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| Olga is a common name in Russia but this Olga ain´t a Russian pop star, she was born and raised in San Fransisco but her parents come from Austria. Olga was classically trained in music as a child and she started writing songs on the piano at the age of five. In high school, Jimi Hendrix provided her first taste for the blues. Olga has released 4 albums including her latest one, "Whatever you want" and has been likened to artists like Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow. Her music is a mix of southern rock, pop and blues, Olga participated in a Martin Scorsese documentary on the blues and she co-engineered Elvis Costello´s Grammy nominated song "Monkey to man" in 2005. Her new album has a warm and polished sound and I really like her voice but the album´s a bit uneven, the title track opens the album and it´s one of the best songs along with "It is what it is" that sounds like it´s handwritten for the 2004 movie Arsene Lupin, about the French gentleman thief. |
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Are you a fan of fast christian punkpop the trendy way with bands like Hawk Nelson,Relient K and MxPx? then I suggest you check up Olivia the band from Hawaii and their self titled indie album from last year coz it contains all the right ingredients to make a good solid college punk album or surfpunk as they call it themselves.
The band recently signed with Essential/Sony and will release their sophomore record on the major label this summer,they say they?ve been influenced a lot by Blink 182 and I couldn?t agree more.
We will be seeing more from this band in the future for sure,4 songs are available for download at their myspace site so start there and then you?ll probably want more.
I could start a monday a lot worse then sitting here with a hot cup of coffee and Olivia the band in the speakers,energetic is the word! |
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| I really liked Evans debut "One room" when it released back in 1999. A record that still fells fresh with its sunny modern pop style. Hes latest work is released on the Love Cat label and is more up and down than his debut album. Hes really generous and are given us 20 songs and I must say that is a couple of too many. Because the first the half of the album is almost as strong as "One room", but the second half is funkier and quite uninteresting. Al credits to him cause he has written, produced, performed, and engineered the album in his apartment on an 8-track. The overall judgement is good cause were given and at least 10 good ones and also a handful ok songs. I will this a 3, but it could have been a little bit better if the album had been more consistent. |
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| This is the 2nd album from these Finnish power metal rockers and the first time I hear them. At this point we know that Finland is a country with good reputation when it comes to power metal. Olympos Mons will not disappoint any fan of power metal in the veins of Helloween, Stratovarius and Sonata Artica. These guys delivers a mix of powerful aggressive guitars, orchestral arrangements, pompish keyboards and good vocals. I won´t say that the whole album is good but many of these tracks are really good. Some of the songs sound little to much the same but that´s just my opinion. I think the song Frozen is a damn fine power metal song with fantastic melodies and strong hooks. But the song that catch my attention was The Price, here they have found a great mixture of power metal and Celtic influences. If you imagine that Helloween and Gary Moore Out In The Fields era gets together they would sound like this. Like many Finnish power metal albums you don´t have to worry about the production, no it´s crystal clear and it´s been mixed by Janne Saksa and mastered at Finnvox Studios. So if your into Finnish power metal then check out these guys. Not sensational but very solid. |
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Mmmmm, yummy. Here we have five edgy modern rock tunes delivered from the Boston based band Oma. Ok, they might not be 100% pure modern rock, but it?s quite hard to put them into some genre.
Maybe alternative rock is better with their cool mix of influences, cause I can compare them with everything from the post grunge of Default, the more hard rock influenced Sloth and the rhythmic melodies a la Incubus. The result of this mix is a personal sound which at the same time is familiar and I know this will be appreciated by a wide range of people.
I have no idea what interest the band have received so far, but I wouldn?t be that surprised if we would see the guys on a label in the future, because I can?t see any weakness in their music. The have a good vocalist in Jeff Bragg, very suitable for this type of rock, a bunch of good songs and a personal sound that makes them quite unique in the jungle of alternative rock.
Favourite tracks on ?Pure? are the opener ?Recur? that reminds me about the tougher side of Default and ?Fallen? with a lovely rhythmic verse that goes into an edgier chorus. Great tunes that shows good music does not necessarily have to come from a major label, is what we have here. And if these four guys can continue writing good songs like these they will have a label printed on the back of their cover next time. |
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Location:Memphis,USA
Discography:On a dead machine (2005)
Bandmembers:Brian Link - Vocals,Adam Lucchesi - Guitar,Hans Amelang - Bass,Ed Harris - Drums
Influences:Deftones,Failure,The Cure,Faith no more
Will appeal to fans of:Dredg,A Perfect Circle,Boysetsfire
Album tracks Total length:41,25
1.Silent weapons for quiet wars (3,54)
2.One day (3,00)
3.A million helicopters and one dollars (3,38)
4.Sailing past Japan (3,23)
5.Windows and silhouettes (4,12)
6.The morning after (3,38)
7.Cancer (2,52)
8.So this is life (3,02)
9.You first (3,25)
10.A slow crawl from the bottom (1,06)
11.Anywhere but here (5,17)
12.For you (3,53)
Kaj?s final words:OADM plays what I would like to call thinking metal,their self titled debut contains some real interesting material where my thoughts go to Dredg,Deftones and similar acts.
