New Release Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Mike Doughty - The Question Jar Show
• Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad - Country
• The Pines - Dark So Gold
• Fionn Regan - 100 Acres Of Sycamore
• SOJA - Strength To Survive
• Underworld - A Collection
• Underworld - 1992-2012 Anthology

REVIEW: Rebelution - Peace Of Mind

Rebelution's latest release is a bit of an undertaking on their part. Essentially they have released 3 full length albums. The first is "Peace Of Mind," a collection of brand new original reggae fueled tracks that is their best yet. The other two are the first album reinvented. "Peace Of Mind Dub" is a remix album by Michael Goldwasser of Easy Star Allstars which takes the already excellent reggae sound of Rebelution's new album and revamps it into a dirty funky dub reggae masterpiece. This is the kind of stuff that you'd excpect to hear coming straight out of Jamaica. The third in the set is an acoustic take on the full length album, showing off the intricacies of the songs, focusing on the lyrics and melody, rather than the funk and reggae. "Peace Of Mind Acoustic" solidifies Rebelution as a force in the reggae world, showing that the band is not just all about being fun and funky, but the whole package of making music is very important to them. As for the songs, there are some really great tunes on here. "Sky Is The Limit," the album's debut single, is by far Rebelution's most energetic song and bridges their signature style with the accessibility of mainstream alternative and reggae rock music. "Route Around" is the gem of the collection, sowing a softer more poignant side of the band. SOJA's Jacob Hemphill and Blues Traveler's John Popper make guest appearances on the disc, and each of their songs is amplified by their contributions. Rebelution is blasting to the forefront of their genre and is now a force to be reckoned with.

New Release Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Madi Diaz - Plastic Moon
• Craig Finn - Clear Heat Full Eyes
• K'naan - More Beautiful Than Silence
• moe. - What Happened To The La La's
• Grace Woodroofe - Always Want

REVIEW: The White Buffalo - The Lost & Found EP & Once Upon A Time In The West

The White Buffalo has been around the block a few times, but he finally has landed in a spot when the recognition he deserves will certainly find him. The recent release of "The Lost And Found EP" and the pending release of his album "One Upon A Time In The West" show off a musical talent that is far beyond what is comprehensible in today's musical world. He has been doing the folk rock thing for a while, long before anyone cared about listening to an acoustic guitar or kicking back with some mellow tunes. The difference is that he delivers with an intensity that can be compared to that of a metal band or even Johnny Cash (who he is compared to all the time). The first singles "How The West Was Won" and "The Pilot" are featured on both releases, giving the listener a pure idea of the music that The White Buffalo is capable of. American rock and roll are the cornerstone, with a heavy emphasis on folk and his acoustic guitar. The White Buffalo's deep voice is what make him stand out, but what makes him a valuable piece of the folk rock community are songs like "Wish It Was True" and "Sleepy Little Town." These songs show off his masterful and poetic lyrics and meld them securely with the music to create a package that epitomizes American folk rock music. AAA and alternative rock radio should make space and time in their rotations for this music, as The White Buffalo is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered by the masses.

REVIEW: Michael Kiwanuka's EPs - Tell Me A Tale, I'm Getting Ready, & Home Again

Michael Kiwanuka is a bright new talent out of the UK doing some throwback music that translates well with the folk rock trends that have recently come out of the indie world. Recently, Kiwanuka has released 3 EPs that showcase his old soul and folk sensibilities. The singles "I'm Getting Ready" and "Home Again" invoke just as much Bob Dylan as they do Al Green, and Kiwanuka's delivery comes from a place that is rooted deeply the music of the 60's and 70's. Fans of current musicians like Ray LaMontagne and even indie rockers such as The Head And The Heart will find Kiwanuka's music inviting and satisfying. His track "Tell Me A Tale" is the song that will make your head turn, as it is a mix of 70's funk and soul and 60's folk, featuring horns that set the mood wonderfully. He is poised to make a huge name for himself once his debut full length isreleased, and after the hugely successful year for old souls (i.e. Adele), it will set him up for equalled success.

New Release Tuesdday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Jessie Baylin - Little Spark

New Release Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Rebelution - Peace Of Mind
• Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires

BURN THIS / January 2012

1. Zach Heckendorf "All The Right Places"
2. Cris Cab "No Hatred"
3. Rebelution "Sky Is The Limit"
4. SOJA "Strength To Survive"
5. The Green "Love & Affection"
6. Rootdown "All I Wanna Do"
7. Passafire "Dimming Sky"
8. Three Legged Fox "Let You Down"
9. Barefoot Truth "Eagle Front"
10. Trevor Hall "Good Rain"
11. Chadwick Stokes (featuring Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars) "Coffee And Wine"
12. Piers Faccini "Tribe"
13. Zee Avi "Milestone Moon"
14. Release The Sunbird "No Light"
15. Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations "Movin' On"
16. Good Old War "Calling Me Names"
17. Mike Doughty "Strike Motion"
18. Sam Roberts Band "Without A Map"
19. Mat Kearney "Ships In The Night"
20. Parachute "Something To Believe In (Jeremiah)"

THE 30 BEST ALBUMS OF 2011

1. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
2. Brett Dennen - Loverboy
3. The Head And The Heat - The Head And The Heart
4. O.A.R. - King
5. G. Love - Fixin' To Die
6. Dispatch - Dispatch EP
7. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
8. Matt Nathanson - Modern Love
9. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - Chasing Someday
10. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys
11. My Morning Jacket - Circuital
12. Sam Roberts Band - Collider
13. Trevor Hall - Everything Everytime Everywhere
14. Bahamas - Pink Strat
15. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
16. The Black Keys - El Camino
17. Mat Kearney - Young Love
18. Release The Sunbird - Come Back To Us
19. Bob Schneider - A Perfect Day
20. Needtobreathe - The Reckoning
21. William Fitzsimmons - Gold In The Shadow
22. Amos Lee - Mission Bell
23. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
24. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
25. Chadwick Stokes - Simmerkane II
26. Barefoot Truth - Carry Us On
27. Mike Doughty - Yes And Also Yes
28. Zee Avi - Ghostbird
29. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me
30. James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

If you'd like to view and/or purchase albums on this and previous top 30 lists click here.

CD REVIEW: Chamberlin "Cabin Covers EP"

When bands release cover songs they can be one of two things: karaoke copycat versions or total reinventions. Chamberlin has reinvented a small handful of tunes that have recently graced the airwaves of alternative and indie rock radio. Covering fresh new material is always a challenge, but it's also refreshing to hear a different take on catchy music that is still floating around in your head. The coolest is the interpretation of Kanye West's "Lost In The World" which takes a rock band covering hip hop in a different direction. Now, Kanye sung much of that tracks, but Chamberlin adds a bit of spookiness that is similar to Bon Iver (which coincidentally cowrote and sung on Kanye's track). Foster The People's gigantic hit "Pumped Up Kicks" gets a new spin with Chamerlin's signature style, and sounds nothing like the original, but still maintains it's slick catchy nature. Cults, Vampire Weekend, and Passion Pit songs also get a fresh coat of Chamberlin paint. This EP is a steller, yet short, collection of cover songs that are so well performed that they could easily be mistaken for Chamberlin originals.