Hail The Villian "Population Declining"

Hail the Villian is a rapidly growing agressive rock group from Oshawa Ontario. Metal or Hard Rock? Decide for yourself, but since they hit the xm airwaves and beyond with their single "Take Back the Fear" they have been rocking our faces off with avengance.
Their debut album "Population Declining" starts out like a punch in the mouth and doesn't quit until they get the knockout. The first track on the album "Runaway" hits you like a Freight Train from hell, with an opening line of "welcome to the end" and a solid crunching guitar riff that immediately has you tapping your foot. Brian Crouch's vocals are strong with a powerful groan and lyrics saturated with intent to revolt. His message is clear...rebel and mean it...
In "Take back the fear" the band keeps up the aggression with driving bass lines and power chants of "don't want...anything". "Evil has a name", "Try Hating the World", "Glad to Be" keep with the momentum and theme. It's simple these boys want to rock with rage and impress you while they do it. With that said, they do show a hint of there softer side, still leaving in the aggressive edge but slowing down the momentum signifigantly with "Swan Dive Suicide". In their case this isn't a bad thing. In fact, I think it's a great moment to break the pace given the last 10 songs should've left you exhausted from pumping your fist and chanting along with the hoooks anyhow. For those of you who hate a power ballad though, don't worry, the slow down is short lived, as their next and final song on the album..One I'll gladly call their GRAND FINALE "Social Graces" takes you quickly back to the rebellious aggression that makes this album great. They add a breakdown in this track that showcase there talent in music writing.

All in all, this is a great album, that reminded me how much I love rock that makes me want to break things.

The Temper Trap: Indies Next Big Breakout Sensation

Not too awful long since the world stumbled on Wolfmother (thanks to Apple). Australia has provided us another FANTASTIC taste of their local talent, in The Temper Trap and these boys look to make a lasting impression. Their current hit single “Sweet Disposition” has quickly shot them to stardom being billed as the theme song for 2009’s favorite Romantic Comedy “500 Days of Summer”. “Sweet Disposition” is stunning from the start, coming in with a capturing 2 bars of guitar intro directly followed by the smooth and effortless falsetto’s of lead vocalist Dougy Mandagi singing “Sweet Disposition…Never too soon….Oh reckless abandon….Like no one’s watching you”…Come on, give me a better lyrical opener than that, and that’s JUST the beginning…Seriously this song is put together about as brilliantly as Muse’s “Starlight” if not better with a prettier format, and “Starlight” still gets daily radio play more than 2 years later.  Mandagi is obviously on a mission to wow us with his perfectly placed melodies and vocal prowess, and the instrumental work and flow with the constant progressive build start to finish is nothing short of mesmerizing and impressionable.

Unfortunately we here in the U.S. won’t have an opportunity to experience the entirety of their current album “Conditions” until October 13th, but it’s already dropped in Australia and the U.K. to great numbers on the charts coming in at #9 in the Outback. Basically these boys are setting the bar for “new” indie acts to follow, and leaving their new American fan base anxiously awaiting “Conditions” U.S. debut and more of them to fall in love with.

Check Them out Here: THE TEMPER TRAP

Explains Perfectly...

This viral youtube explains our hatred towards the radio perfectly... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Gs4xGw1Eg

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY: Perfecting The Art Of Catching Your Attention

Ghostland Obseravatory has no problem giving you a TON to be impressed with. These dudes put the capital W on Weird and you’ve just GOTTA love it. Say hello my friends to David Bowie and Freddy Mercury’s illegitimate grandchildren (not literally of course). It’s like somebody knocked over a bucket of soul cool and these electro-dance rockers rolled around in it. Now these guys are no new news to the underground indie scene but given that they are placing their Austin Texas bred feet in my home romping grounds of Washington D.C.’s favorite venue, 9:30 club, I thought it only proper to give them a fitting shout out.
After a stellar showing at Austin City Limits in 2007 (probably the best show of the entire event from what I hear) everyone had these boys pegged as the next big Indie thing, and you definitely wanted them to be. Although they haven’t gotten quite as big yet as everyone anticipated, they are just beginning in their quest to attract the educated indie fan and your kid brother alike. As stated earlier Aaron Behrens bares eerie resemblance to Freddy Mercury with his fearless falsetto and perfectly scripted vocal melodies, while Thomas Ross Turner provides the incredibly even flowing spacey/sci-fi soaked synth and drums. The only problem you’ll find with any one of the 3 Ghostland albums will be stepping away long enough to get anything done. Ghostland Observatory has easily placed themselves on the indie map, creating a sound all their own and loving it.


