The wait, although really not as long as it could have been, for a new album from Justin Hawkins is over. His British Whale synth pop alias was essentially a tease with just two singles released, so the anxiety over more available material has since heightened. Enter Hot Leg, Justin's new band consisting of himself and three friends. They label themselves "man rock," which is amusing but fitting (silly outfits are out, sweatbands and leggings are in). This is Hawkins' baby as he wrote, recorded, and produced everything. And what a beautiful baby it is!
Red Light Fever is arguably deserving of comparison to The Darkness' debut, Permission To Land. The guitar licks, fun, and flamboyancy are all there. The flavor of The Darkness goes wherever Justin Hawkins goes, and further proof exists in what his former band mates have done in Stone Gods - they just aren't the same or as popular without their departed mastermind. Hawkins is carrying Hot Leg on his back now and the band is looking to make their mark in the man rock charts.
Some songs which sound Darkness-esque, "Cocktails" and "Gay In The 80s" as two examples, are actually both co-written by Chas Bayfield, an unknown friend/writer of sorts. Was he around in The Darkness days? "Cocktails" is a very catchy song, but don't allow yourself to be caught singing the chorus aloud... `Cock [cock]/ Cock, cock, cock, cocktails/ Cock [cock]/ Cock, cock, cock, cocktails.' And then you have uncharacteristic songs like "Ashamed" featuring Beverlei Brown harmonizing with Hawkins, "Trojan Guitar," described as a medieval five-minute-plus epic, and "Kissing In The Wind," a relatively mellow album closer.
There are actually several outtake songs which would be fantastic as a part of Red Light Fever, but a few are offered as freebies from the band's website. Check those out, let Hot Leg give you a dose of man rock, and prepare to be swooned with this album.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JAHAOR9UQM0T/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_1
March 8, 2009
January 17, 2009
Five Boston rock bands worthy of your attention
Band: Bang Camaro
Where I discovered them: Heard a song on WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight) called "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" and thought having a dozen singers was cool. But at the time I had no idea I was listening to a local segment. I thought it was just typical radio, which just goes to show Bang Camaro is good enough to jostle with the big boys.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/bangcamaro, www.bangcamaro.com
The music: Alex Necochea, co-founder, labels the band anthem rock. I might add arena rock on top of that, even though anthem rock essentially says it all. Without all the singers, Bang Camaro probably wouldn’t be able to pull off the sound they’re going for. Enter a wicked vibe with everyone singing their faces off. There are far too many influences of their’s to list, but I would compare them to your typical 80’s rock band, but with a multitude of singers, of course. It’s a rockin’ sound you really need to appreciate for yourself. You can check out my review of their latest album here - www.amazon.com/review/product/B001NE80RC/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Band: Anarchy Club
Where I discovered them: WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight).
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/anarchyclubmusic, www.anarchyclub.net
The music: The sound is a combination of rock and electronica, and maybe even a dash of industrial. It's just two guys, Keith Smith (vocals & guitars) and Adam von Buhler (all instruments), and yet it doesn't sound like the work of two minds.
Band: The SnowLeopards
Where I discovered them: Browsing myspace music pages the default photo for The SnowLeopards' page featured a face I recognized. That face belongs to a guitarist I saw on stage playing guitar for Bang Camaro at a local record store. On that basis alone I checked 'em out.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/thesnowleopards
The music: It's pretty darn poppy ("I'm On Fire" was played on the show The Hills), but elements of hard rock are there. If they were straight pop I wouldn't even bother. The singer is female, she looks look Amy Winehouse, but her voice is pretty typical albeit still great. My taste for female singers is fairly lacking, but I really like her in this band.
Band: Hooray For Earth
Where I discovered them: Opened for Bang Camaro's CD release show in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/hooray4earth, www.hoorayforearth.net
The music: Bryn Bennett of Bang Camaro says in a myspace blog, "They have somehow found a way to mix the sounds of Nirvana, The Beatles, and NIN into a form of music that can only be called "beautiful." Every one of their songs in a dark masterpiece. Singer Noel Heroux, is also the only guy I know who has glued a delay pedal to his guitar."
Band: Dead Cats Dead Rats
Where I discovered them: Heard a song on WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight) called "Donkey Lips" that was about a minute and a half long it seemed, and if it wasn't that short and fast-paced it wouldn't have been any good.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/deadcatsdeadratsmusic
The music: If Nirvana and The Misfits joined forces, this is what they'd sound like... except playing out of a garage. An average song is about two minutes long, but they're all addicting. You could spin their self-titled album twice within an hour, and chances are you'll want to anyway.
Where I discovered them: Heard a song on WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight) called "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" and thought having a dozen singers was cool. But at the time I had no idea I was listening to a local segment. I thought it was just typical radio, which just goes to show Bang Camaro is good enough to jostle with the big boys.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/bangcamaro, www.bangcamaro.com
The music: Alex Necochea, co-founder, labels the band anthem rock. I might add arena rock on top of that, even though anthem rock essentially says it all. Without all the singers, Bang Camaro probably wouldn’t be able to pull off the sound they’re going for. Enter a wicked vibe with everyone singing their faces off. There are far too many influences of their’s to list, but I would compare them to your typical 80’s rock band, but with a multitude of singers, of course. It’s a rockin’ sound you really need to appreciate for yourself. You can check out my review of their latest album here - www.amazon.com/review/product/B001NE80RC/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Band: Anarchy Club
Where I discovered them: WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight).
