CD review: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (Rounder Records)
By Rachel Heisler
If Raising Sand isn’t the best album of 2007, it’s unquestionably in the top 10. Co-vocalists and musical superstars in their own rights, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have found not only a common ground somewhere between his soulful yet hard rock blues and her country bluegrass, but have raised themselves to a level of sophistication that transcends time and space. (more…)
CD review: Scum of the Earth, Sleaze Freak (Eclipse Records)
By Bryan Cox
The horror/death metal genre has always been a little tongue-in-cheek. True monsters just want death and destruction, and don’t care if you shell out $15 beforehand to hear how much they hate everything. Scum of the Earth is the latest to follow this method with their self-produced sophomore album, Sleaze Freak. (more…)
Event review: NOISE Project, Thunderbird Lounge at The Aruba, Las Vegas
By Shelle
When the lights went down at the Thunderbird Lounge’s bi-monthly event, the NOISE Project, this past First Friday, the spirited came out to play. (more…)
CD: Rex Warren and Walking Rain, Raise Your Voice (Avocado Records)
By Rachel Heisler
Rex Warren’s latest CD, Raise Your Voice, is a soft-spoken undertaking of Americana that greatly identifies with concerns of the heart and the inner workings of the soul. With sentimental quips like “Somthing in me is crying / Something in me is dying” (from the song “Something In Me”), Warren isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. (more…)
CD review: Halfway House Mcees, Shit on a Shingle (Eighth and Dawson Records)
By Jenny Gamble
Having met them all minus one (Compound – who I am told is in an actual halfway house; what some artists won’t do to be believable), I can safely say – this is the real deal when it comes to hip hop. I spoke with Halfway House Mcees frontman Swiss Precise and was able to get the skinny on his newest release. (more…)
CD review: Hochii of Technicali, Bullets Through the Speakers (Self-released)
By Jenny Gamble
Hochii quotes Morgan Freeman’s famous “Shawshank Redemption” movie line when he tells his motto in life, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Hip hop for Hochii is not some stereotype, some genre, it is a way of life. This is the honesty that he demands not only from himself as an artist and performer, but from his listeners as well. Now, as a self-managed artist, he will be the first to admit that in his youth, he made mistakes and credits his brother for helping him to take more responsibility as a music business man. (more…)
CD review: Boulder Acoustic Society, Now (Self-released)
By Bryan Cox
From the first note there is no doubt that Kailin Yong, Aaron Keim, Brad Jones (ukelele, guitar and accordion) and new addition Scott McCormick are accomplished musicians. Crisp folk melodies permeate each song with a relaxed sense of ease reflecting Boulder Acoustic Society’s rustic Colorado roots. (more…)
Concert reviews: Vegoose 2007, October 26-28, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
By Beverly Bryan, Shelle and Rachel Heisler
During Vegoose, Sam Boyd Studium’s field is turned into a riotous area full of three stages, vendors and food and drink booths, V.I.P. sections and more. The way in which to enjoy the full experience is to get their early so you don’t have to rush, and don’t stress out if you miss a show. Another one is always on the horizon and no matter what bands you see they are pretty much guaranteed to rock. You’ll inevitably find that you’ll hear music you’ve never heard before and be blown away. This year a few performances stood out as winners: Iggy and the Stooges, Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine, but M.I.A. and Robert Randolph held their own at this, Vegas’ largest music festival. (more…)
Book review: Interactive Fender Bible, authors Dave Hunter and Carl Verheyen (Jawbone Press)
By Rachel Heisler
Fender guitars have been played by the best and worst musicians of all time. You can’t go to a concert anywhere without catching a glimpse of a Strat or Tele and that’s because the sounds that these guitars make is second-to-none. Interactive Fender Bible is the ultimate guide to these masterfully made guitars. (more…)
SHORT SCALE: CD reviews in 200 words or less
By Nikki Williams
CD review: Sacha Sacket, Lovers & Leaders
Rating: 4 out of 5 geetars
Gather around overweight, manically depressive, divorced women ages 28-35! Behold, a new artist that is destined to be played in heavy rotation on your favorite soft rock/easy listening stations! Delight over his soothing yet sexy voice as it croons songs that were meant only for you and that bastard husband you should have left a long time ago.
After listening to Lovers & Leaders, you’ll probably be curious as to whether or not his fave and body are as seductively pleasing as the third track you cried to while eating your first, and then second, bowl of Rocky Road ice cream. Good news: Sat is cute! Put on his “Cool Kids” track on your myspace page and you might even drool over him in his wifebeater.
Lovers & Leaders is simply a cool album. It’s kind of reminiscent of AudioSlave at times, and tends not to deviate from the same moderate tempo throughout the album. However, the music and the intent seem to be both pure and genuine. Sacket’s voice is distinctive, although it feels oddly familiar.
CD review: Laura Aidenblaise, Get Thee to the World (Self-released)
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 geetars if you want to live; 5 out of 5 geetars if you want to die
What can be said about Laura Aidenblaise’s CD, Get Thee to the World?
Hmmmm, Laura, please get thee to a therapist.
Yes, expression and butterflies and love are all free, but none of it has to be a major bummer. This CD is track after track of angst in a collaboration with a forlorn guitar and cameo appearance by a depressed guitar. On this CD, we discover that dear Laura is in search of more money, has a problem with guns, is a bit of a conspiracy theorist, likes to sing about herself in the third person and has some hang-ups about being biracial. Can we give the N-word a break, Laura! Geeze!
Yes, Laura, we are glad that someone is brave enough to sing about what is really going on it their life. We appreciate that you do not have the desire to put out a CD about clubbing or drinking or freaking. We love that you are not remixed and costumed with studio-crafted accoutrement. However, we do not want to be driven to the bottle, the razor blade or the Saturday Night Special after listening. Perhaps if you incorporated a little hope into your music, you may just get signed.
CD review: Fuji Minx, Users Cheaters Theatres (Monkey Middle Finger)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 geetars
All an artist ever wants is a chance, right? Every musician is sure that if they just book that gig, release that single, get that plug, sign that contract then all of their dreams of fame, tours and royalties will come true. Take Fuji Minx for instance. A happy little band from Southern California just a-singing and a-playing their hearts out. They’ve got a great look and a great sound with lyrics running the gamut as far as subject and tone. Their lead singer (Greta Valenti) is totally cute and marketable. In fact, their whole package is a winner and we know so because it’s been done before … only the package was called No Doubt.
Fuji Minx’s Users Cheaters Theatres has a fighting chance since No Doubt is no more. However, they’re going to have to get over all of the crap comparisons that will be made (oh, the irony!). One plus is that their songs aren’t all about broken relationships. Nevertheless, they’ll have to really develop their own genuine sound. And finally, Valenti might want to give up Gwen Stefani’s signature blond and go fire engine red. In face, if Valenti could be as little like Stefani as possible, that would help the band tremendously.
