Scars on Broadway (Interscope)  

I typically listen to an album before reading the press release, so I can form an unbiased opinion.  Such was the case with Scars on Broadway’s self titled effort.  I listened to the album twice and each time System of a Down came to mind, so I wasn’t surprised when I read the bio and found out that the band is comprised of System alumni Daron Malakian (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, organs, melotrons) & John Dolmayan (drums).  System fans already knew that this project has been in the works since 2005, and with the band on hiatus the members are free to indulge in other projects.  Not as heavy as System, Scars on Broadway’s sound weighs more on the melodic side; however, it is still heavy enough to keep System fans happy and bring new fans onboard.  The album gets off to an energetic start with “Serious”.  The dark aesthetic and manic psychosis of “Exploding/Reloading” solidifies the group’s signature style, which is a mixture of metal, punk, classic rock, and psychedelia.  “Chemicals” is a quirky piece and the politically charged “3005” and punk influenced “They Say” are also top contenders.  For the most part, the tunes are quick and to the point.  There’s room for improvement and no doubt Scars will deliver the goods on future releases.  -NIN

Fronted by former Rob Zombie guitarist Riggs, Scum of The Earth’s sound is influenced by none other than Rob Zombie.  His voice also bears a resemblance to Rob’s.  The only thing missing is the “Yeahs”.  In the realms of modern day shock rock it’s good, but one would hope that this sophomore effort would be a bit of a departure as opposed to a tribute.  These self produced Macabre oriented tunes (dubbed stripper metal) feature lots of grinding guitars, snarling vocals, B-movie theatrics, futuristic dance grooves, and lyrics about women, sex, and the undead.  A majority of the songs on the album were recorded with Riggs’ one-of-a-kind “skin” guitar, which is a custom Fernandes Vertigo that is wrapped in real pigskin.  A homage to Leatherface perhaps?  Well, you have to admire is dedication to the arts.  Sleaze Freak gets off to a roaring start with the hard driving “Bombshell from Hell”.  The industrial undertones of “Devilscum” are matched by the explosive dance beats of “I am Monster,” and “Lovely Pig” is a great techno trash tune that features some wicked bass grooves.  In an effort to steer you from iTunes this disc comes with a bonus 30 minute DVD that offers behind the scene footage.  Not a bad deal for the price.   -NIN

In case you hadn’t noticed, Young Modern is Silverchair’s first album of new material in 5 years.  As expected, it’s a mature album – a little heavier and more experimental than what most people would remember.  Picking up where Diorama left off, Young Modern blends melodic indie rock with eclectic pop sensibilities.  This ambiguous offering comes off as a cross between Elton John, Queen and The Beatles and finds the Aussie rockers embracing melody and brighter lyrics. The journey begins with the post-punk rave antics of “Young Modern Station,” which exhibits John’s vocal abilities to their fullest extent.  His diverse range is showcased in the dreamy ballad “Waiting All Day,” the glam inspired “Strange Behavior,” and the hard hitting “Insomnia”.  “Straight Line” is a solid single that boldly signals the band’s return.  Acoustic guitars, keyboards Paul Mac, and Van Dyke Parks’ lush orchestration is the focal point of “Those Thieving Birds (Part 1) – Those Thieving Birds (Part 2) , courtesy of Van Dyke Parks, add to the album’s appeal.  According to vocalist/guitarist Daniel Johns, Young Modern is about acceptance and if their fans can accept the band’s new direction that’s half the battle.  Silverchair has come a long way from their grunge beginnings. -NIN

On their debut, Waking The Mystics, the operatic pop group, Sophe Lux, goes beyond the realms of guitar, drums, & bass.  Adventurous and diverse, these expertly orchestrated tunes incorporate piano, sax, synths, accordion, gongs, and even glockenspiel.  This theatrical collection of observations is fueled by lyrics that are inspired by the likes of Nietzsche and William Blake.  The music is played with a passion.  -NIN  

Swizz Beats – The One Man Band (Interscope)

