Release Date: January 31, 2012

Review:

Harriet is a Los Angeles-based band fronted by former Dawes member Alex Casnoff.  The quartet’s self-released debut EP Tell The Right Story will be available for free download beginning January 31, 2012 at www.harrietmusic.com. The EP was produced by Sean O’Brien and recorded in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

According to the band’s press release, Tell The Right Story features classic elements of Americana and folk music contrasted with futuristic electronic samples and beats.  The group blends tones, melodies and instrumentation that normally shouldn’t fit together, but are bound seamlessly.  Casnoff’s emotive vocals are overlaid over beautifully structured progressions.  Enough can’t be said about just how good Harriet’s songwriting is.  Tell The Right Story is a gem of a release that shines for anyone lucky enough to dig it up.

Track Listing:

1. “I Slept With All Your Mothers”
2. “Soldier”
3. “Sign”
4. “Don’t Fight The Feeling”
5. “Send ‘Em Up”

Listen:

Harriet “I Slept With All Your Mothers” by HarrietMusic

Links:

www.harrietmusic.com

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Release Date: January 10, 2012
Record Label: Milking Bull/EMI

Review:

The Little Willies recently gathered to record For The Good Times, the follow-up to their 2006 self-titled debut.  The group – Lee Alexander (bass), Jim Campilongo (guitar), Norah Jones (piano, vocals), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals) and Dan Rieser (drums) – first formed in 2003.  Like their first album, For The Good Times is another collection of country covers from classic country songwriters, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Dolly Parton.

The music on this album sounds flawless — not that it’s too precise, but flawless in a sense that you wouldn’t want to hear it played in any other way.  The vocal interplay between Jones and Julian ranges from playful and warm to subtly mischievous.  Intertwined throughout is stunning musicianship with Campilongo’s mastery of his Telecaster, Jones’ distinctive piano style, and Alexander and Rieser laying down a lively foundation on bass and drums for the music to flow over.

Most exciting to hear is how effortlessly the band makes it all seem.  These are songs of notable character and the band has taken great care to draw out as much of that character as possible from each performance, while maintaining an atmosphere of spontaneity and comfort — it’s never forced, and you can just tell that they simply feel it.  Put down your red cup, and take a listen to For The Good Times to be reminded of what country music once was, and fall in love with it all over again.

Track Listing:

1. “I Worship You” (Ralph Stanley)
2. “Remember Me” (Scotty Wiseman)
3. “Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves” (Cal Martin)
4. “Lovesick Blues” (Cliff Friend, Irving Mills)
5. “Tommy Rockwood” (Jim Campilongo)
6. “Fist City” (Loretta Lynn)
7. “Permanently Lonely” (Willie Nelson)
8. “Foul Owl On The Prowl” (Quincy Jones, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
9. “Wide Open Road” (Johnny Cash)
10. “For the Good Times” (Kris Kristofferson)
11. “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time” (Lefty Frizzell, Jim Beck)
12. “Jolene” (Dolly Parton)

Purchase:

Links:

www.thelittlewillies.net

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Release Date: December 13, 2011
Record Label: Vagrant Records/Universal Germany

Review:

Rammstein’s retrospective release, Made In Germany 1995 – 2011, was released on Dec. 13 through Universal Germany’s marketing and distribution deal in the US with Vagrant Records. The release comes in three formats; Standard Edition (CD Digipak – Best of Album), Special Edition (2-CD Digipak – Best of Album and Best of Remixes), and the Super Deluxe Edition (2-CD – Best of Album and Best of Remixes/3 DVDs/packaged in a steel box complete with a 240-page booklet/Limited to 1200 copies in the US). All songs and videos on Made In Germany 1995 – 2011 have been re-mastered for this release, and fans are also treated to a new single titled “Mein Land.”

I normally don’t review “Best of” or “Greatest Hits” releases, but this one is just too good not to talk about. The band has amassed a very strong catalog over the past sixteen years. It’s very cool to hear those remastered tracks along with remixes by the likes of Faith No More, Devin Townsend, and even Pet Shop Boys.  The perfect gift for any Rammstein fan, or those you want to convert.

