It’s not often a band that plays in the U.S. has its roots in the United Arab Emirates; let alone one that hails from the metalcore genre.
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Duet uses recorded sound to produce a refreshing take on today's music
United Kingdom shoegaze duo The Big Pink recently released its debut album, “A Brief History of Love,” on Sept. 14 to much worldwide admiration and intrigue. The performing pair is Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell, who take the synthesized guitar-romp to a mature level with singles such as “Velvet,” “Dominos” and “Too Young To Love.”
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Band's sophomore album continues trend of blazing riffs and vocals
For Texas-based metal band, The Destro, its years of relentless touring may have finally paid off.
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Fort Worth, Texas metalcore band Oh, Sleeper is steadily climbing the ranks of its music category. The band released its sophomore album, a follow up to 2007’s “When I Am God,” on Aug. 25. It’s latest album, “Son of the Morning,” proves the band can hold its own amidst the recently band-bloated metalcore arena.
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The hardcore punk rock scene has a new mainstream hero in the U.K. band Gallows. And with the recent release of the band’s second full-length album “Grey Britain,” the band is continuing its tradition of brutal tone and lyrics.
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Enter Shikari's latest album combines genres to create a new sound.
It’s not often that a band can successfully mesh two seemingly unmarriageable music genres such as post-hardcore and electronic. But in the case of British newcomer Enter Shikari and its recently dropped album, “Common Dreads,” the union is a success.
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Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks obviously didn’t see Alexisonfire’s latest release, “Old Crows / Young Cardinals” coming.
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The craftsmanship and innovation has been gathered for Wilco’s seventh studio creation, titled “Wilco (The Album).” The clarity of Jeff Tweedy’s unmistakable voice and lyrics is mended with (what seems to be) a stable roster of MVP musicians, which together resumes a sound that ventures forward with imaginative simplicity.
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The fourth full-length album by experimental rock group Dredg deserves an in-depth listen. More than well-crafted music, this album poses esoteric questions of forgiveness, rebirth, loneliness and sacrifice.
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Rock from Australia is not something that most people would call common. Other than the legendary AC/DC, it’s quite difficult to name notable bands from the former prison-island. However, this hasn’t stopped bands from The Land Down Under from trying to “make it” musically. Some bands are starting to break the national barrier into the States; one such band is the group Closure in Moscow.
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Local quartet The Feelings Mutual is surprisingly unsigned. Listening to its self-titled debut EP album reminds one of the successful commercialization of pop-infused rock and its profitability through today’s younger audiences — all of which begs the question: Why isn’t it signed?
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With a Hot Hot Heat meets ‘80s legend Duran Duran sound, the band Black Kids presents a set of synth-pop tunes that hearken back to the days of sparkly scrunchies and acid wash jeans.
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If they made nursery rhyme CDs for stoners or people who have either never gone to college or are in high school getting all pumped up about going to college, Asher Roth’s “Asleep in the Bread Aisle” is perfect for you.
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Never a man of neutrality, Neil Young heaves out his signature, unapologetic guitar storytelling in his latest 10-track disc compilation, “Fork In The Road.”
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On the second track of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ newest album, “It’s Blitz!,” the band’s frontwoman Karen O commands us to “dance ‘till you’re dead.” That’s right, the trio made a dance album this time around.
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When listening to “Tentacles,” the latest album by Crystal Antlers, one is instantly reminded of The Mars Volta. It makes sense, as Isaiah “Ikey” Owens (who has worked with Volta) produced the collection of upbeat numbers.
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On her debut album, Molly Jenson couples her acoustic guitar with raspy vocals to create an indie pop sound. Using this somewhat generic formula of poppy vocals and acoustic riffs that has been used so many times before, Jenson seems to get it right, adding her own unique flair.
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Kinky’s latest album, “Barracuda” is like a dance party in a tropical setting, with endless umbrella cocktails. Perhaps it is more like a head pounding club, with little space between sweaty bodies pulsating to undeniable beats.
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Fan of The Black Keys? Front man and vocalist Dan Auerbach of the Akron, Ohio blues-rock group, recently released his first solo album titled, “Keep It Hid,” which deserves to be anything but concealed. After spending every intermittent moment recording in his acoustic-friendly studio, Akron Analog, Auerbach had created hours of varying music that he could develop into a full-length record. And, because he had the opportunity to include a wider range of instruments including piano, upright bass, maracas, glockenspiel and acoustic guitar, Auerbach created a more multi-faceted sound than his blues duo The Black Keys, which limits the two in a creative application.
