Vibes blog

Each Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 recently released CDs done in 10 words each:

Steve Morse Band Out Standing In Their Field — Dixie Dregs/Deep Purple guitarist releases entirely instrumental solo work.

Self-Evident Endings — Minneapolis trio sounds like Fugazi meets math rock… not bad.

Kill Paradise The Second Effect — Electropop duo creates… it’s more crap with too much Autotune.

Switchfoot Hello Hurricane — San Diego rock quintet releases its seventh full-length album. (At Amos’ Southend on Dec. 3.)

Jerry Douglas Jerry Christmas — Mostly instrumental album has traditional songs played on the dobro. (At Neighborhood Theatre on Dec. 6.)

The Sons of Hercules A Different Kind of Ugly — Texas garage rockers bring forth plenty of raw punk energy.

Snowbyrd Diosdado — A couple new ones, but mostly unreleased, genre-defying tracks.

Picture Me Broken Dearest, I’m So Sorry — Screamo rock EP by teenagers fronted by Gregg Allman’s daughter.

Kam Moye Splitting Image — Artist formerly known as Supastition releases album under new name.

The Penelope(s) Priceless Concrete Echoes — French electropop duo combines indie and techno…kinda gothic too.

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Each Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 recently released CDs done in 10 words each:

The Starting Line Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us — CD/DVD combo comes from hometown show during 2008 tour.

Dolly Parton Dolly: Live from London — DVD/CD set gives look at country legend’s recent performance.

Luego Taped-Together Stories — Some folk-pop with hints of electric blues… not memorable.

Ray Davies The Kinks Choral Collection — Band’s frontman returns with new vocal interpretations from past catalog.

Bad Lieutenant Never Cry Another Tear — New Order frontman Bernard Sumner’s latest project offers harmonized vocals.

Liam Finn & Eliza Jane Champagne in Seashells EP — Pop music gets some digital infusion for five delightful tunes.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers The Bear — Massachusetts-based roots rockers release enjoyable album worth multiple listens.

Calvin Richardson Facts of Life — Monroe native continues his soulful ways with Womack tribute album.

Burns Three Teknique EP — Third installment of techno monotony. Go pick up a guitar.

Sarah Blacker The Only Way Out Is Through — Singer has hints of Natalie Merchant in her vocal style.

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Every Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 recently-released CDs done in 10 words each:

Systems Officer Underslept — Half of Pinback, Armistad Burwell Smith, releases a solo album.

Genitorturers Blackheart Revolution — The first single is “Cum Junkie.” You do the math.

Ad Frank Your Secrets Are Mine Now — Gothic-styled crooning mixes in hints of glam and pop.

Los Cenzontles with Taj Mahal and David Hidalgo American Horizon — Mexican-American group gets help from bluesman, Los Lobos frontman.

The Prairie Cartel Where Did All My People Go — Organize a few DJs with mics and this is result.

Mumiy Troll Paradise Ahead — Digital-only release has Russian rock band’s first English songs. (At Alley Cat on Nov. 15)

Atreyu Congregation of the Damned — Band teeters between cookie-monster metal and radio-friendly melodies.

Tinsley Ellis Speak No Evil — Blues rocker continues down his established path on 12th album. (At Neighborhood Theatre on Dec. 5)

Swollen Members Armed to the Teeth — Underground hip-hop gets help from Talib Kweli, Everlast, others.

Kottonmouth Kings Hidden Stash 4:20 — Two hip-hop CDs, bonus DVD focus on everything marijuana.

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Each Friday, we bring you 10 recently released CDs reviewed in 10 words each:

The Del McCoury Band Family Circle — Bluegrass legend’s latest effort celebrates his 50th year in music.

Wax Tailor In the Mood for Life — Soul, funk, 60s pop merge into hip-hop-y Portishead groove.

Train Save Me, San Francisco — Band gets back to original lineup, returns to old sound.

Carly Simon Never Been Gone — Revisitation of old Simon songs in new, mostly acoustic arrangements.

Debbie Davies Holdin’ Court — 22-year road veteran releases latest disc full of blues.

Mac Arnold & Plate Full O Blues Country Man — South Carolina-based blues band releases Southern-fried blues album.

Jazz Around the World — Putumayo gathers up variety of jazz from around the world.

REO Speedwagon Not So Silent Night — Rockers put their own spin on number of Christmas classics.

A Family Christmas — Redbone, Sam Bush, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy among Christmas songsters.

The Pantones Inside the Sun’s Wild Flame — Band combines brit-pop and modern flavors into something easygoing.

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Each Friday, we bring you 10 CD reviews done in 10 words each:

Kristina Train Spilt Milk — Strong vocals from soulful, bluesy singer on her debut CD.

Neil Diamond A Cherry Cherry Christmas — ‘Tis the season for holiday albums…and it’s still October.

Tiny Tim I’ve Never Seen a Straight Banana — Soaked in falsetto, this one’s almost painful to listen to.

David Maxwell & Louisiana Red You Got to Move — Duo gets together to explore Red’s old-school blues songs.

The Mag Seven Cotton Needle Sessions — Band’s fifth album full of instrumental jazz with surf hints.

Toby Keith American Ride — Patriotism-infused country from the right wing, with cheesy humor.

Keynoc Soundmind — 27-year-old hip-hop artist incorporates some r&b, autotune.

Dave Keys Roots in the Blues — Sideman to the famous releases his fourth solo blues album.

Built to Spill There is No Enemy — Interesting Americana/rock conglomerate that will deserve a second listen.

