Category: Reviews
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Home Town Hero – Home Town Hero
Artist: Home Town Hero Title: Home Town Hero Label: Maverick Rating: 7/10 Home Town Hero calls L.A. home. In a city so large can they possibly be home town heroes? Hero: “Bleeds In Blue” – Cunning little track. “Questions” – Turns the listener right on their ear after the soft-punk pop that they come to…
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Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow
Artist: Blackalicious Title: Blazing Arrow Label: MCA Rating: 8/10 Chief among Blackalicious is Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel. Their style will draw comparisons to Outkast, but its not the new groups that Blackalicious gets their inspiration from its those from the days of old when hip hop and soul had no names. Blazing: “Blazing…
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Journalist – Scribes of Life
Artist: Journalist Title: Scribes of Life Label: Universal Rating: 5/10 Journalist is a hip-hopper with something to say. Scribes: “Self Explanatory” – Smooth beats with lyrics that keep the fire burning. “Back Of Da Lack” – Features Sleepy Brown and Backbone – interesting track with a hot hook. “Dialogue” – Talks the talk. “She Want…
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The Promise Ring – Wood/Water
Artist: The Promise Ring Title: Wood/Water Label: Anti Rating: 6/10 Artist: The Promise Ring Sound like: Emo (pop/punk) Wood: “Half Year Son” – First track where the sentiment matches the music. “My Life Is At Home” “Bread And Coffee” Neither solid/nor liquid: “Stop Playing Guitar” – Occasionally interesting. “Suffer Never” – Who says? “Become One…
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Badly Drawn Boy – About A Boy
Artist: Badly Drawn Boy Title: About A Boy Label: Artist Direct Rating: 8/10 This is a soundtrack for the film About A Boy, but there is only one artist performing on it, Badly Drawn Boy. So is it a soundtrack or a new record? I’d like to know too. The Good: “Something To Talk About”…
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The Rocking Horse Winner – Horizon
Artist: The Rocking Horse Winner Title: Horizon Label: Equal Vision Rating: 5.5/10 The Rocking Horse Winner has borrowed Jolie Lindholm from Dashboard Confessional and has gotten off. Great: “Orange Blossom” and “Error” – Undeniable flavor. The melodies pop with each line and you can’t help but get excited. Good: “When Songbirds Sing” – Lovely. “Novelty”…
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Sheryl Crow – C’Mon C’Mon
Artist: Sheryl Crow Title: C’Mon C’Mon Label: A&M Rating: 6.5/10 Sheryl Crow brings it like she always has. Great: “Steve McQueen” – Typically catchy, great rock ‘n’ roll. All the hooks are intact. “Soak Up The Sun” – If you haven’t heard it you will. It’s the only real single on the album and by…
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Vanessa Carlton – Be Not Nobody
Artist: Vanessa Carlton Title: Be Not Nobody Label: A&M Rating: 6.5/10 Who? Twenty something Vanessa Carlton. Sounds like? Tori Amos and Fiona Apple Be: “A Thousand Miles” – Lovely tribute to love. “Pretty Baby” and “Sway” – Both tracks that touch a nerve. Between be and not: “Ordinary Day” “Unsung” “Rinse” – A look at…
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John Forte – I, John
Artist: John Forte Title: I, John Label: Transparent Music Rating: 8/10 John Forte. Who? Well you might not know the name, but he was a former member of the Fugees. Jailed after a cocaine conviction Forte is eager to show you his worth. Great: “What A Difference” – Features Dinah Washington but its Forte’s in…
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12 Stones – 12 Stones
Artist: 12 Stones Title: 12 Stones Label: Wind-Up Rating: 4/10 12 Stones sound like: Creed without all the giant choruses. Great: Ordinary can never be great. Good: “Crash”, “Broken”, “The Way I Feel”. “Home” and “Soulfire” – There seems to be a trend towards becoming common. Although 12 Stones doesn’t have a bad record there…