Music Review: Dick Diver, Melbourne, Florida

By Tyler Hodg

Returning with their third LP, Melbourne, Florida, Dick Diver looks to further prove themselves as an up and coming group to watch out for. The Australian band’s sound is pop at its core, with all the fixings that make up an indie band nowadays: slower, spacey songs with way too much reverb. Although Melbourne, Florida has a current style to it, unfortunately it isn’t up to the quality of what else is out there at the moment.

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Music Review: Will Butler, Policy

By Tyler Hodg

One year after the release of Arcade Fire’s Grammy-nominated, Juno award-winning album Reflektor, bassist Will Butler momentarily slips away from the band to release his debut solo album titled Policy. Venturing out on your own musically is sure to be a difficult—and possibly terrifying—task, but Will Butler was able to successfully pull it off. Saying that Policy is better than most of Arcade Fire’s music would be false, but it holds its own when compared to the critical darlings.

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Music Review: Rob Zombie, Spookshow International Live

By Tyler Hodg

Hot off the trail of his recent world tour, Rob Zombie has released Spookshow International Live, his first live album since 2007. Known for his horror-styled theatrics and energetic live shows, it should come as no surprise that Rob Zombie’s latest offering is nothing but fantastic—if you’re in a heavy music kind of mood, that is!

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Music Review: Rain City Rockers, Anime EP

By Tyler Hodg

Never has so much nostalgia been so perfectly packed into a five-song, seven-minute EP. Then again, how often does a compilation of re-recorded anime theme songs get released?

Any ‘90s child (or geek) will be delighted to hear the fresh air breathed into some of his or her favorite TV themes. Send thanks to Andrew Conroy and his punk-rock “supergroup,” consisting of Tom Thacker (Sum 41, Gob), Anthony Bleed (Die Mannequin), and Darrin Pfeiffer (Goldfinger), for creating this amusing celebration of the golden age of anime shows. The themes for Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Digimon, and Sailor Moon are some of the catchiest songs to ever grace TV intros, so it comes as no surprise that Rain City Rockers’ Anime EP is delightfully mirthful.

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Music Review: People On Vacation, The Chronicles Of Tim Powers

By Tyler Hodg

After a successful crowdfunding campaign, People on Vacation have returned with their sophomore album The Chronicles of Tim Powers. The duo—consisting of Ryan Hamilton (Smile Smile) and Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup)—have written fun, upbeat songs that include musical aspects of their previous bands, but thankfully are not rehashed music from their past. Although People on Vacation has been dubbed a “supergroup,” there really isn’t anything super about them; their music is down to earth and far from extravagant, significantly adding to the relatable feel that The Chronicles of Tim Powers possesses.

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Music Review: Bowling For Soup, Songs That People Actually Liked, Volume 1

By Tyler Hodg

Here’s something that might make you feel old: Bowling for Soup has been making music since 1994. With the release of their first official greatest hits album Songs That People Actually Liked – Volume 1 – The First Ten Years (1994-2004), the band reminds us all that music doesn’t need to be taken seriously to be enjoyable.

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Music Review: The Westies, West Side Stories

By Tyler Hodg

On the surface, The Westies appear to be nothing more than a generic soft-rock band, but when examined more closely, they are much more than what meets the eye (and ear). The stories behind the band and their music are equally intriguing, and both lend a hand in creating a more extraordinary picture, in the form of their debut album West Side Stories.

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Music Review: The Decemberists, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

By Tyler Hodg

In their 15th year as a band, The Decemberists continue to release albums that sound nothing less than pure, and What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World is no exception. It’s modest. It’s relatable. It’s fantastic.

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Music Review: Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, Club Meds

By Tyler Hodg

Thanks to Dan Mangan + Blacksmith’s new album Club Meds, the year 2015 has gotten off to an impressive start musically.

But before you listen to it, first thing’s first: grab your headphones, find an isolated area, and make sure to turn off all of the lights. Some albums deserve proper atmosphere for an optimal listening experience, and Club Meds is a prime example.

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Music Review: The Blancos, Heartless Romantic EP

By Tyler Hodg

A regrettable fact of music fandom is that it’s easy to come across inauthentic, materialistic garbage. Thankfully, the first offering from New York duo The Blancos—an EP titled Heartless Romantic—may be the most genuine collection of songs you will have the privilege of hearing. While their hip-hop/indie fusion sound includes familiar elements you may have heard before, Heartless Romantic is organically progressive and in a league of its own.

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