Reviews

Artist: Hazel and Vine Album: All Together Now Label: Ethos Records Reviewer: Tyler Hess It is time, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, for me to make a blazingly rare outlandishly stupendous statement: This is the worst music I’ve ever enjoyed so much. There. I said it. I had never heard a song from Hazel and Vine before listening to this live show CD, but it didn’t take me very long to realize that this was indie pop rock with vocals that go out of key way too often, music that is pretty simple and lyrics that are at times a bit too immature, creating a sound that is almost impossible to not enjoy.… Continued →

Artist: Kevin and the Octaves Album: Hang Your Stocking Start The Rocking Reviewer: Tyler Hess Finally, the joyous celebration of the uniting two of my best friends, Christmas and pop-punk.  Let us have a riotous good time, shall we? Let’s face it, most of us have heard some songs so many times and so unoriginally and boring that it makes us a wee bit sick.  Some of these songs are my least favorite Christmas songs, yet with the energy and new direction they are taken I find myself shouting along with songs that would normally have me letting out a big fat groan and an eye roll that causes minor earthquakes.… Continued →

The Keep Breathing Tour Featuring: Wavorly The Wedding A Current Affair It was a dark and stormy night.  The Germans were breathing down our necks and we were running out of ammo, food and oh…wait…I got confused because my ears are still ringing.  Well, not so much mine, but probably my girlfriend’s ears.  I’m tougher than that.  However, a life long (sorry, I keep lying, forgive me) dream of seeing the Wedding live.  As in a show, not as in just making sure they weren’t dead. … Continued →

Artist: Haste the Day Album: Dreamer Label: Solid State Release Date: October 14, 2008 Review by: Michael Mayer III Tracklisting:

1. 68
2. Mad Man
3. Haunting
4. Resolve
5. An Adult Tree
6. Babylon
7. Invoke Reform
8. Sons of the Fallen Nation
9. Labyrinth
10. Porcelain
11. Autumn

Every now and then an album comes along that is so surprisingly addictive you just don’t know what to do. That moment came for me with Dreamer from Haste the Day. I really wasn’t expecting much since I didn’t own any of their earlier work, mainly because it didn’t strike me as unique enough to stand out.… Continued →

Artist: Corey Crowder Album: Gold and the Sand Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 11/11/2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess Track Listing 1. Southern Way 2. Love 3. Look How Far We’ve Come 4. Higher Ground 5. Leaving You 6. Helpless Heart 7. Innocence 8. Changes 9. Devils 10. Slow Down 11. I’ve Become Something 12. Lonesome Road Circles. Waves. Roller coasters. What do they all have in common with the music industry? They are all constantly changing only to end up pretty much where they were before.… Continued →

Artist: Skillet Album: Comatose Comes Alive Label: Atlantic Release Date: Oct 21 2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess Unlike so many bands that have been jumping on the bandwagon of live CD/DVD combos, Skillet hasn’t been around four three or four years, they’ve been around longer than some of our readers have been alive. I bring this to your attention not to dismiss those other bands, but to express how these disks have that “at last” feeling to them. The funny thing, however, is that I feel like it was a good thing that they waited.… Continued →

Artist: Various Album: X Christmas Label: Tooth and Nail/BEC Released: Oct 28 2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess Call me sentimental, call me a pushover, call me whatever you want, just don’t call me late for Christmas time. Let’s be real for just a minute. Lay down your indie cred and scene points for just a minute, please bare with me. Christmas songs are just different. If you are taking them too seriously, you’re probably missing the point. Christmas is many things to many people, and no this is not a dissertation on the holiday, but it is generally a time for friends and family and letting bitterness go and the music played is generally a genre unto itself in that it is usually some kind of mixture of lightheartedness and/or a time of reflection on what God did in sending His Son Jesus Christ to earth to save us from our sins.… Continued →

