|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| This is no April fools joke; I am not kidding you! Sweden?s absolute best vocalist ever Krister Linder is back and is soon to release his first vocal album in twelve years! The album is to be entitled ?Songs From The Silent Years? and the first taster is the download only single ?Don?t Lose Your Way?, a song which follows in the Dive tradition mixed with the ambient sound that Krister is known for from his non-vocal era (that?s the last twelve years) with aliases such as Yeti and Solaroid (just to name a few). High class Ambient Pop with nothing but amazing vocals from the singer formerly known as Chris Lancelot, from the well known Swedish band Grace and Dive that was quite successful in Sweden in the late eighties and early nineties. If you can?t wait until the end of May when the full length album will be released, go to his new website and listen to the single and loads of other songs and then of course, click the correct link and buy the single on-line for a really small sum. It is worth it, because the more lengthy urban remix is fatter and even better, be sure to be in from the start when the years biggest happening is about to embark, Krister Linder is back ? finally! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Finally a new album with Sweden?s answer to Peter Gabriel - Mr.Krister Linder aka Chris Lancelot who after 12 years of absence returns with 2 albums, the dark alternative metal of Enter The Hunt and his ambient solo album "Songs from the silent years".
Many are the fans who were waiting for Dive?s 4th unreleased album when the good news of a new vocal oriented album from Linder became official earlier this year.
I?ve got some nice memories to Dive?s 80?s hit "Captain Nemo" and was really happy to hear Linder?s unique and amazing voice on 2 different musical adventures.
He has produced this album himself and releases it on his own record label Ghostfriend records, helping out on guitar is Hjalmar Leissner and the bass is handled by Jan Hellman (Carptree).
Turn out the lights, lay down in your sofa and close out the world around you because no outside disturbance should interfere with your quality time of Linder?s electronic soundscape.
54 minutes that should be soaked in all in one take but my personal faves that I can listen to more than the others are "Eternal life", "Before it?s all over" and the single "Don?t lose your way". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Finland has produced many good acts like Rasmus, Him, Negative and all powermetal bands (Stratovarius, Nightwish,
Thunderstone to name a few). L-60 is a new act for me and I believe this is their debut album they released on the Swedish label Endless and it?s a good one too.
They play a kind of modern rock with pop influences and they have very much of a personal sound that makes them very interesting.
Some acts that comes in my mind when I listen to them is a mix of Mars Electric, The Rasmus and Michael Learns To Rock and there you have the sound of L-60.
Many of the songs have a strong hit and radio potential feel over them for sure.
The song "Falling" is a fantastic song that can be described as a mix of Mars Electric and The Rasmus meant for radio.
Michael Learns To Rock influences can be heard in the ballad "Until We Meet Again", this is much better than what MLTR has done lately.
"Hard Times" is another superb pop-rocker with catchy hooklines and a chorus that will make you hum along with it.
Prime time rocker "The Way We Are" is pure class and is lifted up by a wonderful chorus with great harmony vocals.
The bandmembers are Olli Helenius vocals, Miika Colliander guitar, Jaakko Kamarainen bass and Jussi Huttunen drums and these guys will make some buzz in the charts if they get a small break and I?m convinced about that.
This was a pleasant surprise for me what these guys have managed to come up with so hats off to L-60 and GO FINLAND. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L-60 from Finland is back with a brand new album, their debut album came out 2004 on the Swedish label Endless Music.
Now 2 years later they are back and it?s only singer Olli Helenius left from the debut album.
Yes, the band is new and so is the sound, "Feel Nothing" is a more rocking and tougher album than the debut with more guitars and I must say that this fits them perfect and now they have got the right power in their sound.
This is modern melodic rock filled with pop hooks that will please fans of The Rasmus, Prime Sth and HIM for sure and they also have a very own touch in their sound that makes this very interesting.
The sound and production is top-notch and has been mixed by the famous Swedish duo Henrik Edenhed and Ollie Olson that are behind the sound of Lambretta and The Sounds just to name few.
