Category: Rock (Page 95 of 241)

Jana Mashonee: New Moon Born

May 14, 2009 /

NAMMY Award winning and Grammy-nominated artist Jana Mashonee will surely be hitting some new career peaks with her latest release New Moon Born. The Native American artist has taken a new direction with this disc, aiming for a more contemporary pop style. A gifted singer, Mashonee hits her mark numerous times on this excellent disc. The opening “Osiris’ Star” is equally hypnotic, tribal, and dance-worthy. But then there’s something like “Faded Love” which strikes a deeply soulful and smooth groove that’s every bit as tantalizing. “Solid Ground” is near-angelic, and “Take Me Back” showcases what makes Mashonee so attractive: a silky voice, nary a note misplaced with a full range and a delivery that is kept in check where if these songs were given to other artists you can easily imagine them getting bombastic. Jana Mashonee is definitely a gifted artist and this new album should find her a whole new set of fans. If you enjoy well-crafted pop music with spectacular vocals, than this one’s for you. (Miss Molly Records)

Jana Mashonee MySpace page

CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

The Hours: See the Light

May 8, 2009 /

They would surely bristle at the idea that their songs are of the throwback variety, but the simple fact is that there aren’t many, if any, bands writing the kind of music that propels See the Light, the magnificent new album by UK duo (or is it septet?) the Hours. Singer Antony Genn’s phrasing recalls Wonder Stuff frontman Miles Hunt (though Genn is a much better singer), and the songs are flat-out skyscrapers, gorgeous piano-driven epics that put the ‘wide’ in widescreen. “Come On” uses seven words to create one of the catchiest choruses you’ll hear this year, while the seven-minute title track is a brilliant, two-chord slow burner, like a mid-tempo version of Pulp’s “Common People” (which is fitting, since Genn is a Pulp alumnus). There is a lyrical gaffe here and there – “The Girl Who Had the World at Her Feet” opens with the line “The cash cow is heading for the slaughterhouse,” ugh – but such bits come with the territory, and their damage is minimal. Don’t be surprised if these guys become a very big deal in a very short amount of time. (IsGoodLtd 2009)

The Hours MySpace page
Click to buy See the Light

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Melodramatic, Pop, Rock, Widescreen

Ed Harcourt: Russian Roulette

May 8, 2009 /

After effectively hopscotching from label to label – four in approximately the past ten years – Ed Harcourt seems to have found a comfortable home with Dovecote, a company that presumably grants him the ability to follow his creative whims without regard to commercial consequences. Still, Russian Roulette doesn’t divert all that much from his usual template, a reliable mix of stirring, angst-ridden ballads and soaring anthemic outpours that capture the heart while seizing on more cerebral possibilities. Being more of a modest affair – six songs recorded rather quickly as in deference to the original demos – it also serves as a stopgap prior to the unveiling of his next full-length opus, due sometime next year. Regardless, its certain to satiate fans unable to wait that long, courtesy of such enticing offerings as the title track – an opening volley of over-arched emotion – and “Sour Milk, Motheaten Silk,” a song which, despite its curious title, proves both elusive and alluring. However, the EP’s true highlight emerges in the form of “Caterpillar,” a purposeful and effusive number written about his newborn daughter that also ranks among the most stirring songs he’s ever written. Dovecote

Ed Harcourt MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Emo, Melodramatic, Rock

Seen Your Video: White Rabbits, “Percussion Gun”

May 6, 2009 /

Ladies and gentlemen, the line for Single of the Year starts here.

I’m frankly shocked that these guys are from New York. American bands, particularly young ones, don’t write songs like this anymore, and they certainly don’t use arrangements like this. I had these guys pegged for a UK act all the way, with the Adam & the Ants-style percussion, hand claps and old-fashioned piano. Maybe the arrangement was producer Britt Daniel’s idea, who knows. His band Spoon isn’t exactly playing the American game, either. No matter who’s responsible for putting it together, it’s damn good, and had me racing for the band’s MySpace page. How about that, the other tunes are good, too. Time to hit up the publicist for a review copy. (The band’s album, It’s Frightening, comes out May 19.)

So the tune is definitely a keeper. Now about about the video? Tastefully simple, a rarity these days. The camera spins around – and sometimes above – a circular display of white lights that surrounds the band. That’s it. I bet they shot it in an afternoon, then hit the pub, while the director popped a couple Dramamines and went to bed. Nicely done, lads.

Alternative, Artists, Rock, Seen Your Video, Videos

The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens might sue Coldplay

May 6, 2009 /

Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) says that Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” sounds an awful lot like one of his songs, “Foreigner Suite.” So much so that he might actually sue the band.

“The song definitely sounds like it,” he said of his song. “It has such logical chords and the melody has to be what it is…”

Asked during a telephone interview from London whether he would pursue the issue legally, Islam, 60, said “it depends on how well Satriani does.”

U.S. guitarist Joe Satriani has sued Coldplay, accusing the British band of copyright infringement. He claims substantial original portions of his song “If I Could Fly” are recycled in “Viva La Vida” and is seeking damages.

I’m not familiar with the song that Islam is referring to. Does anyone think he has a point, or is he reaching at straws?

Artists, External Music, News, Pop, Power Pop, Rock, Songs

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