SGT is Not A-OK

I can never ever get enough pop rock, as long as it's good pop rock. Good pop rock makes me happy. SGT came close to making me happy today. They have some moments of talent in their music, but those moments are balanced out with a lot of mediocre moments. They left me wondering if I would like them more five years from now when they have had more time to practice. My main issue with them is that for every song I listened to I could think of at least three other songs it sounded like.

"Goodnight Goodnight" is a beautiful song, but I was hung up on the fact that it sounded like a Hot Hot Heat song and the beginning of "Float On" by Modest Mouse. I want originality from a band, not a well-played mimic. I like when individual skills sound like other bands, like when vocals remind me of another great singer, not when an actual riff or melody line is stolen. The song sounds great, but there are flaws in the breakdown of it.

"Burning Bridges" is a poor display of vocals. A whiny, nasally tone destroys the song. The instruments sound sub-par. I felt like the production of this song was rushed, like they didn't have enough time to re-record the vocals or they had to write the guitar parts on a deadline. The song fails musically and does so in a miserable fashion.

"Two Hearts" has decent instrumental parts, but the whiny vocals ruin the fun. I could not get past the strained vocals enough to really appreciate everything else happening in the song. I wanted to give the vocalist some lozenges to fix the issue. The song just does not please the ears. It is brash, rough and messy.

I honestly believe that if SGT polished their act a little more, they could make some exceptional music, but unfortunately the sound is not quite there yet. Nice effort, but no gold stars for SGT.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/sgt/photos/239530

College Radio Jackpot

This week, my college's radio station WPPJ held their 30th annual Rock-a-Thon, a 67-hour long, non-stop broadcast that includes various fundraising activities to raise money for The Early Learning Institute. One of those activities included a CD sale of all of the CDs that were taking up space in the radio station including promos, demos, compilations and full-length albums. Students paid $5 to fill up a grocery bag with as many CDs as they wanted. I immediately saw this as a blogging opportunity. I bought several albums by artists I never listened to before so I could check out their Purevolume pages and review them. I picked my favorite two to share with you: Sherwood and Anthony Green.

I purchased Sherwood's 2007 album "A Different Light," a bevy of indie rock gold. The album is energetic, emotional and full of depth lyrically. Each instrument is in touch with the others, creating a warm balance in every track. Sherwood establishes a pop rock tone but distinguishes themselves from others in that broad genre by incorporating very tight instrumentation and clear, heartfelt vocals into every song. They don't just sound good. They sound like they know exactly what they are doing. My favorite song by them is "Song In My Head," because the vocals are absolutely stellar. Listen to it in the video below and tell me what you think of it!

Anthony Green's 2008 album "Avalon" also made its way into my bag of goodies. A member of Circa Survive and former member of Saosin, Green fares quite well as a solo artist. "Avalon" is chock full of acoustic jems, supported by Green's delicate voice and thoughtful lyrics. He reminds me of a mix between Bright Eyes and The Downtown Fiction. His sound is soothing while his lyrics are thought-provoking. My favorite song by Green is "Babygirl." Listen to it here!

I think the CD sale served me well: I discovered two great artists that I plan on listening to more often. I could not have asked for anything more.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Nate Currin = Cool, Calm and Talented

Purevolume sent me to Nate Currin today, an Atlanta indie rocker with a seductive, raspy voice that accompanies his crooning with simple, easy-listening rhythms. I did not fall in love with Currin's music immediately, but his laid-back vibe eventually grew on me.

"Goodnight California" felt a little lackluster to me. The lyrics are very pedestrian, and the synth-y, acoustic backdrop does not make the song pop out at my ears. The vocals sound exceptional, but unfortunately the music that goes along with them did not. I kept waiting for something big to happen, some moment of saving grace that would catapult the song to an opinion-altering climax, but that miracle never came. The song is not terrible, but it is definitely not amazing.

Currin really turned things around for me with "Yellow Springs." I could not get enough of the guitar riffs and chord progressions. They match perfectly with his light, melancholy vocals. The climax I searched for in "Goodnight California" actually happened in this one, with an uplifting crescendo. This song has soul.

