Latest Reviews


	Abraham the Poor "The Pumpkin Patch Cabin Ep" (Independent,2009) Producer: Josh Gaines Genre: Folk Rock Format: Ep Website: atp.bigcartel.com/ Reviewed by: Rickard Holmgren Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

This is the Ep of Abramham the Poor, a.k.a. singer/songwriter Josh Gaines. The Pumpkin Patch Cabin Ep is written, performed and recorded by Josh himself. Good things first, Josh does have a nice voice, although not unique in any way. He also manages to vary the tempo of the songs and not just record slow songs with the acoustic guitar. The problem is that the songs tend to sound unfinished, it sounds like the demo versions of the songs. I keep getting the feeling that Josh could have used the help of an experienced producer in order to make the songs take off. Now they have potential but still sounds like the need to be worked on a little bit more. The only song that feels really interesting is the last one, "Future Homes" I really want to like this, but I keep feeling that something is missing. With better songs and a more complex production, Abraham the Poor could be a nice acquaintance, now it stops at just ok.

	Children Collide "The Long Now" (Filter / Universal,2009) Producer: Dave Sardy Genre: Rock Format: Album Website: www.myspace.com/ch... Reviewed by: Kaj Roth Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Aussie rock bands are rarely affected by what's going on outside their borders, most artists pretty much make the music they feel like doing no matter what trends that are sweeping around in Europe or USA. Children Collide from Melbourne has released 2 EP's before this full length album and they deliver timeless rock with influences from different musical eras. There are traces of grunge, 70's punk, new wave and alternative rock in their sound. I think the album "The long now" starts really promising with 4 great songs, "Across the earth", "Social currency", "Farewell rocketship" and "Skeleton dance" are without doubt the best songs on this 12 track album. Also "Marie Marie" is a real good rock song but the album falls a bit on the second half I'm afraid with a more garage rock sound. For fans of Ash, U2, The Vines, Foo Fighters

	The Iveys "s/t" (Independent,2009) Producer: Ettore Grenci Genre: Midwest Rock Format: Album Website: www.myspace.com/th... Reviewed by: Kaj Roth Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

The Texas based trio The Iveys has done a well crafted debut album, it's a family band featuring Arlen whose voice remind of Rob Thomas and his sisters Jessica and Jillian. The music is built on their beautiful harmony vocals which bring thoughts to The Corrs and Hanson, you will also hear traces of The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles in their sound. I really like their mix of pop, country and soft modern rock - several songs on their 8 track album should do well on radio in the states and I won't be too surprised if we get to see them perform on the Country Music Awards in a near future. Highlights: Going the right way, Leave it to love, Your love now

	Spaceships Are Cool "s/t" (Independent,2009) Producer: Rob Maddison Genre: Space/Psychedelia Format: Ep Website: www.myspace.com/sp... Reviewed by: Kaj Roth Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Spaceships are cool is a one man band with Rob Maddison doing all the songwriting, production and performance. I must say that it's a cool bandname but I just cannot seem to get into the music, I have listened to this 5 track EP three times now and it's like watching a deep movie from Poland, I don't understand much of it I'm sad to say. Spaceships are cool was however selected as a "Top undiscovered artist" by SPIN.com so this overdose of psychedelia must have made some sense to someone. Do you want your music to be experimental, psychedelic, odd and with 70's synthesizer sounds? Well, then this EP will turn into a good friend of yours. The track "This fond farewell" was pretty good though.

	Ghostbird "s/t" (Independent,2009) Producer: Genre: Indie Rock Format: Ep Website: www.myspace.com/gh... Reviewed by: Kaj Roth Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

San Diego based indie rock duo Ghostbird features Trent Hancock - guitar/vocals and Mike Cooper - drums. I can't remember hearing an indie rock band sounding so much like a FM rock band like Ghostbird on their self titled debut EP. The first single "Toy soldier" has potential of taking the band high on the alternative charts, imagine a collaboration between Nelly Furtado and The Fray and you'll get "Toy soldier". You could say their sound lies somewhere between Death Cab For Cutie, Sherwood and Feeder. I think it was genius to combine electronica, pop and indie rock - this winning formula truly puts Ghostbird on the map of rock. Their music shouts out longevity!


