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Aaron Gillespie might be best known for being the former drummer of the metalcore band Underoath and also frontamn of the more melodic band The Almost. But on March 8 he released his solo album debut entitled ”Anthem Song” and it’s a really nice record if you’re into straightforward pop/rock. Is surprised though that he gone from a pretty brutal metal band to this soft worship album, but guess that he wanted to focus on the melodies this time and not the energy. Songs that stands out are ”We Are Made For You”, ”Hosanna” and the U2 smelling ”All Things” where Aaron shows his true talent as a songwriter.
The only thing that I can complain about is that half of the songs is more or less ballads, which slows it down a bit too much. But the highlights are really great so if you’re into wellproduced pop / rock ”Anthem Song” is an album to check out. |
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Whenever you see names like Don Gilmore and John Fields involved in the production you know the result will be nothing but impressive and that´s the case with 20 year old female bomb Alana Grace.
She´s an American actress and singer who is best known for her song "Black Roses Red" on the soundtrack of the movie "Sisterhood of the traveling pants".
Those who remember the unreleased Aimee Allen record from 2003 that also Don Gilmore produced knows what to expect because "Break the silence" is just as good, in fact - this is one of the best female fronted modern rock albums I´ve heard lately.
It´s good to see that Sony still have people that signs amazingly talented artists like Alana Grace these days, the killer chorus on "Paranoid" (no it´s not the Black Sabbath song) belongs on every mixtape on earth while "The tunnel" is the mother of all powerballads this side of the century!
And Amy Lee of Evanescence can only dream of writing a monster track like "Where are you now" and then we have "Sanctuary".....goddamn what a song. |
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| Alistair Griffin´s new single "Just drive" is one of my top favorite songs at the moment, this is anthemic rock that gives me the goosebumps every time I listen to it. Alistair Griffin was the runner up of the second series of BBC talent show Fame Academy in 2003, he released his debut "Bring it on" in 2004 that featured the Top 20 hit "You and me tonight". This new song "Just drive" is the first single of the new album "Albion sky" that will be out in August, also look out for the next single "Blinding lights" which is just as good. Imagine a mix of Snow Patrol, A-Ha and Headway and you´ll get Alistair Griffin. Great song! |
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| Back in the 80?s, Amy Grant was one of my biggest faves, when it came to female-fronted westcoast/aor. (Well she was a favorite in the good looking list as well?) with the album ?Lead Me On? as the number one favourite. She?s been doin? some albums since then, but I have lost the interest in her music since at least 10 years? But I got a new album in the post recently so I thought I should give her a try once more? And what about it then? I?m a little shattered to be honest. There are actually some good songs on here in a poppier Sheryl Crow goes The Corrs costume, like ?Looking For You? and ?Happy? that I enjoy quite a lot. But mainly there are a lot of wimpy tracks a?la Celine Dion that doesn?t give me s**t. It?s more interesting to look at a new painted wall that dries. She sings good as always, but I suggest you spend your money on another one of all the girls doin? melodic pop these days. If you doesn?t adore Celine Dion and Lara Fabian that is. If so I feel sorry for you and you have a new fave in this record. |
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Amy Grant just to be one of the top performers in Christian CCM. Albums like ?Lead me on? and ?Heart in motion? are still great albums. What about this new one then. Like the title says its about old Hymns. So we get here a collection of old gospel hymns performed by Amy Grant in an easy listening, country kinda style.
This is not an album for us rocklovers here over at melodic.net. The voice of Amy is very good and the songs aren?t bad, but it?s just meant for another audience.
