Explosions in Space 12/31/06 Best of 2006

The Happy New Year show is now up. This is the time of year when people who think they are important or cool post their best of the year lists. I really hate those people! So, just to be jerk like them I made my last show of the year...The Best Songs of 2006. These may not be the best songs written and certainly not the most popular, but they are what I grooved on the most in 2006. HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody. See ya in '07 Go there now.

Explosions in Space 12/24/06

New show is now up. We have a christmas song by the Flaming lips and a few requests as well. I guess 3 or 4 of you are actually listening. This week features a song by Leaves. Leaves is a Coldplay copycat, but they write better songs. We have Garageland, which if you listen carefully, you will hear where the Strokes stole their sound. This album came out 4 years before Is this It. Let's not forget a classic drinking song from Silkwork. Happy Holidays! See you next week. Go there now.

The Sunshine Underground - Raise the Alarm

Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: August 28, 2006
Sounds Like: The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand
Overall Rating: 5.7/10

Summary: The Sunshine Underground is from Leeds, England. Their debut album Raise the Alarm is a beat heavy indie rock album. If you were to shuffle up a player with the Sunshine Underground, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers and Franz Ferdinand you would probably miss them because they would blend in so well. This genre of music has been played out. There is nothing new here. I have to say though, this album is much better than the latest from the Killers. There really are not any bad tracks on here. Just straight up fun. If you are looking for something new and exciting this isn’t it, but if you want to have some fun and shake your booty then this is what you have been looking for. Visit their myspace site for some tunes.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 4.0
Originality by Band: 6.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 5.5

Track Ratings:
1) 6.6
2) 6.3
3) 6.6

4) 6.4

5) 7.1

6) 5.2

7) 6.9

8) 6.1

9) 6.8

10) 6.9

11) 6.6

Explosions in the Sky- All of the Sudden I Miss Everyone

Genre: Indie Rock, Post-Rock
Release Date: Early 2007
Sounds Like: Mogwai, Mono, My Education
Overall Rating: 9.0/10

Summary: Anybody who knows me really well also knows I love Explosions in the Sky. They are one of my all time favorite bands, so just assume right off the bat that this review is biased. I managed to get my hands on the forthcoming EITS album, to be released in early 2007. The album is all called All of the Sudden I Miss Everyone and it is a Post-Rock classic. The album features six epic songs that build layer upon layer of post-rock grandeur. The melody is there and the guitars are huge as usual. This album is vast and lush. This is the best album I have heard in all of 2006, too bad it is a 2007 release. It looks like we have frontrunner for album of 2007 already. Just awesome! I will link you to tracks soon.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 9.0
Originality by Band: 9.5
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 9.8

Track Ratings:
1) 8.1
2) 9.2
3) 9.3

4) 8.0

5) 7.5

6) 8.4

Explosions in Space Website Update 12/19/06

Explosions in Space has a new website...Sort of. It looks a lot like the last one, but much neater looking. I also added the ability to submit requests for the next show. I might also experiment with getting your requests added to the list within 24 hours. Go there now.

Explosions in Space Website Update 12/19/06

Explosions in Space has a new website...Sort of. It looks a lot like the last one, but much neater looking. I also added the ability to submit requests for the next show. I might also experiment with getting your requests added to the list within 24 hours. Go there now.

New Explosions in Space 12/17/2006

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. Although Explosions in Space is an indie rock show, it doesn't mean that commercial music shouldn't be played. This week's show has a smattering of classics wedged between the indie and post-rock. Until next week...Enjoy..

Thoughts 12/13/06

Over the last 5 hours I Iistened to 2 new albums that I really dug. I tried to write reviews for them, but after I finished the reviews I deleted them. I don't know. It just didn't seem like I was connecting with them even though I liked them. So for the last 2 hours I have been scanning my database of 31,000 songs trying to find the ultimate song. Once again I have failed. Tonight, for whatever reason, hardcore punk is soothing. Over-the-top artistic crap is boring me. I'm sure it will all change tomorrow, but thank god for DOA, Unwound, Cable and Snapcase. They have made this night....as Borat would say NICE. BTW- Borat is not about hating other races. It is about hating the ignorance of America....Just a friendly plug from your anarchist friend. Go see this movie. If you have half a brain you will see the brilliance and understand the criticism of America...This movie is PUNK!!!!

