Blackpool Lights: This Town's Disaster

Blackpool Lights
This Town's Disaster
Curb Appeal Records [2006]




So were you as unhappy as I was when The Get Up Kids broke up last year? Luckily, former Get Up Kids singer and guitarist Jim Suptic's new band Blackpool Lights has arrived to fill that void. Has anything changed you ask? The first thing you will notice after spinning This Town’s Disaster is that it is a straight forward power pop rock album. It would be easy to place Blackpool Lights into the emo category based on Suptic’s past relationship with the Get Up Kids but his new gig has a new upbeat sound filled with big hooks and choruses backed up by a solid guitar, bass and drums. The bottom line is that if you enjoy quality rock and roll Blackpool Lights is a no brainier and is the perfect soundtrack for cruisin’ down the road on a sunny day with the volume on ten.

Key Tracks: "Maybe Just Maybe", "This Town’s Disaster", "It’s Never About What It’s About"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Replacements
Weezer
Cute Is What We Aim For

Official Blackpool Lights Website
Blackpool Lights MySpace
Curb Appeal Records

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

Scanners: Violence Is Golden

Scanners
Violence Is Golden
Dim Mak Records [2006]








Violence Is Golden is London based Scanners debut album. It is a solid effort of post-punk, rock, pop, and new wave combined with the Chryssie Hynde style vocals of Sarah Daly. The whole album has a pulsating beat that keeps you going from one track to the next. I think Scanners are at their best when they sound desperate and turn the volume up on rockers like “Air 164” and “Lowlife”. They have complete control but you feel like Daly is one breath away from exhaustion. When they slow things down the album drops pace and the tracks do not seem as well developed and never really find direction. The good news for Scanners is that Dim Mak (Bloc Party, The Rakes, The Gossip) is the perfect label for their sound and they could easily earn the tag “next big thing” from the UK. Now you just need to buy in!

Key Tracks: "Bombs", "Joy", "Raw"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Rainer Maria
The Sounds
Pretenders

Official Scanners Website
Scanners MySpace
Dim Mak Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Oh No! Oh My!: Oh No! Oh My!

Oh No! Oh My!
Oh No! Oh My!
Self-Released [2006]



Oh No! Oh My! is the perfect story of two home schooled guys from Austin learning to play multiple instruments and creating a superb entry into the 2006 indie album field. What makes this self-titled release work is its quick transitions from one genre to the next without losing any momentum or focus. You get solid honest songs with a playfulness that show that Oh No! Oh My! do not take themselves too serious but still believe in their music. The selling point of Oh No! Oh My! is that you cannot pinpoint one style of music. There is something for every indie kid in this thing: horns, handclaps, sing alongs, cymbals, and quite possibly a cowbell. My only complaint is that it ends too soon – 11 songs in 34 minutes does not give the listener enough time to enjoy Oh No! Oh My! to the fullest but shows great promise for round that sophomore album.

Key Tracks: "Skip The Foreplay", "I Have No Sister", "Jane Is Fat"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The Wrens
The Robot Ate Me

Official Oh No! Oh My! Website
Oh No! Oh My! MySpace

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

Dashboard Confessional: Dusk And Summer

Dashboard Confessional
Dusk And Summer
Vagrant Records [2006]








The king of emo Chris Carrabba returns for another dose of midtempo passionate rocking tracks for his forth album Dusk And Summer. If anybody has been keeping up with Dashboard news, Daniel Lanois (U2, Dylan, Eno) was set to produce this album but after batches of songs were created and then left on the table, producing duties were switched to Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Avril, Eve 6). Only the last track “Heaven Here” made the cut from the early recordings. Producer switching midstream always throws up red flags and created its own skeptics and anticipation for Dusk And Summer. I am happy to report that what you get is the Dashboard fans are most recently familiar with – songs I would compare to the caliber of past hits “Vindicated” and “Hands Down”. Only the title track is a flashback to the mostly acoustic albums The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most [2001] and The Swiss Army Romance [2000]. The final product will maintain the Carrabba fanbase and probably earn some new ones. I would have liked to see him return to the intimate setting of his acoustic guitar for more than just one track but Dusk And Summer definitely represents his current progression and maturity as an artist.