Track Listing:

Best of Album

1. “Engel” (Angel)
2. “Links 2-3-4″ (Left 2-3-4)
3. “Keine Lust” (No Desire)
4. “Mein Teil” (My Part)
5. “Du Hast” (You Have)
6. “Du Riechst So Gut” (You Smell So Good)
7. “Ich Will” (I Want)
8. “Mein Herz Brennt” (My Heart Burns)
9. “Mutter” (Mother)
10. “Pussy” (Vagina)
11. “Rosenrot” (Rose-red)
12. “Haifisch” (Shark)
13. “Amerika” (America)
14. “Sonne” (Sun)
15. “Ohne Dich” (Without You)
16. “Mein Land” (My Country)

Best of Remixes

1. “Du Riechst So Gut ’98″ (Faith No More Remix)
2. “Du Hast” (Jacob Hellner Remix)
3. “Stripped” (Johan Edlund of Tiamat Remix)
4. “Sonne” (Clawfinger Remix)
5. “Links 2-3-4″ (WestBam Remix)
6. “Mutter” (Sono Remix)
7. “Feuer Frei!” (Junkie XL Remix)
8. “Mein Teil” (Pet Shop Boys Remix)
9. “Amerika” (Olsen Involtini of Emigrate Remix)
10. “Ohne Dich” (Laibach Remix)
11. “Keine Lust” (Black Strobe Remix)
12. “Benzin” (Meshuggah Remix)
13. “Rosenrot” (Northern Lite Remix)
14. “Pussy” (Scooter Remix)
15. “Rammlied” (Devin Townsend Remix)
16. “Ich tu Dir Weh” (Fukkk Offf Remix)
17. “Haifisch” (Hurts Remix)

Purchase:

Links:

www.rammstein.de

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Release Date: November 1, 2011
Record Label: Ipecac Recordings

Review:
Mike Patton has been scoring films for a few years now, such as for 2008′s A Perfect Place and 2009′s Crank: High Voltage. His latest effort, titled Music From The Film and Inspired By the Book The Solitude of Prime Numbers (La Solitudine Dei Numeri Primi), is a 16-track album released via Ipecac Recordings.

Soundtracks are initially composed to support the imagery taking place on the screen, but when presented on their own they can become something entirely different. Patton has done an amazing job of creating a collection of work that stands out on its own. Each piece dynamically exploits sound and silence to create a unique sense of emotion and character. It’s no minor feat to successfully jump from using production techniques that require layers and layers of tracks to something more stripped down but just as powerful.

I recently read an interview with Patton where he describes his collection of film soundtracks. The more that he, along with his contemporaries like Trent Reznor and Maynard James Keenan, keep crating incredible film scores, the more my collection keeps growing as well.

Track Listing:

02-Twin Primes
03-Identity Matrix
05-Method Of Infinite Descent
07-Contapositive
11-Cicatrix
13-Abscissa
17-Isolated Primes
19-Radius Of Convergence
23-Separatrix
29-The Snow Angel
31-Apnoea
37-Supersingular Primes
41-Quadratrix
43-Calculus Of Finite Differences
47-Zeroth
53-Weight Of Consequences (Quod Erat Demonstrandum)

Purchase:

Links:

www.ipecac.com

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Release Date: November 22, 2011
Record Label: Dissociated Press

Review:
Paul D’Amour, founding member of Tool and Lusk, returned to the world of heavy music with Feersum Ennjin’s self-titled debut on November 22nd.  This marks D’Amour’s first rock release since 1995′s Aenima.  The release of the album was delayed a few weeks because a new track was added at the last minute; for the album’s opener D’Amour reunited with his former Tool bandmate, drummer Danny Carey, to record “The Fourth.”

