Even when I was in the age range during which it was potentially acceptable to like boy bands, I didn't particularly fall in love with the music, or the boys, for that matter; I never could tell the difference between 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, a fact that once offended many of my friends. For those reasons (and a few others), it doesn't seem entirely my business to be reviewing them. Yet, at the same time, I have an oddly strong feeling of approval for their existence. "Why?" you might ask. That's a good question.
The way I see it, if the
Matchbox Twenty – North
by Jason Lightner September 18th, 2012 | Album Review
It's been a full decade since we 've been treated to a full studio offering from Matchbox Twenty. This past month, however, the group released its followup to their 2002 album, More Than You Think You Are entitled North.
North is a 12-track take on modernizing the classic Matchbox formula, with catchy hooks in songs like "Put Your Hands Up", relationship tunes like "She's So Mean", and acoustic tracks like "I Will". In traditional Matchbox Twenty style, there's a little something in here for everybody.
The album is very listenable, and each member of the band plays their part perfectly.
North is a 12-track take on modernizing the classic Matchbox formula, with catchy hooks in songs like "Put Your Hands Up", relationship tunes like "She's So Mean", and acoustic tracks like "I Will". In traditional Matchbox Twenty style, there's a little something in here for everybody.
The album is very listenable, and each member of the band plays their part perfectly.
Something Happening Here
by J Frazzetta September 17th, 2012 | Artist Review, Featured Artist
There comes a time in the life of every band where they have an important question to ask: should we continue eating bread and cheese or should we take a huge risk and see what happens? This is what many people outside of the industry call "selling out" or changing your sound to stay viable and reach your creative potential. It took me a long time to realize this, Avid Reader, and it makes sense why bands would do this in time. Considering they had yet to break it huge in the U.S., Matt Bellamy started work on what
The Shins, Port of Morrow, 2012
by J Frazzetta September 14th, 2012 | Album Review
Back in 2003 I remember an album with a funny cover came to the campus radio station and I spun it a few times. It wasn’t terrible, I recommended to folks that liked guitar pop and threw it in the bin with other new stuff. Well, some folks loved it to death, played it all the time and I thought Chutes Too Narrow wasn’t that bad, so The Shins were all right. Then a year later Zach Braff made his hit movie Garden State and that famous scene with Natalie Portman changed my opinion. Popularity kicked in and soon
The Cranberries – Roses
by Jason Lightner September 11th, 2012 | Album Review
It's been eleven years since we've seen an album from The Cranberries. The Irish alternative rock band parted ways back in 2004 during work on the followup to their 2001 album Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.
The hiatus ended in 2009 during a celebration for singer Dolores O'Riordan. Just like that, the group was back in the game. This past February, they released the much anticipated album Roses, and subsequently began a world tour to promote the the offering.
Roses is an 11-track stroll through some truly Cranberries material. For the most part, it's a slow and melodic
The hiatus ended in 2009 during a celebration for singer Dolores O'Riordan. Just like that, the group was back in the game. This past February, they released the much anticipated album Roses, and subsequently began a world tour to promote the the offering.
Roses is an 11-track stroll through some truly Cranberries material. For the most part, it's a slow and melodic