CD REVIEW: Guy Sebastian "Like It Like That"

When it comes to diverse singers, Guy Sebastian is certainly one that comes to mind. In the US, however, he's not that well known because his debut "Like It Like That" has not been released there yet. Actually, this latest album by Guy is not his debut, it's just his US-debut-to-be; he has many other albums already released in his home country of Australia. Guy, who was the first winner of Australian Idol (the down under version of the US megahit), teams up with David Ryan Harris, guitarist of John Mayer's band and soulful singer/songwriter, for a no-holds-barred assault on the music world. He covers everything from soul to pop to blues on this album. American Idol winner Jordin Sparks lends her vocals to a pop duet that is the only track on the album that seems to be incredibly out of place, but not a bad song at all. John Mayer lends some guitar and background vocals to two excellent songs "Fail To Mention" and "Never Be You." The title track and "All To Myself" really show off Guy's more upbeat soulfulness. He's destined to take the world by storm, but for now only a few tracks from the album can be downloaded in the US. He will, for sure, be huge in the states once the rest of this album can be consumed.

CD REVIEW: Norah Jones "The Fall"

Norah Jones at the very core is a jazz performer and one of the greatest in recent music history, as proof by her many Grammy awards won for her debut album. On her last album she showed off what she could do in the world of country music, added a little of that flavor where possible. It's now, finally, that she dives deep into the world of indie rock music. On "The Fall" she wrote many of the songs herself, with co-writing credits going to Jesse Harris, who wrote her Grammy winning song "Don't Know Why," as well as indie rock legend Ryan Adams. The song "Chasing Pirates" is by far one of the best songs of 2009, with Norah passing on her traditional piano for a very spooky synthesizer, while adding some borderline spooky vocals. Norah has proven time and time again to be one of this generation's prolific voices and on this latest release, she has proven that her sound and her songs know no boundaries.

CD REVIEW: Eric Hutchinson "Sounds Like This Live 2"

The mark of a great performing songwriter is the ability to strip your songs down to the bare minimum and deliver them in a way that is pure and natural. When a singer/songwriter can achieve that during their live performances, they truly have proven that their talent is for real. When you can make your live performances sound equally as good as your studio recordings, if not better, then your talent cannot be questioned. Eric Hutchinson has achieved this, with only a small arsenal of songs, in his "Sounds Like This Live" EP series. On the second of these releases, he showcases another 5 songs in their purest and rawest form. "OK, It's Alright With Me" leads the pack of tunes with an outstanding live rendition that really showcases the lyrics and the piano pop feel of the song, which as a single on the radio was incredibly well received. Holding us off with live music will only work for so long, as we await his return to the studio, but Eric Hutchinson knows how to make even familiar music new and exciting.

CD REVIEW: Bob Schneider "Lovely Creatures"

He certainly has a way with words, and on this album Bob Schneider keeps up the good work by delivering a new batch of clever lyrics, heartfelt stories, and tongue-in-cheek metaphors. The first single, "40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet)," mixes his natural way with words with a catchy hook and makes for a surprising hit. "The Bringdown" is one of Bob's more musically interesting tracks, combining his stunning lyrical prowess with a slow groove and some guitar solos that really amaze. Patty Griffin lends a little vocal assistance on a updated reworking of the song "Changing Your Mind." Bob's from Texas which isn't far from Mexico, so his Latin flavor really shines on two classic live staples brought into the studio for the first time, "Tarantula" and "Bombonanza." The song "Trash," which leads it all off, stemmed from a songwriting game that he and fellow wordsmith Jason Mraz play through e-mail. Overall, Bob Schneider is one of the most unique singer/songwriters performing these days and on his newest album he may have proven that when you are at the top of your game, there's still room to go higher.

CD REVIEW: Joey Ryan "Kenter Canyon"

Joey Ryan has already astonished his listeners with his previous releases but this is the one that will put Ryan on the map. "Kenter Canyon" may be short but it's packed full of beautiful music. Sara Bareilles shows up lending background vocals on the first track "Broken Headlights," which along with "Permanent" is one of the best songs that Ryan has written. It's performance shows that he is ready to make a name for himself in the music world. Don't be surprised if before long, Joey Ryan is showing up in places you'd least expect to hear his music, like on your favorite radio station, as one of VH1's "You Oughta Know" artists, or even performing on late night television. This EP is sure to show everyone that Joey Ryan is a real deal lyricist and musician and deserving of the success that many of his peers already have achieved.