Singer Brian Link has a unique voice but also falls back on screamo here and there which I feel isn?t necessary in their songs,the music itself is worth 4 stars but the thin production drags it down to 3.
However,they have recorded a new album with Gggarth Richardson and Ben Kaplan that will be out early this year so it has every possibility of being better than this one.
Good band! |
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| On The Rise hails from Norway and has recorded a very strong debut album. They mix American style of AOR with the typical Scandinavian melodic Rock/AOR. OTR is a duo that has got some help from various muscicians to create a brilliant AOR album. The production and sound is just brilliant. Terje Eide and Bennech Lyngboe is the guys behind OTR and they both sing lead vocals and they do it great. All the elements of great songs come together just right on this album, if your into hummable melodies with brilliant, catchy hookline with in your face guitars then this is the album for you. They have recorded 14 track for this album and many of the songs won?t leave your head after the first spin. Just listen to the opening track "Beat Of Your Heart", this is a brilliant song with the right components and is a mixture of Nelson meets Return. After this promising opening track it just go on song after song. "Lift You Up" is awesome with great guitarriffs and great hooklines in the chorus that reminds me of Giant a I got to say that Bennech must have listen to Dann Huff of Giant. "Running In The Night" is a great AOR-rocker in the best Giant style with soaring guitars and a chorus that hits your right in your face. "Stay Away" reminds very much of Signals classic album, with strong background vocals and the sing-a-long chorus. Listen to the melodies and hookline on "Sadness Hits You Like A Stone" and just sit back and enjoy this awesome song. This is the best song of the album and that has everything that a AOR song should have. The last song on the album is the lovely ballad "The Moment", it?s just guitars, keyboards and the singer. Here they show brilliant harmony vocals in the best Nelson style. Superb way to end this fantastic debut album. On The Rise has brought us a strong debut album and if your into acts like Nelson, Giant, Signal and their countryfellows in Return then this is a MUST for you. On The Rise is here to stay and they have showed us what melodic rock/AOR is all about with this album. |
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| It has taken Terje Eide 6 years to follow up the debut album from Norwegian On The Rise. I loved the debut album that was filled with great Scandi AOR with wonderful melodies. So now Terje is back with the 2nd album and this time around his the only member. This is a very good AOR album filled with fluffy keyboards, strong melodies and catchy hooklines. Terje sings very good and the production is competent. The album opens up with a fantastic AOR-cracker named Lifeline. This is AOR by the numbers and has everything. Yes, the hooklines are stunning and fantastic riffs with layers of keyboards. The chorus is huge with powerful background vocals, this is a mixture of Work Of Art, Mecca meets Le Roux. You don’t get much close AOR-heaven than this. Lost Your Track is up next and is another superb rocker with some West-coast influences and if you love T´Bell then you will love this. The opening of this album is huge. The opening is just stunning and rest of the album holds a very good quality but not in the same league as the 2 first songs. Other highlights are Alive with a strong powerful chorus, In The Line Of Fire is a good up-tempo rocker, No Time To Lose is filled with strong riffs and lovely keyboards that we love with a catchy chorus and the great Tomorrow Never Dies that reminds of Praying Mantis. Finally I have to mention the ballad Howling At The Moon that is nothing but brilliant, like on the debut album Terje has manage to write a first class ballads. This is as good as The Moment from the debut album. There’s also a good bonus track called Find A Way. Welcome back Terje and don’t wait another 6 years to follow up this fantastic AOR-album and if your into T´Bell, Work Of Art, Mecca and Ambition then this MUST be in your record collection. When you hear the song Lifeline you are sold on this album. Buy it without any hesitation. |
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On the Speakers, led by former Creeper Lagoon frontman Ian Sefchick has recorded a 6 song EP that at first was sold only at shows and then available at awarestore.com,things just got better and better for the band who are completely different from Creeper Lagoon in styles.
Ian?s new band On the speakers plays more trendy garagekinda rock like a polished version of The Strokes,I can understand if many critics will love this EP because this is a typical average rock journalists dream of good music.
It seems like Universal will distribute the EP in march so the band will get their music out to a broader audience and they probably will too but this won?t do it for me.......I get nothing out of this.
I prefer my old stinking socks before this. |
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On Top is a trio from the Philadelphia area, these guys love to take listener back to the heyday of the 80´s with heavy metal riffs in an 80´s hard rock suit. Their debut "Top Heavy" bring thoughts to Americade, Ratt and Riot (hey, they even got a song called Fire Down Below). Their guitar player Alex Kulick is pretty good and deliver some really cool Eddie Van Halen-esque riffs every now and then, the choruses could´ve been a bit better but I still enjoy their hard hitting sound. I think a song like "Into the night" would work really well on Rocklahoma Festival, "Another night of sleaze" is pure NWOBHM and the more I think of their sound I really do believe they´re a great live act but they should work a little harder on the choruses.
