Eminem returns and this is a surefire hit
for the man from 8 Mile but after a couple of spins it sounds like it also
might be the beginning of the end. The freshness of Em's earlier work has
given way to a rather formulaic, "haven't I heard this before", release
that showcases an artists that may have become a victim of his own fame.
No doubt Em still tries to cash in on the controversial tip, but it's now
starting to sound more and more like a gimmick than Em letting lose like
he's expected to do it. If this would have come out a couple years ago,
my opinion may have been higher but after receiving a fresh take on hip-hop
from the likes of Outkast, this CD comes across as a by-the-numbers rehash.
Maybe that was the intention, if you want to read into the title but this
definitely isn't Em at his best.
I know right off the bat that some people
are gonna bitch about this band but I have to tell you they grabbed me
right from the start with their punky alternative sound. My immediate reaction
was this sounds a little like The Offspring kicking Bush's ass. Like the
Offspring, Denver Harbor packs a heavy punch that's wrapped around addictive
melodies. The result is it makes you want to crank it up but also sing
along as soon as the chorus kicks in the second time.
Fenix*Tx fans will hear familiar elements
in Denver Harbor as the band was started by Will Salazar and Chris Lewis.
But this group is more eclectic than Fenix*TX ever were as Salazar and
company take several musical styles ranging from power-pop to hardcore
to the Police's brand of reggae, throw it in a musical blender to come
up with their own sound. While the lyrics most of the time border on the
banal it is the execution here that counts. It's a highly enjoyable album
and worthy checking out. And yes Salazar paid homage to Texas again
when naming this band, Denver Harbor is reportedly Houston's most feared
street gang.
Break out the cheese, and I'm talking about
the title I haven't gotten to the music yet. In a fairly predictable move
Clay Aiken is giving his fans a reason to make him money this holiday season
with a Christmas album. I don't deny Clay's talent but as heterosexual
male rock fan, Aiken has never appealed to me. This album just solidifies
my early opinion that Clay is really a male Streisand that makes more sense
as a Broadway singer than a pop star but then again teenage girls will
buy anything with a pretty face. Oh, what about the music?
It's all Christmas standards so if you like Clay and want to spend money
to hear him sing songs that sounded more natural when Bing Crosby sang
them, then you should get this CD. If you're not a fan, avoid at all costs.
This is a ka-ching release.
In my book, King's X can do no wrong and
the only thing better than a studio album from King's X is to see them
live. While live albums never measure up to being there, this CD is about
as close as you are going to get. Unlike a certain four letter grease-painted
band that made their major breakthrough with a double live album that was
more studio overdub than an authentic live recording, this double album
actually sounds like it was really captured live, warts and all. The mix
isn't the greatest but neither is sitting in the audience at a show and
while that may be a handicap for most bands, King's X doesnt suffer because
of this. I'm all for the rockers but I think the secret weapon here is
the acoustic tracks on disc 2. This CD gives us a broad overview
of the King's X live experience, a band that is known for their broad overview
of progressive rock and melodic rock. This is stellar effort and if you
are a King's X fan it's a no-brainer purchase!
Bless his heart, Mick has taken the solo
record road before to mixed results but finally he has Something Big
on his hands with this effort. Fans of Mick's entire career with Fleetwood
Mac will find a lot of love here, he mixes the early blues gods sound with
a splash of the more pop orientated music that made Fleetwood Mac household
names. Old time fans have at least one solid reason to pick this up, it
features a collaboration with Jeremy Spencer; the first time they have
worked together in 3 decades. At the heart of the band is Mick along
with Todd Smallwood and Lauren Evans but Mick also gets a little help from
some of his friends Jackson Browne, Lee Sklar and John McVie. Overall this
album is surprisingly cohesive and sounds like the product of a primary
gig, instead of a side-project afterthought. Bravo to Mick on a job
well done!
Like most post major label albums from
Enuff Z'nuff, ? is a mix of new studio recordings and older songs
that for whatever reason didn't make it onto a previous release. While
this CD contains the two best tracks from the famed Vitamin A sessions
("Home Tonight" and "How Are You") this CD is far less cohesive than the
band's back catalog. When you take most of the songs separately, they are
great. "Home Tonight" is one of the best power-pop songs this band, that
is renowned for stellar power-pop, has ever produced and "Help" is one
of Donnie Vie's shining piano ballads. But this effort sounds a bit like
a house cleaning when taken together. The lead-off track "Gorgeous"
is handy-capped by Chip's vocals and insipid lyrics. The melody is great
and I can't help but think if Donnie had taken over the lyrics and vocals
this would be a smash. But one really cool thing about this CD is it does
feature some new recordings from the original lineup (as well as older
reworked songs). Just a short time before the untimely death of Derek Frigo,
he recorded some new music with Donnie Vie and Vic Foxx. Sadly, only one
of those tracks made it onto this release (to my knowledge), "Joni Woni".
Overall, this is a great CD and easily beats the competition but when competing
against their own musical history, this CD is a bit uneven. Yet still worth
having in your collection.