If you like countrymusic once in a while you could check it out though. I will put on ?Lead me on? instead and enjoy that one. |
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| Los Angeles based Andy Grammer has been listed as 1 of 10 artists to watch in 2011 by Billboard Magazine, his bright popsongs totally explode of summer vibes and it´s truly a fresh album that will appeal to fans of Jason Mraz, Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. But many songs tend to soundalike and I feel it´s more appropriate for the pool party, I don´t have it as top priority when I add albums to my mp3 player. I won´t be surprised though if Grammer will breakthrough with songs like "Keep your head up" and "Slow", it´s easy to like his voice too. |
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| I dont write that many countryreviews here at The Melodic Net but when the CDs are as good as this one and close to westcoast, aor or Midwest rock I need to tell you about them. O here we have the new album by Andy Griggs who delivered some solid AOR country in the past and the new album is no exception. Pure refrain heaven with harmony vocals all over! So for all you guys who loves Tim Mcgraw, Blackhawks and Lonestar here is sure another CD to buy. And a duet with the former Cinderella-leadsinger Tom Kiefer, what do you give me for that! AOR country at the very best. |
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If you like: Gin Blossoms, Gavin Degraw, Augustana
Description:
Austin Gibbs is an American singer-songwriter born in Houston, TX, but that now loves That in Mesa, AZ. Saw him open for The Maine and Augustana at The Fillmore in San Francisco in 2011 and was impressed by his performance. Almost felt like a mix of the bands he opened for, but with a larger serving of traditional rock not that unlike Tom Petty.
This Ep "Charlie" is his first album, filled with well-made pure rock with a great sense of soul and a certain dose of blues. Think also that you can mention an artist Gavin Degraw as the two are very similar in Austin most playful moments.
So if you like this type of rock, Austin Gibbs debut album is definitely worth checking up with really good songs and in a varied format.
Highlights: "La La La", " Sierra The Serial Killer", "Wolf Mountain" |
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| Geeh, a new discovery for me! And what a guy! This is something that you will put on your CD player at night when its rainy outside and you wanna share a bottle of wine with the girl you love. Some country traces but overall a pleasant CD in a vibe of Marc and Keven Jordan with hints of The Corrs and stuff like that. Very pleasant CD. A CD my wife probably will keep in her collection. |
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If you?re into girl-fronted pop/rock ala Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch, Caroline Gulde is a new artist that you should check out. With the help of the multi talented Andrew Koss (guitar, keys, drums, programming, songwriting and producing) this Massachusetts native has done a very nice album filled with quality pop from start to finish.
It isn?t that easy to break through because there are so many nice talents out there in this genre, but Caroline and Andrew have done a great job and has put a personal touch on the album with a little braver production on some of the songs.
The fourth song ?Forbidden? is a good example of that with some nice Arabian sounding keyboards and a danceable beat. Another one with a little bit more poppy production is the hit single?!, ?Under The Wreckage? that Vanessa Carlton would have been really proud of if she had written it. A great song this is!
But there sure are some other jewels here on this 15 track album that will be highly welcomed by fans of this genre. ?Something?, ?Just A Little Bit? and the final track ?Move? are all good examples of that.
One thing that came to mind when I was listening to this record was that I?m really thankful that it wasn?t reviewed in any of Swedens ?hot? evening papers that unfortunately receive way too much attention here. I can?t imagine what they would have written about it, but I?m pretty sure that they wouldn?t have been that kind. And that?s only because the album has melodic songs, a good vocalist in Caroline Gulde and a radio friendly production.
So it?s a good thing that it?s in the hands of a sucker for good melodies like myself who isnt afraid of liking music that sounds good.