Key Tracks: "Don't Wait", "So Long, So Long [w Adam Duritz]", "The Secret's In The Telling"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Saves The Day
Blackpool Lights
Jimmy Eats World

Official Dashboard Confessional Website
Vagrant Records

-Reviewed by Conrad Rocksted

Mason Jennings: Boneclouds

Mason Jennings
Boneclouds
Glacial Pace/Epic Records [2006]







Minnesota singer songwriter Mason Jennings is new to the major label category but he has a solid catalog of independent releases. Boneclouds is Mason’s fifth long-player and the first for Glacial Pace Records, which is a subsidiary of major Epic and headed up by Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock. Mason was the first artist that Isaac signed. It does not take very long to figure out why he snagged this guy so quickly. Mason gives it his all for each of Boneclouds ten tracks with an amazingly sincere voice and first person lyrics. You will not find a wide rang of instruments here - most of the arrangements are light bass and drums in the background complimenting Mason’s vocal and guitar. If you are into the troubadour thing Mason Jennings will not disappoint. It will keep your faith in the major labels and why more artists like Mason should be supported.

Key Tracks: "Jackson Square", "Be Here Now", "Some Say I'm Not"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Ben Kweller
Pete Yorn
Josh Rouse

Official Mason Jennings Website
Epic Records

-Reviewed By JT Burn

Danielson: Ships

Danielson
Ships
Secretly Canadian [2006]









The Danielson Famile have been churning out album after album for the past ten years. I have tried to get into their sound but seem to fail with every release due to the inconsistencies and sporadic changes from track to track within each album. I just never felt comfortable with an entire work therefore stopped listening. With that said, I wondered if I was the best choice to check out the new Danielson. I can now tell you I am glad I did. Ships is by far the best from beginning to end album Daniel Smith has released. It is a perfect mix of folk-rock with great transitions, great pace and great friends to help out with names like Deerhoof, Sufjan Stevens, & Sereena-Maneesh to just name a few. With a superb supporting cast, concise songs and a non-stop folk rock rollercoaster ride, Danielson has easily released one of the better indie releases of 2006.

Key Tracks: "Did I Step On Your Trumpet", "Cast It At The Setting Sail", "Ship The Majestic Suffix"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Sufjan Stevens
Modest Mouse
Devendra Banhart

Official Danielson Website
Secretly Canadian Website

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

Russian Circles: Enter

Russian Circles
Enter
Flameshovel Records [2006]









The first thing you should know about the Russian Circles is that they are a three-piece instrumental metal rock band from Chicago. Enter contains six epic tracks that average a bit over 7 minutes with a range from heavy jarring metal to gentle faint sections. The catchy part of this album is its quick transitions, which are essential to keep the listener’s attention. At one point, you can find yourself picking along with the guitar before launching into a raging drum section that just builds with every moment. I think that it takes several listens to Enter to comprehend the different instrumentation in each track, which will keep you coming back for more - air guitar in hand!

Key Tracks: "Death Rides A Horse", "Carpe", "Enter"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Ratatat
Witch
Pelican

Official Russian Circles Website
Russian Circles MySpace
Flameshovel Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Movies With Heroes: Nothing Here Is Perfect

Movies With Heroes
Nothing Here Is Perfect
CI Records [2006]





So emo has been around for a bit now in the music scene and many bands have tried to be emo; many bands have tried not to be emo. Movies With Heroes have no problem being emo – Know why? Because they do emo so damn well! Nothing Here Is Perfect pumps 36 minutes of pure heart, soul, sweat and blood through your head. Each song captures the essence of what great emo is all about – passion for music and the deep subject matter. What I like best about Movies With Heroes is the Robert Smith like vocals backed with the crunching guitars and perfectly drummed timing. Movies With Heroes revitalizes an emo scene that will only grow stronger with Nothing Here Is Perfect being a top five genre release for 2006.

Key Tracks: "Wake Up", "Wildflower", "The Wave"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Death Cab For Cutie
The Cure
A rocked up emo Dashboard Confessional

Official Movies With Heroes Website
Movies With Heroes MySpace
CI Records

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

Guster: Ganging Up On The Sun

Guster
Ganging Up On The Sun
Reprise Records [2006]









Ganging Up On The Sun is the first studio album from Guster in three years. It definitely shows that over the last three years Guster has mastered their jangly pop sound. It takes several listens but each time you replay Ganging Up On The Sun it sounds more together, fresher, and more mature then any previous Guster album. It also is a much more accessible album for the masses – songs like “One Man Wrecking Machine” and “Satellite” helps the listener fall into Guster mode and drift along humming every chorus. The seven-minute “Ruby Falls” is a truly atmospheric track that shows Guster’s sound expansion and comfort experimenting. Before it was about the catchy instrumentation, now they represent a band that has evolved and is set for the long haul of making solid albums.