"Dance Away the Night" is another great track from Currin. The lyrics are adorable. For instance, "We slow-danced in the kitchen to sound of all the crickets and the crackle of the old tv" melted me. His use aural imagery is stunning. I also liked the progression of the song in general. The verses are slow and quiet with hard-hitting choruses. I like this song because its happy, and the message is not too heavy. It can make you feel good, and who doesn't want music that will make them feel good?

I like Nate Currin's style a lot. He's simple and understated in each aspect of his music. There is a comforting sense of consistency when listening to him. I recommend him to fans of Howie Day and Edwin McCain.

Here's a lovely video of him performing live for you to enjoy.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/natecurrin/photos/3174692

The Cardinal Sin Plays Well in an Average Way

Mediocrity dressed up in decent talent appeared before my ears today in the form of The Cardinal Sin. Hailing from Minneapolis, members Becky, Jon, James and Mark play well, but their music lacks a distinguishable spark. Their pop punk songs are almost predictable in arrangement. Despite their obvious developed individual musical talents, they come off sounding undeveloped as a unified sound.

"Light Years Behind" is an upbeat, safe song. The absence of edginess makes the song perfect for nice background noise when you just need something, anything to listen to. The song does not express a lack of talent whatsoever, but does not inspire any particular feeling. I want to feel something when I listen to music. My mind only imagined a blank slate devoid of any color or design. "Light Years Behind" came up short in the vivid expression category.

"Good For Nothing" contained tight guitar riffs that unfortunately overpowered everything else in the song. The vocals sounded muted and strained. The percussion was lackluster. The first word I thought of during this song was noisy. It is just plain loud and gritty. There's no clear direction or theme within the relationship of the instrumental parts and the lyrics. Sadly "Good For Nothing" is not good for very much at all.

"The Saddest Song" is difficult to listen to. The vocals are devoid of a pleasant tone, while the guitar riffs sound rushed like they are racing against the percussion. I found the most fault with the vocals because they sounded forced and nasally to me. Nothing stands out in this song because so much of it seems so sloppy.

I am not very fond of The Cardinal Sin because I do not feel they have a well thought-out sound yet. I commend them for their decent effort, but their music sounds generic and garage-band-ish. Even the sounds of the instruments were flat and one-dimensional. They lost my interest.

Listen for yourself here.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/thecardinalsin/photos/1325163

Epic Hero Revives 90s Alt-Rock Vibe

Purevolume gave me a delicious dose of alternative rock laced with a 90s feel today via Minneapolis rockers Epic Hero. The intensity of the vocals was enough for their music to garner two thumbs-up of approval from me, but the band is talented in every arena of musical ability.

"Hello Hello" from their album "New Life" has talent written all over it. The marriage of the percussion and guitar is the driving force behind the catchiness of the song. The lyrics are riddled with a sense of moving on and finding contentment post messy break-up, which gives the song a relatable tone. The song projects a theme of feeling good and living free while delivering phenomenal guitar and percussion parts. Epic Hero produced quite the pick me up with this song.

"End of the Line" exemplifies Epic Hero's uncanny ability to tell a story and match instrumentation to it impeccably. The vocalist's exceptional range is noticeable, while the soft picking of the guitar acts as a great accent to the relaxed percussion and piano. This song sounds a lot like something Howie Day would compose. Epic Hero gives this song a very serene, soothing spirit.

"Stars" sounds like an R.E.M. tribute band singing an original song. If R.E.M. vocals were juxtaposed with Epic Hero's vocals in this song, they would sound like layered tracks of the same voice. The chord progression works well with the increasing depth of feeling in the lyrics. The song is hopeful, with lyrics like, "And every complication turns out fine. I believe the stars will all align for you." "Stars" makes me want to believe.

I like Epic Hero because they are simplistic yet bursting with profound lyrical themes and a great blend of musical talent. If you like 90s soft rock, definitely try out Epic Hero.

I leave you with a great live video of Epic Hero performing my favorite song of theirs, "Hello Hello."