Overall a nice consistent album with moments that stand out and some that are more ordinary, so if you have albums like ?Spirit Room? or ?Be Not Nobody? in your collection, ?Through Line? is an album that you should check out. |
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| Here is a new guy for us all to check out. A CD mixed will all sorts of cool styles and with a joyful musical ground. Imagine Ben Folds mixed with a soul edge a´la Prince and Seal mixed with Lenny Kravitz and a little touch of westcoast pop a´la America. Thats what we´re dealing with here. And a charming mix. The opening track ´Running Away´ is pure melodic pop heaven with an ounce of soul in the mix. Cool for sure. The album continues in the same way without reaching the extraordinary heights as the opener. Still, there are plenty of cool songs here, like the softer ´Will And Surrender´ with almost a westcoast edge a´la America mixed with a Ben Folds and Lenny Kravitz edge, and ´Tempted´ is cool with a straight ahead drumbeat a´la Prince, mixed with Seal´s sort of soft soul pop. And track 9 is another ´westcoast-ish´ track with flirts of both Bill Champlin and Doobie Brothers. Sure a cool guy Mr Gallagher. And I´m happy I discovered him. |
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| Take one ounce of R.E.M, one spoon of Matchbook 20, one spoon of Splender and one spoon of Joseph Arthur and you´re quite near this guy and his music. This is a really good album, I can make that clear from the start. The album is produced by Malcolm Burn, who produced Iggy Pop, Emmylou Harris among others, and the production is sure great with a close nerve and the attitude exactly at the right place. After that you can add Chris voice that is solid and unique - almost like a 15 years younger version of Michael Stipe mixed with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 and Brian Molko in Placebo. Third out is the songwriting, which also is bloody great, with songs that are built up with an almost progressive edge sometimes. Songs that takes you to various places with bombastic refrains mixed with low-key verses. VERY dynamic tunes! Phew... A killer album that you must surf and take a much closer look at. And it grows on you for each listen. Listen to second out ´Offering´ with a monster refrain. Listen to the 4.49 long ´Safe At Night´ which is the perfect mix between Splender, Porcupine Tree and R.E.M. Fabulous tune. And listen to.. well the whole damn album... This is an album for all us musicmaniacs who´re intelligent enough exploring new music. Chris Grace is sure a hidden treasure that you have to look into. |
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Here is a man that we raved about last year here at the melodic net when we
discovered his album "Compulsion". Now he sent us his new 6 track mini-album,
and here we are bowing once more to say bravo to the guy from New York. Beautifully packaged modern rock. Take a large bite from the R.E.M cake and spice it with one spoonful of modern rock ala Delirious and one ounce of singer songwriter melancholy ala Joseph Arthur, and you are quite close to Chris music. Its much easier if you take a listen for yourself at his site or at CDBABY who sells his music. I can just applaud the guy once more and recommend all of you to give him a listen. |
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| A new ?singer songwriter with piano girl? on the way to the stars. Dana have a cool way of being and is somewhere between artists like Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos but with a little other edge ? almost in a Kate Bush way of being on some tunes? There are session musicians all over, such as Vinnie Colauita, Mike Landau and Abe Laboriel Jr just to name a few, and the piano is in the front seat in the production which is great and done with a nerve by the old AOR legend Matthew Wilder (No Doubt and more) A fresh CD is what it is ? with a very own way of being and I hope it will find the fans out there cause it?s well worth all of our attention. Good stuff with a nice vocalist in Dana Glover. |
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| Friday night i?m ...Babylon?came out of the speakers from my radio and made me loose control. What a voice and what a song. This is it. I skipped lunch that day and went straight to the recordshop and bought it. Put it in the CD-player and the same vibes as when I heard Mark Spiro for the first time went through me, a ride through musicheaven. (They are not alike though, just the feelings) As a lover for singer-songwriters I was so glad to find out the hole record was sheer brilliance. Not everyday you can buy a record with ten great songs and having your girlfriend satisfied without saying "turn it off" (not me anyway). You will hear traces of Bob Dylan and Van the Man as if they were young again. Buy it folks and play tracks like the opener "Please forgive me", My oh My" and of course Babylon, but every track is a winner. The record is the one you shall hear with a whiskey sitting in your favouritchair. The only complain I have is that it will take some time for other records to visit my CD-player, but who cares? Not a review that will make you more intelligent, but hopefully one that will wake your curiousity, otherwise you?ll miss a great record. Just buy it |
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Did you know that?
The name "Minus the Bear" comes from an in-joke among the band members, referring to the 70´s television program, B. J. and the Bear. "A friend of the band had gone on a date,” explains singer-guitarist Jake Snider, "and one of us asked him afterwards how the date went. Our friend said, ´You know that TV show from the ´70s B.J. and The Bear? It was like that... minus The Bear.´ That’s the straight truth."
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