I really hate bloggers who post whatever crap comes to their mind...Oooops. I'll try not to do this again.

New Explosions in Space 12/10/06

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. We have a lot of post-rock and many other tasty tidbits.. Until next week...Enjoy..

Explosions in Space 12/03/06

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. Lots of classics from the likes of Sonic Youth, Ride, Lush and Arab Strap. I threw in some Turkish indie rock by the Replikas and the slow burning Daturah to close the show. The show opens with a punch in the face by the Distillers. Until next week...Enjoy.. If you are too lazy to go to the explosions page click here to listen now.

Lost Ocean - Night to Life

Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Pop
Release Date: 8/15/2006
Sounds Like: Coldplay
Overall Rating: 3.9/10

Summary: Do you like Coldplay? If you do then perhaps you will like Lost Ocean or maybe you will feel like you have been let down by a pretender. There is nothing wrong with having influences, but this is thievery. I think these guys are good musicians, but they do not know who they are yet. Click here to listen and learn more about them.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 3.0
Originality by Band: 5.0
Production: 7.0
Did I like it?: 3.0

Track Ratings:
1) 4.0
2) 5.0
3) 3.0

4) 3.0

5) 4.0

Explosions in Space 11/25/06

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. I managed to get this one up a day early. Must be the holiday. This week's mix is weighted more on the heavy side as you will see. We have some post-punk from Thursday and At The Drive In. We have a healthy dose of metal from Isis, Type O Negative and a killer tune from the Spawn Soundtrack. We have Moby! Yes, that Moby! He released a rock album back in the late 90's that pretty much rocks. No Dance music here. And finally a beautiful drinking song from Silkworm called DRUNK. I think that about sums it up. If you are too lazy to go to the explosions page click here to listen now.

Daturah - Daturah

Genre: Indie Rock, Post-Rock
Release Date: 2005
Sounds Like: Mogwai, Mono, Explosions in the Sky
Overall Rating: 7.6/10

Summary: Daturah is the biotanical name for Jimson Weed. A drug that Hunter S. Thompson made famous in the Great Shark Hunt. Jimson weed is a hallucinatory drug that has a profound effect on the sensory and physchological aspects of the mind. Sight and sound can be blurred and distorted. Noise can become music and music can become ambient noise. It is twisted and hence the name of this band. Yeah, I know it was released last year, but have you heard of it? Probably not, so it is new for both of us. Rather than bore you with my prose, just read this and understand why I love this band. Visit their myspace site for more info and tunes.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.9
Originality by Band: 7.5
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 7.8

Track Ratings:
1) 7.2
2) 7.9
3) 6.9

Heliconia - Glad You Were Born

Genre: Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Release Date: Summer 2006
Sounds Like: The Verve, My Bloody Valentine, Catherine Wheel
Overall Rating: 7.2/10

Summary: This is the debut full length for England's Heliconia. Glad You Were Born is just a great album. Why flower it with poetic words like... lush walls of distorted guitars over a water fall of rainbow prisms. Why declare that the album shimmers like a billion diamonds strewn across the sunlit sand. Why? It's really simple because this album does all of that, and if you listen, and if you like even a bit of classic shoegaze then you will understand. This is what I have been waiting to hear, a band who embraces the early 90's shoegaze movement and one ups it to a new level. I must give one bit of criticism though, it sounds too much like early Catherine Wheel. Wait, that's a good thing! My mp3 player will wear out its batteries on this album. Buy it, download it, steal it! Just get it! Visit their myspace site for more info and of course tunes.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.7
Originality by Band: 7.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 8.5

Track Ratings:
1) 8.1
2) 7.2
3) 6.1
4) 7.8
5) 6.9
6) 5.8
7) 6.9
8) 7.2
9) 6.6
10) 5.2

11) 7.7

Nassau - Machines to Paradise

Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic

Release Date: 10/24/06

Sounds Like: Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Trail of Dead
Overall Rating: 6.9/10