Just listen to the first track "Sweet Love" that is a catchy rocker with pop hooks and a strong chorus. "Into The Dark" is a more darker rocker with heavy melodic riffs and a powerful chorus, great rocker.
"In The Air" should be the next single candidate because this is a fantastic semi-ballad a?la The Rasmus.
"Promise" is filled with superb guitars and tons of melodies that really gives this song a push. Yes, and the chorus is good.
First single from the album is "99", a pop affair that really takes a grip of you with an up-tempo chorus, great stuff.
They also have a bonus track called "Love Me" - Olli Helenius has put togheter a new band and found the right sound for this band. This is in the right direction for Finlands next export to the world of music. If you feel a wind blowing tonight it might be from Latitude 60 Degrees. Check out this great band. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.E.O is a superstar project inspired by Jeff Lynnes music of Electric Light Orchestra and Travellin Wilburys, its led by Bleu who shares the lead vocals with Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish).
Theres a fantastic line up of musicians on this album where we find names like Jason Scheff (Chicago) on bass/background vocals, producer John Fields on guitar, Mike Viola (Candy Butchers) on guitar/background vocals, Steve Gorman (Black Crowes) on drums, Scott Simons (The Argument) on guitar.
Bleu (whos real name is William James McAuley) started working on this album 4 years ago and hes the co-author of all songs except two which are "Private line" (written by Tony Goddess/Alex Scutro) and "Dont bring me down" (the only E.L.O cover on the album) because the others are all new original songs written by Bleu, John Fields, Mike Viola, Andy Sturmer and Scott Simons.
"Alpacas Orgling" is a must for fans of E.L.O because these songs are just as good as any Lynne composition and the background vocals are so brilliant they couldve been taken from any E.L.O record. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LaRue is the brother Phil(age 21) and sister Nat(18)!
They both sing the lead on this laid back record in the
same vein as Cock Robin.
"Reaching" is their 3rd
album and should appeal to fans of Vanessa Carlton and
other smooth popalbums with the same vibes.
It was
released already last year and is worth a check up
because we do need this kinda slow and nice stuff to
make a balance to the flood of modern rock bands that
pop up like an iceberg in front of Titanic,just too
much so to speak.
"Peace to shine" and "Trinity"
became favorites right away and the 2nd turn around
I also start to like the ballad "Without you",it
almost falls a tear from my eye.....so beautiful! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location:Finland
Discography:Porn Beautiful (2000),Devil is a girl (2002),Where heaven ends (2005)
Bandmembers:Ana - Lead Vocals,Pekka Laine - Guitars,Kirka - Bass/Keyboards,Masa - Drums,Johannes - Guitars
Influences:Curve,Duran Duran,Muse,Bj?rk
Will appeal to fans of:The Cardigans,Coldplay,Garbage
Album tracks:Total length:41,46
1.Where heaven gets dirty (3,54)
2.Danger (4,36)
3.Love like hell (3,52)
4.Insane with love (5,36)
5.Raining dogs (4,16)
6.Who is she? (3,55)
7.Goodness I?m a goddess (3,03)
8.Torture for two (5,12)
9.Did you even hate me? (3,44)
10.Where heaven ends (3,32)
Kaj?s final words:What happens if Coldplay and Cardigans gets married and gives birth to a baby? Well,the answer is simple....the name of that baby is LAB!
Ana?s way of singing reminds a lot of Nina Persson?s fragile voice and then add bombastic pop a la Chris Martin?s soundalike compositions - viola! here?s LAB.
Their new album is a fine affair of beautiful atmospheric songs,a lot bigger sounding than the Swedes of The Cardigans and more uptempo than Coldplay so why not?
LAB?s music should reach out over the borders of Finland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labb is a quartet formed at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1997. The band has after that opened for big shots like Disturbed, Cold, The Rustic Overtones, P.O.D., Apartment 26 as well as opening in front of 25,000 people at Locobazooka.
