NEW BANDS - NEW MUSIC: Triple Play
After months of silence I am finally back, and I’ve got 3 very different, yet very talented artists with rocking debut albums. I’ve taken each band and broken down their new album along with their overall sound to give you an idea of what they’re all about. Please make sure to visit the bands myspace pages and give them a listen if any (or all) of the 3 sound remotely interesting.

Owl City – Ocean Eyes
This is one artist that even I’m surprised to find in my iTunes. Just releasing their 3rd album (first with a Major Record label) Owl City has finally begun to receive the recognition they deserve. Owl City is a young grandchild of the pioneer artist The Postal Service, which feature simple and calm electronic beats with soft vocals. (The Postal Service features lead singer Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie) Adam Young, the one and only member of Owl City has evolved the Postal Services style of dark and quiet electronica into a much happier, brighter and more symphonic style. Their latest album, Ocean Eyes features 14 tracks of upbeat electronic keyboard along with a countless number of other effects. There are a number of tracks that I find myself skipping but there are a small number that I just can’t get enough of. Owl City’s first single off the album “Fireflies” is by far the best song out of the 14. It starts off quiet and simple as he reels you in and then soon after the 2nd verse the chorus swells and it carries the rest of the song to its magnificent end. Other songs like “Vanilla Twilight”, “Hello Seattle” and “The Bird and the Worm” are ones that will have you listening again and again. “Vanilla Twilight” (my 2nd favorite on this disc) features a lyric that I could not go without mentioning, that goes “The silence isn’t so bad, though I looks at my hands and feel sad, cause the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly”. Throughout the whole disc, his soft vocals and unique lyrics just float along with the symphonic sound that is Owl City. When I first heard the disc it seemed a lot stronger than it does now but please understand, it’s still a good disc. Other singles have been released by Owl City and one worth mentioning is “Hot Air Balloon”. This song is an upbeat, bubbly adventure of two people who build their own hot air balloon and then take it out for an afternoon ride. The song features a xylophone and quite a few other effects that carry this happy tune from front to back. For a style of music such as this one you cannot have a better voice that fits. Adam Young’s soft and ethereal vocals float calmly above the poppy beats, creating beautiful melodies that easy repeat themselves in your mind. This unique sound of electronic mixed with alternative pop is something that Owl City has mastered to a “t”. If you’re looking for something to brighten you mood take one listen to Owl City and he’ll have you smiling in no time (unless you’re a grump, then take a few more listens). I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Parachute – Losing Sleep

There is reason that I am hesitant to buy a CD on impulse, when I have no idea what they are going to sound like. When I walked into San Luis Obispo’s Cheap Thrill’s music store a few months ago I had no idea I would be leaving with a CD like this. I took a look at the cover and thought “cool cover, wonder what they sound like?” They had a listening station and after a few listens (two or three songs) I decided that I’d get it. Good choice. This euphoric rock band has released their debut album, Losing Sleep with Island Records, and for a fresh and new band, they are off to a really good start. With being signed, the group changed their name from Sparky’s Flaw to the much friendlier Parachute. One listen at this disc and I’d hope you’d be convinced as I was, these guys are good. Parachute is a 5 piece that draws sounds from bands like Augustana, and Rocket Summer along with artists like Gavin DeGraw and Eric Hutchison. Almost every song features romantic lyrics of heartbreak and love, which brings reminders of Jack’s Mannequin and Mayday Parade into the mix. Parachute is a group that really knows what they are doing (with writing and performing) when it comes to melodramatic alternative rock, with just a hint of pop. They combine happy, but powerful vocals with a soft type of alternative rock that swells with rolling piano and high rising guitar. Their first single “Under Control” was featured as the iTunes free single of the week, but their latest single “She Is Love” is the song creating a lot of fuss for them (both fantastic). Rarely do I find that I have to skip a song out of the 11 that make up the disc. Out of the 11 there are 1, maybe 2 that I rather not listen to. My favorite song is track one, “All That I Am” which starts as a rock ballad and right at the end of the chorus come the most magnificent swell of deep bass, piano and reeling guitar, singing “Just take me away from all that I am”. Other songs like “She (For Liz)”, “The Mess I’ve Made”, and “The New Year” all shine bright on this fantastic disc. This day in age it is really hard for young, new alternative rock bands to get a start on a major level, but once you take a listen you will realize why this group deserves all of the attention. I hope to see much more from Parachute in years to come, and if the albums are anything like Losing Sleep then I’ll be satisfied. I give this disc 8.5 out of 10 stars