Artist: Brave Saint Saturn Album: Anti-Meridian Label: Department of Biophysics Release Date: September 15, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Here Is the News 2. Mercenary 3. Starling 4. Underground 5. When You Burn Too Fast 6. Through Depths of Twilight 7. Hero’s Homecoming 8. Ammodramus 9. Fields of the Fallen 10. Always beneath the Dawn 11. Fortress of Solitude 12. Blessed Are the Land Mines 13. Aegolius 14. Begin Again 15. These Frail Hands 16. Invictus Right now I’m taking a Communication Theory course, and in the theory we just studied we talked about parasocial relationships.… Continued →

Artist:  House of Heroes Album: The End is Not the End Label: Gotee Reviewer: Tyler Hess Rock N’ Roll will never die as long as bands like House of Heroes make sure that the End is Not the End. Terribly unwitty reference to the title of the album aside, the way too long anticipation for the latest release from these guys (followed by the way too delayed review) should not disappoint a single person (unless that person was foolishly wishing failure, which would be just plain mean).… Continued →

Artist: Starflyer 59 Album: Dial M Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 10/28/08 Reviewer: Tyler Hess 1. Minor Keys 2. The Brightest Of The Head 3. Concentrate 4. Who Said It’s Easy? 5. M23 6. Taxi 7. Automatic 8. Altercation 9. Mr. Martin 10. I Love You Like The Little Bird Okay, I admit that I am a bit older than most people that will be reading this, but does anyone remember that film “Weird Science”?  Then there was that song that goes something like “She blinded me…with science!” … Continued →

Artist: Ruth Album: Anorak Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 10/28/08 Reviewer: Tyler Hess

1. Hibernation Pieces
2. Back To The Five
3. Who I Was And Who I Am
4. Rolling With The Punches
5. Hearts On Sleeves
6. Pure Concept
7. Forgetting To Remember
8. Nothing To Hide
9. Miracle Photo
10. Speechless Mess
11. Dead Giveaway

I’ve been hearing about Ruth for a couple years now, I had even heard their first album a little bit, and I knew that they had been on some big tours such as the Appetite for Contruction Tour with Relient K and Switchfoot, yet nothing really jumped out and grabbed me about this band. … Continued →

Artist: Emery Album: While Broken Hearts Prevail (ep) Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 10/28/2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess In case you hadn’t noticed, a lot of people were a bit steamed at Emery about a year ago, when their latest full length, “I’m Only A Man”, hit stores. This, in a way, is Emery’s answer to the accusation that they had lost it, in more ways than one. Produced by Emery’s own Matt Carter, While Broken Hearts Prevail was something that the band came up with around the time IOAM came out, having some ideas for some other songs that they wanted to put out, as explained by the band inside the booklet.… Continued →

Artist: Disciple Album: Southern Hospitality Label: INO Records Release Date: October 21, 2008 Review by: Michael Mayer III Tracklisting:

1. Southern Hospitality
2. Romance Me
3. 321
4. Whisper So Loud
5. Whatever Reason
6. Phoenix Rising
7. Liar
8. Falling Star
9. Right There
10. On My Way Down
11. Lay My Burdens
12. Savior

Disciple have decided to tweak their sound yet again. The question is, was it for the better? Well that depends what you like best about the brand of hard rock they bring to the table. In their self-titled release (and major label debut), they had a very commercial sound with nearly no screaming and catchy vocal hooks over some heavy guitar riffs.… Continued →

Artist: Above the Golden State Album: Above the Golden State Label: Sparrow Records Release Date: July 22, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Loud and Clear 2. Gaze into Your Eyes 3. Sound of Your Name 4. Streets 5. I’ll Love You So 6. Comeback 7. Love 8. Chapter 13 9. Scared 10. One Thirty-nine 11. The Haunting 12. All My Heart 13. Real to Reel Last night I went to Gravity, my friend Rob’s music/bookstore in Reading, Pennsylvania, to pick up the new Copeland record and Shane Claiborne’s new book about prayer.… Continued →

