. How do you feel about that? Is it a good thing, a necessary evil or a sellout?

BF: I don't know man. I don't think everything can be mom and pop, but truthfully, I'm not into all that. That's jive to me. To me, it's about treating people right. I haven't gotten that perfect yet myself. When I do, then I'll start pointing fingers. For now, I'm busy trying to sort my own shortcomings out. Everything's sponsored, baseball, everything, but I'm not into all that though. I don't know AT&T from IPods. It's all out of my peripheral right now.


RnRnMN: Your new album, The 59 Sound, is like punk rock Springsteen. Do you guys like Springsteen a lot or is it just something that happens when you grow up in New Jersey?

BF: The Boss is the Boss applesauce.


RnRnMN: Springsteen is clearly not playing punk rock. How do you see the connection between Springsteen and punk? It seems like something that should have been done before. Why do you think that boat's been missed up until now?

BF: You watch live at Hammersmith Odean 1975 DVD and then you see punk rock. I don't think half the kids waving springsteen flags sound like Springsteen, I think there's a bit of a band wagon, tell 'em come down to Asbury Park and spend a few minutes here, then we can talk Bruce.


RnRnMN: What are your plans after the Warped Tour?

BF: We're going to Australia tomorrow and then Redding and Leeds, then the US from fall to winter. We're road tested, mother approved. Plus, we can't get no real jobs.



Website

Myspace

See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Warped Tour 2008 Pictures: Gaslight Anthem

Here's some shots from Gaslight Anthem's set at the Warped Tour, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD on 7/16/2008.



See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Toyota Yaris and Urban Outfitters announce latest Free Yr Radio concert dates to benefit independent radio

The Secret Machines, Dave P, Dan Deacon, and Tokyo Police Club added to concert series lineup

Seattle, WA – July, 25 2008 – The Free Yr Radio campaign, created by Toyota Yaris and Urban Outfitters to generate awareness and support for partner independent radio stations, today announced three additional concert dates that will benefit independent radio stations in Philadelphia, Omaha, and Salt Lake City.

Hosted by each partner station, the upcoming Free Yr Radio concerts are free to the public and include:

Philadelphia – Princeton, New Jersey-based WPRB will feature DJ Dave P with The Secret Machines on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. in the Urban Outfitters store located at 110 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA.

Omaha – KIWR will feature Dan Deacon on Sunday, September 7 at 8 p.m. in Slowdown, a bar and club next door to the Urban Outfitters located at 745 N 14th St., Omaha, NE.

Salt Lake City – KRCL will feature Tokyo Police Club on Wednesday, September 24 in the Urban Outfitters located at 12 S. 400 W. St., Salt Lake City, UT. The time of the show is TBD.

Secret Machines, Dan Deacon and Tokyo Police Club join previously-announced Free Yr Radio 2008 artists White Williams, !!!, Mudhoney, No Age and Yeasayer.

Each aspect of the Free Yr Radio campaign is designed to give partner independent stations tools to build awareness and help raise additional funds from their listener communities. Partner stations co-host concerts as a means to increase exposure, introduce themselves to new listeners, and generate support.

The campaign also features a vehicle sweepstakes that enables stations to award a brand new Yaris to one listener during their fundraising or awareness-boosting activities. The final component of the Free Yr Radio campaign is the benefit compilation album. Slated for release in late summer, this year's compilation will feature tracks donated by participating bands and other artists interested in the mission to support independent radio. All proceeds from the album are divided equally among the participating stations.

All Free Yr Radio concerts are free of charge, though show-goers must print and present an e-ticket (available from www.FreeYrRadio.com) for entry. Guests will be admitted until the venue is full. This year's Free Yr Radio concert series will run from May through October. Details about more of the upcoming concerts—including participating bands and cities—will be announced in the coming months.

"We are very excited to continue building buzz and awareness for independent radio stations across the country by providing fans with unique and memorable concert experiences," said Keith Dahl, National Marketing Manager for Toyota. "Between the exceptional Free Yr Radio concert series and the Yaris giveaway sweepstakes, we’re hopeful that our partner independent stations around the country will generate excitement in their listener communities that will translate into new listeners and additional support."

Another previously announced Free Yr Radio concert is set for Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 30 when independent station The Current hosts a performance by Yeasayer at 7 p.m. in the Urban Outfitters located at 3006 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN.