The Parlor Mob – And You Were A Crow
I don’t know if any of you have heard of Slacker Online Radio, but if you haven’t then you should really go check it out. You input all of your favorite artists and then Slacker radio creates a free, online radio station for you (very similar to Pandora). The coolest thing about these online radio services is that they will recommend new artists to you that you might like, and every once in awhile you hear a song that really catches your ear. So is the case with The Parlor Mob and their single “Can’t Keep No Good Boy Down”. I heard this song and was immediately interested, and a few months later I found their debut album, And You Were A Crow and did not hesitate to buy it. The verdict: the rest of the disc was totally worth it. The Parlor Mob is an hard-alternative rock group that reminds us of the classics but throws a few curve balls in of modern style with every song. With classic rock influences of Led Zeppelin and The Who along with a number of modern rock influences, including The Raconteurs and Jet, this bands style is something familiar. But, they have found an incredible middle ground between classic rock and modern alternative. A big reason I dropped Zeppelin in the list of influences is because lead singer of the group has a voice that you could mistake for Mr. Robert Plants. His vocals are sharp and high pitched but they truly control each songs direction as it progresses, like Plant’s with each Zeppelin song. This band brings hard guitar, running base lines, and banging drums together with a hint of twang (that is sometimes easier to hear depending on the song) that sends the sound a bit south. This individually of twang is most visible in their single and my personal favorite “Can’t Keep No Good Boy Down”, the song that turned me onto the group. It starts with some quiet talking and tambourine, and slowly a twangy southern guitar and a slightly out of tune piano brings the song to its beginning. As the song progresses clapping and large groups singing choruses together brings reminders of slave songs that were sung in the cotton fields. In all 12 of the tracks there is only one song I find myself skipping, which is “Angry Young Girl”. The majority of the songs on the disc feature fast, hard rocking beats with harsh, but awesome vocals that’ll really get your head banging. Songs like “Hard Times”, “Dead Wrong” and “Bullet” are fast paced and pure rock n’ roll from start to finish, where others like “You Were An Orphan”, “Everything You’re Breathing For”, and the 8 minute blues riff “Tide of Tears” start off quiet and build themselves into a grand finale of killer sound. Like I said, 11 out of the 12 tracks are fantastic and each deserves a good long listen. The Parlor Mob is a group that in this time of such similarity between bands has mastered this sound we’ve heard before and made it their own. I give this disc 9 out of 10 stars.

Top 10 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums

Okay, okay – so I know it’s been forever since my last post and I apologize but I’ve been working on this list and it’s been getting a little difficult to piece together – BUT IT”S FINALLY DONE! I know the title isn’t catchy but I’m proud to present the top 10 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums ever (in the opinion of Dave Ellsworth). *Please note - that these are all albums that were released in the last 15 years - so it's more of a "Modern Rock" list. Now I know that some of these may not be considered “Alternative Rock” but they all still fit into that category a little bit. I love all of these albums and I actually had a mountain of trouble picking them and placing them in this order. Basically this list is 10 of the greatest albums that I have ever heard, and I would (as I usually do) recommend to anyone who enjoys music.

1. Radiohead – In Rainbows (Disc 1 & 2): Released in the fall of 2007 via “you chose the price” download – In Rainbows shook the music world before it had even been listened to. Little did people know that the release of the disc was only the foreshock. Radiohead’s 7th studio album pieces together 18 tracks, some old and some new, to create what I believe to be (and MANY others agree) as the greatest Alternative Rock Album Ever. First the release – Radiohead offered the album for download exclusively on their web site where you got to choose the price. Never in the history of commercial music had anything like this been done before. Now the music -The first 10 tracks were originally released online and in stores (later in 2008) and them by themselves are absolutely mind-blowing – but when you add the 8 bonus tracks on disc 2, then you’ve created 1 hour and 10 minutes of pure musical genius. Like every Radiohead album, In Rainbows flows gloriously from track to track while never wavering. This album features every strength of Radiohead from a multiple number of angles. Tracks like “All I Need” and “House of Cards” (Grammy nominated for greatest group performance) create a slow, almost entrancing atmosphere while “Bodysnatchers” and “Bangers and Mash” sporadically twist you about in a whirlwind of sound. Variation continues with songs like “Reckoner”, “Up on the Ladder” and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” that all showcase the brilliance that is Radiohead. My favorite track hands down is “Down is the New Up” – with the strong piano carrying the tune all the way, this track is nothing but catchy and memorable (Jigsaw comes in a close second). In Rainbows, Grammy nominated for best album of the year and Grammy award winner for best alternative album is truly a Mona Lisa for the world of music. It may take a few listens – but I promise that in time this album will never cease to amaze.

