CD REVIEW: Stone Temple Pilots "Stone Temple Pilots"

In the 90's, Stone Temple Pilots were one of the bands that helped to define a sub genre of alternative rock music known as grunge. Despite the fact that the leaders of this movement were Pearl Jam and Nirvana, STP played a key role in helping to mold grunge rock and alternative rock music throughout the decade. Late in the 90's, Stone Temple Pilots went away from their grunge sound and developed their brand of alternative rock to be all their own. It's fitting that none of their albums released in the early parts of their career were self titled. Their most recent release, coming after a nine year hiatus, got the self titled label and truly defines the band's music from beginning to end and all the way through to now. "Between The Lines," the album's first single, is so good that it is feasible that it could have fit into any of their previous releases. STP have never changed their music to suit the times or to follow trends in music, but they have continued to release great music, even during the lowest points in their career. Although lead singer Scott Weiland had his troubles, and he dabbled with a few solo albums and his other band, Velvet Revolver, never has it been more evident than on this album that his home is as the front man of Stone Temple Pilots. The DeLeo brothers on guitar and bass and Eric Kretz on drums, along with Weiland, haven't made this great of an album since the release of "Purple," and have rejuvenated themselves and their career, which will surely have them touring and recording well into their third decade.

CD REVIEW: Mason Jennings "Fingerprints: Sept. 20, 2009"

This little gem of an album is a limited edition release that was only able to be purchased in independent record stores on Record Store Day 2010. Mason Jennings has always been known for his live performances, and this collection showcases many of the tunes off of his latest album "Blood Of Man." It is interesting to hear these songs performed live, as their studio versions are somewhat of a departure from his normal acoustic folk. You can hear the rawness of the emotion in Jennings' voice as he sings his stunning lyrics in front of a small crowd. Great versions of "Black Wind Blowing," "Ain't No Friend Of Mine," and "Pittsburgh" are all included, as well as one older song, "Crown." Mason Jennings is an outstanding live performer, and though he has not released a proper live album yet, this is just a taste of his energy and delivery for those who have not been able to experience one of is live shows in person.

CD REVIEW: Truth & Salvage Co. "Truth & Salvage Co."

Southern rock, country music, and folk are all elements of Truth & Salvage Co.'s debut album. You cannot pinpoint a specific genre or style to put these guys and their music into. For comparison's sake, it's kind of like Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young performing with the Allman Brothers as their backing band. These guys certainly know how to deliver their music on this album, and the harmonies and the lyrics set the album apart from anything on the scene today. "Call Back," "Welcome to LA," and "Old Piano" are all excellent tracks. Fans of Fleet Foxes and the Avett Brothers will equally fall in love with this band. The music on this album, which was produced by the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson, is set apart from anything you will hear on the radio, making for an incredibly unique and interesting recording.

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• The Beautiful Girls - Spooks
• Todd Carey - After The Morning After
• Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots
• Truth & Salvage Co. - Truth & Salvage Co.
• Keller Williams & The Keels - Thief

CD REVIEW: Rogue Wave "Permalight"

With each album that Rogue Wave creates they add a new dimension to their already complex music. They have embraced their brand of indie rock and taken it to new levels, and following up their critically acclaimed album "Asleep At Heaven's Gate" wasn't going to be easy. Yet, Rogue Wave has managed to seamlessly transition themselves into their newest album without a hitch. "Permalight" has the band returning a bit to their roots with louder guitars, more keyboards, and a bigger sound that is reminiscent to their first two albums. The lead single "Good Morning" is a straight up alternative rocker with big fuzzy guitars. "Solitary Gun" is the "Lake Michigan" of this album, and it's partially mellow indie rock sound will help this song to be the album's cornerstone. The title track features a syncopated rhythm and has the band sounding incredibly cohesive, yet still holding onto an organic feel of the music. This album is an awesome stopping point on Rogue Wave's journey through music, and the guys never cease to amaze with their creative take on indie and alternative rock.

CD REVIEW: Black Marmot "Run Home"

Black Marmot is kind of a modern throwback band. They aren't really doing music that is cutting edge or unfamiliar. Rather, they have embraced a sound that has gone away from popular music and receded into the shadows. Early and mid 1990's college and jam rock was huge, and Black Marmot's sound is reminiscent of that. Blues Traveler and Rusted Root are two bands that come to mind when listening to this debut album. Singer Linde Clark sounds a little like a young Natalie Merchant, bringing yet another element of the 90's to their music. Make no mistake, there is nothing copycat or old school about the sound, it's just that they have decided to bring it back in their own special way. "Indifference" and "Sunburn" are excellent tracks both musically and lyrically, showing off all the skills of each member of the band. The album features some excellent guitar solos, and songs like "Brother" and "Hurricanes" showcase a softer side of their music and some great songwriting. The entire album is full of the energy of a live performance captured in the studio. Black Marmot is one of the best kept secrets in the Northeast and their debut album showcases a band that is poised to be a leader in reinvigorating the 90's jam rock scene.

CD REVIEW: Band Of Horses "Infinite Arms"

Band Of Horses continues to grow and change with the albums that they release, and their newest effort is their most ambitious to date. The album, which finds them releasing on a major label for the first time, features the band's new five member lineup and some excellent indie-meets-southern rock music. The harmonies on the album are reminiscent of Fleet Foxes, but the music is all Band Of Horses. The first single "Laredo" along with "Compliments" and "Factory" are all incredibly different songs than they have released in the past, yet they are the best songs on the album. "Evening Kitchen" and "Blue Beard" have elements of the band's first two album, showing off the sweeping indie rock that we heard on songs like "The Funeral" and "Is There A Ghost." Band Of Horses is at the top of their game, and has now begun to set themselves apart from all the other indie rock bands trying to do the same old thing. This album has proven that Band Of Horses is the real deal and has range in their music and musicality that goes far beyond the guitar/bass/drums formula.

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.