Key Tracks: "The New Underground", "One Man Wrecking Machine", "Manifest Destiny"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Ben Folds
Barenaked Ladies
Semisonic

Official Guster Website
Guster MySpace
Reprise Records

-Reviewed by Conrad Rocksted

Damone: Out Here All Night

Damone
Out Here All Night
Island Records [2006]




On Out Here All Night, Boston’s Damone combine the perfect mix of rock, power pop, and old school hair metal to crank out twelve radio friendly tracks. You always hear the saying "what was old is new again" – Damone fit into this category. You can probably identify their sound with a band from every decade. Depending on its release, this could have been an album from The Runaways, Heart, Vixen, or The Go-Go’s. Lead singer Noelle has a very pleasant tone and takes command of every track. She never gives you the impression that she can’t hit that power note but can slide back into harmony with ease. Damone don’t give us anything new with Out Here All Night but put out a very listenable album that will be great for summer cruisin’. Also, make sure you stay around for the final track which is a cover of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years” – It is a perfect cap to a fun album.

Key Tracks: "Out Here All Night", "Wasted Years", "On Your Speakers"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Donnas
Cheap Trick
That Dog

Official Damone Website
Damone MySpace
Island Records

-Reviewed By JT Burn

Small Sins: Small Sins

Small Sins
Small Sins
Boompa/Astralwerks Records [2006]





Formerly known as The Ladies And Gentlemen, Small Sins possesses a great combination of atmospheric pop songs. You would think any band that must make a name change (a Chicago new wave/pop band already have rights to the name) would completely destroy any groundwork that every band must endure to attempt success. For the Small Sins the timing worked out perfect. They had a great showing at SXSW and signed to the major label Atralwerks. The name change has been seamless and for those of us who are still mourning the breakup of Grandaddy take note. The Small Sins have a very familiar sound that mixes keyboards and smooth vocals into well-crafted concise hooky tracks. Small Sins won’t disappoint and don’t be afraid of the electro tag because for this album it merely sets the background – the vocals are the focus and the ten tracks leave you wanting more.

Key Tracks: "Stay", "All Will Be Fine", "Won't Make It Easier"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Grandaddy
Magnetic Fields
Postal Service

Official Small Sins Website
Small Sins MySpace
Astrawerks Records

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Sunset Rubdown
Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Absolutely Kosher Records [2006]







Sunset Rubdown is the sideband of keyboardist Spencer Krug from Wolf Parade. With that said, you never know what you are going to get with a sideband. Do you get crazy weird music that the band will not let the artist perform and do you get a completely different genre? The 411 on Sunset Rubdown is that if you enjoy Wolf Parade’s album Apologies To The Queen Mary [2005] then you will dig Sunset Rubdown. This album feels like Wolf Parade Unplugged. The songs are simpler, less instrumentation, less change of pace tempo, no dueling vocals - just a straight up indie gem.

Key Tracks: "They Took A Vote And Said No", "Us Ones In Between", "The Empty Threats Of Little Lord"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Wolf Parade
The Walkmen
Built To Spill

Sunset Rubdown MySpace
Absolutely Kosher Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

The Futureheads: News And Tributes

The Futureheads
News And Tributes
Vagrant Records [2006]









The Futureheads are back with another high-octane album following their brilliant self-titled 2004 release. There was a real chance that The Futureheads could have copied their debut but News And Tributes expands their sound and is more developed musically and lyrically. The first single “Skip To The End” is catchier then anything they have previously released and brings back some of the best moments from The Jam catalog. “Burnt” brings out the early Elvis Costello in the band and “Return Of The Berserker” could fit in on any Wire album. The point is that The Futureheads have reincarnated the sound of past successful bands, added their own twist and created a solid rock-post-punk for the millennium generation.