On their latest album Robotique Majestique check out songs like “Heavy Heart”, “Free Heart Love”, and the title track for heavy doses of dance infused dramatica all the way through. If a darker more rocktronic groove is what you’re looking for, check out their 2nd release Delete. Delete. I Eat Meat, for songs like “Shoot ‘em Down” an aggravated trip ride through a troubled relationship, while Behrens screams “is that your man right there, runnin down the road”, “shoot him down, shoot him down, shoot him down, just shoot him”. On this album as well is my favorite Ghostland song of all, the mesmerizing electro-drum lathered Silver City. Don’t be surprised though if you catch yourself busting out the robot. It’s okay...I did it too. : )


Ghostland Observatory will be taking over 9:30 Club in D.C. on September 11th, and trust me you’re going to want to be front row.

Check them out for yourself at: http://www.ghostlandobservatory.net

Get tickets to the 9:30 club show by visiting 9:30 clubs website at: http://www.930.com/

Care's Chime In:

Ghostland has been one my most favorite bands since I stumbled upon them in 2007 at ACL in Austin, Texas. My friends had been pumping them but I, always the skeptic, wasn't going to let myself get too amped for them. They told me I was gonna dance my face off... um, I spent all day drinking beer and watching bands... no chance this no-name act was gonna get me dancing. HOWEVER, the night sky rolled in, the band hit the stage and absolutely blew my mind! Their light show is second to none even without a tab of acid or hit off that random dudes joint standing next to me. I DANCED, I DANCED HARD! (enter laughter here, I'll allow). After that I was spreading the gospel that was Ghostland to all near and dear to me... even The Chad who FINALLY decided to listen. I had the pleasure of seeing Ghostland open for Flaming Lips last weekend and brought along two newbies who instantly fell in love too. Even if you don't necessarily love their music on their CD go check these guys out live. I DARE your body not to freak out from the overloud of sound, sight and feeling of the place. My highest recommendations for the 930 Club show, I actually thought about flying back for it but then checked my bank account and cursed my spending habits. I'll see them at ACL again this year however and it's the most excited about any band on that line-up... yes, really. "Headin on down to the sad sad city, YAH!"

Picture from last Monday nights show at The Greek Theater in LA

The Whigs - Mission Control

I was supposed to see these rockers open for Kings of Leon which seemed like a natural choice as they're both southern bred and guys with guitars, however, being in LA, and traffic here is like trying to tread through stiffening concrete, I missed them. SONUVA B*TCH!

I've had The Whigs playing on my iPod for a couple weeks now and have fallen in like with them very fast. Love is a meaningful word for me, and it's certainly not love yet... but, who knows... it may be very soon.

The Whigs hailing from Bulldog Country of Athens, Georgia formed in 2003. The band has all graduated (from UGA) and can now commit to touring full time (smart boys to get their education - ok, I'll quit with the moral lessons). They have opened for some pretty hefty acts; Franz Ferdinand, Drive by Truckers, Maroon 5, the Killers, Jessica Simpson (anyone else find that weird?), Barenaked Ladies, Fuel and now as mentioned above, Kings of Leon. You ask, WHAT ABOUT THE F'ING MUSIC? Ok, I'll get there now... I'm a fan. They have a bluesy feel with Ritalin laced drums and addicting hooks. I think it's the hooks that make me have this CD on repeat. They set in your brain and I find myself walking around with them dancing in my head most of the day. The song that sets the deepest would be Hot Bed's chorus: "I don't care, I'm already young" and my favorite songs on the album are Like a Vibration and Production City. The lead singer does have a familiar voice, I think he sounds a little like Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl and some of the hooks have a little Frank Black flavor with guitars and lyrics. However, in my opinion, all good things.
What lies ahead for this talented baby faced with long hair rock band? No one can ever really say, but I can tell you this, they are stuck on repeat in my I-pod right now
Listen here, http://www.myspace.com/thewhigs

I'll finally get to see them on Nov. 19th at the Troubadour in LA. Chad, they're playing Black Cat on 12/10. May I recommend?

