This album is more mainstream in its pop/rock appeal, but just a little less dynamic in its approach. On first listen, it seems like the album is nearly perfect. On second and third listen however, the flaws are a bit more glaring and though nothing major, it turns out ‘Pieces Of A Real Heart’ is only a sliver better than the impressive ‘We Need Each Other’.
Listen to Sanctus Real
Release Date: 3/9/10
Championing the theme of love on Miracle, Robbie Seay Band have built upon their previous album’s success and continue to follow other leaders, like David Crowder, in the Worship/rock genre. Standout tracks like “Let Our Faith Not Be Alone” and “Crazy Love” show the musical growth, while the cover of Jon Foreman’s “Your Love Is Strong” is a completely new creature with a backing band and Robbie Seay’s scratchy vocals.
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Listen to Robbie Seay Band
Release Date: 3/23/10
Cool, Calm and collected, Tyler James takes a huge swing and absolutely knocks it out of the park in every way with ‘It Took The Fire’. The mellow rock led by the piano seems to channel Billy Joel, especially regarding “Soapbox Shakedown” and “Nothing Will Last”. Built on lyrics that reflect on how he got where he is, Tyler James lays it all on the line as to not let the album fall into mediocrity, but rather to make an impact.
Listen to Tyler James
Release Date: 3/2/10
On the band’s second release they have settled into a tempered rhythm that incorporates a southern sound merged with classic rock influence. “Human Wings” and “Blue-Eyed Universe” immediately show the album’s attractiveness, while some of the other tracks take longer to get aquatinted with, though are just as good. Overall a record that sneaks up slowly, but ends up satisfying in every way.
Listen to Fictionist
Release Date: 3/2/10
While the last record felt much more ridged and clean-cut, Big Echo, is draped in an extra layer of texture and depth. I think it’s hard to debate that this growth in style is anything less than more maturity in the song writing, rather than an attempt to follow the popular musical scene’s direction.
Listen to The Morning Benders
Release Date: 3/9/10
Music that will drown you in melody and a thick accident that peppers the vocals gives Frightened Rabbit’s new record a lot to help it rise above other similar indie rock acts. “Swim Until You Can’t See Land” is the obvious lighthouse for the album shinning an inviting and hypnotic light, but there also isn’t a shortage of compelling tracks on ‘The Winter Of Mixed Drinks’.
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Listen to Frighten Rabbit
Release Date: 3/9/10 [US]
A refreshingly simple album built around transparent lyrics. ‘Vagabonds’ doesn’t mess around in its approach, nor its delivery. Fans of As Cities Burn final record should find something here to grab onto as The Classic Crime transitions away from the Hawthorne Heights sounds of their first album to a straight forward rock ‘n roll sound.
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Listen to The Classic Crime
Release Date: 4/6/10
While ‘Do You Feel’ went for broke with some amazing pop tracks, ‘Of Men And Angels’ backs off the urgency of breaking out in the mainstream in favor of incorporating the elements from early albums that led Bryce to this place. The album as a whole gives off a similar feel to ‘Hello, Good Friend’ with the new tracks ‘Hey!’ and ‘Japanese Exchange Student’, but this record is still new and welcomed territory.
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Listen to The Rocket Summer [Full Album Streaming]
Release Date: 02/23/10
In a twist of sorts, Shout Out Louds new album seems to target an older generation with their mellow, hipster progressive rock better than the younger crowd. The vocals from Adam Olenius have a distant feel of someone like Morrissey, while the band’s music is less dimensional containing a glimmer of sparkle, but never stealing the show.
Listen to Shout Out Louds
Release Date: 2/23/10
Centered around outer space both lyrically and musically with the vast soundscapes that the band has always been known for, ‘LOVE’ integrates the best elements from the first two albums together into this 3rd release. Not really changing anything up for the long-term fans, the 11 tracks somehow feel more inviting to those not yet convinced. If for no other reason than it’s a free album, ‘LOVE’ is worth getting, and chances are you find something enjoyable.