Neal Peart from the Canadian band �Rush� writes all the lyrics for their songs.
	The Honeydogs "Sunshine Committee" (Princess,2009) Producer: Peter Anderson / Adam Levy Genre: Midwest Rock Format: Ep Website: www.honeydogs.com Reviewed by: Kaj Roth Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Adam Levy and his Honeydogs are back with the new 6 track EP "Sunshine committee", this time there's a more live rock sound within these new songs. The title track opens the EP and it's a real nice roots rock song with Mick Jagger pop tendencies, the 70's smelling "Fiber optic paramour" follows and I was surprised to hear a Mellotrone on this song. 2 good songs but it gets even better on the 3rd track "Good fight" that can be described as Dave Matthews Band meeting Bruce Springsteen, a great song indeed. The 4th song "Balaclava" is my favorite here, it's the most rocking song on the EP and Adam Levy's vocal performance reminds a lot of the cool rock star Brad Sinsel. The Honeydogs funk it up on "Stash" and the song has a great groove for sure, the Clavinet is an underrated instrument and I'm glad they used it to get the right funk vibe. The last track "Levers, pulleys and pumps" is another song with a jam factor just like Dave Matthews Band, not a bad song among these 6 songs. This is the first self produced effort and it sounds good but who would expect otherwise when it was mixed by John Fields?!

	Crash The System "The Crowning" (Frontiers,2009) Producer: Daniel Flores Genre: AOR / Hard Rock Format: Album Website: www.myspace.com/cr... Reviewed by: Juha Harjula Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Crash The System is a new project and a collaboration between songwriter Soren Kronqvist and drummer/producer Daniel Flores. Soren has co-written songs for House Of Lords, Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart) and CCRock and he�s also the former Finnish 400 meter hurdle Champion. Daniel is well-known for his work with Mind�s Eye. This project also includes guest vocalists and the list is very impressive with some of the best singers from Sweden. You will hear Goran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Kharma, Street Talk), Mats Leven (Treat, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen), Thomas Vikstrom (Talk Of The Town, Candlemass) and Bjorn Jansson (ex-Ride The Sky, Tears Of Anger) so you will hear some fantastic vocal performances on the album. The Crowning is filled with a brilliant mixture of pure AOR songs to more hardrock influenced tracks with a modern production done by Daniel Flores. The keyboards plays a big role in the sound of Crash The System and gives the songs and stunning melodic touch and with catchy choruses I must say that this is a big sensation. I would say that this sounds like the best of Bad Habit, T'Bell, Cliff Magness, Radioactive, Street Talk and take a spoon of Kharma then you got the picture. The album is filled with 14 tracks and there�s not many weak moments. Angel Of My Heart is a pure AOR-rocker that reminds of Bad Habit at their peak, great song. All Because Of You is another one that sounds like Bad Habit and the chorus is outstanding with wonderful melodies. Don�t Tell Me No Lies is a pompish and symphonic AOR-song with superb arrangements and keyboards. Broken Glass sounds like it would have been taken from the awesome T'Bell album, a brilliant popish AOR-song with a catchy chorus. Fight Fire With Fire is an absolutely amazing pompish AOR-rocker with a powerful chorus with strong background vocals and the keyboards is just pure class, best song of the album and huge is the word. I Still Believe In Love is catchy as hell with a sing-a-long chorus a'la Clif Magness, great stuff. Love Is In Your Eyes sounds like a Bad Habit ballad, just OK. Take A Chance is filled with great melodies and the keyboards are stunning again, the pre-chorus is fantastic that builds into a catchy chorus. I could mention all the songs but I don�t think I need to do that because if you're not into this album by now then I think it�s your loss. This is definitely an album that will be on my top 10 list of 2009 for sure because this is so damn good and I can�t stop playing air-keys when I listen to this freaking brilliant album. So get yourself a copy of Crash The System right away. This is pure AOR heaven from the first song to the last.

