| 12/07/06 |
- Zakk Wylde - Book of Shadows Based on Zakk's past as the Ozzy Axe and Black Label Society front man,
I had an assumption on what this album would sound like. Well, I was wrong, dead wrong. This album contains some smokin' guitar
work (I did expect that)and more of a slower, rock-ballad type approach to the lyrics (which I was not expecting.)
- Parlour Steps - The Great Perhaps (Indie) - I believe this band is out of Vancouver Canada and I learned about
them through the Seattle and Beyond podcast. They have a very unique sound with a mixture of string instruments and electric guitars.
I highly recommend the second song on this album (The Modern Today) if are looking for a catchy song that will stay with you
long after the song finishes (I especially like the crisp guitar riffs). Subtle is a perfect song if you need to relax - you may
have to listen to it a couple of times before it grows on you (although I was hooked at first listen and really drove my
decision to make the purchase." "My dreams lately have been horrifying me - sometimes it's more restful to be awake"
- Thriving Ivory - Thriving Ivory (Indie) - Seems like a waited forever for this album to come out. I had heard two of their
songs from the Seattle and Beyond podcast and then caught two more on their myspace page. If you like voices a little of the beaten
path and enjoy an excellent piano driven rock, then this album is for you. Unhappy is my favorite of the songs - I must have listened
to this about 80 times now and every single time I take the lyrics another way. Angels on the Moon and Hey Lady are another two I just
simply enjoy listening to. Buy it, Listen, Enjoy and Listen to the songs again because I guarantee you will find subtle choices of
words that can lead you in different directions based on different viewpoints./LI>
- Never Quiet Never Still - The Truth (Indie) - Another gem found on the Seattle and Beyond podcast. Lindsey Wilt has a powerful
voice that blends well with the brooding guitar work on this album. I recommend cranking the title song all the way up till the
overdriven guitars are shaking your walls. Things brighten up a bit with the next two songs, but then follows up with Echoes which
provides a nice bookend to the title song. Pair the last song (20,000 Miles) with the Subtle from the Parlour Steps and all
of your stress will simply melt off you - looking forward to their new song due out very soon.
- Paul Durham - Ten Million Years (Indie)- This is a carry over from my addiction to the band Black Lab. Paul
was the lead in this band and has released this collection of hits from the Black Lab days as well as some new songs. This album
is just plain awesome - the haunting vocal stylings of Paul along with the driving guitar work perfectly together. If you like the
live and acoustic versions of the Lab songs (12-15) I highly recommend going out and getting the Black Lab album with the
studio releases.
- Black Lab - See The Sun (Indie) - If you saw my last entry, you already know I like Black Lab. I waited
a long long long time for this album to come out. Learn to Crawl and Wide Open were released as singles previously (I think one
of them was on a Buffy soundtrack and I'm not sure how the other one was put out. Luckily, he decided to put them on
this compilation along with a solid lineup of new offerings. I can only hope that we get a chance to hear more from the Lab or at least
some more solo stuff from Paul
- Tourist - Relevance of Motion (Indie) - Again, another find from a music podcast (Insomnia Radio). I had
only heard on song of this album and based on that decided to take a chance and see what else they had to offer. I will not go
into the whole free song generates album revenue again, but this one is another on the win side. It is a solid rock album
with heavy influence from Tool in the driving undertones. Jacob's Ladder was the song that led me to the album, but
in all honesty, this is one of the few albums where I like just about every song on it.
|