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Listen to Angels & Airwaves
Release Date: 2/14/10
Aptly titled, this album feels like smoke and mirrors, especially when compared to the band’s last refreshingly solid record. The music turns away from the more rock oriented past to a consistently toned down and uninteresting repetition of what the band has already done before. There are good tracks, of course, but the album feels like it’s just on autopilot.
Listen to Lifehouse
Release Date: 3/2/10
‘Into The Morning’ makes a big play to follow in the footsteps of previous mainstream success stories like Mat Kearney (i.e. “Out Of My Head”) as well as Jon McLaughlin (i.e. “The Beat”). This album could be written off as just another typical solo pop artist album, but listening through it seems there is more to this effort than you may initially give it credit for.
Listen to Ben Rector
Release Date: 2/16/10
Imagine the music of Skillet or Evanescence, but the vocals of Paramore. The Letter Black sort of hedges their bets on genre and style, too often playing it safe. ‘Hanging On By A Thread’ is consistent throughout and only multiple repeat listens will prove whether that’s a good or bad thing.
Listen to The Letter Black
Release Date: 3/30/10
Surprisingly, something about this hard rock/ hard pop album from the me-too band Story Of The Year is pretty appealing. Granted you’ve heard this music before, but songs like “I’m Alive” show the band mellowing out and embracing what, arguably, they excel at.
Listen to Story Of The Year
Release Date: 2/16/10
Structured, rhythmic and oh so smooth, Two Door Cinema Club have applied the Phoenix style of music making to their songs and though similar, created a unique album of goodness. There are definitely those tracks that stick out above the rest, but for the most part every track is on the same level way above the competition. There’s no way this band doesn’t blow up, so you might as well practice your smug face now.
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listen to Two Door Cinema Club
Release Date: 3/1/2010
Mature and dynamic, ‘This Is A Redemption Melody’ truly shines from humble start to epic ending. “The Atlantic” attempts to steal the show with equally impressive verses as the chorus which sinks its hooks with the line “If we’re being honest…”. Brothers At Sea don’t need my hype because the smooth pop vocals and crisp-edged rock clearly speaks for itself.
Download the new 5 song EP for free at brothersatsea.bandcamp.com
Joining the same crowd as band’s like The Morning Light and We Shot The Moon, Jonas Sees In Color has put together a solid power pop rock album. “Avalanche” sticks out as the first memorable track with a punchy chorus, but is not alone in its catchiness. It’s easy to see this album carry this band into the public eye above the fringe.
Listen to Jonas Sees In Color
Release Date: 9/29/09
If you’re willing to put up with the lower production and recording quality of these 5 songs, you may find something enjoyable. “Sorry, I Apologize Too Much” starts with vocals akin to Mark Hoppus in Blink’s early days, while the other tracks fill in the other areas of high school pop/punk. Potential here? Absolutely. The actual EP? Mediocre.
Listen to Samurai Luncheon
Release Date: 11/14/09
Optimism and a sense of curiosity pours out of every crack from this record, sparking the listener to crack a smile. Heavily influenced by The Beach Boys and other bands who were in search of a new thick melody, ‘Happiness Through Radios and Wires’ is a complete thought from start to finish and an album to cherish. After a few songs in, you get the sense that this record wasn’t made for any business purpose, but rather made for you individually.
Listen to New London Fire
Release Date: TBA
Comprised of lo-fi DIY style tracks like “Days Of Thunder” and higher quality production ones like “I Get Around”, the common thread of the ‘Goodbye God’ album becomes its instantly sticky melodies. The overall style of the record falls to a more generic genre like ‘rock’ but is influenced back and forth with the likes of punk and mellow indie. If you feel like music isn’t authentic anymore, you’ve been looking for Paper The Operator.
