Author: Mike Farley (Page 23 of 63)

Two Dog Garage: Pinboy

October 10, 2008 / Mike Farley

Culver City, California’s Alex Kimmell is a one-man band, and his band is called Two Dog Garage. So as not to confuse matters, let’s call the project TDG, and let’s call TDG’s debut, Pinboy, a rousing success. There are so many flavors of music at work here, as TDG uses paints from the palettes of classic rock, modern rock, and just about everything in between. And he does it with what seems like relative ease. The songs are not just catchy and well recorded; they have the potential to stand up to just about any commercial recording. TDG is unsigned, but that just means you may have to look in the nooks and crannies of the online music world, but you won’t regret anything once you get there. The title track might evoke thoughts of Toad the Wet Sprocket, and “You’ll Go Blind” may remind one of ‘80’s MTV icons the Buggles (yes, the music is that varied). And then there is the utter beauty of “Everything Happens to Me” and “This Beautiful Life.” Oh, and the instrumental “Anesthesia” sounds like what is probably what your body hears when it’s under, well, you know. So go find Mr. Kimmell, errrr, TDG. Tell him I sent you. (self-released)

Two Dog Garage MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Anders Holst: Romantika

October 3, 2008 / Mike Farley

Dubbed as the “crown prince of contemporary romantic music,” it would seem Swedish import Anders Holst’s publicist and label are reaching a bit. Reading about him and listening to Holst’s debut album, Romantika, you get the feeling that this is a guy who has always had aspirations to have his music played on light rock stations. And in that lies a problem – the fact that most light rock artists didn’t get there by wanting to get there. They arrived there because they were aging rockers who mellowed over time like wine or cheese, and because their fans mellowed in parallel fashion (think Eric Clapton or the Eagles). Others, like Daniel Powter, wound up on light rock stations by default. But Anders Holst is being marketed that way, and while his songs aren’t bad and are arranged and produced like a cross between light rock and smooth jazz fare, there is something here that sounds forced. Adding a bit of insult is the fact that Holst, while being touted as a songwriter, leads off the record with Billy Joel’s “All About Soul,” proof that even his label doesn’t have enough confidence in Holst’s songwriting. Again, Holst could do much worse than this, and he’s going to find an audience with his nice brand of light romantic pop. But as a whole, this batch of songs will help listeners relax—relax to the point of putting them to sleep. (LABEL: Unheard of Music)

Anders Holst MySpace Page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Jazz, Pop, Rock

Jody Raffoul: Big Sky

October 3, 2008 / Mike Farley

Sometimes an artist delivers music that is just comfortable – and by comfortable, think Middle America along the lines of Mellencamp, Springsteen, and Petty. Jody Raffoul is one of those artists (but shhhh! He’s Canadian), though he has managed to stay under everyone’s radar. This, despite the fact that if he came around 20 or 30 years ago, we might be mentioning him in the same breath as those other guys. The latest evidence is Big Sky, another album from Mr. Raffoul with anthems, big hooks, signature rock vocal, and soaring guitars. Right from the start, “Chasing Paper” is like an AC/DC song with vocals an octave lower, and “Stay” as well as “It’s Grand” also have some really nice guitar work and sugary melodies. Raffoul also does nice work when he turns the volume down, as he does on “Little Black Car” and, to a lesser extent, “My My,” which features lush, Beatle-esque harmonies in the chorus. There are a few disappointments, such as “Home,” which is heartfelt but a bit bland. But as a whole, Raffoul the Canadian delivers another sweet slice of American pie on this effort. (Fontana 2008)

Jody Raffoul MySpace Page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Amie Miriello: I Came Around

September 19, 2008 / Mike Farley

Amie Miriello’s debut album, I Came Around, is the first release on Jive/Zomba imprint Bellasonic. In some ways, there are lots of different forces at work, but consider that Miriello’s music most immediately sounds like Alanis Morissette or Nelly Furtado. Add to that production help from Rob Wells (Backstreet Boys), David Hodges of Evanescence and Mitch Allan of SR-71, and this is radio magic waiting to happen. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Miriello has a dynamic voice, despite the fact that she tends to overdo things at times. The best tracks are the catchy opening title track and the second song “Pictures,” the latter of which sounds like Morissette or another ‘90s popster, Chantal Kreviazuk. And the final track, the R&B-tinged power ballad “Hey,” is also decent. But in between, parts of the album tend to grate on the eardrums. In particular, the vocal acrobatics Miriello attempts on “Beauty of Goodbye” and “Mother Cries Wolf” border on annoying. Taken as a whole, though, this debut is better than average and worth checking out, especially if Top 40 or alt-pop are your cup of tea. (LABEL: Bellasonic)

Amie Miriello MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Power Pop, Rock

The Submarines: Honeysuckle Weeks

September 15, 2008 / Mike Farley

Crafting good songs is not as easy as it looks. But crafting mostly happy, upbeat songs that just scream to be placed on film and TV is another level of difficulty altogether. That is, unless you are the Submarines. The male/female duo’s second album, Honeysuckle Weeks, already sounds like a movie soundtrack – and the music is bouncy electro-pop with solid arrangements and melodies that are unique and compelling at the same time. There is also a nice balance of vocals between lead singer Blake Hazard with the harmonies of John Dragonetti. If you can imagine this, think modern iPod commercial fare such as Orba Squara meets ‘80s new wave icons such as Siouxsie and the Banshees or anything from “Sixteen Candles.” Tracks like “The Thorny Ticket” or “The Wake Up Song” are as catchy as anything ever recorded, the latter showcasing the duo’s lush harmonies. But these two know how to get down and dirty too, as they do on the dark and haunting “1940” and “The Fern Beard.” And “Brightest Hour,” with Hazard’s dreamy vocals and sparse piano key hits, is a movie trailer away from bigger things for this duo. (LABEL: Nettwerk)

The Submarines MySpace page

Alternative, Ambient, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Electronica, Pop