// Category Archive for: Reviews

Music Review: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

By Melissa Bratcher

After his confessional, revelatory Southeastern from 2013, it would be forgivable for Jason Isbell to coast. Southeastern was huge: deeply personal, immediate, and gripping, not to mention successful. Isbell won Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for “Cover Me Up”), and Artist of the Year at the Americana awards. With his incredible new album, Something More Than Free, it’s clear Isbell isn’t going to take it easy.

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Music Review: Galactic, Into The Deep

By Melissa Bratcher

One of the genius things about New Orleans’ Galactic is their use of wildly diverse vocalists on their albums and tours. Each singer brings their own flavor, but no matter who is singing, the sound of the finely tuned Galactic machine is unmistakable. Their newest, Into The Deep, eschews their previous concept album themes (2007’s urban From The Corner To The Block, 2010’s bonanza of incredible NOLA artists Ya-Ka-May, and 2012’s Mardi Gras-themed Carnivale Electricos) and embraces a number of disparate singers, but never loses sight (or sound) that it is a Galactic album. And it is ripping.

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Concert Review: Black Lips At The Horseshoe

By Pierce Finch-Coursey

July 10, 2015
Toronto, ON

Black Lips performed two nights in a row at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. After seeing both sets, I can easily come to the conclusion that Black Lips is by far one of the best live acts I have ever seen. With a career spanning more than 15 years and seven albums under their belts, it seems like these guys aren’t going to be hanging up their guitars anytime soon.

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Big Music Fest 2015 Review: Big Sugar, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden

By Tyler Hodg

Jane’s Addiction

From July 6 through 11 this year, Kitchener, Ontario was transformed into one of the hottest spots of this summer. Why, you ask? It’s because the annual Big Music Fest was held at McLennan Park once again, bringing some of the biggest rock acts in the world—including Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden—to the city.
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The Sword Release New Single For Upcoming High Country Album

By Tim Murr

I was late discovering The Sword. I came across their album Warp Riders at the library last year and checked it out based solely on the fact that there were tracks called “The Chronomancer I” and “The Chronomancer II.” Since I like a little sci-fi with my metal, I gave them a chance and just fell in love with the band’s brand of classic stoner metal.

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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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