Jet Provides Us With More Of The Same Ol' Same Ol' in "Shaka Rock"

Immediately upon pressing play on veteren Garage rockers Jet's 3rd studio album "Shaka Rock" you are left wondering what's new?. There's plenty to enjoy but little too different from everything you've already heard ("Do You Wanna Be My Girl" is still one of the most often played songs on FM radio and that was their first single 2 albums ago). Songs like "La Di Da", and "She's A Genius" are fun anthem style tracks, with good sing along hooks and groove ridden riffs. "Seventeen" plays well, and "Goodbye Hollywood" has a quality hook to grab onto, however the rest of the album (8 songs) leaves little to be desired or adored. They are definately one of the best that copy cat cliche rock has to offer, but I wouldn't spend my lunch money on this album, MAYBE some of Grandma's annual $25 Christmas check...Why not?...I didn't earn it.

Hear it for yourself at: http://www.jettheband.com/

C's Teeny Tiny Opinion?? I think this CD is a bit drab and mundane. Sounds like... well, Jet! Same guitar, same beat, same "yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" in the raspy voice. Goodbye Hollywood is pretty good though and I don't HATE She's A Genius but after listening to the lyrics I now know I can't be one of his girls. Lyrics for She's a Genius is:

"My girl's ready to take control

She just blows my mind

She only listens to the radio

To see waht's alive, yeah."

Per the theme of this blog, I don't know what a radio is. Dammit, I've always wanted to bone an Aussie.

The Gaslight Anthem Refuel A Classic Rock Revival with "59' Sound"

Just when you thought it was over, these New Brunswick, New Jersey boys remind you that it’s just beginning. With the 59’ sound The Gaslight Anthem give us fantastic tunes reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen in his prime, just a strange coincidence that they share the same home state? We think not, but that’s okay by us. Lead singer Brian Fallon is the obvious bright light with his distinctly rough edge and powerful wales. He’s blessed with a story telling ability that can bring you in with every song. Some you may even think were written about you …On Great Expectations when Fallon sings "I saw tail lights last night and I dreamed about my first wife." And "Everybody leaves and I'd expect as much from you", you are brought back to the era of the working man’s song with that relatable feeling of abandonment. A storytelling styling I see comparable of Rise Against front man Tim McIlrath or The Nationals Matt Berninger. Fallon obviously has no problem saying it like it is with honesty and passion.

The album seems most successful when it delivers the driving, anthem atmospheres that made Springsteen so famous, perfectly exemplified in songs such as "Miles Davis & The Cool", "The '59 Sound", and "High Lonesome" consisting of huge choruses and loud, echoing vocals. However, they aren't a one-trick pony and prove this by succeeding with songs such as "Film Noir" that combines blues, punk and a catchy chorus, "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues", a bluesy number with a folk-tinge, driven by a delicious riff and the only real slow song on the album.

The two best songs on the album by far to me are “Great Expectations, and “Old White Lincoln”. Driven, with purpose, identity, and a catchy, cool groove. My personal favorite song on the album is “Here’s Looking At You Kid”, which I found to be the most sincere track, with a beautiful guitar melody and a great story capturing the essence of a rock n rollers dream, and of opportunities come and gone. Every local kid who is or is wanting to be in a band will get into it. Fallon sounds fantastic on this song. If your one of those who downloads singles this would be one I’d recommend. But don’t click out without listening to the next track after it, “The Backseat”, as I’m sure you’ll want that one too. There isn’t much bad to say about this band. They’re surely going to give you what you’re looking for when it comes to great music, if great music’s what’s your looking for. So put them on your list, and be sure to add 59’ Sound to your album collection.

Heare them for yourself at: http://www.gaslightanthem.com