Category: Music
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James Otto – Interview
“There are a lot of people out there who think music isn’t speaking to them anymore,” says James Otto. “People who grew up on Bob Seger, James Taylor, The Allman Brothers Band or Hank Williams Jr. — those are the artists I love, so I hope what I’m doing speaks to their audience.” His remedy…
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Prince – Musicology
Artist: Prince Title: Musicology Label: Columbia Rating: 8/10 Corporate Line: With Musicology, Prince is back to show everybody just how it’s done: the seamless blend of sweet soul sounds, pulsing post-modern dance grooves, and hard rock riffs filtered through the uncanny and unerring instincts of the greatest one-man band in pop music history. Musicology is,…
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Toby Lightman – Interview
There’s a world of difference between pop stars who sing other people’s songs, and female singer/songwriters who truly touch your soul. With a voice that’s powerful, passionate, endlessly expressive, and full of contagious energy, Toby Lightman is just that type of artist—one who will undoubtedly surprise and captivate those who listen to her Lava Records…
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Mario Winans – Hurt No More
Artist: Mario Winans Title: Hurt No More Label: Bad Boy Rating: 6.5/10 Corporate Line: The culmination of a decade’s long journey is the Mario Winans’ Bad Boy debut, Hurt No More. This is soul music that bridges the gap between the hard-edged flavor of modern day R&B music and the honest, vulnerable passion in the…
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Ben Kweller – On My Way
Artist: Ben Kweller Title: On My Way Label: ATO Rating: 4.5/10 Corporate Line: One of the main differences between On My Way and Kweller’s first album, Sha Sha, is the distinctly live feel of the new record. Produced by Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams), the motto put forward from the beginning of the…
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The Vines – Winning Days
Artist: The Vines Title: Winning Days Label: Captiol Rating: 6.5/10 Corporate Line: From the title alone, it’s obvious that The Vines’ second album takes a warmer approach than their grittier debut. The positivity of Winning Days as an album is reflected in the lyrics, the sounds and the songs. The drums sound like they did…
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Robi Draco Rosa – Mad Love
Artist: Robi Draco Rosa Title: Mad Love Label: Columbia Rating: 7/10 Corporate Line: Produced and written by Rosa, Mad Love is overflowing with spontaneity, passion, and emotion, from the spacey, ethereal crescendos of “My Eyes Adore You,” to the bluesy, rippling guitar work in “Lie Without a Lover,” and the sexy smooth groove of “Dancing…
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Cee-Lo – Interview
Cee-Lo Green holds certain truths to be self-evident. That music has the power strike that, the obligation to enlighten, entertain, educate and elevate. That music can liberate and celebrate humanity. That music rules the world. Those truths and the undulating messages that Cee-Lo imparts are loud and soulful on his sophomore solo manifesto Cee-Lo Green…
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Local H – Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles
Artist: Local H Title: Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles Label: Studio E. Rating: 8/10 Corporate Line: For this, their fifth full length release, the band teamed with co-producer/engineer Andy Gerber (Caviar, Sullen) to create an emotional aural landscape built, at least in part, of influences ranging from echoes of 60’s psychedelia to 70’s punk rock,…
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Local H – Interview
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Local H is a two-man wrecking crew, a powerhouse invigorated by the mania of former Triple Fast Action drummer Brian St. Clair’s punishing backbeat, and driven by the distinct lyric and melodic vision of guitarist/vocalist Scott Lucas. On Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles? (Studio E Records), Scott and Brian flex their…