CD REVIEW: Motion City Soundtrack "My Dinosaur Life"

More so than ever before Motion City Soundtrack are at the top of their game. Poised to become the band at the forefront of a movement, the lyrics have become the star of each of the songs on this album. The movement they will lead is a change from emphasis on headbanging, hard crunchy guitars, and pop punk music to an emphasis on the lyrical content of the music being the driving force behind the success. No longer will a catchy guitar hook, a drum beat, or even a single clever chorus line be the deciding factor in who succeeds and who fails in the world of punk rock. Now, the entire message and delivery of that message will matter more than the sound of the music. Motion City Soundtrack have achieved more of a sound closely resembling Jimmy Eat World on this album than that of bands such as Fall Out Boy. Similar critical and popular success should follow for MCS as it did for Jimmy Eat World just a few years ago. Not that these boys aren't or haven't been taken seriously, but this album will help their fanbase branch out to other listeners that may have dismissed them as a certain type of band with a certain type of sound. Standout tracks are definitely "A Lifeless Ordinary (Need A Little Help)," Her Words Destroyed My Planet," and "Disappear." Not since their first album, which was not as widely appreciated, has MCS delivered such a potent collection of music.

CD REVIEW: The Elms "The Great American Midrange"

The Elms are may very well be the next great American rock band. It's true that American rock music is alive an well these days, but no one does it better than The Elms do on their newest album. Every song on the album could be played on the radio right now and become a hit. The first single, "Back To Indiana" has a catchy singable hook and a relatable story. Unfortunately the message in "This Is How The World Will End" is all too true, but the upside is that the song is not about demise, but rather, about hope. The band seriously shows off their rock chops on "Strut" and their sensitive side comes out on "The Little Ways." "Unless God Appears First" and "Long Gone" are potentially the best straightforward American rock standards on the album. It's amazing how these guys slipped through the cracks and didn't hit it off big with their previous album, but then again, had they put together this string of songs then, they'd be a household name already. The bottom line is that this is quite possibly the best American rock album of 2009.

CD REVIEW: Matt Haeck "Western States"

It's not often a musician comes out of nowhere to take you by surprise with his music. That musician this time is Matt Haeck, and this EP, his second release, is one of the most satisfying listens you will receive. His folksy American roots music is familiar yet still original and is delivered in an accessible way so that any music fan can appreciate it. "Drug Like The Ocean" is lyrically awesome and is further accented by the earth instrumentation. The other songs on the EP range from ambient and light to deep and dark. On "Banks And Murder," Haeck sings about an extreme account of how tough economic times can grab a hold of someone. The EP's lyrical content and musical fluidity make it timeless and make Matt Haeck one of the finest up-and-comers making music these days.

CD REVIEW: Haroula Rose "Someday"

Quaint, simple music is sometimes the most intriguing. Haroula Rose doesn't need a whole lot of bells and whistles to get her point across and to create beautiful music. This EP is just a short little collection of five tracks, all of which are superbly crafted and showcase her organic talents of singing and songwriting. On the title track, Haroula's voice is the star and her lyrics make that possible. Her themes of love throughout each song connect on different levels with the listener but her message is always delivered with sonic excellence. With recent success in the female singer/songwriter world, it is quite possible Haroula Rose will be amongst the newest class of lady songstresses to make it big. After hearing these songs, it's a wonder that hasn't happened yet.

CD REVIEW: Will Hoge "The Wreckage"

After being in a horrible, near life threatening, car crash, Will Hoge got back into the studio to record this album. "The Wreckage," with is fitting title, talks all about love and heartbreak in Will's signature southern rock and soul sound. On this album he has created some of his most lyrically perfect songs, adding to his catalogue a handful of rockers and ballads that are sure to become staples in his setlists. "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is tearing up the airwaves and could be his most commercial success to date. Songs like "Hard To Love" and "Favorite Waste Of Time" show off his ability to mix lyrical poignancy with good old American rock 'n' roll. Even on the slower songs he connects with the listener on a level that has not been seen in his music thus far, such as in "Goodnight/Goodbye" which features guest vocals by Nashville songstress Ashley Monroe. Will Hoge has not yet put out an album that wasn't worthy of praise. Each and every time he unleashes new music on the world it's always amazing and this time it's damn near perfect.