Summary: Nassau is from Toronto, Canada. Machines to Paradise is their second full length album. This album is a straight ahead psychedelic rocker. The band wears its influences on its sleeve. You hear early Pink Floyd, The Byrds, Blue Oyster Cult and more contemporary bands like Trail of Dead. Yet despite these influences they maintain a unique sound that is purely Nassau. I have a feeling this album will get better with a few more listens, especially late at night with the headphones on. Check out their sounds here.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.5
Originality by Band: 7.5
Production: 8.5
Did I like it?: 6.7

Track Ratings:
1) 6.6
2) 6.8
3) 6.5
4) 5.5
5) 6.1
6) 6.8
7) 5.8
8) 6.7
9) 7.2
10) 6.6

11) 7.8

Explosions in Space 11/19/06

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. This week we have some classics from Sugar, The Flaming Lips and the Treepeople. I threw in an awesome Butthole Surfers tune and for my buddy Caps I closed the show with New Jersey's own Overkill. You never know where the beverages will take me. If you are too lazy to go to the explosions page click here to listen now. Below is the track list for this week.

1. The Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia - Godless (5:20)
2. Butthole Surfers - Independent Worm Saloon - Leave Me Alone (2:27)
3. The Flaming Lips - In a Priest Driven Ambulance - Mountain Side (6:19)
4. Leaves - The Angela Test - The Angela Test (4:26)
5. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Madonna - Mistakes & Regrets (3:46)
6. The Meeting Places - Numbered Days - Cardboard Robot (4:11)
7. Absinthe Blind - The Everyday Separation - You Should Get Out More (7:42)
8. Magic Dirt - Magic Dirt - Goofy Gumb (6:00)
9. From Monument to Masses - The Impossible Leap in One Hundred Simple Steps - Sharpshooter (8:52)
10. Sugar - Beaster - JC Auto (6:13)
11. The 90 Day Men - (It (Is) It) Critical Band - Exploration Vs. Solution, Baby (4:57)
12. hope of the states - the lost riots - black dollar bills (6:54)
13. Treepeople - Something Vicious For Tomorrow, Time Whore - It's Allright Now Ma (2:19)
14. Overkill - Taking Over - Wrecking Crew (4:32)

Confuse the Cat - We Can Do it

Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative
Release Date: 10/16/06 (Europe)
Sounds Like: The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol
Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Summary: Confuse the Cat are from Belgium and that is about all I know about them. After listening to We Can Do It, I am shocked that they are not popular here in the USA. This is just a really good album all the way through. It certainly competes with anything by The Killers, Franz Ferdinand or Interpol. The only fault I can find in this album is the absolute complete lack of originality. Confuse the Cat is the three above bands rolled into one. There is nothing unique here, but if you haven’t tired of the bombardment of non-stop Post-Punk Dance music then you will love this. The 80’s still live here and I do expect Confuse the Cat to cross the pond real soon. Good album. Click here for some songs from their myspace site.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 4.0
Originality by Band: 6.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 7.5

Track Ratings:
1) 8.7
2) 8.6
3) 7.5
4) 7.7
5) 8.1
6) 7.7
7) NR
8) 6.6
9) 4.9
10) 4.5

Bad Astronaut - Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment

Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative, Pop-Punk
Release Date: 11/14/06
Sounds Like: The Anniversary, Bad Religion, Superdrag
Overall Rating: 5.8/10

Summary: Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment is a pretty fair description of the new album by Bad Astronaut. I am not a fan of Pop-Punk, so I reviewed this album with an open mind. The opening track Good Morning Night sounded like it was straight from the mall. I was ready to quit right there. I didn’t think I could listen to anymore. I forged on and to my surprise it got a lot better. Most of the tracks are not Pop-Punk, but rather pretty artistic indie rock. I was surprised. Bad Astronaut is essentially the experimental side of Lagwagon. And believe me, I hate Lagwagon’s brand of mall punk. This album kind of floats along without you noticing, this could be good or bad. Either way it is worth a listen. This album is best summed up by saying it is like Coldplay and Lagwagon in a blender. You decide is that good or bad? This album ended with a higher rating because I believe this album pushes the boundaries for the Pop-Punk Genre. Click here to a few tracks from their myspace site.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.7
Originality by Band: 7.7
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 3.8

Track Ratings:
1) 5.5
2) 4.7
3) 6.1
4) 6.2
5) 5.8
6) 4.4
7) 6.1
8) 6.5
9) 6.1
10) 4.1
11) 3.8