Contained within this album is a style that D’Amour has crafted over the years and it’s a familiar sound to even the casual fan of Tool’s music.  Those bass and drum driven grooves are most prominent on the tracks “Fishing Grounds” and “Lines.” However, it’s clear that this project is not an attempt to recreate the past; this is something entirely new.  Feersum Ennjin uses a lot of electronic elements in songs like “Magus,” “U Boats,” “Hate The Sun,” and the instrumental “Thin Air.”

The one and only gripe I have with the album is D’Amour’s lack of confidence in his own vocals.  The sound of his voice gets buried in too many layers and effects.  That said, the strength of the song-writing and musicianship easily make this one of my favorite albums of the year.  D’Amour’s been away from the heavy rock scene for too long, let’s hope he stays with it for a while.

Track Listing:

1. The Fourth
2. Fishing Grounds
3. Safeway
4. The Wilderness
5. Dragon
6. Lines
7. Solid Gold
8. U Boats
9. Magus
10. The Raft
11. Hate The Sun
12. Thin Air

Purchase:

Links:

www.pauldamour.com

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Release Date: November 1, 2011
Record Label: Blackheart Records

Review:

San Antonio’s Girl In A Coma are back with their fourth album, titled Exits & All the Rest, released via Blackheart Records. Their latest effort finds the band exploring different sounds and textures while elevating the music to new levels.

Most of the tracks on the album have a stripped-down production style. When you close your eyes you can almost picture the band being in the same room. The guitar sound with it’s classic “twin reverb” tones is especially sounds so raw and cool. The only exception is the song “Sly” that takes on a modern alt-rock vibe with a slicker production style.

There are several notable tracks on this album.  “Smart” is a great uptempo tune which is reminiscent of The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love.”  “So” has lush and moving vocals, while “Knocking At Your Door” has a powerful feel like late 60′s Jefferson Airplane.

What’s really striking about Exits & All the Rest is hearing how Girl In A Coma’s music has evolved and matured over the past few years.  The experimentation is not conducted at the expense of the band’s sound, it is still clearly Girl In A Coma music, but the band is more capable to expand their repertoire outside the punk genre.  This album may not only be their best yet, but also offers a glimpse of greater things to come.

Track Listing:

1. “Adjust”
2. “One Eyed Fool”
3. “Smart”
4. “She Had A Plan”
5. “So”
6. “Cemetery Baby”
7. “Knocking At Your Door”
8. “Hope”
9. “Control”
10. “Sly”
11. “Mother’s Lullaby”

Purchase:

Links:

www.girlinacoma.com

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Release Date: October 18, 2011
Record Label: Puscifer Entertainment

Review:

All hands on deck.  Puscifer is back with a new album titled Conditions of My Parole.  Maynard James Keenan and crew have constructed a new a vessel upon the keel that was laid down with their 2007 release “V” Is for Vagina… but enough with the corny nautical “Man Overboard” references.

Puscifer has taken the sound of this album in a different direction than previous effort.  The sound of the album is less synthetic, but still maintains a great deal of experimental electronic grooves.  It’s starting to sound more and more like a band rather than someone’s studio project.  Not that one is better than the other, but the difference is significant.

It also sounds like the group made a concerted effort not to be bogged down by being constrained to create music to fit a single genre. The creative elements were allowed to work together to do what is best for the songs. The result is a truly dynamic collection of tunes ranging from heavy rockers like “Telling Ghosts” to more industrial realms with songs like “Man Overboard” and “The Weaver.”

This is the best we’ve heard do far from Puscifer, and it’s really great to hear Keenan move into a creative phase where he can still churn out interesting phrasing and now couple it with a greater range of stylistic variation. I can’t wait to hear the Conditions of My Parole remix album.

Track Listing:

1. Tiny Monsters
2. Green Valley
3. Monsoons
4. Telling Ghosts
5. Horizons
6. Man Overboard
7. Toma
8. The Rapture (Fear Is a Mind Killa Mix)
9. Conditions of My Parole
10. The Weaver
11. Oceans
12. Tumbleweed

Purchase:

Links:

www.puscifer.com

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Release Date: October 18, 2011
Record Label: Island

Review:

The debut solo album from Patrick Stump is titled Soul Punk.  While the entire project is completely written, performed and produced by Stump (with the exception of a guest appearance by Lupe Fiasco), it’s never quite clear that Stump’s voice is ever truly represented on this album. Intentional or not, it’s buried in a slick emulation of artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, Maroon 5, Usher or dare I say, Justin Timberlake.