Artist: Josh Wilson Album: Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup Label: Sparrow Records/ EMI Music Group Release Date: April 29, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. The Saints 2. Savior, Please 3. 3 Minute Song 4. Turn Around 5. Let Me Love You 6. Something’s Got to Change 7. Tell Me 8. Pull Me Through 9. Oak Avenue 10. Dear Money 11. Beautiful Like This Great, another singer/songwriter on a CCM major label. These albums usually get barely a full listen before I decide they don’t fit our site or they’re just plain terrible and I don’t feel like reviewing them.… Continued →

Artist: Sleep For Sleepers Album: The Clearing Reviewer: Tyler Hess Released: Independently in 2008 Sometimes it just isn’t the best idea to listen to an album for the first time at 1 in the morning in a slightly delusional state, even if the band name has “sleep” in it, because it just won’t make any sense. Then again, I didn’t know what to do with this album for the next couple of days either. This is one of those times when I just couldn’t put my finger on it right away, as I just I wasn’t sure what I was listening to.… Continued →

… Continued →

Artist: Cool Hand Luke Album: The Sleeping House Label: Lujo Records Release Date: October 14, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Fast Asleep 2. Cast Your Bread 3. Failing in Love 4. Buy the Truth 5. The Mirror 6. Eye of the Storm 7. The City Prevails 8. Spirit Sing 9. Wondertour 10. The House 11. Incomprehensible Sleep 12. Wide Awake A song that I’ve always had a special connection with since the day I heard it is Cool Hand Luke’s “Cinematic.” The piano and voice work together to create a beautiful song in itself, but it is the lyrics that make it so amazing in painting a picture of personal failure and God as the hero who saves the victim from that failure.… Continued →

Artist: Kiros Album: A Single Strand Label: Torque Recording Company Buy: IVM Store Review by the Headless Horseman. 1. Strengthen Me… 2. Hold Your Breath 3. Alone Tonight 4. City Lights 5. Speak Softly 6. Of Wolves and Angels (Anthem for the Insomniac) *Note: “Of Wolves and Angels” is free to download at the band’s PureVolume page.* 7. Dear Michigan 8. Heaven 9. Lying Sure Beats Shaving Your Legs 10. …That I May Not Cause Pain 11. Beautiful 12. The Reprise It takes a lot of talent and a lot of luck to form a successful band.… Continued →

Artist: Safe Haven Album: Setting Up and Tearing Down Reviewer: Tyler Hess Are you ever tired of the artsy-fartsy side of music? I’m pretty sure that some good ole’ pop-punk made the way it should be just might be what you need. Setting Up and Tearing Down may be a little over a year old, but it is much under appreciated without the backing needed to get this out to as many people as would like this album. Safe Haven could probably use a little bit more creativity in their lyrics, maybe even in their musicianship, but if you want some straight forward lyrics that are both relatable and encouraging, then this is the CD for you.… Continued →

Artist: Copeland Album: You Are My Sunshine Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 10/14/2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess Some artists are so good at what they do that I just have to appreciate them, even if it isn’t the type of music I’d generally listen to. I don’t listen to metalcore, but I can’t help but get hooked in by Underoath. I don’t even know much about post hardcore, but if you don’t like Blindside then I think you should deeply reconsider what you’re doing with your life.… Continued →

Artist: DecembeRadio Album: Satisfied Label: Slanted Records Release Date: August 26, 2008 Review by: Michael Mayer III Tracklisting:

1. Better Man
2. Satisfy Me
3. Believer
4. For Your Glory
5. Gasoline
6. Falling for You
7. Look for Me
8. Love Can
9. Peace of Mind
10. Be Alright
11. Powerful Thing
12. Find You Waiting

As I opened this CD and popped the disc in I remembered that about 50% of sophomore efforts by bands don’t stack up to the debut. Sometimes bands just try too hard to capture the sound they had and they end up releasing the same one again.… Continued →