12) 6.9

13) 2.1

...And You Will Know us by the Trail of Dead - So Divided

Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative, Post-punk

Release Date: 11/14/06
Sounds Like: Unwound, Seachange, Superchunk
Overall Rating: 5.4/10

Summary: I must admit I am a huge Trail of Dead fan, so perhaps my review is biased, but I will try to call like it is. This is a decent album, but it lacks the fire of Source Tags and Codes and thankfully it is less indulgent than Worlds Apart. Unfortunately, it falls somewhere in between and yet fails to capture the brilliance of either album. I am disappointed. I was expecting so much more from this album and perhaps it is because my expectations were too high. So let's be fair, this album is good compared to so many other close to famous indie bands, yet it lacks the ROCK and NOISE and so much more. A few tracks stand out, but overall I am disappointed. They are still heavy at times, they are artistic at times, yet they fail to convince in either. I predict Trail of Dead will break up sometime during their next tour. You heard it here first!!! Click here to hear a few tracks from their myspace site.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 5.0
Originality by Band: 5.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 5.0

Track Ratings:
1) NR
2) 6.9
3) 6.5
4) 6.9
5) 2.1
6) 4.9
7) 5.2
8) 5.9
9) 5.8
10) NR
11) 6.6

Explosions in Space 11/13/06

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. This week we have some classics from Pavement, Fugazi and Swell. Of course there is plenty of post-rock thrown in too. You never know what you'll hear. If you are too lazy to go to the explosions page click here to listen now.

Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood - Out Louder

Genre: Jazz, Post Bop, Jam Band
Release Date: 9/26/06
Sounds Like: Sex Mob, Soulive, Galactic
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Summary: In 1998, Medeski, Martin and Wood collaborated with John Scofield on his A Go Go album. I’m not sure what it is about this group of musicians, but when they get together they bring out the best in one another. Out Louder is the best album since A Go Go for both MMW and John Scofield. This album is raw, funky, groove laden improvisational jazz. It steers into psychedelic territory, but is always accessible. Each musician seems challenged by the other resulting in impeccable playing and creativity. It seems like this quartet was meant to play together. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another 8 years for the next jam session. Click here to listen to some tracks from the MMW site.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 9.5
Originality by Band: 8.2
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 7.8

Track Ratings:
1) 7.5
2) 8.4
3) 5.5
4) 7.4
5) 7.8
6) 5.9
7) 6.8
8) 5.4
9) 8.1
10) 6.2
11) 7.5
12) 5.0

Hammock - Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo

Genre Shoegaze, Space Rock, Post Rock
Release Date: 11/20/2006
Sounds Like: Slowdive, Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky
Overall Rating: 6.9/10


Summary: Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo is the 2nd full length from ambient space rockers, Hammock. Never has there been a band so appropiately named as Hammock, well, except for Slayer, which is probably the perfect antithesis to Hammock. This music would be ideal laying on a Hammock between blustery trees on a cool cloudy day. You would need a sweater to keep warm from the chill and the grey. The album is cool and it is dark with an expression of hope. It is mood music and it is beautiful like a picture of a wind swept snowy landscape. Ok, so enough artistic metaphors! Does it rock? Yes and no. In between the ambient dream segways there is powerful guitar driven splashes that overpower and suffocate slowly. There are strings, piano and ethereal vocals that compliment the tidal wave of guitar.. this is bliss. This is an adventurous album and will probably only appeal to a small audience, but quite frankly, it appeals to me...Cause tonight I am feeling dark and grey. Click here for some tracks from their myspace site.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 8.0
Originality by Band: 8.0
Production: 8.5
Did I like it?: 7.5

Track Ratings:

1) 6.1
2) 7.7
3) 6.9
4) 5.0
5) 6.9
6) 5.5
7) NR
8) 7.6
9) 4.9
10) 5.2
11) NR
12) 5.1
13) 7.7
14) 5.9
15) NR
16) 3.1
17) 5.2
18) NR

New Explosions in Space Show

A new Explosions in Space show is up on the explosions page. Click here to go there. This weeks picks are quite diverse, ranging from the dirty bar room punk of the Murder City Devils, the feedback drenched Bardo Pond and a classic Built To Spill song and of course much more. Check in each Sunday for the new playlist. You never know what you'll hear. If you are too lazy to go to the explosions page click here to listen now.

CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy

Genre: Indie Electronic, Indie Rock, Art Rock
Release Date: 7/11/2006
Sounds Like: Butter08, The Sounds, Peaches
Overall Rating: 6.8/10

Summary: This is the debut album from CSS, which is short for Cansei De Ser Sexy, which is “Tired of Being Sexy” in Portuguese. CSS are from Sao Paulo, Brazil and they have delivered an impressive first album. CSS formed in 2003 and developed a large following on the internet before being signed to Sub Pop Records for their debut. CSS have a unique sound, delivering crunchy guitars over loose booty shaking electronic rhythms that transcend genres and actually make me want to shake my groove-less ass. I love the vibe of this album. It reminds of the one and only Butter08 album that I still play often almost 10 years later. Click here to visit their Myspace site and sample some tunes.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.8
Originality by Band: 7.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 6.2

Track Ratings:

1) 6.1
2) 7.1
3) 6.9
4) 5.0
5) 7.5
6) 5.1
7) 6.9
8) 7.2
9) 6.6
10) 7.1
11) 5.5

The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

Genre: Indie Rock

Release Date: 10/03/2006
Sounds Like: Guided by Voices, Ted Leo
Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Summary: Boys and Girls in America is the third release from The Hold Steady. I have never heard a chord of their previous albums so I don’t have anything to compare them to. This is just a fun album all the way through. The songs are tales of drinking and living. The sound is early 80’s guitar rock with flavors of Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Cheaptrick, but yet a distinctive 2006 indie rock feel. This album is meant to be enjoyed with a cold beer and some good friends. Click here for a track.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 6.0
Originality by Band: 6.5
Production: 9.0
Did I like it?: 5.5

Track Ratings:

1) 6.1

2) 6.4
3) 6.5

4) 6.7

5) 7.8
6) 6.8
7) 6.7

8) 7.5
9) 4.0

10) 6.1

11) 6.1

Make Believe - Of Course

Genre: Indie Rock, Experimental

Release Date: 10/03/2006
Sounds Like: Cursive, The Promise Ring, June of 44
Overall Rating: 3.5/10

Summary: Of Course is the second full length LP for Make Believe. This album is angular, spacious and overall just plain strange. There are other adjectives to describe it such as irritating, obnoxious and just flat out messed up. I personally don’t like this album. Too me, it seems like an attempt to create something so strange and discordant that it is contrived. Maybe you will like it though. Here is a track to give you a taste.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 3.0
Originality by Band: 3.0
Production: 7.0
Did I like it?: 1.0

Track Ratings:

1) 5.1

2) 3.2
3) 4.0
4) Not Rated
5) 3.0
6) 3.0
7) 3.4

8) 3.1
9) 4.1

10) 4.1

Isis - In the Absence of Truth

Genre: Post-Metal, Post-Rock

Release Date: 10/31/2006
Sounds Like: Neurosis, Tool, Pelican
Overall Rating: 9.0

Summary: In the Absence of Truth is Isis’ fifth LP and it is by far their best album to date. This album is a true gem. It is hard to find the proper words to describe the sound of Isis. They are certainly Post-Metal, definitely Post-Rock, but more than anything they are freaking brutally heavy and beautiful. This album is dense, complex and atmospheric to the point of feeling spiritual. This is cerebral metal. A nice change is the lack of growling vocals and more focus on hushed phrasing and instrumentation. Don’t worry there is plenty of snarl left. This is an exceptional album. Click here to listen to a track.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 9.5
Originality by Band: 10.0
Production: 9.0
Did I like it?: 9.0

Track Ratings:

1) 8.0
2) 7.9
3) 9.9
4) 9.2
5) 8.5
6) Not Rated
7) 8.3
8) 7.9
9) 8.5

Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain

Genre: Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Dream Pop
Release Date: 9/25/2006
Sounds Like: The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, The Black Heart Procession
Overall Rating: 6.1