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/anarchyclubmusic, www.anarchyclub.net
The music: The sound is a combination of rock and electronica, and maybe even a dash of industrial. It's just two guys, Keith Smith (vocals & guitars) and Adam von Buhler (all instruments), and yet it doesn't sound like the work of two minds.
Band: The SnowLeopards
Where I discovered them: Browsing myspace music pages the default photo for The SnowLeopards' page featured a face I recognized. That face belongs to a guitarist I saw on stage playing guitar for Bang Camaro at a local record store. On that basis alone I checked 'em out.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/thesnowleopards
The music: It's pretty darn poppy ("I'm On Fire" was played on the show The Hills), but elements of hard rock are there. If they were straight pop I wouldn't even bother. The singer is female, she looks look Amy Winehouse, but her voice is pretty typical albeit still great. My taste for female singers is fairly lacking, but I really like her in this band.
Band: Hooray For Earth
Where I discovered them: Opened for Bang Camaro's CD release show in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/hooray4earth, www.hoorayforearth.net
The music: Bryn Bennett of Bang Camaro says in a myspace blog, "They have somehow found a way to mix the sounds of Nirvana, The Beatles, and NIN into a form of music that can only be called "beautiful." Every one of their songs in a dark masterpiece. Singer Noel Heroux, is also the only guy I know who has glued a delay pedal to his guitar."
Band: Dead Cats Dead Rats
Where I discovered them: Heard a song on WBCN's Boston Emissions show (Sundays 10-midnight) called "Donkey Lips" that was about a minute and a half long it seemed, and if it wasn't that short and fast-paced it wouldn't have been any good.
Where you can discover them: www.myspace.com/deadcatsdeadratsmusic
The music: If Nirvana and The Misfits joined forces, this is what they'd sound like... except playing out of a garage. An average song is about two minutes long, but they're all addicting. You could spin their self-titled album twice within an hour, and chances are you'll want to anyway.
November 23, 2008
Album review: Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
The wait is finally over – Chinese Democracy, against all odds and delays, has finally arrived. Over a decade in the making, the hype surrounding this album is unfathomable. A lot of time and money has been spent getting this on the market, but does it live up to the hype?
We expect Guns N’ Roses to be rock and roll. That’s what made the band larger than life when Appetite for Destruction was thrust upon the world with a lead fist. Things have changed since the era of [arguably] the greatest rock and roll album ever made, however. Axl Rose is now the sole remaining original member of Guns N’ Roses. At his side are hired guns, if you will. And this changes the band’s sound. Even though Rose has rights to the name, some other name for this group of musicians would be more proper.
Chinese Democracy is impressive, yes, but it’s probably not going to be what you expect. It’s not the same band of old, and the album doesn’t pack as much of a rockin’ punch as the old material does, but disregard that and take this for what it is – good music. Rose’s voice sounds just about as good as it ever has and the guitars are impressive. It’s somewhat unsettling that several guitarists contributed, though. You probably won’t be able to tell who plays on what songs by ear, but some are easy to determine (“Shackler’s Revenge” absolutely stinks of Buckethead). In addition to a handful of guitarists, there is also piano, synthesizers, and even orchestral arrangements. And desperate-for-a-job Sebastian Bach lends backing vocals on “Sorry.”
With so much time spent getting the music to the world, the results are thankfully promising. Guns N’ Roses isn’t four guys in a garage recording some demos. The production is done well and there’s a lot going on in these songs. You’ll hear rock, industrial, and even some blues. Chinese Democracy really doesn’t live up to the hype, but it is definitely beautiful and powerful, and is a great offering regardless of the names in the liner notes.
We expect Guns N’ Roses to be rock and roll. That’s what made the band larger than life when Appetite for Destruction was thrust upon the world with a lead fist. Things have changed since the era of [arguably] the greatest rock and roll album ever made, however. Axl Rose is now the sole remaining original member of Guns N’ Roses. At his side are hired guns, if you will. And this changes the band’s sound. Even though Rose has rights to the name, some other name for this group of musicians would be more proper.
Chinese Democracy is impressive, yes, but it’s probably not going to be what you expect. It’s not the same band of old, and the album doesn’t pack as much of a rockin’ punch as the old material does, but disregard that and take this for what it is – good music. Rose’s voice sounds just about as good as it ever has and the guitars are impressive. It’s somewhat unsettling that several guitarists contributed, though. You probably won’t be able to tell who plays on what songs by ear, but some are easy to determine (“Shackler’s Revenge” absolutely stinks of Buckethead). In addition to a handful of guitarists, there is also piano, synthesizers, and even orchestral arrangements. And desperate-for-a-job Sebastian Bach lends backing vocals on “Sorry.”
With so much time spent getting the music to the world, the results are thankfully promising. Guns N’ Roses isn’t four guys in a garage recording some demos. The production is done well and there’s a lot going on in these songs. You’ll hear rock, industrial, and even some blues. Chinese Democracy really doesn’t live up to the hype, but it is definitely beautiful and powerful, and is a great offering regardless of the names in the liner notes.
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