Artist: Coolfield Album: The Minimalist Label: None (released independently) Release Date: August 1, 2008 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Wake up the Sun 2. Chestnut Tree 3. Time Passes By 4. My Fair Lady 5. Surrender (I’m Tryin’, I’m Dyin’) 6. Melody Won’t Do 7. HopeYadFun (Sarah’s Song) [demo] As someone who has followed Coolfield from the original release of Sincerity in 2005, I have to say I am very impressed with the growth shown on this release. What used to be simple man-and-acoustic-guitar songs with simple lyrics have grown to include drums, some electronic sounds (“Time Passes By”), and more.… Continued →

Artist: Relient K Album: The Nashville Tennis EP and The Bird And The Bee Sides Release Date: 7/1/2008 Label: Gotee Records Reviewer: Tyler Hess The Nashville Tennis EP 1. Where Do I Go From Here 2. The Scene And Herd 3. At Least We Made It This Far 4. The Last, The Lost, The Least 5. The Lining Is Silver 6. There Was No Thief 7. No Reaction 8. Curl Up And Die 9. You’ll Always Be My Best Friend 10. There Was Another Time In My Life 11.… Continued →

Artist: Anberlin Album: New Surrender Label: Universal Republic Buy It: Amazon/Amazon MP3 Review by the Headless Horseman. 1. The Resistance 2. Breaking 3. Blame Me! Blame Me! 4. Retrace 5. Feel Good Drag 6. Disappear 7. Breathe 8. Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights) 9. Younglife 10. Haight St. 11. Soft Skeletons 12. Miserable Visu (Ex Malo Bonum) I can’t think of a witty line or clever example with which to begin this review, so here’s some random trivia: 1. There are seven words in the song titles that begin with the letter “B.”… Continued →

Artist: One Hot Minute album: the story so far Release date: 7/25/2008 Reviewer: Tyler Hess The title to this album sums up this album pretty well, as it seems like these guys do have a story to tell, but they could use a little bit more life to draw the story for us.  One Hot Minute is a pop rock band with a lot of potential, but need time and work to improve if they are looking to get on a label.  Don’t get me wrong, they have some enjoyable songs, but in limited amounts. … Continued →

Artist: The Classic Crime Album: The Silver Cord Label: Tooth & Nail Release Date: 7/22/2008 Review By: Tyler Hess

1. The End
2. Just A Man
3. Grave Digging
4. The Way That You Are
5. 5805
6. Salt In The Snow
7. Abracadavers
8. RandR
9. God and Drugs
10. Medisin
11. The Ascent
12. Sing
13. Everything
14. Closer Than We Think
15. The Beginning

Have you ever gone a couple years without seeing a friend or family member? Suddenly, they are back in your life, yet they have matured. You recognize them, but they have grown up. Some like to decide to get all tattooed and pierced and change their clothes and the way they talk, while others are basically just a more developed version of themselves.… Continued →

… Continued →

Artist: Nevertheless Album: Spark Label: Flicker Records Release Date: September 16th, 2008 Review by: Tyler Hess

1. Sleeping In
2. It’s True
3. Cross My Heart
4. It’s No Secret
5. Rest
6. I Needed This
7. Longshot
8. Augustine
9. Topics
10. When I’m Alone
11. I Found My Way Back Again

Quite frankly, if you are into pop rock and do not appreciate Nevertheless’ new album, In The Making…, I am just not buying your excuses.  I have heard that their lyrics are devoid of hope, I have heard that they are generic, I have heard that they are slower than their previous effort, “Live Like We’re Alive”, and that there is too much piano. … Continued →

Artist: Amohalko Album: Spark Free Download: IVM Review by the Headless Horseman. 1. Hey Auren 2. Pound It Emerald! 3. Bacchanale 4. Slapstick Tragedy 5. Your Real Best Friend 6. Sancta Somnia (Feat. Rebekah Coley) 7. Pulse 8. Catalyst 9. Ultrasound – A Tone Poem 10. Per Severance 11. Right Where It Belongs (Nine Inch Nails Cover) It was the first week of January, the perfect time for frantically exchanging late Christmas presents. The two of us were isolated in some part of a labyrinthine church basement.… Continued →