If you’re not familiar with Swizz Beats he’s a hit maker from the Bronx responsible for over 95 Million records sold.  Swizz (a.k.a. Kasseem Dean) started out as a producer while in his teens for Ruff Ryders’ and carved out a path with his anthemic keyboard beats.  It was only a matter of time before he became the man behind such club banging hits for DMX, Eve, Beyonce, and T.I.  As talented as he is, rapping isn’t his forte, rather it’s his signature frenetic beats that are the backbone of The One Man Band.  The raucous lead single “It’s me Bitches” bursts full of energy.  Each track is busy, and in this case it’s not a bad thing.  There’s so much going on your aural senses won’t be bored.  Here’s a bit of trivia for you…Swizz was recently appointed as Ambassador of music for World Peace to United Nations.  Now that’s an accomplishment.   -NIN

Since inception in 2006, Tenspoke Indies has been blazing trails and gathering loyal legions of fans.  Harkening back to the heyday of rock, Blinded By The Sound delivers a driving blend of hook-laden rock n’ roll complete with snazzy guitar solos, big melodies, giant hooks, and the obligatory cowbell.  Handclaps are the focal point of “Give to Get,”  “Mayday” is a catchy tune, and “Lights Out” delivers an energetic burst of guitar god electricity.  It’s obvious that Tenspoke Indies set out to deliver a solid rock record and they succeeded.  -NIN

Tokyo Rose – The Promise in Compromise (SideCho Records)

New Jersey based emo punkers dish up a heavy dose of guitar driven tunes perfect for today’s hungry youth.  In their third release, Tokyo Rose’s seamless musicianship focuses on danceable pop-punk rhythms and funky guitar riffs.  This upbeat, listener friendly disc is perfect for perfect for fans of Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, and Panic! At The Disco.  It’s emo punk minus the sleeper ballads.  -NIN

Aka: The Red Album, Weezer fans will be excited to see them recording music again.  Still heavily laden with quirky lyrics, Weezer has further grown into more unconventional song structures, as evidenced in the anthemic “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)”.  The standard verse-chorus-verse songs and sing along beats are still here in the songs “Troublemaker” and “Pork and Beans”.  Enjoyable, if not earth shattering, the Red Album is a good accompaniment to their other 5 studio CD’s.  -J

At first I wasn’t as impressed as I’d hoped to be when I first listened to this record, but after hearing it over the loudspeakers at a nightclub I found a whole new respect.  Songs About Girls is a showcase of Will’s eclectic musical taste and knack for cranking out great ass shaking beats.  A pop album at heart, this adventurous offering fuses hip-hop with elements of rock, electronica, and bossa nova.  Songs About Girls is a compilation of tunes about…well…girls - mainly the ladies in Will’s life, both past & present.  The album’s sunny disposition doesn’t stray too far from BEP winning formula, nor does it rely on an all-star cast for support.  The only big name here is Snoop Dogg, who adds a bit of flava to “The Donque Song”.  SAG begins with “Over,” which features samples from ELO’s “It’s Over”.  The hook-laden “I Got It from My Mama” takes its cue from “My Humps”.  The bouncy beats of “Get Your Money” are matched by the groovy bass lines of “Impatient”.  “Invisible” rides high on electro funk and “Dynamic Interlude” is a meaty rock inspired piece.  The alum closes with “S.O.S. (Mother Nature)”, which seems a little out of place, but Will always has to put a good message out there, so it fits.  All in all, Songs About Girls is a very strong pop album.  The great thing about these tracks is their variety.  Will doesn’t stick to standard verse-chorus-verse formula.  He throws a few things in the mix to shake things up and keep it interesting. -NIN  

Not only does the Guitar Hero III companion piece contain in-game songs, it also comes with an access code for Xbox live, which will unlock bonus playable tunes to play along with Guitar Hero III.  If you don’t have an Xbox, the disc offers some killer tracks to rock out to.  Either way it’s a win/win situation. -NIN