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4/5 | Posted February-02-2011
Group 1 Crew releases their most mainstream album yet and it is significantly better than what passes for mainstream music today. As I listened to this album the only comparison I could make was to the Black Eyed Peas because this album sounds exactly like them, albeit more positive. Every song is fun and dance worthy. The only miss is the track "Beautiful" which just seems off to me. Cut that song out and you still have a good 45 minute dance album that can fulfill your need for mainstream music without actually having to listen to it.
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4.5/5 | Posted January-26-2011
I Am Empire is Tooth and Nail's latest acquisition and just so happen to be kicking off the new year with the release of their new album. Right off the bat you'll think of 80's metal as the first seconds of the opening track "Brain Damage" hit your eardrums. Keep that thought in your mind because most of the album sounds like it, with heavy-hitting guitar riffs and incredible guitar solos. The few ballads that are on this album also sound like something straight out of the 80's. Lyrically, this album deals with the theme of overcoming hardships, something lead singer Austin Lyons has dealt with all of his life. He has stated that the basis of this album came from his tough childhood upbringing and that is certainly identifiable in the album like in the chorus of "Brain Damage" where he sings, "We are the sons and daughters of broken homes."
Kings is a great album that is sure to please rock fans and build up the already incredible fan base that I Am Empire already has.
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Same Old, Same Old. But For A Dekker Novel, That's A Good Thing. | Posted January-25-2011
The Bride Collector is generic Dekker. There's a serial killer killing people in intriguing unique ways, there's a guy who is tracking this killer, and in the end there is the twist of having the protagonist discover something that ties both him and the killer together. All of that is found here. Even though it seems that I am coming off a bit negative towards this book, I actually enjoyed it. The characters are fleshed out just enough to make you care about them. Dekker's way of using language artistically is still very impressive. Although the plot is generic, you'll still get a kick out of this book if you are a Dekker fan.
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4.5/5 | Posted January-18-2011
Tooth and Nail's latest acquisition, Write This Down, drop their self titled debut album and I can say that it is consistently entertaining throughout. Their sound is kind of like taking the intensity and screaming of Emery and the overall punk scene and putting them together. While just over 30 minutes, most of the 11 song track list are infectious in their melodies, lyrics, and hooks. Each song has at least one memoriable moment in it. For hard rockers looking to update their collection, this is the album for you.
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4/5 | Posted January-18-2011
Queens Club is one of those bands that you'll either love or hate based on how well you take their style of music. Young Giant is really the stepping stone here as some people are divided based on the sounds that come through their speakers. The way to best describe their sound is if mainstream band Franz Ferdinand and punk were put in a blender to see what would come out and the results, I can say, are very satisfying. All 12 tracks are jam packed with energy and fun. The only sour grape in this bunch is the penultimate track, "I'm American," which ends up ruining the flow that has been consistent throughout the other tracks. But other then that, Young Giant is a fun album that is one of the most unique albums of 2010.
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4.5/5 | Posted December-04-2010
After listening to the excellent Citizens Activ, I wondered what Manafest was going to come up with next. I then read that his next project will be a 2 album effort with one album being straight rock and the other straight hip-hop. Now we have the first half of this project and it bests Citizens Activ in every way. It's better written, better produced, and all around sounds better. Most of the tracks are straight rock songs and within those songs are very different types of rock sounds. One song is very reminiscent of P.O.D. This is a great album that people who like rock music and people who are Manafest fans should definitely pick up.
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4/5 | Posted November-16-2010
When you press play, you'll notice immediately that this is not the Showbread you remember. Gone is the screaming and the harsh guitars have been toned down. What has changed is everything. Josh Dies sings, the pace is much slower, and the lyrics clearly envoke the band's stance as a Christian band. Even though this album is slower it still showcases the brilliance of the band to a tee. Every song is expertly crafted and produced. The pure emotion coming from Dies is very wonderful to listen too. Longtime fans of the band might not dig this album but I really liked it. And it's free to download legally, which is a huge bonus for people who are strapped for cash.
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4/5 | Posted November-13-2010
Ivoryline's sophomore effort is very well done. The band has matured greatly in the space between There Came A Lion and this album. Most of the songs lyrically are very spiritually driven, much so then their previous album. Don't mistake this to mean that the band has slowed down their music because they haven't. They have instead chosen to go in a more spiritual direction with their lyrics and still maintain their fun sounds. The one big complaint I have is that the second half of the album, while still very good, lags behind the amazing first half. And also the track placing for the final 2 songs ("Naked" and "You Bring Fire,") is not really that good. I would have made "Made From Dust" be the absolute final track on the album, but this is only a minor nitpick and does not take away from the music. Aside from a few hiccups, Ivoryline's second outing is just as enjoyable as their first. Fans should eagerly pick this up.
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4.5/5 | Posted November-13-2010
If I could summarize the latest Underoath album in two words I would say: organized chaos. Great sounding organized chaos to boot. Underoath has never sounded better then they do on this album. Spencer Chamberlain has taken it upon himself to do all of the vocal work, screaming and clean, and it sounds amazing. Aaron Gillespie's unique drumming might be greatly missed by longtime fans but Daniel Davison's drumming is almost up to par with his. Disambiguation is beautiful organized chaos and I strongly recommend you listen to this album and be prepared to get blown away by the level of creativity these guys are able to produce.
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4/5 | Posted November-12-2010
With their sophomore release, Secret and Whisper ups the ante a bit. For people who enjoyed their debut album, this one is just as good. The band has gone for a much more harsher yet still remarkably ambient sound, a slight departure from Great White Whale. This harsher sound really feels much more exciting and raw. The 12 songs (there is a hidden track.) are chalked full of poetic lyrics that blend the poetic style and modern day observations, and concepts that focus on nature and the feelings of teenagers. Teenage Fantasy is a great album full of harsh ambiance. Fans of Secret and Whisper must not pass this album up.
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