Key Tracks: "Skip To The End", "Favours For Favours", "Burnt"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Kaiser Chiefs
The Jam
Bloc Party

The Official Futureheads Website
The Futureheads MySpace
Vagrant Records

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

The Vines: Vision Valley

The Vines
Vision Valley
Capitol Records [2006]




We all know that The Vines have had issues. They have battled illness, breakup threats, cancelled tours and Nirvana comparisons. All of the turmoil aside, The Vines debut Highly Evolved [2002] rocked. It put the kids from down under on the map. Like so many bands before them, the sophomore slump came with Winning Days [2004] minus the iPod commercial track “Ride”. Now after the instability we have the 30-minute Vision Valley. Unfortunately, it feels like it was made in 30 minutes. The songs do not flow and feel very incomplete. It is too bad because I really wanted to like this album and I even gave it several extra spins to make sure I was not missing anything – I was not. The main point is that if you are going to make a 30-minute album it had better be good because there is no room for filler or the listener will forget about it in 30 seconds.

Key Tracks: "Don't Listen To The Radio", "Gross Out", "Anysound"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Strokes
The Hives
The White Stripes

The Official Vines Website
Capitol Records

-Reviewed by Conrad Rocksted

The Theater Fire: Everybody Has A Dark Side

The Theater Fire
Everybody Has A Dark Side
Undeniable Records [2006]







The Theater Fire is a six-piece alt-country band from Texas that crosses every American folk music genre in a 40-minute set, which makes them very difficult to just peg in one category. Everybody Has A Dark Side includes weeping pedal steel, violin, strains of accordion, mandolin, xylophone, plucked banjo, guitar, sorrowful brass and the clip-clop of found percussion. Donald Feagin’s lead vocal style is very reserved and flows along with the different array of musical instruments. He never over sings the song, so that the listener can easily identify a mandolin from the violin. Tracks transition easily from the mariachi of the “Fiddleback Weaver” to the poppy jangle of “Barrel Riders”. The songs substance includes tails of honor, guilt, drifters and even some Star Wars folklore. The different genres with different instruments really work for The Theater Fire. Everybody Has A Dark Side is a great listen whether you are on your porch drinking tea or stuck in wall-to-wall highway traffic.

Key Tracks: "Dark Side", "Valentwine", "Barrel Riders"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Old Crow Medicine Show
The Knitters
Lullaby For The Working Class

Official Theater Fire Website
The Theater Fire MySpace
Undeniable Records

-Reviewed by JT Burn

The Weekend Fire Chart

Albums that are creating heat this week:





The Futureheads: News And Tributes









The Riverboat Gamblers: To The Confusion Of Our Enemies










The Cardinal Sin: Hurry Up And Wait












Herbert: Scales











The Twilight Singers: Powder Burns

Rahim: Ideal Lives

Rahim
Ideal Lives
Frenchkiss Records [2006]







It is always nice to see a band evolve and grow with each release. Rahim released their EP Jungles in 2005 and out of four songs; they had three different singers, different arrangements and different harmonies. You could tell that Rahim was trying to hone their skills and develop a sound for their band. Ideal Lives is a giant step in that direction. Each track is well planned from one to the next and no longer do the layered harmonies sound confused or out of place but supply the needed background to form complete songs. Some credit needs to be given to album producer J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines) for he not only influenced Rahim but also what better person to recruit for an album of this nature. With Ideal Lives, Rahim have picked up the torch that bands like Q And Not U, Promise Ring, and Burning Airlines once carried and continue the post-punk Discord sound for the next generation. I can only hope that their evolution will continue and soon Rahim could easily be the leaders of the scene.

Key Tracks: "KlangKlangKlang", "10,000 Horses", "Enduring Love"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Q And Not U
Jawbox
Disemberment Plan

Official Rahim Website
Frenchkiss Records

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

Various Artists: Barsuk Records Songwriters Show

Various Artists
Barsuk Records Songwriters Show
Barsuk Records [2006] (Web Release)




I remember back in the day when MTV played music videos and produced music related shows. One of those shows was MTV Unplugged. It was a great concept giving artists a unique forum to showcase their music in a new light, which produced some classic albums from the likes of Nirvana and Clapton. On April 29, 2005, Barsuk Records resurrected the unplugged concept and invited some of their rosters finest to perform for the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. For the show they rounded up Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), John Roderick (The Long Winters), John Vanderslice, Jesse Sykes and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) to bring down their guitars and play a few songs acoustically. The result is a pure example that for great music you just need a voice and a guitar – that is it!

