Music Reviews

Ray Lamontagne Trouble

This New Hampshire native is making a big stir in the music industry with his first solo project "Trouble." Lamontagne, one of six children, was raised by a resourceful mother who moved wherever she could to find a roof to put over her childrenís heads. With the constant moving, Lamontagne was always the new kid making him a misfit in high school, so he turned to drawing and writing stories. After graduation he left his family with no idea of what he wanted to do. Four years later while working in a shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine, he experienced an epiphany. He heard the song "Tree Top Flyer" by Stephen Stills. After hearing that song he decided that music was what he wanted to pursue. In 1999 he cut his first demo and became the opening act for artists like Jonathan Edwards and John Gorka. After wrapping up production on the album ìTroubleî he was signed to RCA records. Lamontagne's album is a soft, earthy mix of folk music that has a nostalgic resemblance to Joni Mitchell or Crosby Stills & Nash. His vocals call out to his listeners and give a doorway into his pain with songs like "Burn" and "Trouble." This singer songwriter proves that his presence in the music industry will be felt and not forgotten.

Citizen Cope The Clarence Greenwood Recordings

This is the second solo album from RCA's recording artist Clarence Copeland Greenwood (Citizen Cope). With this album Cope keeps it real, and he is able to make laid back alternative hip-hop come across as charming and earnest. Cope draws listeners with his unique spin on the urban poetry of this hip-hop generation. With this album you can feel that there was no holding back with his creativity. It is low key, subtle, and heartfelt. When listening to his tracks you are taken away to an insane universe with characters that face real dilemmas and serious passion. His songs are mellow, organic, political, and spiritual. In this album Copeís lyrics are bent on touching human desire and emotions, with songs like "Bullet and a Target" and "Penitentiary." On this project Cope worked with artists like Paul Buggy Edwards, Carlos Santana, soulful pianist James Poyser, and Meíshell Ndegeocello. With such an eclectic mix of musicians on this album, Cope proves to be an indefinable provenance.

Keaton Simons Currently

This 25 year-old graduate of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington is the newest artist to hit Maverick Records. While attending Evergreen State University, Simons was able to find his voice while absorbing classical and global approaches to his music. Simons is an artist you should look out for to make waves this year with his album "Currently." His mix of rich often unnerving melodies is like a smooth touch to your ears as it plays with your thoughts. The soulfulness that is heard in his voice shows a capacity for emotional nakedness. his singer/songwriter says, "My intention is to be honest with my music - not to be ashamed of anything and to turn myself inside out." With this said he has proven himself with songs like "Lift me up" and "To me" that speak of intimate relationships and spirituality. This album has a rootsy, earthy feel, with a hint of blues and pop. Itís a collection of songs worth listening to.

The Clarks' Fast Moving Cars Get Into A Major car Wreck

Moody modern rock was once a perennial favorite amongst college campuses and independent music venues abroad. Nowadays it has become stale and monotonous. Bright colors and upbeat tempos have taken over drab colors and dark overtones. Speaking of moody modern rock, The Clarks are back with their latest album, "Fast Moving Cars" (Razor and Tie). Talent-wise, they are very talented with crafty guitar licks and deep percussive beats. They stay true to deep melodies and depressing chords. Backbeat and reverb are certainly no friends to this band. But they lack a certain element to make this album sound great. It's too monotone and repetitive. Each track on this album sounds like one large fragmented sentence that lulls to sleep any avid rock and roll listener and brings them to a deep slumber. There are absolutely no breaks in rhythm or structure on this album. It's one big dull piece of uninspired filth. This is music to commit suicide to or at least murder-suicide pacts. The Clarks have to broaden their musical spectrums and bring more enlightened forms of music onto their albums to generate anyone to listen to their recordings ever again.

Take Action 4 Is Suicide Prevention In Audio

Suicide prevention is a key issue amongst the 18-35 crowds because many of them unfortunately commit this senseless act as a way of getting attention or crying-out for help. There is hope with the Take Action Committee, as it provides a great way to benefit the organization in its fight to help suicidal people regain control of their lives. The Take Action Committee has decided to release a benefit double-disc compilation and it is labeled "Take Action 4" (Hopeless/Sub City). This compilation in a nut shell full of unreleased and recent material by some of the best in punk rock, emotional rock, hardcore metal and alternative rock. Each track on this album is filled with raw emotion and tons of hard rocking fury that will surely get the aggression out of anybody who feels the need to rage. The tracks on this album that covers this are: NOFXís ìConcerns Of A GOP Neo-Fight (Wrong Version), Against Me's "You Look Like I Need A Drink,"Boys Night Out's "I Got Punched In The Nose For Sticking My Face In Other Peoples Business," Fear's "Before The March Of Flames-Consequences, David Youíll Meet Your Fate In The Styx," Shadows Fallís "The Power of I And I," Mastadon's "March Of The Fire Ants," Dillinger Escape Plan's "Panasonic Youth," Go Betty Go's"C'mon," Coheed & Cambria's "The Crowing," Pedro The Lion's "Discretion," Melee's "The War" and Communique's "Perfect Weapon." This double-disc album is stacked with tons of hard-nosed, in your face kind of rock and roll fit to unleash those negative feelings from your inner-soul.