Echo Helstrom, Echo Helstorm C- The new album from Portland's Echo Helstrom is essentially indie-rock for the Dave Mathews Band fan. The album has acoustic, heartfelt songs that sound similar to Boise's Draw. Many sad and sweet songs lounge throughout the album, but vocalist Ross Seligman's voice can't quite carry the band, which leaves many of the songs quite boring.
Mix almost every kind of music to one track and it might come out sounding like Chronophonic. Someone needs to tell this band that sometimes less is more. On the band's new CD, Footwork, Denver-based Chronophonic throws in beats and rhymes, the soul of James Brown, jazz as if Miles Davis were performing with Metallica, the funk of Parliment, a little bit of R & B and even some hippie jam-band sounds.
Some say the third time is the charm. It's true for Orange County, Calif., rock band Thrice. The band's third album, The Artist in the Ambulance, debuted on the Billboard top 200 and after years of playing opening band to more well known acts, the members have embarked on their first headlining tour across America.
This story was going to be the big one. I got an email last Friday asking, "Sam, how would you like to go to The Mars Volta show and interview them after the show?" I got so excited my head started to spin. I thought I was in grade school again on my way to see Motley Crue.
Even local bands can have a storied past full of hard work and rock star shenanigans. In the four years that Unit 7 Drain has been together, it has had a work output greater than most well-paid pop stars and probably much better tales. The band recoded and released a self-titled EP in 2001, the excellent LP Red Halo in 2002 and 2003's The Suicide Couple.
There is nothing wrong with taking a minimalist approach to making music, especially in this day of polished, slickly produced "American Idol" karaoke superstars. The minimalist approach has worked for countless bands over the years, just ask any Weezer fan.
by Sam Beresky Daily Lobo With the typical rock lineup of two guitars, bass and drums, rock music really can't be something different or new anymore. The Von Bondies major label debut, Pawn Shoppe Heart, is no exception. And with the recent explosion of guitar-based rock that sounds as if it is coming straight from the carport, the sound isn't even new or original for our generation.
by Sam Beresky Daily Lobo With the typical rock lineup of two guitars, bass and drums, rock music really can't be something different or new anymore. The Von Bondies major label debut, Pawn Shoppe Heart, is no exception. And with the recent explosion of guitar-based rock that sounds as if it is coming straight from the carport, the sound isn't even new or original for our generation.
Mix equal parts Utah mountains and Southern California sunshine and you get a singable, slightly twangy, alternative-country, or as Remedy Motel calls it, porch rock. On their second independently released album A Better Life, these Utah boys turned California surfer kids have struck on an idea and a sound they like to call Americana-infused music.
Solutions by The State News