It's impossible to become bored while listening
to this CD. Whether you like all the music depends on your taste but I
have to give Flashbulb Memories some major credit for not being restrained
by genre labels. This is a band that has no fear of exploring different
sides of their music personality whether it's modern rock, thrash, nu-metal,
alternative or Coldplayish acoustic pop-rock. This is definitely a band
that fans of various styles of rock music should check out and major labels
should get the balls to sign.
Before you write this band off based on
their work on Roadrunner, give them another listen. They still employ the
nu-metal elements that they are known for, but they have reinvigorated
their sound with healthy fistfuls of metalcore and there in lies their
appeal. Dry Kill Logic bridge those two worlds of metal and create an invigorated
unique sound. It's heavy, it's brutal and it's definitely not your little
brother's brand of metal.
Radio Earth offer up an interesting mix
of classic alternative and melodic modern rock. While they won't
set the world on fire they easily measure up to most modern rock bands
on the scene at the moment. If you like modern rock of the mid to late
90s like Tonic, Dishwalla, or Everclear you should check these guys out.
If you are fan of rootsy blue influenced
country rock then Barbara Cue serve up something cool, especially for a
side-project but it's not as strong as Widespread Panic.
OPMs new release ForThemAsses is
not their best effort. Their follow up to 2000s Menace to Sobriety
fell into the dreaded sophomore jinx. They come off sounding a lot like
a poor mans Sublime or Sugar Ray with their lyrics and instrument sounding
like they put little to no effort in to the production. If I had to pick
out a bright spot, the one would be, "Everyday" a slow moving ballad that
shows slightly more talent than the rest of the album. With a guest appearance
by Eek-A-Mouse, I thought this album would be better. I cant keep a clear
conscience, and promote this album to anyone. Keep your hard earned money
away from OPMs ForThemAsses.
We're gonna end this edition of To The
Point on a high note, or rather a looowww note with indie stoner rockers
Koncrete Kite, a band that pulls no punches as they kick things off with
the lyrics "f*** you and horse you rode in on". Overall, if you're
into acid rock, stoner rock or post grunge, these guys deliver but they
also take you off in some different directions too. Overall, a cool
musical journey can be had if you have it in you to try and fly the Koncrete
Kite.
Posted by Late Nighter:
By the way--Clay Aiken sucks, no matter what his singing talent. Singing talent can be impressive, but many people have it, and the s$$t he sings sucks. If he cannot come up with anything good to sing, he sucks, too.
Posted by Late Nighter:
Air Head, just because Eminem is popular does not mean he is the best. It only means he appeals to what is "in" right now, and that is white rap. I'm not dissing it--I like Eminem. However, I like a lot of no-name bands too, because they are talented and true.
Posted by Ace:
Oh I'm sorry. KISS. No sh*t. I'm a retard.
Posted by Indy Drone:
Air Head, don't forget, if you've never heard of the band, it's obviously a great band. As soon as 2 people know the band, they have sold out. That's what I have learned.
Posted by Air Head:
Koncrete Kite and Flashbulb Memories get 4 happy faces and Eminem gets 2.5? Who the hell are these bands?
Posted by Ace:
Who's the four letter grease-painted band?
Posted by Carol Reese:
"Hey Carol, no one said Gay can't sing, but they did say he was Gay."
Oh. Sorry, my bad. I thought this place was supposed to review one's music, not bedroom habits.
Posted by Rogo:
I have to laugh at these Gay Aiken fans. Do they run around the net looking for people making fun of their favorite troll? Hey Carol, no one said Gay can't sing, but they did say he was Gay. Barry Manilow has a hell of voice but you won't find many straight men that buy his crap. But I think people miss the point, this Christmas album says it all. Total and complete cheese.
Posted by Carol Reese:
"And also it's pretty funny for someone that buys into a generic tv made pop star to talk about taste." I think you are confusing Clay with Ashlee Simpson. He has a great voice, can sing live, on pitch, and has a great connection with the audience. Why do you think people follow him across the country when he's on tour? You can't "make" this kind of talent on TV, one has to be born with it.
And if any of your "legitimate" artists were offered a similar break, I seriously doubt that they would have turned it down.
Posted by aG:
And also it's pretty funny for someone that buys into a generic tv made pop star to talk about taste. If you like bland mass produced showtune like pop, more power to you, but don't for a minute disparage legitimate artists that earn their success.
Posted by aG:
No Carole, it means that most straight males don't like showtunes.
Posted by Carol Reese:
"I don't deny Clay's talent but as heterosexual male rock fan, Aiken has never appealed to me." What, exactly, does your sexuality have to do with anything? Are you are implying that all straight males are tone-deaf and have no taste in music? Hmmm. Interesting theory. Sure explains some of the reviews here.
Posted by Words of wisdom:
If I'm not pooping in the toilet, I prefer not to poop at all.
Posted by Hobo:
Oh, of course, because Eminem was always a bastion of maturity?
Posted by Log:
I like Eminem but his new album is $hit save for maybe 4 or 5 songs. I think he lost a couple brain cells since 8 Mile because now he's acting like a 12-year old, making fart, burp, and vomit jokes, and talking about how his "pee pee" goes "doing doing doing." Maybe he was just out to prove that he could fart on a track and it would sell?