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I only have two problems with Once Just’s self titled EP. They are, the fact that it wasn’t a full length CD and that it just barely gives listeners a taste of what the band has to offer.
These Canadian rockers who make their home in Calgary, Alberta have been responsible for some of the most upbeat, addicting songs in music today. With this release they definitely have a few more songs to add to that list!
The CD starts off with the reggae fueled “Listen Up” and is followed by the song “Now She’s Dead” which has a chorus that will be stuck in your head for days! The next two tracks “Wake Up” and “Shine Down” are solid as well, these tracks along with “When It’s Over” give you a chance to really appreciate Caleb’s unmistakable voice.
Overall the album is a good mix that showcases what Once Just is capable of, but does not show you their full potential. We may have to wait until their next full length CD for that, but this should be enough to keep you held over until that happens. Until then make sure to check out their previous releases which can be purchased at www.oncejust.com. |
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Way back when in 2003, Once Just (then they were called Just) released their second full length CD titled “Imposter”. It was a brand of alternative rock that produced some of the most addicting music around. It is the only CD in their collection that truly showcased the band’s alternative roots.
Although this CD may not offer as much Reggae/Hip Hop that new fans have come to expect from the band, you will no doubt be able to see where their sound started. To this day the album still stands strong. It truly is an example of why independent releases can offer so much more than any major label release. You can hear the heart and soul that was put into the making of this record, but to truly appreciate the essence of Once Just you have to see their live performances and the love from their rabid fans.
As for the album itself, it takes you on an uplifting ride that you will be glad you were introduced to. Songs like “Denver”, “Hyperventilation” and “When It’s Over” have stood the test of time and made the jump from each and every generation of Ipod I have had. Although these are my personal faves, you will find more than just three songs that you will love. It should actually be criminal to pick only three songs to listen to from this CD.
Personally, this CD is a must own along with their 2005 release “Stand”, which showcases the growth of this young Canadian rock band. If you listen to them and like them, just be prepared to love them more and more after each listen |
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In the two years it took to record their follow up to “Imposter”, Once Just took a definite change in direction with their music. The reggae influence hit them hard, and you know what? It worked for them. “I am not just saying that, It really did!”
The reason it worked was because the boys didn’t forget or abandon what they had done on their first release; they just added some things to their repertoire. They were still known for their fun loving brand of music that had their fans singing along to, but this new direction actually made the band that much more interesting and unique.
Don’t just take my word for it, not just anyone can get the attention of the legendary Joey "shithead" Keithley ( of D.O.A). After hearing this release he was responsible for signing the boys to Sudden Death Records in 2006.
Stand is full of 17 tracks to sing along to any time of the day, whether you are having a bad day or a good day. You can’t help but love the music these guys make!
Again, it is hard to just pick a few favorite songs from this CD but because I have to, you should listen to “Sister”, “Sorry Sorry”, “As Ourselfs”, “Oh Oh” and “Faded Light”. These are prime examples of what you can expect form the rest of this album. Unfortunately for me this CD didn’t have that same wow factor as “Imposter” did but it is a very solid addition to any collection. |
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Florida based numetal band One has toured nationally with Sevendust and Nonpoint, it doesn?t stop there with collaborating with Sevendust - John Connolly and Morgan Rose of Sevendust has also produced the tracks "Control freak" and "Broken record" on their second album simply titled "II"!
The music from One is powerful and melodic, the sound is ofcourse similar to Sevendust but also Drowning Pool and SOiL.
Drummer Gary Morrocco (The Curve) has replaced Fish who played on this album, he left the band and decided that work and family are his top priorities.
"II" opens with two really strong tracks in "Control freak" and "Pin prick" but the album falls a bit on the next 4 tracks just to get back on track with the melodic rockers "Immune", "Never need" and "Glass".
It?s hard to maintain the same level on all 13 tracks but this is a solid piece of work and every fan of classy numetal should own a copy of it. |
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| One By One is a 6 piece industrial metal band from Västerås, Sweden. This female fronted band released their debut EP "Uberklasse" earlier this summer and it goes in the same vein as Engel and Amaranthe but not as classy, they´ve got some great ideas where especially "Extinguish" stand out as a great rocker. Their vocalist however doesn´t sound as good on the 2nd track "Denial" but she´s ok on the opener "Music for the masses" that has a strong chorus. They should also be helped a bitmore by a stronger mix, but there is potential no doubt. |
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Did you know that?
Phil Lynott fell asleep sitting while recording vocals for the track "Still in love with you" in 1974 for the "Nightlife" album.
There is in fact a copy of this recording.
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latest reviews
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