Review: New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg / International Superheroes of Hardcore - Takin' It Ova

Label: Bridge Nine

Released: April 29, 2008

This release finds the latest EP from pop-punks New Found Glory and a full-length from NFG side-project International Superheroes of Hardcore. Without a doubt, NFG are a band that could use a fresh start and a return to writing meaningful songs rather than the sap that made up their major label years. ISHC had a limited release that preceded this, but this is their first exposure to a broader world. So, both bands have something to prove.

NFG's Tip of the Iceberg EP certainly shows more heart than the band has exhibited since 1999's Nothing Gold Can Stay and for the first time, it's more punk than pop. While NFG members have been in these waters before, the band has never been here on record. Most of the songs still have a heavy dose of pop, but it doesn't drown the punk element like NFG have done for years.

The six songs on Tip of the Iceberg include three covers. NFG lighten up Gorilla Biscuits' "No Reason Why" to something akin to early 7 Seconds, but they're even more at home taking on one of Shelter's more melodic moments on "Here We Go Again." But every track, covers and originals alike, certainly has more substance than the band has had in quite some time.

ISHC waste no time separating themselves from NFG's lighter legacy. With a blistering pace and aggressive vocals, they lay down some serious East Coast hardcore grooves along the lines of Madball. It's not the most original work in the genre, but they could hold their own with all but perhaps the top handful of hardcore bands. It's full of heart-on-the-sleeve songs about the scene and the meaning of hardcore and what it means to really live the life. Still, they also exhibit a sense of humor on songs like "Screamo Gotta Go" and that's always refreshing in the all-too-serious world of hardcore.

Tip of the Iceberg/Takin' It Ova is an interesting packaging with pop-punk that hardcore fans can stomach and hardcore that won't scare the pop out of anyone. Both discs show bands at the top of their game and, for NFG anyway, that's somewhere they haven't been in a long time.

Ratings
Satriani: 6/10
Zappa: 5/10
Dylan: 6/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 6/10

NFG:
Website

Myspace

ISHC:
Website

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

Warped Tour 2008 Interview: Dillan Wheeler of A Cursive Memory

Barely out of high school, A Cursive Memory is one of several young bands on the Warped Tour. Don't be fooled by their age though, because these guys are already making waves with their debut full-length, Changes, and the fabulous success of their video for the single "Everything." Here's drummer Dillan Wheeler's take on the band's Warped Tour experience.

RnRnMN: How has the Warped Tour been treating you?

DW: A Cursive Memory and the Warped Tour go together better than cheese and crackers. If I had one criticism, it would be the heat on the east coast is too intense, to which I suggest Kevin Lyman turn the sun down a little bit next time.


RnRnMN: What made you decide to join the Warped Tour this year? Has it lived up to your expectations?

DW: We had never done it before and the fact that we were able to play this year made it a done deal. We are just happy to be here. It has definitely exceeded my expectations.


RnRnMN: Are these the biggest crowds you've played for? How does it compare to playing smaller shows?

DW: We have been lucky enough to play to pretty big crowds. The Bamboozle Road Show treated us really nicely in that department. The only difference is with those shows we were a small, new band and got to play for a lot of people who had not heard us before. The cool thing about this tour is that we have had plenty of people stop by, just to see us, when there are other bands playing at the same time. It is encouraging to know that people want to come watch us and it really makes our day.


RnRnMN: You guys are among the tours youngest bands. What benefit do you think there has been for you in touring with bands who have been around longer and have more experience?

DW: Playing with older more experienced bands really makes you check yourself. We got to see how they prepare for a show, the way they transition between songs, how they organize among themselves on stage, and the business aspect of it all. It allows us to constantly reevaluate how we play personally and together as a band.


RnRnMN: Who is the best band you've seen on the Warped Tour this year?

DW: It is way too hard for me to choose one band that is the “best”, but here have been my favorites to watch: Say Anything, Jack’s Mannequin, Set Your Goals, Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Dr. Manhattan. I love watching Dr. Manhattan. They are absolutely nuts and I love it.


RnRnMN: The Warped Tour has been called "punk rock summer camp" in the past. Not really being a punk band, do you think that's still an accurate description of the tour? Does it create any tension with so many different kinds of artists? Are there any cliques?

