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4.5/5 | Posted August-26-2011
The Anti Mother marks a new chapter in the evolution of Norma Jean. It takes on a more melodic tone while still maintaining a sense of their metal roots. This is also their heaviest album yet. Corey Putman's vocals sound very good as he screams out the album's descriptive lyrics. The main theme of this album focuses on this fictional character called the Anti Mother, who according to the band, is ment to represent everything that looks beautiful on the outside but is very deceptive on the inside.
Norma Jean succeds in crafting an album that can be both melodic and heavy. While long-time fans of the band might not like this direction, new listeners will probably have a good time.
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4/5 | Posted August-24-2011
I normally don't listen to single artists but once I first heard a song by Mat Kearney I really dug it. I dug his voice and his combination of singing and rapping. I never had the chance to pick up one of his albums but that changed once I went to an Owl City concert where he was an opening act. I picked up City of Black & White right then and there. (And also because that was the only one available.)
In comparision to his earlier work, City of Black & White is different in style. It still retains a fun vibe but that vibe is a bit more chill and mellow. Also, it's a bit of a letdown that there is no rapping whatsoever on this album. My guess is that Mat wanted to show off his signature voice more and wanted to appeal to a broader audience. I like that he is trying something different but I would have preferred at least one track that goes back to his roots.
City of Black & White is still a great album to listen too but fans of Mat's earlier stuff might be a little put off by the lack of rapping.
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3/5 | Posted August-24-2011
In The Making is, in my opinion, the weaker of the two Nevertheless albums. I enjoy their sound but the fact that more than half of the tracks are slow acoustic ones just makes this album a tad bit boring. There are some really good rockers on this album that bump my rating up slightly but the other tracks just made me a bit bored. Rock fans would want to download the rock tracks.
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4 1/2 | Posted August-24-2011
It always interests me to go back and listen to a band's early material once they gain major popularity. Owl City is no exception as both of their earlier independent projects, the Of June EP and full-length Maybe I'm Dreaming, have been re-released by the label for everyone to hear.
Maybe I'm Dreaming, upon first listen, does sound really independent and doesn't have the smooth solid production of Ocean Eyes or All Things Bright and Beautiful. But that never hinders the excellent songwriting abilities of Adam Young. The main theme of this album focuses on a sky metaphor. There are lots of sky imagery around the album and it's cover artwork.
This is a solid first full-length effort from Adam. Some of the songs do make an appearance on Ocean Eyes and sound way better then they do here. This is one album that any fan of Owl City should get the chance to listen to if they want to know how the phenomenon got started.
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5/5 | Posted June-14-2011
Owl City's major label debut, Ocean Eyes, became an unexpected smash hit with both the Christian and secular communities. 2 years later Adam Young is back and sounding as better as ever. There is a lot of anticipation and expectations for this one and what comes out of it after listening is more then satisfactory.
The first thing I noticed was how much better the production quality is. Gone are the days of Adam creating songs in a basement, now he has a full studio and the music shows. This album also ambiciously mixes up styles with some hip hop elements that actually sound pretty good. Lyrically, you can tell that Adam has matured a bit in his songwriting ability. As the album title implies, most of the theme of this album is about beautiful things that are all around us. There's also a space motif going on throughout the album with songs like "Galaxies" and "Alligator Sky." This is also a much more spiritual album then Ocean Eyes was and I appreciate it when a mainstream Christian artist is not afraid to profess their faith in their music.
All Things Bright And Beautiful is an ambitious album that certainly pulls no creative punches. The sheer creative genuis of Adam Young is prevalent and that creative force has crafted an album that exceeds all expectations that I had.
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4/5 | Posted June-09-2011
Mychildren Mybride is a relativly new band on the Solid State lineup. Their second album, Lost Boy, showcases their evolution as a band. All the songs seem more mature lyrically and musically than the songs on their debut album. I really don't have that much to say about this album except that it showcases a band that looks to have a promising future.
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5/5 | Posted June-09-2011
Living Sacrifice has been around a long time. In that time they have made a name for themselves and have become one of the most influential bands in the history of Christain metal. This album marks their first album since coming off an 8 year hiatus and it sounds amazing. It feels like they have never left. The brutal sound is present throughout and Bruce Fitzhugh's unique growl remains consistant as well. This album is a great welcome back for any longtime fans and is a great starter for newcomers as well.
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4.5/5 | Posted June-06-2011
Inhale Exhale is a young band that makes a big scene in their genre due to the fact that they seem to be so in sync with each other. The latest example of this is their new album Bury Me Alive. It's chalked full of talent and maturity that it's 40 minute length will flash by and leave you wanting more. Every riff is placed perfectly, every breakdown makes sense, and the lyrics impact you and make you agree with their points of view. This is a great metal album that showcases just how talented this band is. I look forward to their future endeavours.
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4/5 | Posted June-02-2011
Day of Fire's 3rd and sadly final album, Losing All, feels like a trip back to the 90's. Their sound on this album is reminescant of a little band called Creed and that is, to me, a very good accomplishment. Aside from the sound, this is a very good album. It starts off a bit slow with some frankly generic sounding songs but quickly picks up momentum and memorability as the album progresses. For anyone who misses the rock sound of the 90's or just wants to experience nostalgia, this is the album for you.
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4/5 | Posted June-01-2011
I had never heard of Before Their Eyes until a few months ago when a song of their's played on RadioU. I liked what I heard and wanted more. Untouchable managed to satisfy my curiosity and made me wanting more.
The sound of Untouchable can be best described as a mix of The Devil Wears Prada and Emery with the pop punk flavour of Relient K. A similar sound can be found many times in mainstream music but it's almost rare in Christain music. Lyrically, it's a bit too similar to many other bands. The band talks about life, love, and heartbreak but don't really bring anything new to the table.
Aside from that, Untouchable is a solid album that is very accessible to everyone. I found the final track, an acoustic version of one of the songs featured on the album, to be a bit unnecessary. I would have much rather preferred it to be a bonus track and a new track be put in its place, but there are still 10 other songs that are full of great breakdowns and musical talent.
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