CD REVIEW: Trevor Hall "Chasing The Flame: On The Road With Trevor Hall"

Trevor Hall has always been a unique soul, but one thing is for sure: the dude can rock. His blend of acoustic folk, spiritual lyrics, and unmatched energy is in full display on his latest live release. This disc contains many of the songs off his most recent self titled album, some of which are being released as live recordings for the first time. The album also featured the three unreleased songs "Sa Re Ga," "Poem," and "Da Lion," which sees a guest appearance of percussionist Leon Mobley of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. Highlights of the album include "Origami Crane," "Who You Gonna Turn To" and "Other Ways." Trevor unleashes his live energy to the fullest on "Unity" and "Where's The Love," which also contains lyrical snippets of the songs "Handlebars" by Flobots, "Jerusalem" by Matisyahu, and "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. The fan favorite "The Lime Tree" is one of the best live recordings Hall has ever released, and with this being the fifth release to contain the song, it's hard to escape its awesomeness. Trevor and his band really show off their superior live energy and love for music in each and every song on the album, and this compilation of recordings from his 2009-2010 tour is the next best thing to having been there.

CD REVIEW: Bronze Radio Return "Old Time Speaker"

Bronze Radio Return's newest release, their first full length, is a collection of original songs that show off the bands mix of roots rock and indie pop music coupled with their live energy. It is certainly the type of album that is going to get them recognized and bring them out of the shadows. The album is filled with incredible lyrics, and one of the best is the song "Digital Love." Other standouts include "Lo-Fi," It's OK Now," and the album's closer "Stone's Throw Away." The unique vocal style of the singer and the familiar, yet still original, music will not likely have the band being dubbed a carbon copy of any other act out there. BRR definitely follows their own path and their talents are showcased well throughout this album.

CD REVIEW: STS9 "Axe The Cables"

Since this is a band that is known for breaking down barriers and creating intensely creative live electronic music, it is no wonder that they have decided to release a collection of tunes that takes an incredible left turn from where they are right now. STS9 started out as just an instrumental jam band, with similarities in style to Phish and the Grateful Dead, but slowly morphed into pioneers of the jam dance scene and live electronic music. This performance has the guys returning to their roots, unplugging their instruments and dropping the sampling and turntables for a more organic sound. Not since the band was known by their full name, Sound Tribe Sector 9, have they released music with this level of energy and creativity. They showcase their true musicianship in each song on this release, and on songs like "Kamuy" they reinvent classic electronic tunes in a whole new way. When STS9 perform and release music, you can never be sure exactly what you are going to get, but the end result is always and outstanding display of artistry and instrumentation. This one is no exception, and it offers us a reminder of the roots of the band, and refresh out love for their ever changing and inventive style.

BURN THIS / July 2010

1. Pete Francis "Love Shakes You Down"
2. Harper Blynn "This Is It"
3. Barefoot Truth "OK"
4. Chase McBride "Daylight Come"
5. Black Marmot "Sunburn"
6. Pete Miller "Daydreamer"
7. Jon And Roy "Boon 'Elm"
8. Benjy Davis Project "Get High"
9. Robert Randolph & The Family Band (featuring Ben Harper) "If I Had My Way"
10. Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs "Beg, Steal, Or Borrow"
11. Mason Jennings "Machines"
12. Josh Ritter "The Curse"
13. JBM "July On The Sound"
14. George Stanford "Meet Me In L.A."
15. Angus & Julia Stone "Santa Monica Dream"
16. Timmy Curran "If I Only Had A Way"
17. Tamarama "Lifetime On The Run"
18. Michael Franti & Spearhead "The Sound Of Sunshine"
19. Justin Ratowsky "Enjoy The Sunshine"
20. Dirty Heads "Stand Tall (Acoustic)"