DW: There definitely are cliques, but none of these groups are completely closed off. I haven’t noticed much tension between groups either. It just doesn’t seem like the kind of issue it was in the past where one band was talking trash about another band playing right next to them (i.e. NOFX vs. Underoath). Maybe I just have not been around it if it is happening. Naturally, bands of the same genre know of each other and tend to hang out the most together. I would still say it is like “punk rock summer camp.” No, we are not a “punk band,” although we do incorporate some aspects of the genre into our songs. The truth of the matter is that if there is a band that you think is not “punk” enough to be on the Warped tour, the REAL punk thing to do is not care.


RnRnMN: There's a lot of bands to choose from. It's overwhelming when you get here and look at the schedule. Why should someone see you?

DW: People should come see us because if they don’t, they are not invited to my birthday party.


RnRnMN: The Warped Tour has corporate sponsors like AT&T. How do you feel about that? Is it a good thing, a necessary evil or a sellout?

DW: It is necessary I guess. For all I know the AT&T sponsorship is funding the stage that my favorite band is playing on, so it would be very bold of anyone to yell "sellout."


RnRnMN: What are your plans after the Warped Tour?

DW: Since we hop off warped tour on the east coast, we are hitting shows on the way back home from 7/29-8/9 and we are getting our fall shows lined up. More soon!



Myspace

See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Warped Tour 2008 Pictures: Bouncing Souls

No strangers to the Warped Tour, the Bouncing Souls' set didn't disappoint. Here they are at the Warped Tour, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD on 7/16/2008.



See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Review: Protest the Hero - Fortress

Label: Vagrant Records

Released: February 11, 2008

There is a musical gray area that exists between good bands that live within their limitations and great bands that have no limitations. Bands in that gray area are clearly very, very good and deserve credit for their willingness to push the envelope of their sound. At the same time, they get dinged for lacking the self-knowledge to know when to stop pushing and to start concentrating on songwriting rather than theory. These bands avoid the perfection that can be achieved on either side of them and the degree to which they avoid it determines whether their album flirts with greatness or disaster.

Protest the Hero's second full-length album, Fortress, certainly falls into that gray area. These guys' chops far exceed most of their peers'. The rhythms are tight and dynamic, their dual guitar attack can be both lightning fast and beautifully melodic and Rody Walker's vocals are as effective when smooth as when brutal. They incorporate hardcore's brutality and thrash's speed with moments of symphonic metal that actually aren't all that gratuitous. In their best moments they knock on the door of the Mars Volta, but unlike Volta, their songs often lack the cohesiveness that turns experimentation into song. That and perhaps the thinness of the production are the limiting factors of the soaring potential of Fortress.

All members of Protest the Hero are under the legal drinking age (here in the US, but not in their Canadian home), yet they've been playing together for nine years. That may account for both their incredible ability to play together as well as their struggle to write focused songs. For such a young band, they are incredibly literate, writing lyrics that sensible enough to get a feel for the song, yet cryptic enough to keep you guessing. If they could translate that same ability into the music, they would get out of that gray area and do more than just flirt with greatness.

Ratings
Satriani: 10/10
Zappa: 7/10
Dylan: 4/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

Website

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

Warped Tour 2008 Interview: Shwayze

One of several hip-hop acts on the tour this year, Shwayze's laid back jams and good-time vibe stood out amongst punk, hardcore and emo...and the ladies loved 'em.

RnRnMN: How has the Warped Tour been treating you?

S: Warped has been really cool.. I think over the years its become more diverse, which is great for a group like us. We'll play in between two hardcore bands and still have our fan base in full effect, also we get to touch fans that may not normally be exposed to our music.


RnRnMN: What made you decide to join the Warped Tour this year? Has it lived up to your expectations?

S: When we got the call to do Warped Tour we were stoked to do it. It's been a lot of fun.


RnRnMN: Who is the best band you've seen on the Warped Tour this year?

S: I have to say my boys in 3OH!3, these rappers out of Denver Colorado. Check them out!

RnRnMN: There's a lot of bands to choose from. It's overwhelming when you get here and look at the schedule. Why should someone see you?

S: Because we're the dopest! And all the girls come to our stage!


