CD REVIEW: Chase McBride "Wild Child"

Part two of Chase McBride's double release is an EP of songs that are a slight departure from his full length album "The Good Fight" while still utilizing his creativity and musicianship. This EP continues on the same path lyrically and musically as the previous album, with one twist, it was self produced and much more stripped down and organic. Without the aide of an established music producer, studio space, or high tech recording equipment, McBride harnesses the essence of who he is as a musician. His lyrics are personal and poetic and the music that accompanies them plays along like a simple soundtrack to his stories. "Gloria" and "Soul" are two of Chase's best compositions. The EP is about Chase connecting to the music and his surroundings, and he delivers some incredible tunes that sound as if they could have been written and record back in the 60's. Chase McBride is an awesome folk artist who knows the ins and outs of making a recording, writing poignant songs, and being true to who he is. "Wild Child" is a testament to McBride the musician, person, and friend, and is exactly the type of record that all folk artists should set out to create.

CD REVIEW: Chase McBride "The Good Fight"

Independent artists sometimes take on ambitious project, not only to prove that they are the real deal, but mostly because they have to release their buildup of creative energy. This latest full length album by Chase McBride is the first of a double release that is part of this ambitious endeavour. The entire album is filled with mellow folk rock that starts up right where his debut EP left off. Produced by Todd Hannigan, known for his own west coast style folk and surf film music, the album features a stunning collection of original tunes that are lyrically masterful and musically breathtaking. Song after song the progression takes you on a journey into the mind, soul, and views of Chase McBride, who has the unbelievable ability to connect to his listeners through lyrics that some seasoned veterans of the music world can't accomplish. The title track, "Daylight Come," and "Hold Me Up" are all incredible compositions that are both funky and mellow, showing off his unique approach at folk music. Fans of Dispatch, Trevor Hall, and even Jack Johnson will love this music without feeling like McBride is a copycat of any of their styles. With this release Chase McBride has begun to establish himself as part of the new breed of independent artists who do it their way, build a grassroots following, and truly show off what it means to be a musician.

CD REVIEW: Rooney "Eureka"

 Southern California is a mecca for great music and other than the Beach Boys, Rooney may be the only other band around whose music actually sounds like Southern California. This album is the first full length album that Rooney is releasing on their own since leaving their major label behind. The entire collection of music is full of upbeat music that transports you right to the beach. The band's signature power pop sound at times is reminiscent of Weezer or Phantom Planet. "I Can't Get Enough," the album's first single, is one of this year's catchiest tunes. "I Don't Wanna Lose You" and "Only Friend" are also two excellent tracks, showing off how Rooney can continue to do the same thing, while still adding a few twists and turns to make it exciting and fresh. Rooney will continue to be one of the best SoCal pop bands around, and their new venture without major label backing proves that all you really need is great songs and a great vibe.

CD REVIEW: Travie McCoy "Lazarus"

 Gym Class Heroes broke out in the last few years reinventing the genre or rap-rock. Nothing like the style of music that was everywhere in the late 90's, their brand featured more tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a pop/emo style of rock music that was much more accessible by all music fans. This album sees the solo debut of the bands lead singer/vocalist Travie McCoy, showing off much of the same that we have come to love from Gym Class Heroes. The twist is that creative freedom went one hundred percent to McCoy, and he decided to take the ball and run with it, doing some new things, some old things, and some off the wall things. The album is much more pop and hip hop than the alternative sound of Gym Class Heroes, reaching a different type of music fan. GCH fans will love this album, but it is a slight departure. Reggae is showcased in the debut single "Billionaire" and McCoy brings the funk and soul on "Dr. Feel Good" with a little help from Cee-Lo Green. Overall, McCoy has proven that he's got a firm grasp on the music industry and shows no signs of slowing down whether is is all alone or with his band.

