CD REVIEW: Pete Miller "Shake The Dawn"

Pete Miller is a promising new singer/songwriter from New England that is creating some incredibly interesting music. His style combines the energy of a live jam band with the subtle approach of a solo artist, emphasizing on stellar lyrics. It doesn't take much to make good music these days, but it takes a lot of heart and feeling to make music that connects with listeners and stands out from the bunch. Pete Miller's debut EP sets him apart from a lot of other musicians and makes a statement about what it means to be an independent singer/songwriter. His song "Daydreamer" doesn't only show off his lyrics but also showcases his talents on the guitar. Fellow New Englander, Ryan Zoidis of Rustic Overtones, lends his saxophone skills to Miller's "To See Your Eyes" adding depth to an already complex sound. Pete Miller is part of a new generation of New England bands to take the independent and jam rock scene by storm, and his debut EP is just the beginning of an excellent music career.

CD REVIEW: We The Living "Depths Of The Earth"

Alternative rock band We The Living have returned with a continuation from their album "Heights Of The Heavens." This EP along with that album is like the Yin and Yang of the music that We The Living creates. Not that the two recordings are completely different or opposite, but they feature music that spans the entire repertoire of the band. The EP is less radio friendly than the previous album, but that's not a bad thing. We The Living have embraced their songwriting skills on this album and really made a great alternative rock record that connects with their fans. Uncompromised and unforgiving, the brand of independent rock that We The Living is reminiscent of lots of other bands, but uniquely all their own. "Menelaus" and "Sound Of Love" are standouts from this collection, and the disc is an incredible representation of the direction this band is going in and the excellence of their potential for future success.

CD REVIEW: The Bird And The Bee "Interpreting The Masters, Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates"

Cover albums are a tricky bunch. You have to pick the right songs and do the right things to them to pay full tribute to the originals yet still make them your own. American Idol has almost fully ruined the cover song genre by begging performers to be original yet not butcher the originals. The Bird And The Bee have found the ultimate way to do the cover album: an entire album of songs by one artist. It's like doing a greatest hits album but only by another artists. Hall & Oates are an incredibly talented duo and the music they created in the 80's is timeless and The Bird And The Bee have done an excellent job showing off their love for this guilty pleasure. These guys combine their 70's and 80's styled pop with perfect production to reinvent these classic tracks without alienating the feel of the original tunes. "Kiss On My List," "Maneater," "Private Eyes," and "I Can't Go For That" are all awesome renditions of the Hall & Oates classics that show off just how great of a band these guys are. The disc is labeled "Interpreting The Masters, Volume 1" which hopefully means that Greg Kurstin and Inara George will be interpreting many more great artists and classic songs.

CD REVIEW: Pete Francis "The Movie We Are In"

In his most ambitious recording yet, Pete Francis never ceases to amaze with his wide range of musical abilities. This, his most commercially accessible album since "Untold," is a masterpiece going in an unfamiliar direction for typical Pete Francis fans, and certainly for fans of Dispatch. Pete got into the studio with some excellent musicians, many of whom have been doing it for a while with some very established musicians. For an independent artist like Francis to combine his talents with those of established music industry vets, only great things can happen. The album is filled with catchy tunes that are both easy to sing along to and still contain Pete's incredibly unconventional lyrics. Pete is a poet and a storyteller and songs like "Glue," Light Years," and "Good Man" show off some of his best lyrics since his first two albums. One of the catchier tunes on the album is the lead single "Love Shakes You Down." Coupled with an animated video by the same guy who did the album artwork, the song is bound to gain a whole new audience once it enters into heavy rotation on AAA radio. "Light Up My Day" is a feel good, summery song that features a horn section and is incredibly reminiscent of some of his work with Dispatch. Pete Francis insane guitar skills are showcased throughout the entire album, and die hard fans are sure to welcome the tangent taken with this album. With this album, Pete Francis has shows he is truly a musician that cannot be pinned down or pigeonholed, and fans of all styles of music from jam bands to alternative rock will find something to love on "The Movie We Are In."

