Saturday, November 29, 2014

CD REVIEW : "BURN" by Rocket 3



BURN by Rocket 3 defines modern teeny-bop rock! This album should be featured on the CW network and/or on the soundtrack for romantic-action movies like The Hunger Games or Divergent. This band's kick bass, guitar action, and harmonic vocals produce layers of purely enjoyable rock! A mellow head bangin & booty shakin kind of rock. A couple of my fav's are Never Again, All tomorrow's Parties, and Good Enough. Good Enough is. 




Catch Me --> An undercover-adventure song for lovers of those who keep life weird.. Like a lunch date with a man-child on Monday.. Good times end with you wanting more. 
Good 

Enough --> a "Gett-er-Done", procrastinator-motivating, house-cleaning song, with the voice of a monotone angel colliding with hell's commanders of this positive rock rebellion! -- (the music video doesn't do the song justice)


Submission --> fun & games or business time? Easily both! 


Never Again --> soothing bass and guitar chorus.. Harmonized simply by Ramunes soft-natural rasp 


All Tomorrow's Parties --> uncontrollable need to mimic this drumbeat! Every new guitar jam capture's my attention; they burst with originality 



Rocket 3, you gained a fan & a follower! 8.5/10

-MELODY MILES


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

CD REVIEW: Devin Sinha, The Seventh Season (Self-released)

Devin Sinha, The Seventh Season (Self-released)


Seattle-area singer-songwriter Devin Sinha shifts things up on his second self-released album, adding percussion, electric instrumentation and layered vocals to his acoustic guitar-based, contemporary folk-rock, conjuring a sound equally reminiscent of Ryan Adams and Sufjan Stevens. The 11 songs on The Seventh Season go down easily, with Sinha’s surprisingly mature songs trading on a blend of heart-on-sleeve storytelling and poetic balladry, while his delicate fingerpicking work anchors such songs as “Winter Child,” “Orion” and “The Wolves.” ★★★✩✩

- See more at: http://vegasseven.com/2014/11/11/album-reviews-rancid-sun-gods-gamma-rays-devin-sinha/#sthash.o2IwfFOS.dpuf

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

NEW MUSIC: Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun - "QUADS"


Electric bass, punchy drums, and a sweet melodious voice make QUADS the perfect album for cruisin tunes. "Youth found in the night" reminds me of "Here in your arms" by Hellogoodbye, but with a peppier-punk attitude, and a so-long-suckers signature. "Walls" is the second fav for the fact that it set my mind on a journey for the impossible. 

Their use of low bass drops set the scene for a party that won't stop. Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun will go big, and won't go home! Keep'm comin QUADS... 8.5/10 


-Melody Miles

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

CD REVIEW: KATHRYN CAINE'S CHRISTMAS

Goin to Bethlehem; starts off lovely and cheery with the rapid guitar and percussion intro, until the lyrics remind me of elementary school church group leaders. The song is too short for those lyrics to be repeated that often. Thoroughly would have enjoyed this song if something else were said. Short sweet and to the point I guess… 



Offeratory; the piano is grand and beautiful… not a huge fan of Kathryn’s voice, but these lyrics are have the most originality to them. I’m continuously pleased by the piano in the background... expected the song to be longer.  


Light of the Stable; hallelujah… thank god I don’t usually listen to this religious crap. The band is amazing and sounds full and dynamic, but… their writing sounds like every other gospel/god worshiping song I’ve ever heard… this also song ended too suddenly



Momma Mary; Kathryn’s voice lacks any kind of differentially to her other songs (most often sharp and difficult to enjoy). The band carries her… the mood of this song is confusing. Most certainly intended for religious easy listening.   



OVERALL SUMMARY ->  Kathryn Caine’s Christmas is a perfect album for families with little ones that like to sing along for the holidays. All of Kathryn’s songs are short sweet and to the point of praising the good lord’s name, but also end sooner than expected. There is a lack of lyric originality in most of the songs, excluding Offeratory, and maybe Momma Mary. The band makes up for Kathryn’s ordinary voice, and most often hides her tendencies to sing sharply. 

Overall the album gets a 4.5/10 for keeping it simple

-Melody Miles

https://www.facebook.com/Cainekathryn
@downhome_caine

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

CD Review: ROCKET 3 "BURN"

Rocket 3
Burn
Self-Released; 2014
I’m all for complexity, shades of grey, and layers of nuance, but sometimes I enjoy finding a band that wears its influences so obviously. I feel it’s refreshing and honest in an industry that likes to obfuscate and create intrigue that really isn’t there. It allows the group to play music that interests them in hopes they can take those influences and do something interesting with them. Granted, many of these groups come across as hackneyed cover acts, but every once in a while, something of worth will emerge from the morass with something to say.

And I think Rocket 3 could be such a band. Calling Portland, OR home, this trio delivers a punchy, peppy brand of rock music that blends equal portions ‘60s girl group sweetness, ‘90s jangle-pop goodness, and ‘10s retro garage rock sensibilities. The impact of Dum Dum Girls, Veruca Salt, The Fastbacks, and The Sundays can be felt throughout Burn, as this 13-song record alternately buzzes, coos, and swaggers depending upon its mood.
Even with that description, the record isn’t at all schizophrenic, as Ramune Nagisetty (guitars & vocals), Drew Anymouse (drums), and Tony Guzman (bass) manage to hold the sounds firmly in the collective palm of their hands. Ramune has a delightful, airy voice that stands out in contrast to the driving tempos and guitar crunch dominating most tunes. I’m also impressed with the quality of the melodic progressions emanating from her guitar, as they start in familiar pop territory and get inverted and distended along the way. The rhythm section of Drew and Tony provide bright, strong textures, but without sounding rudimentary.

Burn loses its way a bit when the band literally dips into cover band territory by performing renditions of “All Tomorrow’s Parties” (Velvet Underground) and “Only Shallow” (My Bloody Valentine). Sure, they’re good versions of those classic cuts, but they take me out of the pacing and flow the group created with its own music.
I like the swagger and energy of Rocket 3 - it’s never over-the-top, but instead captures a band making straightforward rock music with an outside-the-box mentality. Standout tracks like “Fate,”  “Never Again,” “Ride,” and “We Believe” showcase the band’s ability to take retro sensibilities  and update them with off-kilter styling. Thus, while the trio certainly isn’t cutting edge, they are making fun music inspired by bands that I like, and sometimes that’s exactly what I want and need to hear.