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2. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head: Released in 2002, A Rush of Blood to the Head had to meet a high expectations to follow Coldplay’s debut Grammy award winning album Parachutes – and did it ever. Fans fell in love with Coldplay from tracks on Parachutes like “Yellow” and “Everything’s Not Lost” but I don’t think they were expecting this. A Rush of Blood to the Head showcases Coldplay’s incredible talent and creativity and will be seen nothing less than a musical masterpiece. This album takes you through a roller coaster of ups and downs in both musically and lyrically. Tracks like “God Put a Smile on Your Face” and “Daylight” create a vibrant, almost dark atmosphere that makes your head spin while tacks like “The Scientist” (my favorite) and the perfect closing number, “Amsterdam” build from simple piano to a swell of symphonic genius. Probably the most recognizable Coldplay track ever, “Clocks” is in itself a journey where an unforgettable beat driven by the ever present piano riff create an experience that is hard to forget. This is one of my favorite albums ever, but it is not the end of Coldplay’s genius (go listen to Viva la Vida). Coldplay will forever been seen as one of the greatest artists of our time, and A Rush of Blood to the Head will serve as proof to that fact.

3. The Fray – How to Save A Life: Back in 2005 the Fray released How to Save a Life and it took me 3 years to actually realize how brilliant this piece of music was. As I’m sure everyone did, I heard their songs on the radio being played (many, many times) and my only thoughts were “hey – they’re pretty good”. Well when it comes to this album that is quite the understatement. The Fray have compiled 12 tracks that take you through a journey of pain and triumph, with all lyrics being sung by one hell of a voice. Isaac Slade, lead singer and pianist leads this four piece with mind-blowing piano techniques and his very divergent voice. Powerful tracks like “Cable Car”, “Look After You” and my personal favorite, “How to Save a Life” create such a strong emotion that carries you through this definitive album. Never before have I heard so many passionate, powerful songs, in both music and lyrics, on one disc. The Fray’s How to Save a Life has become one of the most recognizable and memorable albums of the decade, and once you’ve taken a listen you’ll see clearly why.

4. Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams: Out of all the albums on list this is probably the only one that I can recite ALL of the lyrics to ever single song on (and there’s 14 tracks). Jack Johnson, now known as music’s greatest soft rocker has brought some of the most enjoyable, light hearted, and just purely relaxing music to society. Always accompanied by his acoustic guitar, Jack Johnson mixes the music of his homeland (Hawaii) with modern alternative rock to create a different type of alternative acoustic pop that makes quite the impression. Jack’s 3rd album In Between Dreams is, in my opinion, his masterpiece. In Between Dreams pieces together 14 very simple songs that grab your ears immediately. More impressive than his music have to be his lyrics - using complex rhyme sequences and abstract yet captivating words he will pull you in and have you singing along within minutes. Songs like “Better Together”, “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” and my favorite, “Breakdown” make this album shine even brighter than it already does. This album is phenomenal, seriously – you will like it, your kids will like and your parents will like it – no matter what age you are.

5. Death Cab For Cutie – Plans: I don’t know how many people would agree with this statement but I believe that Death Cab For Cutie could be titled the most successful Indie band ever. From their release of the very successful Transatlanticism in 2003, Death Cab was on their way to stardom – yet little did fans know that something much more monumental was in the works. Plans, released in 2005, showcases the veteran bands incredible talent in 11 consistently astonishing songs (seriously, not one of them is bad) while still creating a natural flow to the album. Death Cab for Cutie creates a very serene sound that is rarely heard in music today, by keeping the volume down and mood mellow. Every song on this album is great, but one, “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” shines especially bright. Featuring just an acoustic guitar and vocals, this simple track carries so much depth and will have you listening constantly. My brother who normally listens to punk and hardcore rock absolutely loves this album, which really saying something (believe me). Plans is an indie music masterpiece bringing together lyrical genius, astounding music and soothing vocals that will carry itself through the airwaves and directly into your emotions.

6. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape: The Foo Fighter’s have definitely come a long way since there sophomore album The Colour and the Shape yet I truly believe that this one is there best work and still one of the greatest rock albums ever. There most recent album - Echoes, Silence, Patience,& Grace came very close (would be #11 on this list) but this still Trumps. Colour and the Shape showcases Dave Grohl’s (drummer for Nirvana) explosive vocals and his fantastic songwriting ability. One great thing about this album is that every song is so different from the previous. Songs like “Monkey Wrench” and “Enough Space” certainly bring the rock while other like “Doll” and “See You” show a softer side that is later seen more clearly in In Your Honor. A great example of both styles can be heard in my personal favorite song “February Stars” – which begins very serenely and builds to a hard rocking explosion. Milestone songs like “My Hero” and “Everlong” really bring this album together as a whole and only make it that much better than it already is.