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms
• The Black Keys - Brothers
• Pete Francis - The Movie We Are In
• LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

CD REVIEW: Xavier Rudd "Koonyum Sun"

For quite a while, Xavier Rudd has been amazing crowds and music fans throughout the world with his unique blend of world, aboriginal, and folk styles of music. His music is always filled with interesting instrumentation and poignant lyrics and his latest does not stray from a formula that has worked for six studio albums. The first single from the album is an incredibly positive song called "Time To Smile" and it is already getting fans into his new album all over the world. This album features a new collaborative effort with his African-influenced backing band Izintaba, adding a whole new layer to Rudd's already complex sound. This element further elaborates on Xavier's internationally flavored brand of folk, making each song on this album intriguing from start to finish. Familiarity is not gone, however, as fans of Rudd's music will surely love the songs "Love Comes And Goes" and "Set Me Free" which sound like they could have come from any of the albums in his catalogue. Xavier Rudd is always trying to reinvent his music, and on his latest album he manages to surprise and amaze while still sticking to his roots with clever songs and inventive music.

CD REVIEW: Five Times August "Life As A Song"

In the independent pop rock scene Five Times August is one of the leaders. He's been doing this for quite some time, releasing a pretty extensive catalogue of music by himself. This latest album has him revisiting some of his very best songs and adding a few great new ones to the mix, showcasing that it's finally time for him to rub shoulders with the big guns. Songs like "Do It Again," "Better With You," and "Up To Me" could all easily hold their own on several formats of radio from top 40 to modern rock to AAA. FTA has a way with music that makes it fun, catchy, and easy to sing along with, which is a formula that has proved successful since the beginnings of popular music and radio. "Beautiful Girls" and "January Song" are excellent examples of his songwriting skills, and are songs that will be fan favorites for years to come. Five Times August is an incredibly talented musician and his newest album is a testament to the work he's put into his career and the promising future he is sure to have.

CD REVIEW: Greg Holden "A Word In Edgeways"

Guys with guitars can sometimes be a dime a dozen, and it seems like lately they're everywhere. That doesn't mean that talent shouldn't be noticed or rewarded. Greg Holden's album "A Word In Edgeways" is a subtle masterpiece of acoustic pop that has turned heads but remained in the shadows. "The Chase" is a great lead off track, setting the tone for the entire disc showcasing all of Holden's abilities in one concise tune. He is an excellent lyricist and combines that with his incredible guitar playing skills to create very interesting and accessible pop tunes. Although Greg Holden may still be virtually unknown, he has laid the groundwork with this album for an incredible career, and great things can be expected from his musical endeavours in the future.

CD REVIEW: Ruarri Joseph "Shoulder To The Wheel"

Ruarri Joseph has embraced the style of light folksy Brit pop to the fullest extent. This, his third album, is full of mellow folk rock tunes that are reminiscent of musicians such as Neil Halstead and David Gray. The music is kind of a hybrid of mellow 60's style acoustic folk and modern lyrical pop. "Nervous Grin" and "Rich Folks Hoax" are reminiscent of his debut album, while "An Orchard For An Apple" sees Joseph embracing his songwriting skills and highlighting his lyrics. Ruarri Joseph is riding a wave of mellow soulful Brits that are making excellent music, Along with Paolo Nutini and Newton Faulkner, Ruarri and the boys from across the pond are poised to give all the American folksters a run for them money. The bottom line is that Joseph's new album is an musical and artistic masterpiece.

CD REVIEW: The Hold Steady "Heaven Is Whenever"

After their fourth album took the world by storm, containing some of The Hold Steady's best songs, they are back with a new album that is almost as good as their last. It's a great album, containing tracks that, for the avid Hold Steady fan, are a welcome addition to the catalogue. The album doesn't contain that hit single, the song that will define the album. However, the album is defined by the ups and downs, the lyrical content, and the delivery of the songs. It is, by far, The Hold Steady's most creative album yet. "Rock Problems" is a classic. Songs such as "The Weekenders" and "Hurricane J" remind us that the essence of their music is truly in the lyrical storytelling. They continue to sound like the indie rock version of Bruce Springsteen, and have an incredible connection to the lives and times that have turned into their music. The beautiful album comes to a subtle close with the sounds of crickets chirping, recorded accidentally as some of the music was recorded outside. You can always expect greatness from The Hold Steady. Lately they do not disappoint, and their fifth album is a testament to their hard work, excellent lyricism, and incredible musical talents.