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