Vibes blog

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

The Proclaimers Notes & Rhymes — I would probably walk 5,000 miles… away from this band.

Maserati Passages — Athens, Ga., group releases disc of rare instrumental indie tracks.

Polvo In Prism — Indie rock is all over the place sometimes, yet cohesive.

Guy Mendilow Band Skyland — Songs transcend musical boundaries and finds influence from almost everywhere.

Simple Minds Graffiti Soul — Doesn’t sound like this Scottish band has lost ‘80s influence.

Os Mutantes Haih or Amortecedor — Reunited, innovative Tropicalia band continues down a unique Latin road.

Infected Mushroom Legend of the Black Shawarma — Jonathan Davis, Perry Farrell guest on (long) electronic rock album.

Drivin N Cryin The Great American Bubble Factory — Years of experience creates radio-friendly rock with slight edge.

Boys Like Girls Love Drunk — Sophomore effort full of pop-rock with an ‘80s twist.

Miley Cyrus The Time of Our Lives — I’m definitely ready for her 15 minutes to be up.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Collective Soul Collective Soul (Rabbit) — Second self-titled album continues band’s familiar, steady rock sound.

Colbie Caillat Breakthrough — Singer doesn’t veer far off road she traveled on debut.

Steve Martin The Crow — A great comedian, and also one helluvan amazing banjo player.

Seth James That Kind of Man — Mostly country-flavored music with a hint of soul, roots.

Drive-By Truckers The Fine Print — Why am I not more impressed with sleepy alt-country?

Ladyhawke Ladyhawke — If Perez Hilton likes her…. she probably isn’t that good.

Yonder Mountain String Band The Show — It’s what you’d expect from the Colorado-based bluegrass quartet.

Insane Clown Posse Bang Pow Boom — Duo hasn’t abandoned their silly, violent clown-based hip-hop. (At Amos’ Southend on Oct. 13.)

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band Greatest Hips Vol. II — Six-piece band from Asheville releases second funky live album.

Chevelle SciFi Crimes — Pete Loeffler’s vocals remain heart of Chicago trio’s heavy music. (At Amos’ Southend on Sept. 25.)

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Robert Glasper Double Booked — Pianist goes the route of traditional jazz for snappy songs.

Mew No More Stories — Danish trio, NIN opener offers up some “interesting,” dreamy music.

AT s/t — Quirky folk songs sound as if recorded in someone’s basement.

Tye Banks Living a Dream — Raleigh rapper known for Captain Flouride, writing “Carolina Hurricanes” song.

Jack Ingram Big Dreams & High Hopes — Award-winning, recent record-breaker releases his latest country effort.

The Elms The Great American Midrange — Fourth album from Indiana group sounds like charged up Mellencamp.

John Lefebvre Psalngs — Canadian singer kinda sounds like a poor man’s Neil Young.

The Jaded Rakes Three Songs — Sounds like Wilco on one song, Flaming Lips on next.

Paris Keeling End of Ride — Rock veterans get help from the likes of Don Dokken.

Waitiki 7 Adventures in Paradise — Contemporary version of Hawaiian music commemorates 50th year of statehood.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Joe Henry Blood from Stars — Singer’s 11th album full of dark overtones, solid bluesy songs.

Ramona Falls Intuit — Menomena’s Brent Knopf releases solo debut full of alt-pop.

Delbert McClinton Acquired Taste — Roots legend releases his first new album in four years.

Reba Keep on Loving You — Legendary country singer releases her 31st album full of twang.

Kaylah Marin Loving Life — Neo-soul singer from San Francisco releases her debut CD.

Theory of Flight Within Reach — Las Vegas band’s melodic rock kinda sounds like The Killers.

Cristen Grey and the Moving Dunes 10,000 Things — Former metal guitarist finds new life in something more contemporary.

Israel Darling Dinosaur Bones & Mechanical Hands — N.C. native Jacob Darden releases debut disc of folk rock.

U.S. Royalty Midsommar — D.C. group releases debut EP of soul-tinged indie rock.

Landed Liver and Lungs — Rotating cast releases six songs, one hour of noise rock.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Johnny Cooper Follow — 20-year-old combines elements of rock, blues and soul.

Rhythms Del Mundo Classics — Killers, Jack Johnson, Winehouse and more for a good cause.

Bobby Bare Jr. American Bread — Deep vocals, sparse music and a 8“Horse with No Name” cover.

Robben Ford Soul on Ten — Guitarist records album live in San Francisco, showcases his diversity.

Robert Cray Band This Time — Five-time Grammy winner continues down the classic blues path.

Justin Moore Justin Moore — Debut country disc from Arkansas singer has plenty of twang.

Anna Ternheim Leaving on a Mayday — Swedish singer’s third album sounds like a toned-down Bjork.

Bryan Ragsdale Where Cowpokes Grow — Combination of country, folk and bluegrass by environmentally conscious veteran.

Alec K Redfearn & The Seizures Exterminating Angel — Interesting brand of vaudevillian rock with plenty of dark overtones.

Uke of Spaces Corners Flowers in the Night — It’s quirky country folk hitting from all sides… on acid.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Tantric Mind Control — Rockers try something a little heavier, hookier with fourth album.