CD REVIEW: "180° South" Soundtrack

Brushfire Records definitely knows how to do soundtracks. They aren't the traditional "music from and inspired by" type mixes, but rather they are mood setting and image conjuring compilations. This latest, not for a surf film, is a collection of tunes consisting mostly of new Ugly Casanova songs. Ugly Casanova is a side project of Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock with a little help from James Mercer, lead singer of The Shins and Broken Bells. Mercer also lends two tracks to the soundtrack, one is a cover of a Neil Young song. The other, an original instrumental, is the best instrumental inclusion on the album. Far and away, the best song on the album is Mason Jennings' new tune "Machines." It combines his incredible lyricism with his new found love for the electric guitar, and should have been included on his most recent album. Jack Johnson's cover of "Spring Wind" is excellent, as he finally decided to get into the studio and put it down to tape for the first time ever. Ugly Casanova impresses with "Here's To Now," "Wave Goodbye," and "Lay Me Down." Although the variety of styles on the album is limited, it's an outstanding soundtrack, with a heavy emphasis on indie rock and folk. Considering that the film is one of the year's best documentaries, the music keeps the film's adventure right at our fingertips.

CD REVIEW: Sia "We Are Born"

After having broken onto the pop music scene as a guest vocalist for the electronic act Zero 7, Sia has developed into quite the independent artist. All her music is fun and exciting, and this newest album has the most energy of any of her releases. Produced by Greg Kurstin (The Bird And The Bee, Geggy Tah), the songs contained within are a breath of fresh air. With the energy of artists like Beck (with whom she collaborated in the past) and Gnarls Barkley, her music is equally intriguing. "You've Changed" and "Clap Your Hands" are Sia's best songs since the release of "Breathe Me." "Big Girl Little Girl" has her again collaborating with Zero 7's Henry Binns, and includes backing vocals by Inara George. The album is one of the most sonically pleasing of the year, and is sure to blow up the airwaves, and trigger a plethora of remixes.

CD REVIEW: Stars "The Five Ghosts"

For fans of indie rock, Stars have always been one of those bands that has epitomized the sound. Equal parts Feist and Death Cab For Cutie, Stars has found a way to harness the subtle energy and poignant lyricism of heartfelt indie rock and paint a sonic picture with their music. Drawing from all the best parts of all their previous recordings, "The Five Ghosts," the band's first on Vagrant Records, takes them band to a new level with their music. The production quality has been stepped up, and the album as a whole is better than it's parts as individual songs. "Dead Hearts," "Fixed," and "Wasted Daylight" will easily become songs that define Stars to a mass audience that they have yet to reach. The dual vocalists, one male and one female, is a quality that is unseen in popular music these days, and sets the band apart from all its peers. Stars has always been a diamond in the rough, unrecognized by the masses for their talent and their beautiful music, and this album stands to be their breakout from obscurity.

New Release Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Trevor Hall - Chasing The Flame: On The Road With Trevor Hall
• Ernie Halter - Franklin & Vermont
• Steel Train - Steel Train
• STS9 - Axe The Cables

CD REVIEW: Ben Fuller "Aquarian Son"

An outrageously cool debut from a a talented and virtually unknown singer/songwriter, this EP finds itself somewhere around the intersection of the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Ben Fuller has put together five incredible pop songs that are full of depth and character, mixing quirky and fun lyrics with an equally exciting sound. The first and last track, "Ashes" and "California" respectively, are bookends of the EP that define the entire disc. The energy of both tracks showcase the raw talent of Fuller, and the songs are catchy and get stuck in your head for hours, just like great pop songs are supposed to do. This EP is an excellent introduction to this unknown talent, and is surely not the last we will hear from Ben Fuller.

CD REVIEW: Steel Train "Steel Train"

Back with one of their most ambitious records yet, Steel Train have delivered an immensely creative set of new tunes. Mixing their old soul rock and roll style with the newness of their indie sound and the energy of punk and alternative rock, the guys have managed to deliver a incredibly cohesive collection of songs. Tracks like "Turnpike Ghost," "Bullet," and "You And I Undercover" are surefire hits, and will certainly bring Steel Train to the forefront of the alternative rock scene. As an added bonus, Steel Train has also decided to open the floodgates an release a collection of covers of the songs on this album sung by a who's who of indie rock goddesses, including Scarlett Johansson and Tegan & Sara. With this album, Steel Train are destined to join he new wave of talented young indie bands breaking out into the mainstream.