When you think of those bands you might think that this is a quite aggressive sounding band with some metal influences. But they?re not. Instead we have a collection of catchy and energetic songs in the powerpop/rock genre. I start thinking of Ebo, a band that was signed to Maverick a few years ago, but was dropped just before the album was out. Labb has no keyboards though, but like Ebo they?re playing a mix of modern rock and powerpop that is very hard not to get addicted to. Just listen to ?Lefty Like You? and understand what I?m talking about, what a great tune this is!! So damn catchy and infectious.
The band has on this full length album worked with the ex. Splender guy Jimmy Landry (Cori Yarckin, Winefield, Cherry St) that has created a rich and very suitable production for the band. Basic and very far away from being over-produced that would have killed a lot of the charisma and personality in the powerpop vibes.
Other catchy tunes on ?Coup De Grace? are ?Big Breakthrough?, ?The Cause? and the opener ?Average Citizen? so if you?re into this kind of energetic rock, Labb is a band for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Italian prog-power act Labyrinth will release their 6th album 6 Days To Nowhere on Scarlet Records. This new album is another step forward for this band and they are capable to mix powerful guitars with strong melodies with hookladen songs with twist and turns that takes a grip of you for sure. I can´t remember that I´ve heard these guys sound this good before. This is more melodic hardrock mixed with progressive powermetal and could be described as a mixture of Queensryche, Dream Theater meets Vision Divine. Robert Tiranti has a strong and powerful voice that gives the songs more life to them. Their is 14 song on this new album including a cover version of Beatles classic Come Together. All of the songs are not good and there is couple of fillers. Lost is one of the songs that could have been left out and don´t impress me. Better on the other hand is the fantastic Mother Earth, just listen to this masterpiece. What a wonderful progressive hardrock song with melodic riffs and filled with outstanding hooks. The chorus took me by surprise and is a brilliant with tons of melodies and reminds lots of Vision Divine. Crossroads is a great track aswell with plenty of melodies with strong riffs and lovely keyboards in the chorus. What??? is a heavy song with powerful sound and riffantastic guitars throughout the whole song, this song rocks big time. I love their way to create songs even if they sound heavy they manage to bring out the melodies in them in almost every song. They mixture the heavy guitar with pounding drumssound that they have manage to produce with class. They end the album with Piece Of Time(2007) in a nice way. A nice album these Italian guys have done and I´m sure this will open up many ears. Great work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If there ever was a slight piece of Lacuna Coil?s sound that reminded of Nightwish and similar bands on their earlier works,it?s completely gone now on their new album "Karmacode" coz nothing on it can be filed under opera metal.
This is a majestic gothmetal album with numetal tendencies and lots of oriental harmonies,and the production my dear friends is worth a grammy all by itself - we?re talking eargasm in the first degree!
"Karmacode" will probably be their breakthrough album and LC are sure worth it coz they are different plus all the songs lie on an impressive high level,don?t bother looking for an Italian accent in Christina & Andrea?s voices - you won?t find it even with a microscope.
They cannot only play football in Milan,Lacuna Coil belongs in the Champions League of Metal.....I can listen to this cd over and over again from the Coliseum rock of the opener "Fragile" through the metal monument of the new single "Our truth" to the closing "Enjoy the silence" which is the best cover I?ve heard of a Depeche Mode song.
If you missed the first 4 albums with LC,then it?s about time you check out their 5th full length album "Karmacode"! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location:Houston,USA
Discography:Look inside (2005),Laden EP (2006)
Bandmembers:Jared Miller - Vocals,Doran Woods - Guitar,Josh Ginn - Bass,Josh Sebren - Guitar
Influences:,Coldplay,Kevin Max,U2,DC Talk,Daphne Loves Derby
Will appeal to fans of:Luna Halo,Switchfoot,The Afters
Album tracks Total length:17,51
1.Noone like you (3,30)
2.Save me (4,05)
3.Let go (3,06)
4.No escape (3,33)
5.Walking away (3,35)
Comments:This is a real nice alternative modern rock EP from the Texas band Laden,their first album was released under frontman Jared Miller?s name but this EP is going by the bandname Laden.