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7. Radiohead – The Bends: Please notice that Radiohead is the only band on here that has two albums listed, which should be an immediate testament to their awesomeness. I love every single album that Radiohead has ever put out – but I would have to say that The Bends is my favorite (but In Rainbows is the best). When I was first introduced to Radiohead I was not the biggest fan. Over time I realized truly how amazing they actually were and how The Bends proves that in full. This alternative border-line punk album brings together 11 fantastic songs that (like all Radiohead albums) flow o-so-smoothly together. Tracks like “Planet Telex” and “The Bends” masterfully being the album while the dark and entrancing “Street Spirit” bring it to a close. Not to go unnoticed, right in the middle are the juicy “Just” and “My Iron Lung” that pack quite the rock n’ roll punch. Lastly, this album includes two of the greatest Alternative rock songs ever written, “High and Dry” and “Fake Plastic Trees” that acoustically take you through a journey that is not easily forgotten.

8. The Frames – Fitzcarraldo: The Frames began as a small band in Dublin, Ireland – with lead singer Glen Hansard at the head. Throughout the next 13 years and 5 albums the Frames grew to become one of the best known bands from the small island of Ireland. Just this last year (2008) Glen Hansard, along with Markéta Irglová won the Oscar for Best Song,“Falling Slowly” from the movie Once. Out of those 5 albums, I believe (and my brothers disagree with me) that their very first album, Fitzcarraldo is the best. Fitzcarraldo brings a calming yet vibrant mood that takes you to diverse places that will bring out a plethora of mixed emotions. Tracks like “Revelate” and “Evergreen” bring such power while tracks like “Red Chord” and my favorite, “Fitzcarraldo” send a soothing tingle down your spine. With Glens, soft, yet powerful voice next to the ever present chill of the violin, this album will consistently grab your ears with every listen.

9. Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards: There was no way that I was going to make a best albums list and not include this one. If you read below (Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty) I have already boasted a bit about the Cold War Kids first album. Robbers and Cowards is one of the most interestingly different albums that I have been attracted to. The Cold War Kids use jazz style of piano with an over amped bass to create this different type of Alternative Rock, that borderlines on the Blues genre. Robbers and Cowards is a fantastic introduction to the bands career. I’m telling you - this album is good, it sat in my car for 6 months at least, and I continually listened to it. The first two songs on the disc, “We Used to Vacation” and “Hang Me Up to Dry” will have you immediately interested. It may take a couple listens to get used to you but trust me when I say, this not an album that you want to pass by.

10. Green Day – American Idiot: 4 years since their last album release, Green Day, one of the most successful punk rock bands from the 1990’s, continued to remain silent. Come 2004 Green Day emerged from their long silence and released American Idiot. Now I was not a Green Day fan at all before this album, but once this hit stores I, along with millions of others, was blown away. American Idiot is a stunning and bit surprising piece of work from the punk rock trio, and was awarded “Best Rock Album” at the 2005 Grammy’s. Now I know this album caused a lot of controversy in the punk scene but I don’t care what anyone says - this album is a milestone. From the fast paced punk beat songs like “American Idiot” and my personal favorite “St. Jimmy”; to the slower rock ballads like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “Wake me up when September Ends”, this album is absolutely amazing. With over half of the songs on the album becoming hits, American Idiot is and always will be a piece of rock n’ roll history to remember.

The Fray: The Fray

In the fall of 2005 The Fray was immediately put on the map by the release of their first full length album, How to Save a Life. This album showcased the bands extraordinary talent, generated a hand-full of hits (including “Over My Head” and “How to Save a Life”) and is just overall a fantastic piece of work. With influences from bands like U2 and Keane, The Fray’s style is a type of symphonic sound with a loud and visible rocking piano leading the charge. Seriously, How to Save a Life is one of the best albums I have ever heard, period. I would recommend this album to ANYONE – and don’t hesitate to listen to it, because I did for about 3 years.

When I first heard The Fray my only thought was, “yeah they’re pretty good”. After awhile I began to be sick of hearing those songs being overplayed on the radio, and never decided to look into them. 3 years later I heard the song “How to Save a Life” on a television show and it really hit me, hard. The song is so powerful in both music and lyrics and having it as soundtrack to this show really made me realize how good it was. So I went and got the whole album and decided to give it a try – and I was absolutely blown away! The album had a kind of calming ambiance about it, while still being good alternative rock music. Immediately I fell in love with The Fray, so when I heard that their 2nd album would be released in early February, I couldn’t wait.