Walter Trout Unspoiled By Progress — 14 tracks of bluesy rock roll for nearly 120 minutes.

Steve Azar Slide on Over Here — Brings a little soul into country music on fourth album.

Cooper Boone Cooper Boone — Country crooner finds a hint of humor with “Cougar Dream.”

K’Jon I Get Around — Debut album from r&b artist does not cover Tupac’s song.

Mac McAnally Down by the River — Member of Coral Reefer Band releases his eleventh solo effort.

Little Richard The Rill Thing — Album brought legend back to charts after 13 years away.

Freddy Jones Band Time Well Wasted — But nobody in the band is actually named Freddy Jones? (Opening for Edwin McCain at the Fillmore on Aug. 29.)

Merykid Boy & the Bird EP — Self-taught instrumentalist gets a bit schizophrenic in sounds, singing.

Morning After Girls Alone — Gothic overtones — kinda sounds like Jesus and Mary Chain leftovers.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Trevor Hall Trevor Hall — 22-year-old’s debut combines reggae, soul and acoustic rock.

Chris Ayer Don’t Go Back to Sleep — Folk done in a pop format, pleasant and strong vocals.

Various Artists Funny People Soundtrack — McCartney, Plant, Ringo, Lennon, James Taylor, Zevon, Wilco… Adam Sandler?

Pepper Dome Let’s Try the Otherside — Hard rock with weak vocals, the CD cover looks cheesy.

Ian Hunter Man Overboard — Mott the Hoople frontman offers standard rock with raspy vocals.

Over the Hill Looking for a Spark — Energetic, entertaining bluegrass-meets-punk band with voice-cracking vocals.

Ben Cooley Hall Owning Up to a Life — Former Mary Reillys singer releases debut, folk-pop solo disc.

Mike Dekle Tributes — Singer’s fifth album has country accent and sturdy country roots.

Shannon Curtis Why Don’t You Stay — Third EP contains five songs of pop-based piano songs.

Little Richard King of Rock and Roll — Entertaining reissue features Rolling Stones, Creedence and some other covers.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Ana Popvic Blind For Love — Serbian-born guitarist releases CD of energetic, catchy, bluesy-rock.

Little Richard The Second Coming — Third and final Reprise album featuring N’Awlins musicians is reissued.

Cathy-Anne McClintock Cathy-Anne McClintock — Former member of bluegrass group Tumbleweed offers folk-y solo debut.

Our Lady Peace Burn Burn — Canadian rockers release seventh studio album — generic Top 40 rock.

La Coka Nostra A Brand You Can Trust — Debut disc from rap “supergroup” guests include Cypress Hill, Snoop.

Broadway Cast Recording Nine to Five — Dolly Parton’s original, Tony-nominated music gets the Broadway treatment.

Demi Lovato Here We Go Again — Disney’s latest star releases her sophomore album of pop rock.

Stellastarr* Civilized — First album since 2005 full of nothing-fancy alternative rock.

Mommie Mommie’s Dearest — Connell’s singer releases new band’s debut album of children’s songs.

Lonnie Walker These Times Old Times — Raleigh band’s debut disc combines elements of Americana and rock.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Up From Below — Rotating cast of musicians creates hippy-happy vibes on debut.

Various Artists 500 Days Soundtrack — Regina Spektor, Wolfmother, The Smiths, Feist and a handful more.

New Roman Times On the Sleeve — Combination of indie rock with splash of ’80s thrown in.

Children Collide The Long Now — Australian band offers its own brand of guitar-driven rock.

Ballyhoo Cheers! — Latest from Baltimore rockers was mixed by 311’s Chad Sexton.

Ghostbird Ghostbird — Seven songs from indie duo have plenty of pop sensibility.

Roy Jay Lucky Guy — Entrepreneur’s debut album sounds like a poor man’s Jimmy Buffett.

Nuke the Soup Make Waves Not War — Indie veteran Mark Davison’s latest project has political, simple lyrics.

Pterodactyl Worldwild — Art rockers consist of an interesting conglomerate of sonic layers. (At Snug Harbor on 7/29)

Chocolate Thunder Ear Candy — Greenville, S.C., native Linda Rodney releases sophomore r&b disc.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

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

Billy Boy On Poison Drama Junkie Queen — Not over yet — the latest entry in retro rock movement.

Cass McCombs Catacombs — Acoustic troubadour keeps things slow and simple on latest disc.

Kate Schutt The Telephone Game — Slow jazzy style showcases her vocals, songwriting and guitar abilities.

Big Pete Pearson Finger In Your Eye — 72-year-old continues his bluesy ways on latest disc.

Michael Johns Hold Back My Heart — American Idol finalist releases soon-to-be-forgotten debut album.

Cheap Trick The Latest — 13 songs, 40 minutes… I’m surprised they released anything new. (Aug. 8 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.)

Big Bill Morganfield Born Lover — Son of Muddy Waters has many ties to North Carolina.

The Dear Hunter Act III: Life and Death — Third chapter of genre-hopping rock opera by Casey Crescenzo.

Mae (M)orning — Band’s first in collection of three EPs due this year.

Ed Hale Ballad on Third Avenue — Lots of pop/folk is starting to sound the same.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites