Eclectic Vibes - July 2009

by Andrew Frey

27th Annual Atwood Summerfest

27th Annual Atwood Summerfest

WoooHooo! Summer 2009.
Get out and catch a festival or 5. SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM this month including Rothbury, 10KLF, Big Wu Family Reunion X, Atwood Summerfest, Camp Euforia, Grateful Garcia Gathering and SCHWAGSTOCK. Google em for more info!


MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- Thin Soup thru 10 – Solid Jell-O

Amorphis - Skyforger

Amorphis - Skyforger

Amorphis

Album title: Skyforger
Record Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Rating: 10

Finding new ways to awaken my inner Viking! Invigorating anthems with their signature Scandinavian folk metal approach reverberate a dark, powerful beauty and majesty unmatched. This third round with singer Tomi Joutsen integrates a broad stroke of vocal styles with increased progressive rock elements to their musical palette.

(3881) Page Views

Amorphis online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Skyforger from Amazon
Purchase Skyforger on Amazon



Lawrence Blatt - The Color Of Sunshine

Lawrence Blatt - The Color Of Sunshine

Lawrence Blatt

Album title: The Color Of Sunshine
Record Label: LBM Music
Rating: 9

Brandishing a full spectrum of guitar tricks and treats, this release finds a highly acclaimed acoustic guitar finger-picker emoting melodies and rhythms inspired by colors that are in turn designed to motivate a mood. This is his mode of tickling the oft unused mix of color and light therapy into music structures. Produced by Windham Hill Records founder William Ackerman.

(3543) Page Views

Lawrence Blatt online:
Website

Download The Color Of Sunshine from Amazon
Purchase The Color Of Sunshine on Amazon



Chill Factor-5 - The Venus Effect

Chill Factor-5 - The Venus Effect

Chill Factor-5

Album title: The Venus Effect
Record Label: Electronfarm Records
Rating: 9

A contemporary musical hybrid helmed by world traveling, Grammy nominated multi instrumentalist Maurice Oliver. This treasure trove of chilled smooth electronica flirts adventurously with numerous musical combinations from the jazz, hip hop, pop, funk, soul and world beat realms.

(3329) Page Views

Chill Factor-5 online:


Purchase The Venus Effect on Amazon



Darkest Hour - Eternal Return

Darkest Hour - Eternal Return

Darkest Hour

Album title: Eternal Return
Record Label: Victory Records
Rating: 7

Rolling and thundering melodic metal with a fair amount of technical wizardry ta boot! Born in the mid 90s, the band was among the first to combine their American hardcore/punk fury with the Swedish death metal sound and is the lineage that still propels their music.

(3295) Page Views

Darkest Hour online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Eternal Return from Amazon
Purchase Eternal Return on Amazon



Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam - Coming Up For Air

Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam - Coming Up For Air

Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam

Album title: Coming Up For Air
Record Label: Blix Street Records
Rating: 9

Possessing all the trappings of “The Next Big Thing” including a big name producer (Peter Frampton), slots at a load of summer festivals, and a substantial amount of raw talent, this 22 year old British blues pop guitarist from the Isle of Man is on the fast track to achieving his goal.

(3431) Page Views

Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Coming Up For Air from Amazon
Purchase Coming Up For Air on Amazon



Dope Stars Inc - 21st Century Slave

Dope Stars Inc - 21st Century Slave

Dope Stars Inc

Album title: 21st Century Slave
Record Label: Metropolis Records
Rating: 9

Integrating the enthusiasm and darker electronica imagery of the cyberpunk movement with their overt fascination of vampires while lyrically railing against societies evils and hidden agendas in an anthemic fashion bodes well for this industrious industrial metal force.

(3534) Page Views

Dope Stars Inc online:
Website


Purchase 21st Century Slave on Amazon



glassGhosts - Nevereverything

glassGhosts - Nevereverything

glassGhosts

Album title: Nevereverything
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 7

Disenchanted gothic electronica from Madison with flowing female vocals and occasional violin passages over a jittering harsh and unforgiving industrial backdrop. Disturbing throbbings in the lower registers propel the angst filled musical forms into a tumultuous fruition.

(3256) Page Views

glassGhosts online:




Heatbox - System

Heatbox - System

Heatbox

Album title: System
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 10

This amazing vocal juke box is feeling his stride on this incredibly catchy and entertaining release. A strong nod to barbershop stylings create a river of harmonies for this one man soul, hip hop and funk band to riff off of. Live he samples each phrase, loops it and repeats until complete. The classics that this contemporary harmonic hero brings our way include “Pizza Funk” and “I Need A Jack and Coke.” As a bonus the disc also contains the game Heatbox completely created “Ninja Strike.”

(3536) Page Views

Heatbox online:
Website

Download System from Amazon
Purchase System on Amazon



Vinnie Moore - To The Core

Vinnie Moore - To The Core

Vinnie Moore

Album title: To The Core
Record Label: RED Distribution
Rating: 8

Well versed and well seasoned instrumental guitar rock from a musical virtuoso who has been ‘moonlighting’ as guitarist for the legendary band UFO since 2003! While this album may not shred as metal as his 1986 release, it banters a grace and maturity with the technicality and structure that exemplify him as a leader in this field.

(3293) Page Views

Vinnie Moore online:
WebsiteWiki

Download To The Core from Amazon
Purchase To The Core on Amazon



Ozric Tentacles - Yum Yum Tree

Ozric Tentacles - Yum Yum Tree

Ozric Tentacles

Album title: Yum Yum Tree
Record Label: Snapper Music
Rating: 9

Certain aspects and members of this band may have changed over the 25+ years of its existence, but their music and trademark sound has never gotten any less psychedelic or enthralling. Founding and final original member Ed Wynne has recently move to the US with his wife and son (who are part of the live lineup) so we will be seeing much more from them!

(3992) Page Views

Ozric Tentacles online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Yum Yum Tree from Amazon
Purchase Yum Yum Tree on Amazon



Stratovarius - Polaris

Stratovarius - Polaris

Stratovarius

Album title: Polaris
Record Label: Armoury Records
Rating: 8

This first outing after the departure of former bandmaster Timo Tolkki finds this Finnish melodic power metal group revisioned and situated to continue their formidable musical legacy for many more years to come.

(3492) Page Views

Stratovarius online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Polaris from Amazon
Purchase Polaris on Amazon



Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club

Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club

Street Sweeper Social Club

Album title: Street Sweeper Social Club
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 10

Visionary guitarist Tom Morello has successfully joined forces with Boots Riley in an effort quite reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine, but not quite as whiney. Heavy grooves with even heavier breakdowns propel the anthems and agendas announced by the witty hip hoppin’ lyrics.

(5619) Page Views

Street Sweeper Social Club online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Street Sweeper Social Club from Amazon
Purchase Street Sweeper Social Club on Amazon



Vieux Farka Touré  - Fondo

Vieux Farka Touré - Fondo

Vieux Farka Touré

Album title: Fondo
Record Label: Six Degrees Records
Rating: 9

Standing firmly on his own merits, this son of legendary Malian bluesman Ali Farka Toure leads his musical charge with a graceful, majestic grandeur. The ancient and contemporary African instrumentation and rhythms fill a broader vision as well as purpose with all but one of these modern classics penned by Vieux himself.

(3577) Page Views

Vieux Farka Touré online:
WebsiteWiki

Download Fondo from Amazon
Purchase Fondo on Amazon