Sophomore year began for The Fray by releasing the single “You Found Me” about two months before the actual release date of the entire album, The Fray. “You Found Me” was a wise choice to be the single, and is definitely one of the best songs on the album. It begins with just the piano and vocals and slowly becomes a fantastic song about being lost and relying on someone to find you. Then, in early February the entire album entitled The Fray was released. First off – Am I impressed? Yes, definitely. This album features all of the strengths of The Fray - from the consistent presence of the piano, to the powerful heart-renching lyrics, to the very ambiance of sound they create. Is it as good as How to Save a Life? I would have to say no, unfortunately not, but it come very VERY close. The Fray is still a very impressive piece of musical art that I know will be forever appreciated, by fans like myself and music appreciators everywhere.

Like its younger brother How to Save a Life, The Fray begins with a blast. Track 1, titled “Syndicate” starts the album with a hard-rocking tune and booming piano, and is one of the best songs on the album. The Fray attempts to flow but it comes off a little choppy. The atmosphere of the album seems to go up and down between the flow of each song. Throughout the album there was only one song that I could have done without, which was "Ungodly Hour". Yet, there are multiple songs that really define the album as a whole, and really showcase The Fray's extraordinary talent. Songs like "Syndicate", "You Found Me", "Say When", "Happiness", and my personal favorite "Enough For Now" really pull the album together and keep other tracks (which are still good,) going. The song "Enough For Now" really grabbed me right from the first listen of the album. It has a symphonic atmosphere about it, that with the powerful lead vocals, really just pulls it all together into a great song.

One thing about The Fray that I absolutely love and admire is how they can perfectly start and end an album. Like How To Save a Life, this album makes a grand entrance, and equally makes an extraordinary, yet humble exit. "Happiness", the last song on the album starts very quiet with just the Acoustic guitar, and slowly evolves into a grand choir all singing the lyrics "She'll be home". It's very endearing - they could not have picked a better song to end the album with.

Sometimes when I write these (like with Cold War Kids review) I feel as though I am only saying that a band’s first album is worth listening to. This is NOT the case - Just because I say that one piece of music is better than the other doesn't mean it's not worth listening to. The Fray is a fantastic album and I would recommend it to all music lovers! But when asked which of the two albums released by The Fray are better, I would say How to Save a Life. They are both incredible pieces of music, and The Fray is one band that I would please ask that you (yes you!) look into. When it comes to rating, I would give The Fray 4 out of 5 stars –

David Cook: David Cook

So, for the last 6 years I have never once been interested in the show ‘American Idol’. I’ll admit, I would sit and watch the funny ones in the beginning with the ridiculous contestants who tried out but never anything after that. Now, last February I was at a friend’s house and ‘American Idol’ was on, it was the top 12 contestants all performing Beatles songs. Now – I am a huge Beatles fan (all credit going to my Dad for that one) so I sat down and watched the episode. There were many good performances and certain ones that I was especially impressed. One contestant did a mind blowing performance of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and when he was done I turned to my friend and said, “I think he’s going to win”. Well come the next week it just so happens that I was at a different friend’s house and ‘American Idol’ was on in this house as well and they were doing a second week of Beatles songs. So, of course I sat down a watched and from that point I was pretty much hooked. For those of you who are not familiar with American Idol, each week a contestant gets voted off until a winner is declared. I am very pleased and proud of myself to say that David Cook, the singer of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ won – which means that I was totally right! Now, months after being declared winner, he has released his debut self titled album, David Cook.

Now I know that some see it as unfair that an artist gets a golden record deal with a large fan base ready to buy just by competing on a television show, and although for some cases this may be true, for David Cook, I believe he has earned it every step of the way. David was born in Blue Springs, Missouri and from the time he was a teenager up until going on ‘American Idol’ Dave was in bands and performed as a small time musician. His pre-Idol record, Analog Heart won multiple awards as an independently made record around the Kansas City area. So when competing on ‘American Idol’, he was not a stranger to the music industry (Don’t worry, I’ll get to the album soon I promise). Well, to my excitement David won the completion, yet I knew long before the show was even over that he was going to make it big. While most contestants on ‘American Idol’ sing in the genre of pop, David’s songs all followed the genre of rock n’ roll. One previous contestant, Chris Daughtry (now VERY famous) had been categorized as a rocker, so this was not something new to the show but the way that David arranged and performed his songs (all covers) were just amazing – not to mention his incredible and explosive voice (go youtube David Cook Bille Jean and Eleanor Rigby). So, naturally I was very excited to hear his songs and his album. And I’ll have to say that for me, he did not disappoint. With many songs written by David himself, this album veers away for the stereotypical ‘American Idol’ post winner album.