Summary: Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain is Sparklehorse’s fourth full length album. I don’t know what it is about Sparklehorse that causes me to always want their albums, yet never truly enjoy them. I think this album finally gave me the answer and it is really simple and personal. I don’t like the 6 or 7 songs they put on each album that bore me to death. Don’t misunderstand, these songs have a beautiful and fragile sadness to them. They are wonderful songs that show the depth of Mark Linkous’ creativity, but they just aren’t for me. Sparklehorse is at their best when they turn up the guitars and rock. This album delivers with some incredible fuzzed out tracks. I would probably rate this album 9/10 if not for the slow plodding songs that fill this album. As you will see below in my individual track ratings, I liked quite a few songs that will play regularly in my mp3 player. I am waiting for the return of an album you can spin from beginning to end without hitting the fast forward button. This album is not it, however it is a good album and worth it for the six songs that are fantastic. Click here to listen to a few track from the Sparklehorse Myspace site.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 8.5
Originality by Band: 9.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 6.5

Track Ratings:

1) 6.5
2) 4.0
3) 6.0
4) 4.2
5) 2.0
6) 2.5
7) 8.1
8) 6.9
9) 2.5
10) 7.0
11) 7.3
12) 1.0

Seachange - On Fire, With Love

Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: 10/16/2006
Sounds Like: Oceansize, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Interpol
Overall Rating: 6.0




Summary: Seachange are a six piece indie rock band hailing from Nottingham, England. On Fire, With Love is an interesting album and a slight departure from their first album, Lay of the Land. Where Lay of the Land relied more on noise, this album offers more melody with lush bursts of amped up guitar. Lyrically the songs are about life, love and disappointment. All in all I find this to be a pretty good album. Click here to hear a track.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 5.7
Originality by Band: 7.5
Production: 7.0
Did I like it?: 5.8

Track Ratings:

1) 6.4
2) 6.5
3) 6.8
4) 4.0
5) 7.1
6) 5.0
7) 7.2
8) 6.1
9) 5.1
10) 4.0
11) 4.5

Ladyhawk - Ladyhawk (06/06/2006)

Genre: Indie Rock
Sounds Like: Dinosaur Jr., Silkworm, Pavement, Neil Young.
Overall Rating: 6.2/10

Summary: Canadien rock quartet Ladyhawk play straight bare bones guitar rock. Their influences are obvious. Singer/guitarist Duffy Dreidiger delivers on both ends with fantastic string work and emotive vocals. Despite a few weak tracks this is a good album overall. Click here to hear a track from the album.

Rating Details:

Originality in Genre: 5.5
Originality of Band: 5.5
Production: 7.5
Did I like it?: 7.2

Track Ratings:
1) 4.1
2) 8.5
3) 7.2
4) 8.1
5) 6.0
6) 5.5
7) 5.1
8) 5.9
9) 7.9
10) 5.6

Fighting for Alaska - Fighting for Alaska Ep (04/2006)

Genre- Indie Pop

Overall Rating: 5.3/10

Summary- This is the second EP from Perth, Australia’s Fighting for Alaska. This is a catchy female fronted pop album that reminds me a bit of Rainer Maria. The songs are well crafted emotive pop tunes with catchy hooks and smart phrasing. Meike Scantlebury’s voice has a hushed vulnerability that carries a surprising underlying strength. Overall this is an average album. Click here to listen to a song.

Rating Breakdown:

Originality in Genre: 4.0
Originality by Band: 5.0
Production: 7.0
Did I like it?: 4.0

Track Ratings:
1) 6.0
2) 6.6
3) 7.0
4) 5.2
5) 5.4

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (10/31/2006)

Genre: Rock, Metal, Alternative, Post Grunge

Overall Rating: 5.7/10

Summary: This is the 5th full length album by the Deftones. The album is a return to the White Pony era featuring melodic washes of orchestration over gnarling guitars and Chino Moreno's Hush-Scream vocals. Though this album fails to capture the brilliance of White Pony it far exceeds their self-titled previous effort. I rate this album slightly better than average. Click here to listen to a track.

Rating Breakdown:

Originality within Genre- 5.8

Orginality by Band- 7.2

Production/Sound- 7

Did I like it- 5.8

Track Ratings:

1) 6.0

2) 4.0

3) 6.1

4) 6.0

5) 6.7

6) 5.2

7) 6.0

8) 3.0

9) 4.0

10) 4.8

11) 5.8

12) 5.5