	Constancia "Lost and gone" (Frontiers,2009) Producer: Fredrik Folkare Genre: Power Metal Format: Album Website: www.myspace.com/co... Reviewed by: Juha Harjula Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Former Scudiero/Token keyboard player Mikael Rosengren is the brainchild behind Constancia. He had written a bunch of songs that he wanted to get out and contacted Janne Stark (Overdrive, Locomotive Breath) to lay down some guitars on the demos and Janne fell in love with the songs and Constancia was born. This is straight ahead melodic hardrock with strong keyboards and vocal melodies with some progressive moments. David Fremberg (Andromeda) is the singer and he has a powerful voice little like Matti Alfonzetti (Bam Bam Boys, Jagged Edge) and Goran Edman (Street Talk, Kharma). The production has handled by Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed, Eclipse) with a good result. This sounds like a mixture of Eclipse and Jaded Heart, filled with great hooklines and melodic choruses. The album opens up with the best song of the album called Fallen Hero. This is a brilliant rocker with a lovely keyboards sound, riff strong guitars and builded up by big hooks and the chorus is pure magic, stunning song. Dying By Your Flames rocks like Jaded Heart with nice arrangements and it�s very pompish. No One Like You is filled with riffantastic guitars from Janne with an AORish chorus with great harmonies, a song that reminds of Kharma. Life Is A Mystery is a nice ballad with strong vocals. Lost And Gone is a very good debut album with a good variation with heaviness but yet very melodic and if you're into Eclipse and Jaded Heart, then Constancia will be an album worth checking out.

	Firenote "s/t" (IVK,2009) Producer: Erkka Korhonen Genre: AOR / Hard Rock Format: Album Website: www.myspace.com/fi... Reviewed by: Juha Harjula Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

Friends, do I get glad when I hear a new sensation that plays pure melodic hardrock/AOR with tons of melodies and catchy choruses. Yes, that�s the case with this new Finnish sensation Firenote that delivers fantastic music in the same vein as Brother Firetribe, TNT, H.E.A.T and The Poodles. Their debut album has been produced by former Urban Tale member Erkka Korhonen with a great result. The singer of Firenote, Ricky has a strong and powerful voice with some high pitch moments here and there and Tony Harnell comes in mind. Danger is a damn catchy rocker with a strong sing-a-long chorus and if you're into their country men of Brother Firetribe, then you will enjoy this. Next up is Sara La Fountain and this is pure magic with glorious melodies, big riffs and the chorus is pure magic with powerful background vocals. My Love Will Never Die is a fantastic power ballad with lovely piano sound and the melodies are just right and the chorus left me breathless, a true gem and listen to the stunning drum sound. Love Me Or Let Me Live is another straight ahead rocker with great riffs and the chorus lifts up this song to higher level and listen to the powerful background vocals, amazing stuff. Suddenly comes from the same school as The Poodles, it starts slow but turns out to a rocker in the chorus that reminds little of TNT back in the late 80s and early 90s. Heartbreaker blows out through the speakers and knocks me down with brilliant riffs, hooks and with an amazing sing-a-long chorus, this is pure class and these Finns knows how to deliver the right stuff. The debut album from these Finns is almost perfect except for a couple of average songs but you they have recorded 11 tracks for their debut and if you're into those mentioned bands then you will have a one helluva time with Firenote, I still have a smile on my face when I play this album. Fantastic album and a new AOR sensation that I hope that we will hear more of but for now this will do.

	Ben�s Brother "Battling Giants" (Flat Cap,2009) Producer: Sacha Skarbek Genre: Melancholic Pop Format: Album Website: www.bensbrother.com Reviewed by: Henrik Holmgren Add to MySpace Add to Facebook