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit:http://www.purevolume.com/epichero/photos/1132509

Buckeye Knoll Warms the Heart

Most every girl is a sucker for a crooning rock star. The idea of a charming vocalist singing right to them is a dream. I firmly believe Buckeye Knoll could easily melt any girl's heart and buckle her knees. The clarity of the vocals and instruments in this band's soul pop, acoustic-guitar-infused tunes is astounding. The band consists of Doug Streblow and an ever-changing arrangement of fellow instrumentalists. After listening intently to songs on Buckeye Knoll's Purevolume page, I would love to commission Streblow to compose a song about me...and maybe make him fall in love with me. Too much? No. You would understand after listening to his sweet sounds.

"Luck Be a Lady" played like a tribute to Streblow's pristine voice. The melody is calm, simple and catchy. The lyrics are heard perfectly, as well as each instrument's part. The electric guitar does some great things, adding a twist of boldness to the background of consistently tranquil piano and percussion. As Streblow sings, "The days blow by like a breeze. We're all moving on," the tone of the song is obvious. Buckeye Knoll just wants to kick back and let life do its thing no matter how rough the road gets. I cannot complain about any aspect of this song, which is a huge compliment to the band. Listen to perfection in the video below, complete with stunning photographs of Streblow (ooh la la, bonus).

"Counting Sunsets" proves to be another winner from Buckeye Knoll's catalog of flawlessness called "People and Place." With a relaxed, slow tempo and vocals that take their good old time with each note, belongs to the soundtrack of some tragic love story. The greatest achievement in this song is the incredibly apparent emotion. I knew exactly how Streblow felt. That is a very important characteristic to me because music should be about people finding a platform for sharing whatever they think, feel or believe. I definitely experienced a sharing session with Streblow during this song. Watch the official video for "Counting Sunsets" below!

"I Roll" was a peppy departure from the usual lovey dovey melodies of Buckeye Knoll. It is upbeat, laden with energetic percussion, and two vocalists that take turns belting passionate lyrics. For some reason, the lyric "All I need is something out of nothing is how I seem to roll" really appealed to me. I think the honesty conveyed in such generic words makes the song sound profound in an understated fashion. This song has heart. Watch Streblow perform it live. "I Roll" is also available for free download on their Purevolume page.

If you have not noticed yet, I really like this band. I am crazy about the idea of each song being collaborations with different artists yet maintaining the same vocalist and song writer at the heart of each track. If you like acoustic, you will love Buckeye Knoll. Check out their official website here.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/buckeyeknoll/photos/3082827

Hotspur is Super Haute

Goodness, gracious, great powerpop! Purevolume really delivered today with Maryland indie rockers Hotspur. With sleek rhythms, crystal clear vocals and accents of piano and electronica, I could hardly find fault with any of Hotspur's songs. Their lyrics were even a win! Members Joe Mach, Coop Cooper, Scott Robinson, Dave Trichter and Evan Anderson know their craft and know what they are doing.

"$$$" is layered with vocals and instruments, giving it a very full sound. I caught a bit of a Panic! At the Disco vibe from this song, especially in the vocals. They are very aggressive, which pairs perfectly with the tense lyrical content. I like this song because there is so much going on in it, but the band makes sure to blend all of it together.

"If These Walls Could Talk" is an upbeat, yet melancholy, tune with thoughtful lyrics. I especially enjoyed "If these walls could talk, would they tell you all the things I said while you were fast asleep lying next to me?" I think those lines capture that universal feeling that presents itself in relationships that suffer from the partners not saying what they really think. I appreciate Hotspur's honesty and ability to convey common situations through beautiful lyrics.

"You Should Know Better By Now" is a piano-driven song with fierce vocals. The chorus is catchier than the common cold. There is a bit of synthesizer thrown in that really makes the song pop right before the verses. It sounds a little bit like The White Tie Affair, and it works.

I would suggest Hotspur to anyone interested in high-energy pop rock with a dark side. Here is a video of them performing my favorite song of theirs, "Alphabetic File."

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/hotspur/photos/2712547

Say Hello to Goodbye Blue Monday...or Not

Purevolume gave me a dreadfully mediocre post hardcore rock group today that made me feel underwhelmed and unaffected. Goodbye Blue Monday, from San Diego, produces close-to-catchy riffs but comes up short lyrically, vocally and stylistically.