David Cook features 14 tracks, where 10 of the 14 tracks were either written or co-written by David himself. This album also includes the winning song from the American Idol Songwriting competition, “Time of my Life” which reached a gold record in sales just recently. This album is very strong throughout the entire track list. If you have a taste for some good alternative Rock n’ Roll music then please take a listen to this album. Some would say that his music is to mainstream and although there may be some truth in that I still think that he has his own individuality about his music. When on the show he had a tendency to make his covers into these types of rock ballad songs, and his own songs seem to follow that same mentality. I think a lot of that also has to do with his voice, which is probably one of the best parts about him being an artist. His voice (the tool that one him the crown for American idol) is so overpowering and explosive but at the same it can be soft. His has a certain tone to his voice that it different than most. It has a deep kinda ruffness to it but then when he goes into the higher notes he blasts his vocal cords into an almost scream that is totally on pitch and absolutely mind-blowing.

The track list on David Cook is pretty strong for the most part, with only about 2 or 3 songs that didn’t seem to stick. I really like his songs and the way that he formats them in the writing process. The choruses are so explosive to almost every song and he continually he seems to calm it down a little bit in the bridge. The single for the album, “Light On” (not written by him) is a large intense rock song that features all of the great qualities of David as an atrist. My favorite part of this song is a piano that starts the song off and then comes back in the bridge – it just seems to be the backbone of the song. Other songs that I really enjoyed on this album were “Mr. Sensitive”, “A Daily Anthem”, and “Life on the Moon” (probably one of the more interesting titles). Speaking of interesting, track 6, “Bar-ba-sol” was one that took me by surprise. With hard distorted guitar and a bit of a punk sound to it (and a sick guitar solo), it is definitely the most ROCK song out of the track list. My favorite on the disc came to me as a surprise. The song “Permanent” is a ballad that only features David and the piano, and out of the entire CD this is the one that I’m always going back to. It features his hard rock vocals with just a piano behind him yet he still rocks it as though there was a full band playing. And as the cherry on top, this song features a string orchestra that really helps carry the piano in correlation with David’s voice.

So when American Idol was in the top 7 contestants or something I was saying to my friends who also watched the show “man I don’t care if David Cook wins or not, I’m just excited to get his album once the season is over.” I really did enjoy his music on the show and now that I have his album I am not disappointed. He really has a talent not only in performing but in writing as well. Some people ask me if winning American Idol will affect his career in any way and really, all I can say is I hope not. He seems like he really knows what he’s doing and that he really enjoys it so all I can keep doing what’re doing. When comes to rating, I’ll give David Cook 4.5 out of 5 stars. This album is a fantastic piece of rock music that will hopefully be a good start to a long and successful career for David Cook.

Cold War Kids: Loyalty to Loyalty

The somewhat underground indie rock band, Cold War Kids have begun their sophomore year with the 13 track disc, Loyalty to Loyalty. Hailing from Los Angeles, the Cold War Kids are quite the different type of Alternative Rock. They bring an experimental sound in that is combined with some ‘world’ type influences. With misplaced guitar, fantastic base lines, phenomenal lyrics, jazz beat piano, and the best use of shakers since Radiohead, Cold War Kids is a different type of band that you do not want to overlook. The release of their first album, Robbers and Cowards in 2006 put these guys on the map. Unlike anything most people had experienced before, Robbers and Cowards brought an exhilarating diversity of sounds with lyrics to match. This album (Robbers and Cowards) is absolutely amazing – I recommend it to anyone!

Now, come 2008 Cold War Kids have taken another shot to amaze us with another album. (Please know, that I got this album on iTunes as soon as I could - so in other words I was freakn excited.) Did they succeed? . . . Eh, for the most part yes - Loyalty to Loyalty is better than I originally thought. When I first listened to this album I was not impressed. I was expecting more, I was expecting the same that I got from Robbers and Cowards and it did not come as fast as I want it to. Although I must admit, when I first heard Robbers and Cowards I was not as gung-ho as I am now with the Cold War Kids.

