CD REVIEW: Angus & Julia Stone "Down The Way"

Folk music has never been this exciting. Well, that's except for the last time these two made an album. Angus & Julia Stone, a brother and sister duo from Australia, have managed to come very close to the quality and vibrancy of their debut. "Down The Way" has everything a great folk rock record needs: great lyrics, interesting and simple instrumentation, and stunning vocals. Sharing the vocal duties, Angus & Julia trade the lead roll practically every other song, throwing in some interesting harmonies and duet vocals here and there. "And The Boys" was the first taste the two let us in on and was just the appetizer for what was to come on the album. "Black Crow" and "Big Jet Plane" are two of the duo's finest recordings, showing off their great storytelling through clever lyrics. The most intriguing song on the album is "Yellow Brick Road" using childhood metaphors to convey their message during a recording that is over seven minutes long, channeling Bob Dylan the entire way. Angus & Julia Stone have a unique style of folk music that sets them apart from the masses, and have definitely avoided the dreaded sophomore slump.

CD REVIEW: Tyrone Wells "Metal & Wood"

Returning to his roots, Tyrone Wells strips down and provides us with an incredible new collection of music driven by his lyrics and his acoustic guitar. Wells, who has seen considerable success, but yet not too mainstream, has released his newest EP without the backing of Universal, who released his two previous albums. Wells teams with some creative partners on this one, most notably Jason Reeves who shares writing and vocal duties on the track "Give Me One Reason." Tyrone has definitely outdone himself on the title track, which is the most organic of the bunch. The song is all about things that we chose that overshadow the things that really mean something, such as going to war or removing the arts and music from our schools. A digital version of the album features two bonus tracks, one being an incredible cover of Kings Of Leon's hit "Use Somebody" which Wells removed all rock and roll from and makes it a slow acoustic ballad type song. Despite his excellent music, Tyrone Wells is certainly an under appreciated musician. However, regardless of where his music comes from or how the world gets to share in it with him, those who do hear it certainly appreciate it.

CD REVIEW: matt pond PA "The Dark Leaves"

These guys have managed to stay just below the radar for some time while other indie rock bands have their day in the sun. Rogue Wave, Death Cab For Cutie, and the Shins all have become household names and have embraced the alternative rock community that has embraced the. Well, for matt pond PA, where they are is just fine. They are as big as those bands, but they are not yet so well know that everyone who listens to radio gets into their hit singles and disregards their history and their entire catalogue. This album, their best since their career defining "Several Arrows Later," is an excellent addition to their extensive catalogue and showcases their signature sound. Each song emphasized their interesting instrumentation and their incredibly creative and clever lyrics. The album is not dark, it is not emo, and it is not a novelty recording that is trying to ride the wave of mainstream indie success. Rather, it is a straightforward collection of some of matt pond PA's finest songs, reminding us that you don't need major label backing or hit radio singles to prove you are a great band.

CD REVIEW: Jason Castro "Jason Castro"

Finally releasing his first album since leaving American Idol season 7 in 2008, Jason Castro has really outshone expectations. It's probably a good idea that Castro didn't actually win during his season, because his music wouldn't have grown and fermented in order to create this album. The entire album is not exactly new, as four of the eight songs on it have been previously released. "Let's Just Fall In Love Again" was Castro's debut single and is the lead track on his album. "Love Uncompromised" and "You Can Always Come Home" which features guest vocals by Serena Ryder were both released digitally earlier this year on the "Love Uncompromised" EP. Finally "Hallelujah," a cover of the Leonard Cohen song made famous by Jeff Buckley which Castro wowed judged on Idol with, closes out the album reminding us at the end exactly why Jason Castro needed to be discovered. The entire album, although short, is excellent and showcased Castro's ability to make excellent mellow pop rock, staying true to himself and his craft. Jason Castro surely is a great talent, and now has proven that he didn't need a television show to tell us that.

