Bite Me! FAST Reviews

(In no particular order at all...)

Artist: Conveniens

Album: Self Titled

Label: Convenience Records

Who: Chicago Duo of John Maz (drums) & Sterling Smith (keys)

Sounds Like: Unique electronic instrumental fusion of jazz & rock.

Artist: Firebug

Album: End of the World

Label: Buddha Belt Records

Who: Delta Blues inspired rock band that mix in a bit of psychedelia, hard rock, and 70’s flair.

Sounds Like: Well executed and sincere tunes emit a mellow laid back vibe that are complimented by Juliette’s distinct vocals.

Artist: Forgive Durden

Album: Wonderland (5 song advance)

Label: Fueled by Ramen

What: Concept album driven by seriously poppy musicians proud of it and negating the Wall Street Journal status quo.  I know, the term concept album is scary – and it is a bit theatrical, but rather good.

Sounds like: I really like their theatrical guitar and vox driven brand of rock.  I couldn’t tell you what the songs are called because Fueled by Ramen put differing titles on them from what iTunes has.

Artist: Infidel

Album: I, Oathbreaker

Label: Caroline

Who: Hard hitting sludgy doom metal outfit from Greece.

Sounds Like: Demonic cocktail of rock, death, jazz, and funk.

Artist: Polly Panic

Album: Painkiller

Label: Grey Day Records

Who: Gothic-punk rock chic armed with a cello and a manic depressive drummer.

Sounds Like: Moltov cocktail comprised of bit of Yo-Yo Ma, Siouxsie Sioux, Mia Zapata & The Melodies.  

Artist: The Slats

Album: Boom Patrol

Label: Latest Flame Records

Who: Off kilter punk band from Minneapolis pens witty tunes that are way out of left field.

Sounds Like: Wow! Yeah…um…bands like this really make me miss drunk reviews.  Sobriety sucks.

Artist: The Classic Crime

Album: Albatross

Label: Tooth & Nail

Who: Good ole boys from Seattle.

Sounds Like: Solid catchy rock tunes with a healthy injection of pop and punk.

Artist: Minmae

Album: Le Grand Essor de la Maison du Monstre

Label: Greyday Records

What: Philosophical Portland band with Sean Brooks as main songwriter

Sounds like: Super geeky emo that requires thought and work to understand and enjoy.  If you like that sort of thing…this is probably the thing you’ll like.

Artist: Year of the White Buffalo

Album: Self-Titled

Label: Black and Blue Star

What: Singer-songwriter Dave Black’s (Joy Zipper, Driver, Liquid Logic) solo project.

Sounds like: Low-key rock songwriter bares-all ditties a coffee club crowd would enjoy.

Artist: David Turbow

Album: Digital 8-Track Ditties

Label: Onset Records

What: Orange County’s favorite intellectual record label owner releases an ep of songs.

Sounds like: Showcases David’s writing style with lo-tech approach.

Artist: JR Ewing

Album: Maelstrom

Label: Dim Mak

Who: Potent punk outfit from Norway.

Sounds like: Album is a little more progressive and polished than past efforts, but still packs a lot of punch.

Artist: Chthonic

Album: Seedig Bale

Label: Down Port Music

Who: Taiwanese symphonic black metal band.

Sounds like: For the most part one can never understand the lyrics in Black Metal and Chthonic is no different.  However, this band is more amusing than most.

Artist: Anata

Album: The Conductors Departure

Label: Earache

Who: Froward thinking metal outfit from Sweden.

Sounds like: Melodically driven, technically inclined dark metal that is a little too smart for its own good.

Artist: Hammer Bros.

Album: The Vitality

Label: Crosscheck Records

Who: Brutal thrash hardcore unit.

Sounds like: Fast, intense, and in-your-face…Hammer Bros are intent on keeping the hard in hardcore.

Artist: The Autumn Offering

Album: Embrace The Gutter

Label: Victory Records

Who: Intimate five piece that delivers a dynamic blend of thunderous groove-laden thrash metal.

Sounds like: Brutally heavy yet utterly delicious.

Artist: Ten West

Album: Self-Titled

Label: Blue Label

Who: This O.C. band sounds like something you’d hear on ‘The O.C.’ or ‘Laguna Beach’.

Sounds like: Acoustic-driven pop that mixes elements of Dave Matthews, 311, Matchbox 20, and a touch of Jack Johnson.

Artist: 7K

Album: Knick Knacks and Apparel

Label: Self

Who: Ambitious Orange County rock band.

Sounds like: This double disc set comes with a live DVD and runs the gamut from mid-90’s alt ballads to arena size rockers.  It’s not often that an unsigned band delivers a quality CD/DVD set.  Could they be backed by an O.C. housewife?

Artist: Sosohuman

Album: Twenty-Six

Label: Undeniable Music

Who: Emotionally driven three piece whose sound harkens back to the early days of Pearl Jam.

Sounds like: Twenty-Six hits hard and flows well. 

Artist: Tack

Album: Porn

Label: Tarpit Music

Who: Somewhat of a super group comprised of veteran musicians.

Sounds like: Unpretentious mix of raw rock, experimental sounds, haunting vocals, pulsating rhythms, and a B porn vibe.

Artist: Street to Nowhere

Album: Charmingly Awkward

Label: Capital

Who: Buzz band from Oakland, California, that is sure to be a hit with the indie college crowd.

Sounds like: These catchy and well-crafted tunes are quirky, unique, and off the beaten path.

Artist: Drive By

Album: I Hate Every Day Without You Kid

Label: Riot Squad Records

Who: Named by AP as one of the top 100 bands you need to know in 2006.

Sounds like: This mainstream pop punk album validates AP’s prediction.  If you like Jimmy Eats World don’t let Drive By pass you by.

Artist: DJ Starscream

Album: The New Leader

Label: N20 Records

Who: Sid Wilson (aka #0 of Slipknot)

Sounds Like: Blistering metal mash up of moshable tunes and ghetto fabulous beats.

Artist: Hella

Album: There’s No 666 In Outer Space

Label: Ipecac

Who: San Francisco duo turned five piece.

Sounds Like: Primus on an acid trip.  Hella isn’t hella good or hella bad.  They’re just hella unique.  The band is signed to Ipecac.  Need I say more?

Artist: New Years Day

Album: New Years Day

Label: TVT

Who: Cali power pop punkers

Sounds Like: Ultra catchy anthemic songs for teens that haven’t made it out of puberty.

Look out Avril there’s a new kid on the block, and they actually do write their own songs.