Matt Morris When Everything Breaks Open — Co-produced by Justin Timberlake, music combines rock, folk, r&b, pop.

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Each Friday, we bring you 10-word reviews of 10 recently released CDs:

James McMurtry Live in Europe — Brief CD/DVD combo documents Americana singer’s first European tour.

Shelley Short A Cave, A Canoo — Folk singer’s childlike vocals can get somewhat distracting at times.

Various Artists Si Para Usted — Sixteen-track compilation gives idea of variety of Cuban music.

Five Times August Life as a Song — Acoustic popster’s style reminds me a bit of Jason Mraz.

Richie McDonald If Every Day Could Be Christmas — Lonestar singer releases his holiday album a little early, no?

Gossip Music For Men — Band’s blues rock is getting better on their latest effort.

Brandi Carlile Give Up the Ghost — Some good acoustic rock with slightly Southern female vocal lead.

Various Artists Glee — Songs from the popular show include plenty of glee-ful remakes.

One Eskimo One Eskimo — London band kind of reminds me of a sleepy Radiohead.

Five for Fighting Slice — Good songwriting on fifth album with some VH1-ready singles.

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Every Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 recently released CDs done in 10 words each:

Electric Tickle Machine Blew It Again — Up-tempo rock fuses fine line between hooks, garage sound.

Blake Lewis Heartbreak on Vinyl — I never thought I’d hear something worse than his debut.

Black Tape for a Blue Girl 10 Neurotics — Music is a modern take on cabaret… with bad lyrics.

Steep Canyon Rangers Deep in the Shade — Twelve more solid, energetic bluegrass songs from North Carolina quintet. (Performing with Steve Martin on Oct. 10 at Knight Theater.)

AFI Crash Love — Band’s eighth studio album continues same path they’ve been on.

Jer Coons Speak — Another acoustic singer with plenty of hooks for Top 40. (At Double Door on Oct. 21.)

Various Artists The Best Is Yet To Come: The Songs of Cy Coleman — Tribute album features Fiona Apple, Nikka Costa and Sara Watkins.

Various Artists Whip It Soundtrack — From old to new, variety of bands make up soundtrack.

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland — ‘80s rocker makes lyrically weak return to the music scene.

Selena Gomez The Scene — Another Disney teen trying to find career outside of television.

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Each Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 CDs done in 10 words each:

Corb Lund Losin’ Lately Gambler — Juno Award winning Canadian country crooner incorporates old-school rhythms.

Dethklok Metalocalypse Dethalbum II — Skull crushing heavy metal with plenty of cookie-monster vocals. (Coming to The Fillmore in October)

We Shot the Moon A Silver Lining — Piano-driven indie rockers release sophomore album; some hooks included.

Angel Taylor Love Travels — 21-year-old singer songwriter offers piano-driven r&b songs.

Various Artists Espana — Another interesting, entertaining mix from the folks over at Putumayo.

Dennis Diken Late Music — Power pop rock album from the drummer of The Smithereens.

Kris Kristofferson Starlight and Stone — Great country songwriting though the voice is showing its age.

Jonas Sees in Color Jonas Sees in Color — Greensboro-based group releases its debut full of pop-rock.

Joe Nichols Old Things New — Country crooner does little to set himself apart from pack.

Sam & Ruby The Here And The Now — Duo produces fantastic vocal harmonies, duets in pop-folk style.

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Each Friday, we bring you 10-word reviews of 10 recently released CDs:

Janus Red Right Return — Straight-forward rock doesn’t reinvent the wheel for the genre.

Deadmau5 For Lack of a Better Name — Canadian electronic musician releases second album of annoying repetitive “tunes.”

Rufus Wainwright Milwaukee at Last — CD, DVD combine for the release of 23 live songs.

Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons Bend in the Road — Influenced by Johnny Cash, but steeped in the deep South.

Mike Zito Pearl River — Guitar is at the front of this bluesy rocker’s album.

Kyp Malone Rain Machine — TV on the Radio guitarist releases an artful solo effort.

Porcupine Tree The Incident — Double-CD rock set goes between the Floydian and Toolian.

Jess Klein Bound to Love — Americana singer-songwriter’s acoustic album is steeped in Austin roots. (The Evening Muse on Sept. 26)

David Crowder Band Church Music — Christian band offer up 73 Godly minutes of spiritual rock.

The Elms The Great American Midrange — Indiana rockers have plenty of hooks on their fourth album.

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Each Friday, we bring you 10 CD reviews done in 10 words each:

Nitin Sawhney Biography — Guitarist/DJ gets help from plenty of guests, including McCartney.

Shadows Fall Retribution — Ten tracks of thrash! Argh! Screaming! Argh! Heavy metal! Argh!

Ricky Skaggs Songs My Dad Loved — Tastes of bluegrass on award-winner’s first true solo album.

Livan Happy Returns — English pop-rocker sounds like Midnight Oil with pop edge.

Band of Heathens One Foot in the Ether — Self-released successful Americana band with hints of country, blues.

Anvil This is Thirteen — Canadian no-joke metal band’s album re-released with bonus track.

Michael Ford Jr and the Apache Relay 1988 — Debut features guest spots by Joe Kwon, Jessica Lea Mayfield.

As Tall As Lions You Can’t Take It With You — Band’s third album sounds a bit like their tourmates, MuteMath.

Honor Society Fashionably Late — G-rated pop band is adored by Jonas Brothers fans.

Something to Burn Transitions — Rock band’s singer’s voice sounds like pained whisper at times.

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