RnRnMN: The Warped Tour has corporate sponsors like AT&T. How do you feel about that? Is it a good thing, a necessary evil or a sellout?

S: A necessary evil. I mean the tour has been going on for 15 years. They must be doing somthing right! Right?


RnRnMN: When you guys played, girls went crazy. It was like you guys were the Beatles. What's up with that?

S: Ha ha. I dont know. Girls were the inspiration while making the record so I would only hope they come to the show.


RnRnMN: I'm a happily married guy. I don't drink or smoke pot. What does Shwayze have to offer me?

S: You don't have to drink or smoke pot to have a good time. Our DJ Skeet Skeet is straight edge, so if you come hang he'll be sober with you and as far as the wife goes...you gotta resist your own temptation playa! Ha ha!


RnRnMN: What are your plans after the Warped Tour?

S: Another tour! We have some shows lined up with Tyga and Sean Kingston. Also, our TV Show premiers on MTV July 23rd and our record comes out August 19th. Keep an eye out for Shwayze!



Website

Myspace

See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Warped Tour 2008 Pictures: Shwayze

Shwayze put on a good show at the Warped Tour, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD on 7/16/2008.



See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Video: Confide - "If We Were A Sinking Ship"

Confide "If We Were A Sinking Ship" from Daniel Chesnut on Vimeo.

Myspace

Review: Mad Juana - Acoustic Voodoo

Label: Azra Records

Released: September 11, 2007

I'll make no secret that songs of hopelessness and despair that have no sense of redemption or salvation have an uphill battle to resonate with me. That's not to say that none do, just that it's harder for them, because they run against the grain of my soul. Mad Juana's Acoustic Voodoo is a dark record and runs counter to my nature almost throughout. It's also excellent.

The record is dark and mysterious and downright witchy. It draws heavily on Celtic, Eastern European and even Middle Eastern folk traditions. "Ecstasy" incorporates African jazz and "Steel Will" mixes blues and burlesque with a mantra-like chorus. Their cover of the Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs" nails the song's sense of worldly depravity. Mad Juana manages to jump around without losing focus, because they maintain their thematic darkness which is more than anything maintained by Karmen Guy's voice. It is at times rich, full, breathy and sensual and always, with one exception, the comparatively uplifting "Ecstasy," vaguely tortured.

Featuring Sami Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks and now New York Dolls fame, one might expect a rock record, so Mad Juana requires a shift. However, despite influences and instrumentation that makes it non-rock, Acoustic Voodoo is very much a rock record. Better yet, it has soul which gives it an underlying hope, even in despair.

Ratings
Satriani: 8/10
Zappa: 8/10
Dylan: 8/10
Aretha: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

Review: The Devil and the Sea - Heart vs Spine

Label: Acerbic Noise Development

Released: January 29, 2008

When an album runs wild, there's not usually a whole lot of middle ground. It's either on the verge of brilliance or on the verge of disaster. The Devil and the Sea are certainly wild. Like Black Flag before them, they take the spirit of free jazz (call it free punk, if you will) and apply it within the sphere of their own genre. Into this mix, they throw early thrash elements, doom and post-metal drone and the vocal stylings of a soul in turmoil.

While the album does rein in its wild abandon for a few tracks, it's at its best when it pushes. The drums are wild, the bass fuzzy and the overall character is manic.
At times, the band seems on the verge of disintegration, but always manages to hold it together by the sheer force of will that pushed the music to its limit in the first place. Heart vs Spine is not a melodic record so much so that the little bit of melody that sneaks in on "My Soul Is My Abacus" is shocking. Instead, it has the slow, lumbering energy of a very large beast that plods deliberately along and then suddenly breaks into a stampede.

Growling has become such a common convention in heavy music that it's almost an instant turn-off, but the Devil and the Sea is one instance where anything less would be inappropriate and, unlike other bands who are simply following the formula, this growl conveys real emotion and the manic fragility of being on the very edge. It goes beyond inarticulate anger and, most importantly, it works. It thrives on being harsh, not smooth.

Plenty of bands go for crazy, but so few succeed. I guess it's just one of those things that's hard to fake. The Devil and the Sea are either really good actors...or they're just nuts. Listen and decide for yourself.

