New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• Alpha Rev - New Morning
• Dirty Heads - Any Port In A Storm: Special Edition
• Eric Krasno - Reminisce
• Luce - The Year We'll Have
• Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best Of Something Corporate
• Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights - Pardon Me

CD REVIEW: Latch Key Kid "All Becomes One"

Latch Key Kid made a name for himself during a Super Bowl commercial with his song "Good Times" and now he's back with a new collection of tunes that are equally as good. He blends pure sun soaked California pop with a form of light power pop to create his own blend of signature music. Latch Key Kid, which was only a side project of Gavin Heaney of California indie folk band Slackstring, has turned into a full on musical venture. On this album he showcases his best stuff on songs like "Getaway," "This World Keeps Turning," and "Last Song." The song that most people will recognize, and is certainly a high point of the album, is "Good To Be" which has been heard all over television. After already having wowed music fans all over the world with music featured in several commercials, movies, and TV shows, this album is sure to put Latch Key Kid on the map as more than just a one hit wonder.

CD REVIEW: Crash Kings "Crash Kings"

Alternative rock can be stale, uninventive, and too familiar at times. Many times rock radio is dominated by artists that all sound the same, with songs that sound the same, and there seems to be no variety. Enter Crash Kings into the mix. The band has developed their sound to be nothing like you've ever heard on radio recently. They combine their intelligent lyrics, with a kind of 1970's era rock vibe, and piano driven instrumentation for a sound all their own. The album leads off with the single "Mountain Man," which right away hooks you and leaves you craving more. Other songs on the album show off the band;s ability to not only wow musically, but lyrically as well, such as "Come Away" and "Raincoat." The bottom line on all of this is that Crash Kings are a breath of fresh air in a radio world that has become sort of stagnant. Now that they're on the map, Crash Kings are poised to help take rock radio in a whole new and exciting direction.

CD REVIEW: Jon And Roy "Homes"

The Canadian folk rockers are back with their third album, and most musical album yet. Their previous album focused primarily on the delivery of simple acoustic pop and folk tunes that were full of life. This time the boys bring in some great backup talent to the mix, adding an excellent depth to their new tunes. The violin usage throughout the entire album reminds us that these guys are from the great white north, adding a subtle country style to their music. "Boon 'Elm," which they smartly decided to give away free before the release of the album, is best track on the album, and sums up the mood and sound of the entire album is just one song. "Cuban B" and "Any Day Now" are also excellent songs and show off their fun loving style as well and their great songwriting skills. Jon and Roy are bursting onto the scene in a big way, and this album, their most cohesive yet, is going to solidify them as superstars of the acoustic folk rock scene.

CD REVIEWS: Rob Blackledge "Inside These Walls"

Rob Blackledge is one of those musicians that put in the time but don't get the respect he deserves. He's been around for a while, but it wasn't until the release of this album that he has finally shown that he has what it takes to rub shoulders with the big guys. Blackledge pulls out all the stops on several of the songs, showcasing his musical abilities and lyricism. He mixes ballads with pop songs, all while showing off his mastery of the piano. "Should Have Known Better" and "Granola Girl" are two of his finest compositions. Kyle Riabko makes a guest appearance on the song "Sweet Sweet Lady," laying down some excellent guitar tracks. Blackledge may still have a ways to go before he's a household name, but he has proven that he deserves a shot in the big time with this one.

CD REVIEW: Keller Williams "Odd"

The title of this album is probably the best description of Keller Williams' style of folk jam rock, and on this album he is at it again with his unorthodox ways. Keller is known for his one man show, utilizing his guitar only to transport his fans into the song, outputting an array of musical sounds using looping equipment to create a virtual band. Having a little bit more freedom in the studio, Keller is always able to create excellent music without compromising his live show style. "Doobie In My Pocket" is one of those live show gems that finally makes its way onto one of his studio albums. Another standout track is "Environmental Song." Keller Williams is one of the most creative musicians in the jam rock world, and with over a dozen albums under his belt, there's certainly no end in sight for his music. He is able to appeal to everyone, not just his die hard fans, and his latest album definitely has something for everyone.

Happy Earth Day!

Help THISisMODERN.net celebrate Earth Day by giving back. Check out the websites of the organizations below to find out how you can help, donate, get involved, and learn about conservation, recycling, sustainability, and being a responsible music consumer. You can even become a Twitter follower of these organizations to stay incredibly current on their events and causes.

• www.allatonce.org
• www.greenmusicgroup.org
• www.musicforaction.org
• www.reverbrock.org
• www.rocktheearth.org
• www.surfrider.org
• www.worldwildlife.org

Please also seek out new and exciting opportunities for conservation and smart living other than those listed above. Global warming is a very real thing, and we can all do our part to help make the future of the planet a greener one.

CD REVIEW: Sondre Lerche "Heartbeat Radio"

Sondre Lerche's brand of pop music has always been unparalleled and on his latest album he spares no expense at bring us more of the same. There are a ton of new classics on this album including the title track which is signature Lerche. His singsong style coupled with his love for jazz and big band music make this album fun and catchy. Another standout track on the album is "Like Lazenby," where Sondre likens himself to the onetime James Bond actor George Lazenby. Sondre Lerche is an excellent wordsmith and never ceases to amaze with his unique take on a simple musical art form. On "Heartbeat Radio," Sondre Lerche shows us that it's no surprise that Lerche has continued to release outstanding albums filled with interesting and unique pop music.

CD REVIEW: Robert Francis "Before Nightfall"

Once in a while and artist comes along and wows listeners with their music. Robert Francis' major label debut is a wow kind of a record, and it makes a statement about his presence in the music industry. Robert Francis has embraced the recent rise of folk music and is now finding himself one of the artists at the forefront of this movement. "Nightfall" is a beautiful ballad that starts off quiet and crescendos into a soft folk gospel rocker that is one of the best songs Francis has written. More of an indie rock edge can be heard on "Junebug." Other standouts include "Darkness" and "One By One" which is a reboot of a song from Francis' independent debut. Robert Francis may have been an unknown once but his is now joining the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Josh Ritter, and Jakob Dylan as heroes of the new folk rock.

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• Aqualung - Magnetic North
• C-Money - Family Business
• Tyler Hilton - Ladies & Gentlemen EP
• Ozomatli - Fire Away
• Xavier Rudd - Koonyum Sun