"The Last of the Golden Palominos" left me with a horrible first impression. The guitar parts are sloppy, basic and too jumpy between riffs. The vocals are so digitally altered I found it difficult to understand the lyrics. The lack of cohesion between verses and choruses makes the song sound like a rough draft. The song is amateur at best.

"Help is on the Way" consists of more edited vocals, offbeat drums and technically unimpressive guitar. The song's choppiness goes unappreciated because the tempo is not fast enough to make that characteristic stand out in a positive light. The tone of the vocals wavers at an annoying rate. While the title insinuates an imminent rescue, the lack of skill shown in the song comes off as a cry for help.

"Christian Rock Anthem" also exhibits very basic instrumentation. The percussion is loose and unpolished against the mechanical guitar riff that dominates most of the song with grittiness. The vocals bear no life or color. I felt like I was listening to a blank wall, if a blank wall made sound.

Goodbye Blue Monday did not hit a home run for me. I think they need to develop their talent more and hone in on articulation.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/goodbyebluemonday/photos/440932

Facebook Shufflin'

Recently I asked the lovely people of Facebook, via my blog's fan page, what bands have been dominating their playlists lately, in effort to find out pull and share resources of good music amongst fellow listeners. I picked out the bands I had not previously listened to, checked out their Purevolume pages, and found Youtube videos of songs from those picks to share with you!

Passion Pit is a very fun, psychedelic, electronica band that Taylor McKool has been jamming to. I fell for them instantly because of their addicting rhythms and truly electronica sound. "Sleepyhead" really epitomizes their style. Here is a spectacular video of them performing it live.

Thomas Cornell is listening to Marina & The Diamonds, a powerful female force similar to Regina Spektor. Her delicate voice tugged at my heartstrings with melancholy lyrics. Here's a great performance of her singing "Shampain."

My last top pick came from Frank Chynoweth, who is really interested in Camera Obscura, an indie rock powerhouse from the UK. Their strong vocals and funky pop rhythms drew me in. Check out "Sweetest Thing" below!

After listening to each band, I realized there is no exact formula for a great song. No specific sound, rhythm or lyrical arrangement defines a song's appeal. All songs are not created equal.

Thank you to Taylor, Thomas and Frank for their great suggestions!

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

The Dear and Departed

I am always grateful for a band that has the ability to lull me to sleep, not necessarily because they bore me but because their sound is so soothing and relaxing. The Dear and Departed, my most recent Purevolume discovery, is one of those bands. Costa Mesa indie rockers Danxunder, Darren, Jimmy and Courtney create calm rhythms punctuated with earnest lyrics. Listen to them here!

"If You Say So" is a beautiful ballad reminiscent of The Cure. The guitar riff is light and melancholic while the percussion is heavy and steady. The bass drum is impeccable and acts as the driving force of the song's solidity. The vocals' varying volume adds drama to the simplicity of the instruments, providing depth and grabbing my attention. I loved "If You Say So" because the band did so much by doing so little.

"Run Away" is haunting, loud, and very Anberlin. I would probably jam to this while working out to really amp up my energy. The vocals really stand out in this song due to their clarity and fury-filled notes. There's an air of catchiness within the percussion and guitar that makes the song very easy to listen to. The song is somber yet powerful, a combination that makes it a total win in my book.

"Day to Day" is the song I would put on repeat to throw me into a deep slumber. It is very monotone, but not in a bad way. The vocals demand the most attention, as they did in "If You Say So," with a very emotional tone. This song relaxed me, which I believe garners two thumbs up.

I recommend The Dear and Departed to fans of indie emo rock. Their music is laid-back yet thoughtful and definitely worth a listen.

Listen to The Dear and Departed here!

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/thedearanddeparted/photos/2389660

My Take on Saturday Morning Cartoons

I woke up this morning with an undeniable urge to watch some live videos of KISS KISS on YouTube. After about ten, I decided I wanted to share some of the really spectacular ones that show how energetic this band is. Here are three of my favorites. Enjoy!

KISS KISS - "Satellite"

KISS KISS - "Dress Up"

KISS KISS - "Machines"

Which performance did you like the most? Why?

