Eclectic Vibes - July 2009
by Andrew Frey
27th Annual Atwood Summerfest
WoooHooo! Summer 2009.
Get out and catch a festival or 5. SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM this month including Rothbury, 10KLF, Big Wu Family Reunion X, Atwood Summerfest, Camp Euforia, Grateful Garcia Gathering and SCHWAGSTOCK. Google em for more info!
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- Thin Soup thru 10 – Solid Jell-O
Amorphis - Skyforger
Amorphis
Album title: Skyforger
Record Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Rating: 10
Finding new ways to awaken my inner Viking! Invigorating anthems with their signature Scandinavian folk metal approach reverberate a dark, powerful beauty and majesty unmatched. This third round with singer Tomi Joutsen integrates a broad stroke of vocal styles with increased progressive rock elements to their musical palette.
(3923) Page Views
Amorphis online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Skyforger from Amazon
• Purchase Skyforger on Amazon
Lawrence Blatt - The Color Of Sunshine
Lawrence Blatt
Album title: The Color Of Sunshine
Record Label: LBM Music
Rating: 9
Brandishing a full spectrum of guitar tricks and treats, this release finds a highly acclaimed acoustic guitar finger-picker emoting melodies and rhythms inspired by colors that are in turn designed to motivate a mood. This is his mode of tickling the oft unused mix of color and light therapy into music structures. Produced by Windham Hill Records founder William Ackerman.
(3556) Page Views
Lawrence Blatt online:
• Website
• Download The Color Of Sunshine from Amazon
• Purchase The Color Of Sunshine on Amazon
Chill Factor-5 - The Venus Effect
Chill Factor-5
Album title: The Venus Effect
Record Label: Electronfarm Records
Rating: 9
A contemporary musical hybrid helmed by world traveling, Grammy nominated multi instrumentalist Maurice Oliver. This treasure trove of chilled smooth electronica flirts adventurously with numerous musical combinations from the jazz, hip hop, pop, funk, soul and world beat realms.
(3338) Page Views
Chill Factor-5 online:
• Purchase The Venus Effect on Amazon
Darkest Hour - Eternal Return
Darkest Hour
Album title: Eternal Return
Record Label: Victory Records
Rating: 7
Rolling and thundering melodic metal with a fair amount of technical wizardry ta boot! Born in the mid 90s, the band was among the first to combine their American hardcore/punk fury with the Swedish death metal sound and is the lineage that still propels their music.
(3309) Page Views
Darkest Hour online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Eternal Return from Amazon
• Purchase Eternal Return on Amazon
Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam - Coming Up For Air
Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam
Album title: Coming Up For Air
Record Label: Blix Street Records
Rating: 9
Possessing all the trappings of “The Next Big Thing” including a big name producer (Peter Frampton), slots at a load of summer festivals, and a substantial amount of raw talent, this 22 year old British blues pop guitarist from the Isle of Man is on the fast track to achieving his goal.
(3445) Page Views
Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Coming Up For Air from Amazon
• Purchase Coming Up For Air on Amazon
Dope Stars Inc - 21st Century Slave
Dope Stars Inc
Album title: 21st Century Slave
Record Label: Metropolis Records
Rating: 9
Integrating the enthusiasm and darker electronica imagery of the cyberpunk movement with their overt fascination of vampires while lyrically railing against societies evils and hidden agendas in an anthemic fashion bodes well for this industrious industrial metal force.
(3556) Page Views
Dope Stars Inc online:
• Website
• Purchase 21st Century Slave on Amazon
glassGhosts - Nevereverything
glassGhosts
Album title: Nevereverything
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 7
Disenchanted gothic electronica from Madison with flowing female vocals and occasional violin passages over a jittering harsh and unforgiving industrial backdrop. Disturbing throbbings in the lower registers propel the angst filled musical forms into a tumultuous fruition.
(3272) Page Views
glassGhosts online:
Heatbox - System
Heatbox
Album title: System
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 10
This amazing vocal juke box is feeling his stride on this incredibly catchy and entertaining release. A strong nod to barbershop stylings create a river of harmonies for this one man soul, hip hop and funk band to riff off of. Live he samples each phrase, loops it and repeats until complete. The classics that this contemporary harmonic hero brings our way include “Pizza Funk” and “I Need A Jack and Coke.” As a bonus the disc also contains the game Heatbox completely created “Ninja Strike.”
(3554) Page Views
Heatbox online:
• Website
• Download System from Amazon
• Purchase System on Amazon
Vinnie Moore - To The Core
Vinnie Moore
Album title: To The Core
Record Label: RED Distribution
Rating: 8
Well versed and well seasoned instrumental guitar rock from a musical virtuoso who has been ‘moonlighting’ as guitarist for the legendary band UFO since 2003! While this album may not shred as metal as his 1986 release, it banters a grace and maturity with the technicality and structure that exemplify him as a leader in this field.
(3314) Page Views
Vinnie Moore online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download To The Core from Amazon
• Purchase To The Core on Amazon
Ozric Tentacles - Yum Yum Tree
Ozric Tentacles
Album title: Yum Yum Tree
Record Label: Snapper Music
Rating: 9
Certain aspects and members of this band may have changed over the 25+ years of its existence, but their music and trademark sound has never gotten any less psychedelic or enthralling. Founding and final original member Ed Wynne has recently move to the US with his wife and son (who are part of the live lineup) so we will be seeing much more from them!
(4008) Page Views
Ozric Tentacles online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Yum Yum Tree from Amazon
• Purchase Yum Yum Tree on Amazon
Stratovarius - Polaris
Stratovarius
Album title: Polaris
Record Label: Armoury Records
Rating: 8
This first outing after the departure of former bandmaster Timo Tolkki finds this Finnish melodic power metal group revisioned and situated to continue their formidable musical legacy for many more years to come.
(3506) Page Views
Stratovarius online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Polaris from Amazon
• Purchase Polaris on Amazon
Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club
Street Sweeper Social Club
Album title: Street Sweeper Social Club
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 10
Visionary guitarist Tom Morello has successfully joined forces with Boots Riley in an effort quite reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine, but not quite as whiney. Heavy grooves with even heavier breakdowns propel the anthems and agendas announced by the witty hip hoppin’ lyrics.
(5659) Page Views
Street Sweeper Social Club online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Street Sweeper Social Club from Amazon
• Purchase Street Sweeper Social Club on Amazon
Vieux Farka Touré - Fondo
Vieux Farka Touré
Album title: Fondo
Record Label: Six Degrees Records
Rating: 9
Standing firmly on his own merits, this son of legendary Malian bluesman Ali Farka Toure leads his musical charge with a graceful, majestic grandeur. The ancient and contemporary African instrumentation and rhythms fill a broader vision as well as purpose with all but one of these modern classics penned by Vieux himself.
(3600) Page Views
Vieux Farka Touré online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Fondo from Amazon
• Purchase Fondo on Amazon