You can hear they?re influenced by Britpop like Coldplay and Oasis but there?s even more of the American way of modern rock here in the same vein as Switchfoot,Luna Halo and The Afters.
"Save me" reminds more of Coldplay while "No one like you" could be something Switchfoot has written,"Walking away" takes us down the path of alternative rock and on "No escape" vocalist Jared Miller even sounds like Benji Madden of Good Charlotte.
Good EP anyhow! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Christina Klein aka Lafee, is a 20 year old German pop star who has released 5 albums already plus one Best of album. Her latest album "Frei" has a more mature sound compared to the teen-pop of the first 4, think of the music as a cool mix of disco, pop and rock with some orchestral arrangements. Lafee sings in German which makes the songs even more charming to listen to, I think there are several songs with hit potential here and not only the first single "Ich bin". Other great pop songs with catchy hooks are "Sonnensystem", "Herzlich willkommen" and "Ich hab dich lieb". I bet her idols are Nena and Kim Wilde. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative psychedelic rock/pop with some Radiohead influences
is what this Philadelphia quartet delivers,for the real die hard fan of Radiohead this must feel like a
copycat album but for others it may be a new nice discovery because it aint that bad.
Laguardia?s music is like a mix of the 60?s and the 80?s,the production and the arrangements are very basic and simple like it was done in the late 60?s when the melodies were the most important thing.
Still it?s rather pompous in the eyes of a poplover,they sound more British than American and the song and first single "Duet tape" could very well be an Oasis tune.
The cool and moody "Butterfly" is the track that stands out and had me drawing a landscape in my head while listening to it,talk about melodic extravaganza!
The mix of piano and indie guitars feels like a good thing but
even if I have nothing against difficult music I must say that laguardia feels just a little too difficult
in some moments.
No way,you can listen to it at your nearest record store and decide after just a short listen on each and every track if it?s good or bad because this is music that takes more than 2-3 times to get into.
It?s definitevly not a party record or something you have in the car,this is for the sofa in your home.......Laguardia demands your full attention! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the releases: "Greater Art", "Headstones", "A Crimson Cosmos", "Forever Atumn" and "The Neonai", Lake Of Tears split up and went different ways even that those albums did very well and was critically acclaimed by the press.
Now they are back with a brand new album called "Black Brick Road" and it?s a dark mixture of goth, rock and metal with a modern sound.
Fans of Lake Of Tears will be pleased with the new album but I?m not that impressed and I think that they don?t come up to the same level as HIM and Beyond Surface. They don?t have as strong songs as the mentioned acts in my opinion.
The sound of Lake Of Tears is more darker than HIM and B.S but many of the songs just don?t take off and it gets plain and boring at the end.
The few songs that hooked me up was "The Greyman", "Dystopia" and "A Trip With The Moon", this last song reminds a lot of the British act GUN.
This new album from Lake Of Tears is not a sensation but will definitely please their fans. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Imagine if The Police formed in 2006 instead and wrote songs with Chris Martin of Coldplay, the result could very well be Lakes 5 track EP "Photographs".
Lakes is hardly a new band coz they have released 2 albums earlier on Tooth and Nail under the name Watashi Wa and a totally different sound.
This EP is their strongest work up to date and a fan of The Police and similar bands like Outfield (such as myself) can only enjoy every single song on this 20 minute long ride.
Warm melodies and smart performed pop doesn?t seem like too much of a bad idea this tuesday Sept.5th when it?s being released.
All 5 tracks are really good but I would like to point out "Latersss" as a small fave of mine anyway, excellent chorus!
Now where?s that darn LP? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know that?
Chris Cornell married SOUNDGARDEN´S manager, Susan Silver.
|
|
latest reviews
|
|
|
|
|
|