The issues on this album are not reflective of Stump’s performance; he’s a skilled vocalist. However the song-writing and production are lacking. There simply isn’t any stand-out material.  The heavily Prince influenced song “Everybody Wants Somebody”, is probably the most compelling track on the album, but even that gets repetitive and predictable as it wears on.

I respect Stump’s decision to take a risk with Soul Punk to try something different, and also his ambition to write all the music, play all the instruments, and produce the album himself, but not all risks pay off.

Track Listing:

1. “Explode”
2. “This City”
3. “Dance Miserable”
4. “Spotlight (New Regrets)”
5. “The I In Lie”
6. “Run Dry (X heart X fingers)”
7. “Greed”
8. “Everybody Wants Somebody”
9. “Allie”
10. “Coast (It´s Gonna Get Better)”
11. “This City” (Feat. Lupe Fiasco)

Purchase:

Links:

www.patrickstump.com

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Release Date: October 25, 2011
Record Label: Run For Cover Records

Review:

Providence, Rhode Island’s The Tower and The Fool just released their Run For Cover Records debut, XIII.  The EP is available in 7″ and digital formats.

The release consists of two tracks, “Die Alone” and “NYC.”  Both tracks are excellent; well-written and well-produced.  “NYC” is as fine a song as you ever may hear.  It’s a rare treat to hear a vocalist with an ability to convey such longing and heart-break that it draws you right in.  Definitely one of the best songs I’ve heard this year.

The Tower and The Fool initially started as a songwriting project between friends Alex Correia and Chris Rosenquest.  The duo filled out their lineup with the addition of drummer/producer Mike Poorman (Hot Rod Circuit), Jon Tucker on bass, Zac Clark on keys, and Chris Capaldi on lead and slide guitars.

Check ‘em out.

Track Listing:

1. “Die Alone”
2. “NYC”

Purchase:

www.runforcoverrecords.com

Links:

www.facebook.com/The-Tower-and-The-Fool

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Release Date: October 24, 2011
Record Label: Lost Highway Records

Review:
Los Angeles-based duo honeyhoney, Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe, are set to release their new album, Billy Jack on October 24 through honeyhoney Records/Lost Highway. This album is a great showcase for how Santo and Jaffe have progressed together as both musicians and writers.

On Billy Jack, honeyhoney focused their efforts in a bit of a different direction than their prevous effort, First Rodeo. The album opens with the old-time country-western tinged “Angel Of Death.” That traditional country sound provides the undercurrent for the rest of the album flow.

Strong country influenced songs also include “I Don’t Mind”, a romping foot-stomper, and “Old School Friends” with its great writing and harmonies. I’m always amazed bands are able to spin old-school style with a modern twist to make something that sounds fresh and current.

While certainly having stronger country ties than their previous album, there still remains a great variety of sounds ranging from rootsy ballads, like “Don’t Know How,” to rock and blues influenced pieces like the albums closer “Thin Line.”

Two things are immediately clear on Billy Jack. First is how much Suzanne Santo has grown as a vocalist. She already had great tone, and now the emotion she infuses into her vocals really creates some compelling phrasing. Her voice at times sounds like fiery cross between Norah Jones, Serena Ryder and Susan Tedeschi. Second is how well Santo and Jaffe have become writing and performing partners. You can hear their character shine in the music, and that makes it all the more sweet to hear.

Track Listing:

1. Angel Of Death
2. Glad I’ve Done What I Did
3. Ohio
4. Don’t Know How (Slow Mover)
5. Turn That Finger Around
6. I Don’t Mind
7. Old School Friends
8. Let’s Get Wrecked
9. LA River
10. All On You
11. Thin Line

Purchase:

Links:

www.honeyhoneyband.com

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