Ratings
Satriani: 7/10
Zappa: 7/10
Dylan: 7/10
Aretha: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

They And The Children - Tour / Full Album Stream

They and the Children - East Coast Tour (July 25 - Aug 03)
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* In support of debut full-length Home
* Stream the entire album at Punknews.org

Middletown, Connecticut's They and the Children is leaving today for a short tour of the East Coast in support of their debut full-length Home.

The record - which is available in both CD and vinyl formats - was released by Kill Normal on July 1st, 2008. You can pick up a copy from the band on tour or from the label here.

Expanding on TATC's brand of crushing, epic hardcore laid out on their 2005 EP, Thoughts On Becoming a Ghost (Tor Johnson Records), Home is even more bombastic and vibrantly dynamic, alternating between thrash-inspired riffage, slowly-churning, ominous grooves and soaring, melodic interludes. The album is a testament to the band's commitment to the DIY community, as well as a call for solidarity between those of us who realize that society is becoming so commercialized that it can barely be considered a "culture" any more.

Head on over to Punknews.org and stream the album in its entirety. You can also grab two free mp3s for the songs "Mechanical" and "Invisible."

TOUR
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JUL 25 - Wilmington, DE @ 700 Club w/ Dead Uncles
JUL 26 - Richmond, VA @ Rumors w/ Dead Uncles

JUL 27 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project w/ Dead Uncles
JUL 29 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Wreck Room w/ Dead Uncles
JUL 30 - Burlington, VT @ Metronome w/ Dead Uncles
JUL 31 - Peterborough, NH @ Peterborough Public Library w/ Dead Uncles

AUG 01 - Boston, MA @ Wadzilla Mansion w/ Dead Uncles
AUG 02 - Providence, RI @ TBA w/ Dead Uncles
AUG 03 - New Haven, CT @ Summerfest

TATC play blazing, fuming anthems, but they also slow the tempo at times, creating labyrinthine efforts that simply are awe-inspiring. - Jersey Beat

TATC have found a point where hardcore, drone and psychedelia meet and the confluence of the three is akin to rocket fuel. - RnRNonsense.com

Home is an epic, sludgy, bubbling blend of crescendo-crammed creation. - Punktastic

Home is a lush and beautiful album with a rough edge. - Late Night Wallflower

Warped Tour 2008 Interview: Donovan Welsh of Animo

Animo is one of the Warped Tour's younger bands, but this isn't their first time out. A few years ago, they lobbied Kevin Lyman directly for a shot at playing and they've been out each year since. Here's what bassist Donovan Welsh had to say about this year's tour and what the band is up to otherwise.

RnRnMN: How has the Warped Tour been treating you?

DW: Its been pretty rad. The shows have been great and we have had a limited amount of rain out here. The days are long but its so much fun.


RnRnMN: You had to track down Kevin Lyman to get your first Warped Tour gig. How crucial was that to you as a band?

DW: It was one of the most if not the most crucial part of us keeping the band going. The Warped Tour is the perfect place for a band like ours. The audience knows that there will be new bands to check out, and they are geared towards our type of music. Kevin Lyman allows that to happen.


RnRnMN: How have things on the tour changed since those days?

DW: The bands change but the enviroment has always been cool. The biggest difference I think would be gas prices as they affect evrything to do with touring.


RnRnMN: How does paying to the big Warped Tour crowds compare to playing smaller shows?

DW: Playing Warped Tour is totally different as you have to "win over" the crowd. The competiton out here is thick, and you have a bunch of different stuff happening.


RnRnMN: Who is the best band you've seen on the Warped Tour this year?

DW: Against Me! is the best sounding band out here, they are nearly perfect everyday.


RnRnMN: There's a lot of bands to choose from. It's overwhelming when you get here and look at the schedule. Why should someone see you?

DW: Our show rules! Well, you are going to have fun at our show, thats for sure. We give it our all everyday out here and it shows.


RnRnMN: The Warped Tour has corporate sponsors like AT&T. How do you feel about that? Is it a good thing, a necessary evil or a sellout?

DW: I feel fine about it as it helps keep the ticket prices low and that means kids who don't normally go to shows to see new bands will be at Warped. Where else can you see that many bands for a low price?


RnRnMN: Blood in the Water has been out a few weeks. How has the reaction been?