So, back to the topic – Loyalty to Loyalty should be seen as a success by Cold War Kids. It has the atmosphere of being a darker, bluesier, and somewhat slower paced album than the first. It has received many good reviews and has even been featured on certain top Rock Albums of the year. My personal opinion, Robbers and Cowards is better, yet Loyalty to Loyalty is not bad. I think that every time I listen to it I like it more. With 13 tracks this album has plenty of room to impress, and I does. I have to say that the lyrical work that went into this album is probably the most impressive part overall. And with the unbalanced guitar and awkward drums, this album is truly a piece of art that could only come from the Cold War Kids. My favorite part of this album (which is a large reminder back to Robber and Cowards) is the jazz piano that is used in (almost) every song. The use of the piano is very different than what I’ve heard before – which is just another reason why Cold War Kids rock. The single that was released early on, “Something Is Not Right With Me” is a fast paced track with lyrics that I think are actually a bit humorous. My favorite on the disc would have to be “I’ve Seen Enough”, probably because it has the most familiar sound to songs from Robbers and Cowards. The disc starts out strong but throughout the 13 songs the likeness and quality of each goes up and down. I could have done without “Avalanche In B” and “Every Man I Fall For”. The reason for that is probably because I think they’re boring. Too slow and not enough jazztastic Cold War Kids nonsense.

In all honest truth, this album is good - but it is not as good as their first. When I am in the mood for some Cold War Kids I still go back to Robbers and Cowards over Loyalty to Loyalty. The quality of the Cold War Kids second release is good, I am happy with the new music from them but I am certainly not satisfied. Maybe after a few listens I will change my mind – like I said, I enjoy it more and more after every listen, but it’s just not Robbers and Cowards. I would give Loyalty to Loyalty 3 out of 5 stars, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth listening to.

Jack's Mannequin: The Glass Passenger

I actually had no intention of even getting this album – to tell you the truth I didn’t even know that it had came out until it came into my work. So I picked it up and I listened to it and I was very surprised to hear what I heard. To follow 2005’s “Everything in Transit” was a difficult task I’m sure for Andrew McMahon’s Jack’s Mannequin. Now for those of you who have been in a hole for 4 years, this is the side project that has now turned into the only project for Andrew McMahon (front man to both Jack’s Mannequin and Something Cooperate). The band’s first album, “Everything in Transit” debuted at number 37 on the Billboard charts and was an easy sell to all of those starved Something Cooperate fans (me at the time). Now after 3 years of silence from Andrew and the boys (from both bands) Jack’s Mannequin has released their 2nd full length, ‘The Glass Passenger’.

This album definitely has a different sound then the first but unlike most Jack’s Mannequin fans, I don’t think that it’s a bad thing. You could really hear a lot more Something Corporate in ‘transit’ and I think that Mr. McMahon is starting to find the sound he wants for Jack’s Mannequin. I mean, I know that some people say that this statement is preposterous but I’m gonna say it anyways - Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate do sound similar. I know, I know – maybe it’s that fact that it’s the same guy singing and writing music but who knows.

This album is more experimental than the last one. The band is really exploring what you can do with the sounds that are being recorded. ‘Transit’ reminds me of a broken hearted soft/punk rock album that I want to listen to when some girl has just emotional kicked me in the knads. ‘Glass Passenger” doesn’t do that for me, I really like the different moods that this one creates. It takes you on a journey of many different emotions and it is packed with plenty of power! McMahon’s lyrics have definitely developed in the last 4 years from ‘Transit’. I mean don’t get me wrong – I love their first album. ‘Transit’ will always be one of those albums that is remembered by fans and I think It’ll take something bigger than ‘Passenger’ to surpass the fame of Jack’s Mannequin’s debut album. I just think that the band has really progressed and grown in the releasing of this 2nd album. (But it does not beat "Transit")

The diversity in songs is very well situated with the album. Some of the songs I could have done without (American Love, Annie Use Your Telescope) but some of the songs on this album really give it fantastic substance and make it what it really is (Swim, The Resolution, Hammer’s And Strings). My favorite on this one is either Swim or Hammers and Strings – Swim has this inspirational message that makes you wanna press (or swim) on forever. Hammer’s And Strings is an old reminder of Something Corporate with a ballad included only piano that tells a story that grabs you emotionally. Both Choruses (and in The Resolution) are explosive blasts of music and lyrics that will overpower you when you least expect it. It’s freakin great!