The Barsuk show gives the listener three acoustic tracks from each artist with the exception of Ben Gibbard who contributed two for a total of fourteen tracks. Each track is intimate and personal. Each performance is very light hearted and laid back without losing an ounce of quality. There is not a bad track in the bunch. If you like any of these artists you will want to check this out. It is also a great reminder that an acoustic show can capture the essence of the artists you enjoy!

Key Tracks:
"Always Love" - Matthew Caws
"Pale Horse" - John Vanderslice
"I Will Follow You Into The Dark" - Ben Gibbard

Bands With Similar Fire:
Nada Surf
Death Cab For Cutie
The Long Winters

Barsuk Records Songwriters Show

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Rock Kills Kid: Are You Nervous?

Rock Kills Kid
Are You Nervous?
Reprise Records [2006]




Like Electronica and Ska before it, Synth Rock has taken a forefront on the modern rock radio formats and Rock Kills Kid’s Are You Nervous? is another entry into this genre. Currently the single “Paralyzed” has been climbing the Modern Rock chart and easily is the catchiest track on the album. Are You Nervous? represents the genre well but the tracks progressively lose their staying power as you move down the album. The problem with the later tracks is that they lose originality. They sound like any other band of the same genre and you instantly forget what was playing. The good news is that the first four tracks are really good and shows why Rock Kills Kid earned Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists to watch in 2006” It also means that LP two will have promise and that RKK will not fade away…well until the new Killers comes out!

Key Tracks: "Paralyzed", "Hide Away", "Are You Nervous"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Killers
Joy Division
Hot Hot Heat

Official Rock Kills Kid Website
Rock Kills Kid MySpace
Reprise Records

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

Staggering Statistics: All Of This And More

Staggering Statistics
All Of This And More
Shake It Records [2006]





For those of you who are not familiar with the Staggering Statistics they are bassist John Curley’s post-Afghan Whigs band from Cincinnati, Ohio. All Of This And More is their debut LP following a self-titled, self-released, debut EP in 2003 and the more recent Pixelated Ones and Zeros EP [2006]. Since their incarnation, Staggering Statistics have been compared to Pavement and Lou Reed but I believe that All Of This And More has a much more rocked up edge and fits perfectly in the newly matured Garage rock scene. They now have expanded from a three piece into four, which has added another guitar and keyboards to their sound. John Curley cranks fuzzed out bass lines throughout the album, which gives every track that gritty edge and keeps the listener wanting more especially in the six minute “Matter Of Time” that just keeps building as the song closes. The bottom line is that All Of This And More is a strong offering from the Staggering Statistics and is different, fresh, and just plain rocks!

Key Tracks: "Winner Take All", "LCD", "Embrace Your Decay"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Greenhornes
Swearing At Motorists
Television

Official Staggering Statistics Website
Staggering Statistics MySpace
Shake It Records

-Reviewed by Conrad Rocksted

Smoosh: Free To Stay

Smoosh
Free To Stay
Barsuk Records [2006]




Lets just get this out of the way up front. Smoosh is Seattle sister act Asya (age 14) and Chloe (age 12) and Free To Stay is their second album. That is right – Smoosh has a combined age of 26! Before you stop reading here are four reasons to give Smoosh a chance:

1) This is their second album.

2) Free To Stay is on Barsuk Records (ex home of Death Cab and current home of Nada Surf)

3) They've toured North America and Europe with Jimmy Eat World, The Go! Team, and Mates of State, and they've played around the U.S. with Rilo Kiley, Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens, Sleater-Kinney, and Cat Power.

4) They were nominated for Spin's 2005 Band of the Year.

After all of that the important question still to be answered: How is the music? Free To Stay stands up against any 2006 female duo releases out there. If I listened to this without any background information I would not have guessed their young age. The vocals are solid, the keyboards are simple but complete and the drums provide the perfect timing backdrop for the album. Smoosh have created a solid power pop album that captures their young energy and gives the listener a great indie treat.

Key Tracks: "Free To Stay", "Find A Way", "Waiting For Something"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Eisley
Tori Amos
Belly

Official Smoosh Website
Barsuk Records

-Reviewed by JT Burn

The Weekend Fire Chart

Check out the albums that have been makin' us hot all week:





Persephone's Bees:Notes From The Underworld










DeVotchKa: Curse Your Little Heart EP










Cracker:Greenland









Keene Brothers:Blues And Boogie Shoes










Think About Life:Think About Life