DW: The reaction has been awesome. The record is selling well and kids are really into the new songs live. The record has been getting really great reviews so thats good.


RnRnMN: Tell me one good story from this year's tour.

DW: They have a sumo wrestling tournament once a week out here with those big suits. Brian, our guitar, player entered the other night and destroyed everyone. The matches are 2 out of 3 and Brian didn't lose once, it was so funny.


RnRnMN: What are your plans after the Warped Tour?

DW: We are up for a few tours and waiting to hear whats happening with that. But look for us to be on the road in the fall!



Website

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See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Warped Tour 2008 Pictures: Relient K

Here's a few from Relient K's set early in the day at the Warped Tour, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD on 7/16/2008.



See all of my coverage from the Warped Tour in Columbia, MD on July 16, 2008 here.

Review: War of Ages - Arise & Conquer

Label: Facedown Records

Released: July 22, 2008

Over the past decade or so, the old notion that Christian rock was just a watered-down attempt to infiltrate youth culture has been dispelled by a new breed of Christian band. Not one that's trying to evangelize by tapping into the latest thing, but one who's intensity is the very expression of their own religious experience. Unlike the Petras and Strypers of the old days, these new bands can reach out to Christians and non-Christians alike, because you can get into the details of the message or just the vibe of their righteous anger and love.

Among this new breed, War of Ages has upped the ante in both aggression and skill, making them a conversion experience unto themselves. That conversion can be anything the listener needs it to be. While their themes are largely religious, they speak in musical terms that anyone can understand. There is a war, between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies, and Arise & Conquer brings that war to your stereo. This isn't about out of control anger either. While the whole album just boils over, it is also incredibly tight and uses melody well. The aggression is controlled, but not tempered.

Don't be fooled by the album art either. While it may bring to mind World of Warcraft, this album is not a game. It's the real thing.

Ratings
Satriani: 8/10
Zappa: 6/10
Dylan: 6/10
Aretha: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

Review: John Mellencamp - Life Death Love and Freedom

Label: Hear Music

Released: July 15, 2008

By many, John Mellencamp has long been thought of as kind of a heartland Springsteen and Life Death Love and Freedom won't do much to dispel that notion. However, Mellencamp exercises a grittiness that has long been absent from Springsteen's work. Where the Boss has more than once attempted to recreated the raw honesty of Nebraska and failed, Mellencamp actually succeeds, in his poor man's Springsteen way at least.

Life Death Love and Freedom has the human connections that Mellencamp's best work has thrived on. This time, however, it seems more personal. At 56, he seems too young to be contemplating his own death, but much of the album seems that way. Recurring themes of religion, the afterlife and the passage of time permeate this rootsy, bluesy album. Only "My Sweet Love" is upbeat. The rest of the album ranges from dark rock dirges to melancholy folk.

While Mellencamp isn't as good at introspection as he is at observation, Life Death Love and Freedom is still among his better albums. He doesn't shake his principal influence, but embraces it, so this record doesn't make a case for greatness. But it is honest and easy to connect with.

Here's the video for "My Sweet Love":


My Sweet Love (official) from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Ratings
Satriani: 6/10
Zappa: 5/10
Dylan: 6/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 6/10

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.

Review: Static Radio NJ - An Evening of Bad Decisions

Label: Black Numbers

Released: September 9, 2008

Back in the early 80s, Minor Threat discovered something about hardcore: Melody and intensity aren't mutually exclusive. As seminal as MacKaye and company were, that's still a lesson that's been lost on a lot of bands. But not Static Radio NJ.

An Evening of Bad Decisions finds Static Radio NJ progressing from solid, but common hardcore to the top of the game. They haven't jumped on the metal-core, post-hardcore or (thank God) emo bandwagons. This is hardcore the way it's meant to be played, just a bit more on the melodic side. Sure, songs like "Places" back away from the edge a bit, but even there the emotional level of the record stays high. Unlike so many hardcore albums, this one sings to you, not at you.

The bottom line is the sound is crunchy, the tempo fast and the vocals passionate. All that and you can sing along as well. It's not the next big thing, but it is just about the best thing going.

Ratings
Satriani: 6/10
Zappa: 6/10
Dylan: 7/10
Aretha: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

Myspace

If you're curious about my rating categories, read the description.