Opening with the exciting ‘Crashin’ and then closing with the heart breaking finale (kinda) ‘Caves’ – this album is good. If you are a fan of anything that Andrew McMahon has had apart in, I would suggest picking this one up. It is a great album for long road trips, mainly because it is an album of 14 separate tracks that take you on a journey just by itself. In rating terms I’d give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

From Swim: “You gotta swim, for wars without cause, swim for the lost politicians who don’t see their greed as a flaw – the currents will pull us away from out love, just keep your head above”

Thrice: The Alchemy Index

Thrice has released their 5th (well technically their 5th & 6th but we’ll fudge that) album. And yes, I know it was released like a year ago but I can write a review whenever I want to so take that. This album is a little different than most – it is a concept album done through 4 separate 6 song EP’s. (They released 2 EP's at a time with each release being 6 months apart = reason for two different cover arts). Each EP has a theme of one element, Fire, Water, Air and Earth. These four EP’s separately create the 24 track concept album, The Alchemy Index (a term for the 4 elements used in the Renaissance). It’s no surprise that a band like Thrice has taken a road like this, (especially because you had to be blind not to see it through their previous album, Vheissu.) With this one I’ve split the review into four separate parts, each paragraph being on one disc – and then some random thoughts and ramblings after that. It ends eventually I promise.

Fire was good but it was hard to grab onto. I thought, in one matter, that it was a huge success for Thrice mainly because it was hardcore Thrice, but in a different way. They developed a new way of loud, hard rockin guitar, bass and drums without going back to the old way of playing. But in saying that, that is why it was hard to grab onto, because we hardcore fans (like - me and 20 other guys) all have 3 of their previous albums to Vheissu, with the more punk, 'Deadbolt' sound to them. My favorite on Fire - 'Burn the Fleet', hands down. The way the guitar goes with the Rhoades piano in the chorus is amazing!

Water is incredible because when you compare it to an album like Artist and the Ambulance, its clear evidence of the pure evolution of Thrice. The only hint towards it was through 'Atlantic' on the Vheissu album. This EP, more than any other one, truly does achieve the goal of the sounding and feeling like the element it is named after. Each song makes you feel as though you're in water, floating or swimming or something. My favorite song, it's a tossup - 'The Whaler' is so beautiful in tone but then again 'Night Diving' is a dark journey that remains fantastic without the need for lyrics. I think that 'The Whaler' would win in the end.

Air is a glorious accomplishment! I was a little worried that they would have trouble with this one (and who knows, maybe they did) but I am so happy with it and the way it sounds. Quick note - I liked the differentiation in the songs throughout the 2nd release (that's what made Air/Earth release better than Fire/Water release). On Air and Earth the tracks differ majorly throughout the short EP. This disc is so interesting in a way because it goes from the soft flowy feeling of air (Song For Milly, Silver Wings) to the intense substance that is air (Broken Lungs, Daedulus). Some tracks are similar but there is enough difference that it doesn’t bug me. My favorite for now is 'The Sky is Falling'. It feels like I'm sky diving and with the claps and all, it's just a cool song. "Deaaduls' is fantastic as well.

Earth, I believe, is a project that came out of Dustin's (the lead singer) soul and folk music backround. It's very strange because how do you fully capture Earth, like dirt, in a sound? But man, they've done it and done it successfully! From the crazy reverb on the vocals to the really old - slightly out of tune piano, this disc seriously impresses me. The first track, Moving Mountains definitely has its good folk behind it, (They call it Mountain Goat on their set list, and yeah I have one of their set lists). My favorite right now is the last one, 'Child of Dust'. It reminds me of a funeral procession - and we, the listeners, are being buried in the end.

One thing I found that was very interesting is that all of the four discs end with the same melody and tune but with different lyrics. "The Flame Deluge", "Kings Upon The Main", "Sliverwings", and "Child of Dust". My highly educated English major brother tells me that these are Petrarchian sonnets, a form of Shakespeare writing. It’s very interesting to hear, and it really brings the album (all 24 tracks) together as a whole.

Now I know that there are some Thrice fans out there that keep saying “We want old Thrice!” and “Bring Deadbolt back”. And all I have to say to them is shut up (no offense) – move on like Thrice has. And to everyone that thinks that Dustin is trying to be a preacher from on high, stop. He’s not – he’s an artist expressing himself in form of song. And just because he has a few songs that have metaphors for Christ (and and awesome, bushy beard) doesn’t mean that he is the new messiah. Now - onto business!!!

I think the most impressive thing and the part that deserves the most praise, is the clear and evident evolution of Thrice as a band. I mean, if a band doesn't evolve in some way what happens? They die out - we know that of course. I mean, if it weren't for the Beatles first example of the evolution of a band, we would have never gotten to Rubber Soul and God forbid, St. Peppers. (Yes, I know it's a horrible thought). All in all I believe (with my large bias toward Thrice) that The Alchemy Index was and is a success for the band and a good, diverse alternative rock concept album. In rating, I'd give it 4.5 out 5 stars