KISS KISS is Love Love

Purevolume introduced me to quite the dreamy musical powerhouse today. KISS KISS, a five-piece experimental indie rock group from New York, stunned me with their refreshing, roaring sound. They swept me off my feet and carried me through a quirky arrangement of dramatic vocals, eclectic instrumentation, and a wrathful violin. Three songs were more than enough material to convince me KISS KISS is a band every rock fan should experience. You can try them out for yourself here.

"Satellite" packed such a pop-rock punch I felt like it swallowed me whole and spit me out, in an effort to let me know KISS KISS is a force to be reckoned with. This song showcases the glorious capabilities of their synthesizer. Its occasional daintiness allowed the vocals to strut around the foundation of chord progressions and fierce percussion, yet its occasional boldness made the song sound like it just took a cocktail of muscle-pumping steroids. I loved everything happening in this song, and there was A LOT happening.

"Machines" is a mysterious cabaret-esque tune with angst-filled percussion and woeful violin. I loved this song because it is so different from anything I have heard lately. The way the instruments cue each other into the various breaks between vocals was intriguing and innovative. The circus-like sound of it was almost spooky and somewhat hypnotizing. At this point in my listening adventure, I made a mental note to download everything they have on iTunes.

"Dress Up" also gave me the creeps with its rushed percussion, screechy vocals, and violin and synthesizer-laced instrumental breaks. I would love to hear this song live because I think it could drive a crowd crazy, but the recording proved a little harsh on the ears. Despite its brashness, I loved its epic tempo-changes and crazy vocals. It was a hot mess, but I embraced it.

I recommend KISS KISS to fans of Panic! At the Disco. Their sound is incredibly theatric, entertaining, and demands attention.

Listen to KISS KISS here!

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/kisskiss/photos/2986210

Single Frame: A Hit or a Miss and Sometimes Both

I am ALL about electronica/experimental rock, but Single Frame left me feeling a little unsure of my appreciation for it. Hailing from Austin, Texas, members Adreon, Ian, and Jason pump out some great beats but lack pizzazz vocally and lyrically. My listening session left me feeling confused because I wanted to call them genius but messy at the same time.

"The Slip" achieves electronica greatness in a matter of seconds during the intro. That killer intro nearly convinced me I was listening to my new favorite band. Then the vocals tainted the song's purity with brash, rough, unpolished verses and choruses that tried much too hard to be catchy. I wanted to say the instrumental parts were enough to save the song, but the vocals made it almost annoying to listen to. I wanted the instruments to play on and the vocals to back down.

Then "Exact Copy of This in the Basement" happened. I could not find fault with almost anything in it. The vocals are rather low for most of the song, and I would complain about the lack of clarity, but they are too sexy to pick on. Half the time I did not even know what was being sung. I just knew I liked how seductive it sounded. The beats in this song are almost too smooth to even put into words. Some electronic mechanism establishes a great cadence from the get-go, and I could not get enough of it. I imagined this song blaring out of some horrible sound system in an underground night club, hypnotizing ears with its robotic catchiness. If I would suggest a song for you to listen to right this minute, this would be that song.

"Digital Witness" ruined the high I was on from "Exact Copy of This in the Basement." The vocals were once again the culprit. The guitar and synthesizer were pretty stellar, but lost their shine when the vocals covered them up with a screechy chorus. After this song, I just felt frustrated with the band because it seemed like they came so close to being grade A and then threw it away on ragged vocals.

I could take them or leave them. Single Frame is not a band I plan on just forgetting about, but their music is certainly not keeping me up at night.

Listen to Single Frame here!

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo credit: http://www.purevolume.com/singleframe/photos/1045425

Let's Shuffle Things Up a Bit

I decided to deviate from my usual style of post and share some great Youtube videos of some of the bands I have recently reviewed. I prefer to listen to bands live in concert than listen to their recorded work, but Youtube is about the closest I can get to seeing these bands live for right now. Let's see what these guys can do!

Good Old War - "Weak Man"

The Weakerthans - "Reconstruction Site"

The Colourist - "Fair Weather Friends"

I have been listening to The Colourist and The Weakerthans A LOT lately. I almost feel compelled to send Purevolume an e-mail to thank them for opening my ears to such talented musicians.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.