Category: Rock (Page 107 of 241)

Living Colour: Live August 19, 2005 – The Bowery Collection

February 4, 2009 /

Live August 19 – 2005 – The Bowery Collection is the second live release from Living Colour to be recorded at CBGB’s. The last one, recorded in 1989 (and released 3 years ago), served as an opportunity to work out much of the material that would appear on their sophomore record, Time’s Up. This recording is more of a career retrospective and a love letter to Hilly Kristal, the proprietor of CBGB’s and the one to give Living Colour their initial break. As entertaining as it is to hear Vernon Reid noodle around on his guitar and listen to these tracks which have an energy and passion matched by the sociologically intense lyrics, the buzz is killed by awful sound. Apparently the source of the material is the soundboard from the club, and as romantic as that sounds, it comes off on disc as muddled. The mix is jarring and distracts the listener from the material and performances. The band also sounds disorganized as it labors a bit between songs before grooving into a new one. The material is mostly good, except for the assault on the ears of “Terrorism,” but the sound is so bad, you can flat out skip this release. (MVDaudio)

Living Colour MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Funk, Rock

In Endeavors: You’ve Got Your Friends, I’ve Got Mine

January 30, 2009 /

Coming off like the Strokes’ no-nonsense southern cousins, Lexington, Kentucky’s In Endeavors pretty much do nothing but rock out on their pointedly titled five-song EP. Fortunately though, singer Gerren Reach doesn’t drench his vocals in quite as much sonic gook as Julian Casablancas, allowing his own textures to take center stage. What’s more, when bassist Patrick Meyers’ and guitarist Cliff Meyers’ backing vocals respond to Reach’s calls on “Private Eye,” the result is a small dose of good-time rock n’ roll to diffuse some of the smug swagger native to the territory of coolness. But they turn in their most satisfying combination of the EP’s closer, “I Can’t Run” – rough backing harmonies combine with between-the-beat drumming and shaking tambourine in the chorus for a dynamic, single-worthy entry into the band’s discography. Pretty it up a bit in the studio for radio, and it could be a hit. (Eugene 2009)

In Endeavors MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

Cameron Matthews: green. blue. white.

January 30, 2009 /

Twenty-year-old Cameron Matthews is not much for pop hooks, but he sure has a gift for understated lo-fi beauty, not to mention confident, uncluttered vocals. Playing less like an album and more like a collection of his 15 latest musical loves, green. blue. white. effortlessly glides from the ‘50s R&B style of “Today I Love You,” to a the domestic Dylan exercise “Bungalow,” to the humorously titled but no less seriously excellent “Give You Up For Lent,” and even that “through the telephone” spooky blues effect on “Make it Rain.” The album really starts to approach classic touches by the fifth song and never looks back, culminating in the 6/4 rocker “Mirror” that channels Jeff Buckley filtered through Joseph Arthur in a jam with his bandmates – bassist Patrick Crecelius, drummer Danny Sher and guitarist Nicholas Risler – that breathes with the kind of dynamics one expects from veteran professionals. This talented Midwestern kid sounds like he has an earth-shattering album slowly gestating inside of him, and if green. blue. white. is any indication, he’s well on his way there. The fact that he’s more of a natural singer than most indie rockers will surely work in his favor in the long run. (self-released 2008)

Cameron Matthews MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop, Rock, Soul

Various Artists: Blue Skies Daisy Days

January 30, 2009 /

Most compilations are derived from some conceptual design, designed either as a tribute to an iconic artist or outfit, or as a live set showcasing a particular venue. Then there’s wholly ordinary idea of the label sampler which spotlights a group of musicians whose only common bond lies in the fact they all represent the same record company. Sure, it’s self-serving, but when there’s a good cause involved, the added benefit of charitable support makes the opportunity to hear new music an added advantage. That’s the case with Blue Skies Daisy Days, a generous 21-track collection featuring the cream of the Planting Seeds Records roster (as well as notable outside guests) and the promise to donate part of its proceeds to the Keep a Breast Foundation. Granted, one has to look below the surface and do some exploration to uncover the more notable names – the International Jetsetters, for example, feature members of the Jesus and Mary Chain and Ride, while the Primary 5 and the Loose Salute represent expatriates from Teenage Fanclub and the Mojave 3, respectively – but even so, the music alone provides plenty of incentive. The tunes contained herein are as uniformly sunny as their banner implies. Blissful, sweetly ethereal, lush and melodic without exception, the quality is consistent throughout, ensuring any time spent listening is well worth the effort. (Planting Seed Records

Planting Seeds Records website

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Dear Future: Can’t Wait Any Longer

January 29, 2009 /

Dear Future is one of those bands that right now is garnering a lot of record label attention, and for good reason. It might seem that there are a lot of Radiohead clones out there, and while that’s a comparison that borders on copping out for lack of a better one, the fact remains that Bends-era Radiohead coarses through the collective vein of Dear Future. And that’s not a bad thing at all. These guys from Illinois are back with their sophomore release, Can’t Wait Any Longer, and it’s likely that some label will do just that. Sure, the brooding tenor and moody arrangements are something you’ve heard before, but these guys get that the songs have to be there too, giving them a nice accessibility factor. And there is a nice little roller coaster ride, from the poppy title track to the darker but melodic “Eden” or “You Are Loved” to the bonus piano track, “Twenty.” Hopefully the slopes of the coaster will continue to be fun for these guys and that tons of adoring fans will continue to find them, because in a somewhat crowded genre, Dear Future is a band to keep on your radar. (self-released)

Dear Future MySpace Page

Alternative, Ambient, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Music Labels, Pop, Rock

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