Kittie: In the Black
Posted on 27. Sep, 2009 by Author in Album Review
Since the conception of the band in 1997, the Lander sisters have watched several guitar and bass playing babes come and go…
Black Feather, “Silhouette”
Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music
Black Feather
Silhouette
Other Electricites
Coming to us from the icy realm of black metal and cheaply made furniture, Norway’s Black Feather is the brainchild of Harald Frland, former guitarist of progressive jazz ensemble Jaga Jazzist. For his solo debut Frland handles 11 instruments himself in addition to producer duties and also recruited several of his former band mates for their horn playing skills. The final product of more than two years of work is a solid album of mellow, somber indie rock. Every track is a meticulously assembled, multi-layered soundscape, which isn’t [...]
Alexisonfire, “Old Crows/Young Cardinals”
Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music
Alexisonfire
Old Crows/Young Cardinals
Vagrant
Alexisonfire (all one word pronounced “Alexis on fireâ€) deliver a message right off the bat that they’re not messing around. “Old Crows” presents a rugged blend of punk rock with a hardcore edge. George Pettit’s vocal style is a guttural but audible scream, quite reminiscent at times of Damaged-era Henry Rollins, which works well with the contrast of guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green’s anthemic, clean singing. “Young Cardinals” starts off with a speedy verse, representing the groups rugged edge, then quickly shifts to a pretty vocal display by Green: “Oh, [...]
Synthesis Weekly Reviews — The Dead Weather: “Horehound”
Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music
The Dead Weather
Horehound
Third Man
The title and album cover alone leave much to be explained. Dark mysterious sounds escape from Horehound with the fury feeding them. Not merely a side project for Jack White, he brings a trunk load of shuffling beats to the band as drummer, guitarist and occasional vocalist. The majority of the screeching vocals and guitar on songs including “I Cut Like a Buffalo†are from Alison Mosshart (The Kills and Discount). Additional members include bassist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes) and multi-instrumentalist Dean Fertita [...]
Synthesis Weekly Reviews — Joybook: “Joybook”
Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Chico, Music
Joybook
Joybook
Self-Released
With their self-titled, self-released debut, Joybook has begun to create a comforting mark. “All My Friends Play Guitar” is led by Erin Lizardo’s steady keyboard and slightly gloomy but dreamy vocals, along with Rob Smith’s inventive drumming. “Mix Breed” offers a cheerful vibe, featuring a more colorful spectrum and lively approach by the quartet as a whole. “Circle/Square” is perhaps the busiest track of the six, showcasing key by Lizardo and swirling Moog synthesizer by Scott Barwick. The album’s finale, “Dog Song,” is the most palatable and contains relaxing meditative [...]
Armed for Apocalypse Signs to Ironclad
Posted on 02. Jul, 2009 by Daniel Taylor in Apocalypse, Chico, Music
Fresh off a headlining gig at SF Gay Pride Festival last weekend, Chico’s own Armed For Apocalypse have officially inked a deal with Ironclad / Metal Blade records. Their debut album, DEFEAT, which coincidentally happens to be the heaviest album in the history of mankind, drops September 15th.
A Blog About Eye Glasses
Posted on 24. Apr, 2009 by spencer in Paid
As far as my vision is concerned, I must have been hit with the magic bullet at birth. Every member of my family uses reading glasses, and many have to use glasses all the time just to see clearly 20 feet ahead of them. Perhaps that’s why so many members of my family have gone into vision-related fields of work (some cousins own a glasses shop in Canada, my cousin is getting a doctorate in vision-related sciences, my great-grandpa was a watchmaker and in his spare time made eye glasses). [...]
Soundgarden Reunite For a Show Sans Chris Cornell
Posted on 26. Mar, 2009 by Daniel Taylor in Music
Apparently, at a recent Seattle date of Tom Morello’s latest shitty solo project, the original members of Soundgarden – drummer Matt Cameron, guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Matthew Sheperd – got up onstage together for the first time in too long