Listen to Paper The Operator
Release Date: 12/06/09
Brilliance and excellence from head to toe can be felt in the opening moments of the first song “Canon”. The glassy, often jazzy, folk/rock may not be the first thing you notice about the band, but it does provide a pitch perfect foundation for singer Brian Beise to showcase his impressive vocals. Composed more like poetic prose than amateur musings, the lyrics exemplify how beauty extends to every part of these 5 songs. This type of polish is very rarely seen or felt right out of the gate which is what is so exciting about this band.
Listen to Concerning Lions
Release Date: 11/18/09
Jarrod Gorbel, who you might know as the former singer of The Honorary Title, has decided to go at it alone again with a new 4 song EP. The title track, “Ten Years Older” sums up the song and EP with the line “One day you woke up ten years older…” and sparks the awareness of added maturity to Jarrod’s music. Though too short, these 4 songs really do capture an imagination so few solo artists can do.
Listen to Jarrod Gorbel
Release Date: 1/19/10
Following a fairly standard pop/rock formula, the 5 song acoustic EP only ends up hitting its stride a couple songs in. The songs themselves are decent, but fall victim to the monotony that the solo acoustic guitar creates. Had these songs had full instrumentation, I have a feeling they could have stood out a bit more. Worth checking out for fans of the genre, Cities Never Sleep have improved on their past EP, but this still might not be for everyone.
Listen to Cities Never Sleep
Release Date: 01/09/10
Just like a knock off product that finally made it to market after the fad had died down, Alesana seems to have missed the mark in a lot of ways. The lead single, “The Thespian” is okay, if you strip out all the background vocals, the faux hardcore act and of course the ending. This album is a skipper.
It looks like 4 songs, but it’s really 2 done twice. That said, this is an absolutely fantastic offering from the band. Both songs are mid-paced, focused and just a really good time. If the accessibility and greatness of these tracks can be duplicated a few more times over, the full length should be outstanding.
Steeped in sarcasm, “Dude…That’s Freakin’ Awesome” stands slightly above the rest in terms of being instantly memorable. With a title like ‘The Good Album’, you might imagine All Star United has a sense of humor that weaves in and out of the songs, but make no mistake that substance is fully present throughout this pop/rock album.
Listen to All Star United
Song to start with: “Dude…That’s Freakin’ Awesome”
Produced by Ace Enders, the ‘Feathers’ EP shows potential. “Clocks Are Grinning” blends plenty of friendly melodies with thick indie rock. “Fire Walk With Me” on the other hand runs in a different direction, keeping the indie rock but adding more ambiance and less hooks to grab on to.
Listen to The King And The Thief
Song to start with: “Clocks Are Ginning”
Release Date: 1/15/10
Don’t let the home made looking album artwork scare you away from one of the better folk rock records I’ve come across. The soul filled songs have something to say and the passion in Zach’s voice should convince you of that. Like all the best Americana rock to come before him, including all the huge names you’d recognize, Zach Williams has crafted some absolutely timeless tracks including “Names That Fell” and “Fears”.
Listen to Zach Williams
Release Date: 6/9/09
High pitched and humble, Peasant’s newest album, ‘Shady Retreat’ may take a few tries before the pill goes down for those unacquainted. Compared to his last record though, which I really adore, this one is brimming with inviting hooks all over the place. ”The Distance”, “The End” and “Well Alright” are cautiously brilliant, insisting to be replayed again and again.
Read the full review
Listen to Peasant
Release Date: 3/2/10
The pop connections of Oasis and the indie feel of Radiohead, The Moon And Her Mother’s new record has all the makings of something bigger than just 11 individual tracks. Not necessarily the strongest track, but “The Red Dove” does a great job of pulling you in while simultaneously introducing you to Aaron Wallace, the man behind The Moon And Her Mother.
Listen to The Moon And Her Mother
Release Date: 2/9/10
Queens Club - Young Giant
The Classic Crime - Vagabonds
Four Year Strong - Enemy Of The World
Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
The Rocket Summer - Of Men & Angels
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
