Signature Ratings
0- What the hell
1- Borrow don't buy
2- Well...a couple of joints
3- Worth a listen
4- Off the hook
5- Buy it or die
This Living Room -
Matt Larson
By: Ric Hickey
Matt Larson’s sunny disposition shines through in every note he sings and plays. This positive energy also illuminates his otherwise straightforward lyrics. Avoiding abstractions and heavy business, Larson makes simplicity sparkle. Though Larson’s happy tunes only occasionally step outside the mid-tempo Pop category, his confident acoustic guitar playing, affectionate vocal style, and solid hooks are a strong foundation. Setting aside the guitar for a couple songs, Larson proves to be equally adept at piano.
It all clicks with one of these piano-based tunes, the stellar “You Won’t Let Me Go”. Like Ben Folds doing his best Brian Wilson impression, Larson cleverly juxtaposes curiously pessimistic lyrics over a catchy melody made in Heaven. I’ve heard it said that one way of describing mysticism is to say it is the ability to see extraordinary beauty in ordinary things. If that be the case, Mr. Matt Larson may very well be a musical mystic, expressing the joy and wonder of everyday life in his poppy observations.
3 Signatures
TOP
Feelin Up -
The Coke Dares
By: Carolina Jones
Feelin Up by The Coke Dares is full of short well-performed musical jokes that speaks to the “not in their right mind” population. This CD is a straight ahead good time for the ADD or ADHD confirmed. The disc is a 33 track ride. The longest track is 2:09 seconds which leaves room for just about every track to be a favorite and when performed live doesn’t give anyone any time to focus on the desire to throw any beverages at them. They don’t give themselves any room to disappoint being that things are so straight to the point. The drums, guitars and energy on this disc are amazing! Great comedy-punk.
3 Signatures
TOP
Hollywood - Pacific Coast Band
By: Corbyn Bricie
Okay you absolutely have to be in the mood for this one. You have to be freakishly clear about what you’re getting ready to listen to before you listen. This is not the CD to listen to on a whim…unless you’re whim catches you in a hippishly good mood. This is happy, trippy music folks. This album is reminiscent of the days of un-polluted sunshine. “Hollywood” by Pacific Coast Band is dangerously live and let lovish. Production wise the sound is tight and well placed but a bit too safe. I get it guys. This is an old-school sound that is meant to remind us of and transport us to happier times when lyrics, melodies and harmonies were simple and to the point. For those of you who like comparisons think Polyphonic Spree.
2 ½ Signatures
TOP
Pelican Crossing - Blue Jar
By: Mut Asheru
“Pelican Crossing” is like a well-planned, chaotic, romantic, vibrant and plush dream offered up by N. Ireland’s Blue Jar. The album has plenty of vibrant stings and fingers that really extend into a couple different genres and moods. My best description of this album would be to call it ‘gypsy jazz’, but it’s much more than my meager description lends it credit for. It’s really a concoction of jazz, classical, and vaudeville instrumentation with vocals thrown in (or should I say expertly placed and executed) by Lesley Dennison. “Pelican Crossing” is a 14 track adventure. Relaxing and at times sensual and exciting.
3 Signatures
TOP
Kingdoms -
Jets Under Fire
By: Mut Asheru
Austin, TX based Jet’s Under Fire music has been described as Christian music, but I’d like to think it’s more universal than that. It’s inspirational but in a totally non-boreing way. ‘Kingdoms’ has plenty of rock sensibility and some darned good guitar riffs. No lie. Jason Poe’s delivery is subdued power. His voice sits on your pulse points and their traitorous thumps have no choice but to do his bidding. I would have liked to hear more drums on the CD. While great, I think more drums (at least at a louder level) would have kicked everything up a notch.
3 Signatures
TOP
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