I really liked the debut album from Ben�s Brother, titled Beta Male Fairytales. They brought something different to the folk rock genre and somehow they got me hooked. Second albums are hard to do especially if the first one was a success so I wondered if Ben�s Brother could top their debut album. When I heard the first single from the new album I was completely blow away. It got me really curious about how the new album would be and now that it is here I am going to tell you. It starts off with the single Apologise, which is co-written with Natalie Imbruglia who released he own version on her new album. This song is simply stunning, an up-tempo song that will catch you attention right away and have you singing along to the chorus. Right from the start I hear a higher tempo to this album compared to Beta Male� The following song If I Let the Ladder Down is not as good even though it is a catchy pop tune. Third out is a really good, Stalemate. Here we have Joss Stone singing a duet with Jamie. This is a laid back song with the focus on the vocals which are just excellent as we all know what Joss Stone can do with her voice, right? Fourth out is the title track, a more up-tempo song with Jason Mraz on backing vocals. This is another song that very easily gets into your head. Song number five is Q&A great pop song but for me, the highlight comes in song number six. Therapy is pure pop heaven from beginning to end and sports another chorus that just will not leave you alone once you hear it. Following this gem is the song She Is Love which is a beautiful ballad that reminds me of a song from Beta Male, namely Let Me Out. What if I? is one song that I almost passed off as weak until I got to the chorus, there is rises back up to normal standard again. All Played Out is a piano led song which I think is one of the weaker songs on the album. Right after this one we have Should I Believe You? A more laid back song that hit right with lyrics about trust and doubt. Interlude is a pretty weird song but I like the guitar harmonies on this one, it is a very catchy song actually. The message with that song: As long as you try, the results are less important. Bitter end has some Coldplay vibes to it as it builds from a piano intro into a full scale ending with full band. Closing song Letters is a very clever song about the alphabet. Jamie starts the song with the phrase �I spy with my little eye�� not everyone can do that and still maintain a serious song. This is a very clever pop/rock/folk album. I really feel happy after listening to the songs. Somehow it feels very honest when Jamie sings. Not a weak point on this album which I feel is perfect for the summer. I hope Ben�s Brother will continue bringing us first class pop songs like this. If they do, the sky is the limit and who knows; maybe one day Ben Hartman will be known as Jamie�s brother. This is a solid and very strong four, better than the first album and easily one 2009�s finest albums. Get it today!

Go to: [ 1 ] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next �

	Abraham the P.. "The Pumpkin Patch.." (Folk Rock)
	Children Collide "The Long Now" (Rock)
	The Iveys "s/t" (Midwest Rock)
	Spaceships Are Cool "s/t" (Space/Psychedelia)
	Ghostbird "s/t" (Indie Rock)
	The Honeydogs "Sunshine Committe.." (Midwest Rock)
	Crash The System "The Crowning" (AOR / Hard Rock)
	Constancia "Lost and gone" (Power Metal)
	Firenote "s/t" (AOR / Hard Rock)
	Ben�s Brother.. "Battling Giants" (Melancholic Pop)
	Hotspur "You should know b.." (Orchestral Pop)
	Abused Romance "Naked Faces" (Modern Rock)
	Light In Your Life "s/t" (Alternative Rock)
	Chase Pagan "Bells and whistle.." (Indie Pop)
	Dynazty "Bring the thunder" (Glam Rock)
	Cold Truth "Do whatcha do" (Hard Rock)
	Peter Gallway "Freedom is" (Soft Pop)
	Flying First .. "Prepare for Takeo.." (Pop / Punk)
	Joe Moe "Mainland" (Soft Pop)
	Amy Speace "The killer in me" (Singer Songwriter..)

	Reveille "Bleed the sky" (Rap / Metal)
	Mike Rickard "Stirred Not Shake.." (Modern Pop / Rock)
	Darkel "s/t" (Space/Psychedelia)
	Kelly Dalton "The Love in Every.." (Singer Songwriter..)
	Movie55 "Save myself" (Post Grunge)

2009-07-07
All Time Low Nothing Personal (Hopeless)

2009-07-10
Dope Stars inc 21st Century Slave (Trisol)

2009-07-14
Billy Talent III (Atlantic)

Jessie James s/t (Mercury/Island)

Daughtry Leave this town (RCA)

Project 86 Picket fence cartel (Tooth and Nail)

Sick Puppies Tripolar (Virgin)

Marcy Playground Leaving Wonderland in a fit of rage (Independent)

Adelitas Way s/t (Virgin)

2009-07-19
Radio Silence Whose skin are you under now (Escape)

2009-07-21
Our Lady Peace Burn, burn (ILG)

Rescue Signals Indecisions (Rock Ridge)

He Is Legend It hates you (Tragic Hero)

Modern Day Escape House of Rats (Standby)

Memphis May Fire Sleepwalking (Trustkill)