10.29.2015

#reviewoftheweek / Moon Taxi - Daybreaker

This band's latest album has them transitioning from jam rockers to more of an alternative sounding band, while still retaining their core identity. Never ones to conform to any specific sound, their uniqueness comes in their crafting of original tunes that hit on several levels from their signature instrumentation to their singer's instantly identifiable voice to the stunning lyrical composition of their songs. The album is spearheaded by the two lead singles "All Day All Night" and "Year Zero" both of which could find themselves on the top of the charts at alt-rock radio alongside bands like Incubus and Death Cab For Cutie. However, the sound is night quite centered, and that makes them equally able to perform with the likes of bands like Galactic, The Revivalists, and Trey Anastasio. Other songs showcasing their ability to harness live energy in an alt-jam rock studio session are "Savannah," "Domino," and "Make Your Mind Up." You can even hear elements and influences of 80's and 90's rock music throughout the disc, showing off a variety of probable influences. The magic of this band has always been their live sets, and they manage to deliver a great arrangement of new tunes showcasing just how great these guys can perform, even inside the studio.

10.22.2015

#reviewoftheweek / Matt Nathanson - Show Me Your Fangs

The latest album from Matt Nathanson is too short! Only ten songs long, at the end it leaves you wanting more. That's because Nathanson has crafted a new collection of excellent pop songs, that from end to end, showcases his incredible songwriting abilities. "Gold In The Summertime" is the most fun song on the album, making you feel the sunshine sonically. On the other end of the spectrum, one of the most cleverly written on the album is "Bill Murray," which explains a dream that Nathanson had in which he and the actor were friends. It's one of the few slow songs on the album, making is stand out, not just for it's incredible lyrics. Other standout tracks are "Adrenaline," "Giants," and "Headphones." For die hard Matt Nathanson fans, this album is a welcome addition to his songbook and for listeners just being introduced to this underrated singer/songwriter, the album offers a good jumping off point to dive into his back catalogue.

10.15.2015

#reviewoftheweek / Collective Soul - See What You Started By Continuing

Collective Soul have been on a bit of a break in recent years, with the members of the band doing their own things, both musical and not. Now they've returned with a new album that picks up right where they left off. The music is both familiar and refreshingly new. They know how to make new songs sound new, yet stick to the formulas that made their previous releases so great. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself listening to this music in the mid-90's just as much as in the past decade or now. Songs that stand out on the album and "AYTA," "This," and "Hurricane." Sure, there's no gimmicks and no innovation, but that's what makes it great. It's on of the best straight-forward rock records in the past few years. Collective Soul are one of the most consistent bands to have released music in the last 20 years, and their latest doesn't disappoint.

10.08.2015

#reviewoftheweek / Chris Trapper - Symphonies Of Dirt & Dust

Chris Trapper has got to be the most underappreciated songwriter in music today. He is probably one of the best storytelling songwriters of his generation, and with mild success dating all the way back to the late 90's, it's a wonder that Trapper hasn't earned more recognition for his incredible abilities. That being said, he continues to churn out incredible compositions and collections of music that are introspective, accessible, and poignant. His natural ability to paint pictures through song and transport listeners into his world through his lyrics is a gift that many could only dream of possessing. On his latest he does just that through songs like "Everything Was Possible" and "Not The End Of The World." One of the most striking and beautiful songs on the album is the closer, "Boston Strong." It's a lush instrumental that, through sound along, invokes emotion and connection to a city that is at the heart of Trapper's musical life and one that has been tested and shown resolve for hundreds of years. His tongue-in-cheek lyricism is ever present in songs like "F#*t It" and reminds us that Trapper, although serious and creative, loves to have fun with his music. Despite going at it for a few decades and having success at varying levels, Trapper still deserves to be recognized for his songwriting at a higher level (like the Grammys). Let's hope his latest has his peers lining up to write songs with and for them, taking him to newer, more deserving, heights.

10.01.2015

#reviewoftheweek / The White Buffalo - Love And The Death Of Damnation

Folk, country, and rock all combine to define the White Buffalo's sound, and for years, he's been delivering his Johnny Cash-esque music to us. His latest showcases more of just that. He's a storyteller, and his gritty vocals connect with the listener, providing a truth that many musicians cannot deliver. His subject matter ca"n live in dark places, and his voice and delivery match each of his lyrics. "Modern Times" is the album's first single, and it is an upbeat rocker that echoes several of his previous releases, bringing the listener into familiar territory. "I Got You" features guest vocals from Audra Mae, and showcases his ability to blur genre lines, attaching himself to a variety of musical styles. At the core, the White Buffalo is a folk singer, and what he can do with his voice, clever and poignant lyrics, and an acoustic guitar is a thing of beauty, and virtually unmatched in music today. He's an old soul and a throwback to when music was pure and raw, and this album showcases that incredibly well.

BURN THIS / October 2015









  1. The White Buffalo "Modern Times"
  2. Bobby Long "I'm Not Going Out Tonight"
  3. Rayland Baxter "Oh My Captain"
  4. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats "Howling At Nothing"
  5. Gary Clark Jr. "Cold Blooded"
  6. The Revivalists "Move On"
  7. Houndmouth "Say It"
  8. Judah & The Lion "Kickin' Da Leaves"
  9. Matt Nathanson "Giants"
  10. Eric Hutchinson "Good Rhythm"
  11. Allen Stone "Symmetrical"
  12. Kopecky "Talk To Me"
  13. Madi Diaz "Control"
  14. Jarryd James (featuring Julia Stone) "Regardless"
  15. Vance Joy "Straight Into Your Arms"
  16. Trevor Hall "Back To You"
  17. Rebelution "Count Me In (Acoustic)"
  18. ALO "Not Old Yet"
  19. Trey Anastasio "Sometime After Sunset"
  20. Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers "Mr. Saturday Night"