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• The Chemical Brothers - Further
• Delta Spirit - History From Below
• Travie McCoy - Lazarus
• Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Rooney - Eureka

Also released today:

• 180° South (Woodshed Films DVD)

CD REVIEW: moe. "Smash Hits, Volume One"

After a 20 year (and still going) career, it's only logical to release a greatest hits album. Well, for moe., unconventional is always the way to go and they spare no expense with their recently released 'best of' collection. "Smash Hits, Volume One" is a collection of 10 of the band's best songs, mostly comprised of the songs that the band and those close to the band have deemed to be fan favorites. With an incredibly extensive catalogue to pull from, it's a wonder they were able to narrow it down to just 10 songs, but then again, this is only volume one. The and also decided to rerecord many of the songs on the album to give them a fresh interpretation, some of which were new over a decade ago. The band was unable to get the rights to the recordings they released when they were with Sony Music, so rather than not include some of their best songs ever, they decided to showcase the songs by recording updated versions of the music. To no surprise at all, each song is as awesome as the original and every liver performance of the song. They've also included the first ever studio recording of "Seat Of My Pants," a song that has been played live a countless number of times, but never saw the light of day on a studio album. These guys continue to wow audiences, reinvent themselves, and create unconventional and fantastic music. These songs truly are some of the band's best songs, and the future will surely contain several more volumes of this series, as moe. has many more and will continue to record smash hits.

CD REVIEW: Todd Carey "After The Morning After"

 Todd Carey is one of those pop singer/songwriters that gets underapprecaited, simply because his style of music sounds a lot like many others. Well, that doesn't mean that his music should not get recognized at all. His latest EP release starts off right where his last release left, with great pop tunes that are catchy, singable, and connect easily to the listener. He has always had a way with words, and on this release he shows off how sometimes the simplest lyrics and simplest content make some of the best music. Songs like the title track and "The First Day" are equal parts pop and indie, making them just perfect enough not to sound like the overdone style of pop rock you can hear on top 40 radio. His music is still small and personal, just the way it should be, and his fans and new listeners alike can all benefit from his connection to his lyrics and sincerity of his delivery.

CD REVIEW: Josh Ritter "So Runs The World Away"

 With each new album, Josh Ritter continues to tweak his music to create and even more complex and creative collection of music. With his newest album, he has developed an array of incredibly different songs that form one of his best full length recordings. There are a handful of songs that are both catchy, lyrically poignant, and artistically musical. He mixes big and bold with soft and small, taking the listener on quite a musical journey. "The Curse," one of his most lyrically beautiful compositions ever, tells the story of a cursed mummy coming back to life and falling in love with the woman who unearthed him and brought him to a museum in New York. It's a very unreal concept, but his soft delivery and lyrical poetry make it one of his best love songs. "Rattling Locks," "Lantern," and "Another New World" are all album standouts, and are surely amongst the best songs Ritter has ever recorded. "Change Of Time" was the album's introduction to the world as it is currently in heavy rotation at AAA radio, and climbing the charts. Ritter's new music is quite possibly his best, and as he has proven time and time again, his creativity in his songwriting makes every album, especially this one, outstanding.

CD REVIEW: Tamarama "Tamarama"

 After gaining a little popularity after one of their members appeared as a regular on the MTV show "The City," Tamarama has returned with their first full length album. Previously they helped us get to know them through an acoustic heavy EP that showed off their laid back beach rock style. They electrify their sound a little more on their self titled debut adding many more elements of pop rock into the mix. The first single "Lifetime On The Run," mixes their laid back style with pop sensibility to make it both accessible for lover's of beach style folk rock and traditional pop rock music. Some of the more intriguing songs on the album, where they take some creative liberties with the music, are "Roses," "Live My Life," and "You Got Me Bad." Now that they have rounded out there sound, Tamarama are sure to become a staple of everybody's summertime playlists.

CD REVIEW: Good Old War "Good Old War"

 Good Old War aren't your typical indie rock band. While they might be on an indie label and they might make unconventional music that is not super mainstream, they do make music that is incredibly accessible to the masses. They pull from influences that are straight out of the 1960s and 1990s to make a blend of indie folk that is fresh and exciting. Fleet Foxes had success last year with their CSN style harmonies, and this year the world will embrace Good Old War's CSN-meets-Bob Dylan influenced self titled album. Their 90s influences come in the form of indie pop rock and coupled with their folk instrumentation and vocal delivery, it makes for an incredible collection of new tunes. Songs such as "My Own Sinking Ship" and "Get Some" may find their place on alternative rock and AAA radio, as they are well written, catchy, and deserving of mass exposure. They also showcase their incredible musicianship and instrumentation on three instrumental tracks cleverly entitled "Good," "Old," and "War." After wowing listeners with their debut album, they solidify themselves as the real deal with their heart, their soul, and their music out on their sleeves for all to see.