CD REVIEW: She & Him "Volume Two"

"Volume One" was awesome. "Volume Two" is equally awesome. She & Him are one of the most intesting musical groups to come around in a while, and they are creating some of the best and most unique indie music around. Zooey Deschanel, who is the "She" in the band, is not only a great actress but also a great singer, with an incredibly crisp and beautiful voice. M. Ward, the "He," is a very musical guitarist and vocalist. This whole thing is just a side project to their day jobs (Deschanel has her superb performances on the big screen while Ward has his solo career and his time with Monsters Of Folk). Regardless of where this project came from, the fact remains that it's amazing. The disc sounds like a throwback to american folk music from the 50's and 60's, with an amazing AM radio vibe throughout. "In The Sun," "Thieves," and "Ridin' In My Car" are all outstanding songs. There is no band out there making this type of music this good, and to think that both Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are doing all of this on the side is incredible. Hopefully She & Him will continue to make beautiful music, and if their other careers don't work out, this one will always be there. And who knows, someday we might get a "Volume Ten."

CD REVIEW: Akiva "If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight"

Akiva is one of the most underrated independent musicians out there today. His latest effort is a big bold step in the right direction, a double disc dual album featuring a handful of his best songs. Originally released as singles on MySpace, many of the songs on the album took on a life of there own even before the two discs became a reality. "I Keep Calling You," the track that starts the collection off, is quite possible Akiva's best song from any of his releases. "Junk In The Trunk" really shows off his lyrical genius, which is another reason to love this album. He has definitely mastered the fine art of the simple yet catchy pop song, but hasn't yet unleashed his full potential on the world. After hearing songs like "Allison" and "Lips On The Microphone" fans and music industry professionals are sure to stand up and take notice to this incredible talent. Any independent musician that takes a leap like releasing a double album without the backing of a label is daring, but when you have this level of talent, you don't need any extra help.

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• Jason Castro - Jason Castro
• matt pond PA - The Dark Leaves
• Justin Nozuka - You I Wind Land And Sea
• Chad Perrone - Release

CD REVIEW: Dave Barnes "What We Want, What We Get"

Writing outstanding pop rock songs is like breathing to Dave Barnes, it just comes naturally. This album is just as good as any of his previous albums and he proves to us yet again, that he should be rocking at the top of the charts. The newest single from the album, "Little Lies," is light and fun with an underlying reggae style that makes the song perfect for summer. "God Gave Me You," which was released as a single prior to the album release, is familiar Dave Barnes territory and an excellent song. The entire album is somewhat of a mashup between the styles of Marc Broussard and John Mayer, which makes for a very accessible and familiar sound. Hopefully with this album, Dave Barnes can finally achieve the level of success he has worked so hard for, and rightfully deserves. Regardless, it's always nice to hear that Dave Barnes is continuing to make excellent songs and excellent albums.

CD REVIEW: Jakob Dylan "Women & Country"

He has always been two things before being a solo artist: the lead singer of the Wallflowers and Bob Dylan's son. This means that everything he has done and will do as a solo artist will forever be compared to those two musical entities. That is, until now. Jakob Dylan has broken out of his own mold on this album, which blends together the style and energy of alt-country, indie rock, and every song you've ever listened to while on a cross country road trip. None of the songs on this album sound like his previous work, whether it's with the Wallflowers or on his own. None of the songs sound like his father's music reincarnated as a sound alike or a copycat. The lead single, "Nothing But The Whole Wide World," is the epitome of the entire album, showing off Dylan's subtle delivery and brilliant lyrics. The production of T-Bone Burnett and the addition of background vocals by Neko Case and Kelly Hogan add endless layers to the beautiful music, and is showcased on songs like "Down On Our Own Shield" and "Smile When You Call Me That." Jakob Dylan has entered a new phase in his musical career and he is going to make a lasting footprint, defining himself as one of this generation's best.

CD REVIEW: Zach Jones "Fading Flowers"

When musicians go it alone and depart on a solo project, it usually means that they've been doing their current thing for quite a while and have garnered a ton of recognition, maybe a handful of hit songs on the radio, and they just want to do something new and different. In Zach Jones' case, he has been part of a successful indie band, As Fast As, that never rocketed to the top of the charts, but maybe should have. So, for his solo project he wanted to showcase his own power pop abilities and managed to do a bang up job. Elements of Weezer and Fountains Of Wayne can be heard throughout the entire album, with Zach adding his own twist and flavor to the traditional power pop sound. "3,000 Miles" and "Round & Round" are two songs that are sure to help Zach break out of the unknown sector and become a force of the independent power pop genre. Zach Jones has proven that he can go it alone and be the frontman and rock just as hard as when he's with his bandmates in As Fast As.