CD Review

John Statz

An Evening With John Statz
Record Label: Self Released
Review by Cactus Joe
November 2008

“An Evening with John Statz” is the third self-produced release by Madison folk musician John Statz. It was recorded live at Uncommon Ground coffee shop in Chicago, IL, on April 22, 2008.

“I had put out two studio albums and just wanted to get a live cut of some of those songs and a few new ones,” Statz said, “I was playing Uncommon Ground on the spring tour and they always give you a live recording of what you play. So I figured it would be an easy way to get a good quality live recording.”
The live recording was mastered by Nate Edwards who recorded Statz’s first album, “Dusk Came Slow.”

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CD Review

Steve Grimm

Keep Your Dreams Alive
Record Label: Self Released
Review by Cactus Joe
November 2008

STEVE GRIMM is probably best known as the front man and drummer of the infamous Milwaukee rock band BAD BOY. But he has a formidable solo career too, recently releasing eight solid rock songs on an album called “Keep Your Dreams Alive.” If you like 80s and 90s classic rock, check out this record. It’s potent.

Touring with Bad Boy, Steve had the envious privilege of sharing the stage with some of the greatest classic rock bands, including AC/DC, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Ted Nugent, and Alice Cooper. These influences are apparent in “Keep Your Dreams Alive.”

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CD Review

Sound And Fury

Sound And Fury
Record Label: Rebel Youth Records
Review by Chris Fox
November 2008

The album artwork alone makes this album worth purchasing. A very dark, yet refined, punk rock album. Eighties hair metal rings out in the solos and vocals as well as just a touch of southern rock

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CD Review

System And Station

A Nation Of Actors
Record Label: Latest Flame Records
Review by Cactus Joe
November 2008

“A Nation of Actors” is the fourth full-length album by SYSTEM AND STATION. The August 2008 release is poppier than its predecessor, “Here is Now.” It has a guitar heavy and rhythmically progressive sound that forms the foundation for gentle and sometimes plaintive melodies and lyrics.

“The earlier System and Station stuff is pretty ‘prog rock’ with a lot of changes and six or seven minute songs,” said RFK Heise, principle songwriter in the band. “On this record we really tried to focus in on cutting out the unnecessary and get to the heart of the songs. I think doing that it really defined an identity for what we have been trying to do for a lot of years now.”

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CD Review

Fragile Utopia

Fragile Utopia
Record Label: Self Released
Review by Chris Fox
November 2008

Thrash metal guitar without all the screams. This Madison local group does a great job bringing a unique mix to the painfully categorized metal scene. “Stillframe,” the album’s third track, provides insight to what the group is all about.

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