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Take one part hard core, half a cup of screamo and four tablespoons of melodic sensibility; stir together and let bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. The ending result is Pierce The Veil’s debut album “A Flair for the Dramatic,” a juicy new treat off of Equal Vision Records.
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Boring, boring and more boring is the perfect descriptive synopsis of the band Shirock’s self-released, first attempt at a full-length album titled “Everything Burns.”
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Now, I'm not a big Yoko Ono fan, but maybe with John Lennon on, you and your significant other can make some "bed peace" all your own.
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An EP is often a preview of what’s to come in a later album. If an EP is similar to a test at a VD clinic, Orange County’s Saosin would have just tested positive for gonorrhea.
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From the depths of the funky fresh Sub Pop record label, come the Fruit Bats with its 2005 CD entitled “Spelled in Bones.” Although the CD has been around for some time now, it deserves credence as it’s still a lesser-known band and hasn’t quite become a household name — yet.
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A once prominent progeny of rock, one that challenged every aspect of social normality, and waved the flag of the circled “A” for all to see, it has all but faded into obscurity.
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If you like American Apparel deep v-neck T-shirts and just-so headbands, then the up-and-coming artist Lights is for you.
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In the past few years, I’ve noticed that dressing and living vintage has conquered the title of trendy — old school is the new school. Whether or not Cold War Kid’s is a part of the trend or is authentically “old school,” doesn’t matter: Its a talented, creative foursome that represents it well.
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A dark alley corner, lit only by old, handmade candles and a full moon is where one might expect to hear the eerie and nearly creepy sounds of Dark Dark Dark.
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“Ummm … wait – I’ve heard this before.” This is a thought that will likely run through the mind of a faithful fan while listening to the two time Best Electronic / Dance Album Award-winning British duo Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers’, newest album, “Brotherhood.” They may feel as though they are hearing a blast from the past instead of a peek into the present, which isn’t a bad thing.
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With an album cover depicting a smiley face cookie smoking a blunt, hopes are (no pun intended) already initially high. Fortunately, the expectations are met. Highly original, as well as entertaining, local favorite The Bigfellas’ self-produced album, “Chubbed Up,” delivers a whimsical and lighthearted sound, accompanied by often comical lyrics.
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The woods of upstate New York are quiet and eerie, lush with foliage and wildlife but distinctive in their serenity. In a haunted recording studio right in the middle of these woods is where Rachel Yamagata crafted her second record, a two-part creation she titled “Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart.”
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Senses Fail's fourth album is loud without saying much
Despite its best efforts, the music genre emo still lives on. Produced by Vagrant and Drive-Thru Records, Senses Fail’s newest album, “Life Is Not A Waiting Room,” stays true to the stereotype of screamo-style music with emotionally charged lyrics.
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Dylan’s newer album ‘Seeing Things’ is nothing flashy but good enough
Continuing in his father’s footsteps, songwriter and musician Jakob Dylan, son of legendary folk musician Bob Dylan, released his first solo album, “Seeing Things.” Produced by Columbia Records, “Seeing Things” puts Dylan’s talents on display for all to hear.
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Tom Morello’s second studio album, 'The Fabled City' is utterly impressive
Melodic guitar strumming accompanied with inspiring songs sung by a smooth, strong voice: those less familiar with the man will be surprised this describes the album of rock legend Tom Morello. Morello’s second studio album “The Fabled City,” produced by Epic, is another display of Morello’s impressive songwriting capabilities.
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The Ting Tings pump up the British and USA pop scene
If you’re skeptical of the name, you probably speak a dialect of Japanese. One variation of their name means “penis” when transliterated, which unfortunately doesn’t have anything to do with their style, unless male genital pop music is making its grand debut. The Ting Tings, comprised of Katie White and Jules De Martino, entered on the indie pop party scene in England in 2006. They released the debut single, “That’s Not My Name,” in the same year.
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It has been five years (arguably 11), but the lords of metal, otherwise known as Metallica, have finally returned to reclaim their throne with their ninth studio album "Death Magnetic." With lead-heavy guitar riffs and thunderous drumbeats, Metallica's new album pays homage to its classic sound that made the band the musical legend it is today.
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Keeping the spirit of artistry in music alive, the power trio Earthless combines the two seemingly incompatible genres of metal and psychedelic rock as it unleashes a psyche-metal jam session at the annual Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland.
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Sometimes you just need to be alone. For Jenny Lewis, this realization came in 2006. After more than five years fronting for the much-adored indie band Rilo Kiley, Lewis took refuge in solitude when she released the album "Rabbit Fur Coat." Her solo debut received much critical acclaim because of its confessional lyrics and gospel-like melodies. Questions arose if, when it came to Rilo Kiley, Lewis was gone for good.
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