// Category Archive for: Music Reviews

Music Review: The Rollers, Voxx and Ricochet

By Melissa Bratcher

In 1979, The Bay City Rollers shook things up. Eager to shrug off the mantle of being a teeny bopper band, they refused to do the cover versions that their record label Arista demanded and parted ways with their lead singer, Les McKeown, along with their exploitative manager (whom I will not name because he was a dreadful person), yearning to show the world that they rocked. On their last album for Arista, Voxx, they did just that. Mostly.

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Music Review: Goblin Rebirth, Goblin Rebirth

By Jeffery X Martin

We—and by “we,” I mean no one but me—call it “State Fair Syndrome.” Creative differences between members split up a band. The musicians don’t like each other, but they like the money the band brings in. Sometimes,one band member, a smart one, will trademark the band name so no one else can use it. That way they still have the prestige and brand recognition of that famous name while ditching the rest of the band members for session musicians or road dogs who don’t charge as much. This is how you can have different iterations of the same band, with slightly different names, touring at the same time. These bands, with a splintered draw, end up playing smaller venues or, as previously stated, the state fair circuit, right next to the Tilt-A-Whirl along with Night Ranger without Tommy Shaw, who is currently fronting Styx without Dennis DeYoung.

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Music Review: Ted Nugent, Free-For-All (Expanded Edition)

By Tyler Hodg

Before he was known as an outspoken, gunslinging political pundit, Ted Nugent was a platinum-selling artist, with his first hit album being 1976’s Free-For-All. Nearly 40 years after its release, the album has been brought to back into the light in a polished remastered version. Free for All is arguably Ted Nugent’s finest musical achievement, and it’s only fitting that a celebration is called for on the eve of its 40th anniversary.

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Music Review: Fraser A. Gorman, Slow Gum

By Melissa Bratcher

Fraser A. Gorman’s Slow Gum is a curious album. The Australian’s folk-flavored debut flirts with country music, boasts some clever lyrics, and features Gorman’s likable voice. There’s good stuff here, but there’s also a weirdly loose, “I recorded this in my bedroom” vibe.

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Music Review: Wilson, Right To Rise

By Tyler Hodg

Many would argue that rock’n’roll is in a sad state of suffering, and to be honest, those people have a strong case. Very few bands are flying the rock flag with originality and honesty, which is the core essence of the genre. Detroit band Wilson isn’t shy about the music they love and play, but which side of the respect coin are they on? Unfortunately, their latest release Right To Rise proves that they, as of right now, aren’t the band to lead the rock’n’roll army to victory.

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Music Review: The Old Ceremony, Sprinter

By Melissa Bratcher

There is a terrible problem with Sprinter, the new album from Durham, North Carolina’s The Old Ceremony: it only includes ten tracks. These ten songs are incredible: transporting, literate, cinematic. I yearned for more.

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Music Review: Heather Woods Broderick, Glider

By Melissa Bratcher

There’s an air of wanderlust to Heather Woods Broderick’s Glider. A gifted multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Broderick has toured and recorded with Efterklang, Horse Feathers, and Sharon Van Etten’s band. On Glider, Broderick gently coaxes out her vision, one that is introspective with lovely layers of vocals.

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Music Review, Various Artists, Occult Box

By Jeffery X Martin

Pssst. Hey, kid. C’mere for a second.

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Music Review: Ancient Ocean, Blood Moon

By Tyler Hodg

The great thing about debut albums is that they can leave preconceived expectations wide open, especially when the style of music is ambient. So what is Ancient Ocean’s Blood Moon? Simply put, it is a collection of fully realized songs, begging for a listener to experience its gravity. It’s quite easy for this type of music to fly under the radar, considering it’s not exactly the most mainstream concoction, but allowing Blood Moon to take over your time and consciousness will be an undoubtedly satisfactory expedition.

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Music Review: Royal Jesters: English Oldies

By Melissa Bratcher

Chicago-based Numero Group wants to fill your summer with eclectic songs you’ve never heard: songs to watch submarine races by, songs to fill your tear ducts, songs to catch that first kiss on the dance floor, songs that make you need to get up and shake that thing. Their latest carefully curated reissue is a 28-track collection by San Antonio’s the Royal Jesters. Active in the 1960s and ‘70s, the Royal Jesters never had that big breakthrough hit, but their marriage of doo wop harmonies and mariachi horn sensibilities, as well as some fine, sometimes wildly experimental organ playing makes this compilation, Royal Jesters: English Oldies, well worth a listen.

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