Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Opiate For The Masses - Manifesto
Opiate For The MassesManifesto
Label: Century Media
Well-promoted, catchy commercial pop metal. I guess if you listen to that there hard rock radio, you will have built up a tolerance to this type of music. I grew up on metal, but I cannot stand how ho-hum metal has generally become. Blugnuts!
• Opiate For The Masses Website • Opiate For The Masses WikiRon Hacker - Mr. Bad Boy
Ron HackerMr. Bad Boy
Label: Maximum Folk
This live solo show recorded at Famous Dave’s BBZ & Blues in Minneapolis highlights a scrumptious soulful attack of raw, bare-boned Delta blues from a bluesman of adequately checkered past and gruff, gritty vocals.
• Ron Hacker Website • Ron Hacker WikiScifi - Scifi
ScifiScifi
Label: Coma Gun Music
Spaced out, mostly non-vocal jam rock that finds footholds in the jazz, funk, soul and techno world. At times the floaty jazzy grooves have whisked me off to a distant planet of fuzz, love and murmur. Delightful!
• Scifi WebsiteStraight Line Stitch - When Skies Wash Ashore
Straight Line StitchWhen Skies Wash Ashore
Label: Koch Entertainment
Taking the sound of today’s popular aggressive metal-core, attaching a bit of their own style, then adding the intense and dynamic female vocals of Alexis Brown has propelled this band to lofty new heights.
• Straight Line Stitch WebsiteEmory Joseph - Fennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
Emory JosephFennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
Label: Iris Records
Dead fan or not (and I’m not) these 12 cherry-picked tunes culled from Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter’s considerable repertoire form a charming selection of what these legendary song writers and performers are all about. Well produced, good sounding and chock full of guest musicians.
• Emory Joseph WebsiteHR (of Bad Brains) - Hey Wella
HR (of Bad Brains)Hey Wella
Label: DC Underground
This legendary and highly influential Bad Brains vocalist and front man extends his lengthy career (starting in 1978!) with another solo offering, utilizing their time tested signature juxtaposition of hardcore punk and reggae, with hip hop inflections. A slick and well produced release, yet I am under-whelmed.
• HR (of Bad Brains) Website • HR (of Bad Brains) WikiLegendary Pink Dots - Plutonium Blonde
Legendary Pink DotsPlutonium Blonde
Label: ROIR
Disquieting platitudes from the sardonic seedy underbelly of pop music adoration. Edward Ka-Spel and crew spin tales of gothic disturbances that uproot and empower unknown musical pathways to your brain.
• Legendary Pink Dots Website • Legendary Pink Dots WikiInfernofonic - Spark It Up
InfernofonicSpark It Up
Label: Godlyke Distribution
Empowered female vocals from Elaine Tuttle lead the charge for this hard rockin, metal outfit. The big rock riffs and punchy drums blast out some decent grooves, but they shine when flirting their edgier, experimental facets.
Teddy Presberg - Blueprint of Soul
Teddy PresbergBlueprint of Soul
Label: Ropeadope Records
A flowing improvisational funk-jam experience created as a musical impression of Portland; all done in one take. Quite an impressive excursion into the instrumental psychedelic jam rock realm
• Teddy Presberg Website • Teddy Presberg WikiWillem Maker - Stars Fell On
Willem MakerStars Fell On
Label: Fat Possum Records
Bluesy rock torn from Turkey Heaven Mountain. Written, recorded and mixed entirely by the artist, this balls-out musical journey refuses to be neat and tidy, but shows off powerful reflexive expanses with the structure available.
• Willem Maker WebsiteZach Hill - Astrological Straits
Zach HillAstrological Straits
Label: Ipecac Recordings
This tumultuous solo project by “Hella” drummer provides a blizzard of percussion and inventive sideline groove activities that are turbo-charged up by an eclectic selection of guest musicians, including Les Claypool, Jonathon Hicshke and Steve Borth. Zowie!
• Zach Hill WikiAbney Park - Lost Horizons
Abney ParkLost Horizons
Label: Self Released
Forerunners of the oncoming “Steampunk Artistic Movement,” this Seattle outfit takes flight with a story of roving time travelers and airship pirates while gallivanting through and amalgamating the most admirable traits of a variety of genres including gothic, gypsy rock, punk, industrial, and electronica. Eclectic, elegant and unique.
• Abney Park Website • Abney Park WikiView More
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