Lorien is a relatively new rock band that formed in Nashville. Their debut record Esque hit stores back in February and for me it’s been the surprise hit of the year. I had never heard of Lorien until one night this summer when I flipped on the local college station (which I can rarely bring myself to do anymore) and heard today’s song. I was immediately hooked by back and forth male and female vocals courtesy of Kaleb Jones and Cara Pollack. When I got home, I checked out their Myspace and liked what I heard and made an impulse buy of the album. Easily the best money I’ve blindly spent on music this year. Esque is a great album through and through. From the dance rock of “Sowing Bad Seeds” to the melodramatic, piano heavy “Do the Regret,” Lorien deliver on every level. While the record is mostly guitar driven there are plenty of keyboard and string flourishes to keep the mix interesting. There are many gems on Esque and I think Lorien is a band that you should start liking now, because they could get huge soon.
Thrice have come a long way in their 10 years together. What started out as a hardcore band playing heavy songs at breakneck speed with plenty of double kick drum has morphed into a band that borrows from all subgenres of rock to create something really unique. Frontman Dustin Kensrue has grown increasingly confident in his vocal ability with each release, trading the screaming delivery of albums past for a more rootsy, gravelly vocal style when needed. That’s not to say he can’t still growl with the best of them. That was evident on the Fire disc of Thrice’s four part Alchemy Index project released in 2007 and 2008. The scope of that project was so broad that Thrice felt the need to become more focused for their next release. So they opted to self produce their new record and record it in their practice space turned studio with guitarist Teppei Teranishi behind the boards. The result is the 10 song Beggars, an album that showcases all of the things Thrice have learned to do well together. While touching on a lot of areas explored in the softer moments of The Alchemy Index, Beggars is still a very heavy record. The guitars hit with a distinct crunch and the overall sound is more organic and raw and less polished. The album was originally set for an October release but was pushed up due to an unforeseen leak of the record. It was released digitally in early August and the physical version will be in stores tomorrow. The CD version will include b-sides and remixes as well as a cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” that I am very curious to hear. I honestly expected Thrice to wait a bit longer after The Alchemy Index to make another record but they’ve proved that they didn’t need an extra time to create something great. I haven’t fully been able to soak this one up as much as I would’ve liked. However, if I had to pick a standout track it would today’s song. “Doublespeak” features an interesting piano lines as well as one of the best hooks on the record. I recommend checking out Beggars and definitely get the CD version for all of the bonus material.
Derek Webb has never been a stranger to controversy. The former member of Christian folk group Caedmon’s Call incited the ire of some Christian book stores in 2003 and they even refused to carry his solo debut She Must and Shall Go Free because one song contained the word “whore.” Nevermind that they sold Bibles that contained the same word, but I digress. Webb continued to be honest however, always saying the things that most were afraid to. He tackled legalism and materialism on 2005’s Mockingbird and his 2007 album The Ringing Bell made a bit of a political statement with “A Savior On Capitol Hill.” So it wasn’t entirely unheard of this spring when Webb informed his fans via his twitter and website that he was having issues with his record label about the release of his latest album Stockholm Syndrome. The information that Webb offered up was cryptic and fans were left wondering what it was all about. Slowly, fans began deciphering the codes embedded in the messages and found their way to secret websites with mp3s and even more cryptic videos with Morse code. There was even an elaborate nationwide scavenger hunt. I won’t go into all the details, but it was quite entertaining. Webb had taken it to the next level and the buzz about Stockholm Syndrome was growing. But being the skeptic that I am, I wondered if there was actually ever any “trouble with the label” or if this was all just some clever marketing ploy. Well it turns out that the label did in fact have a problem with the record. More specifically a single track entitled “What Matters More” which actually contains profanity while dealing with the difficult subject of how the Church at large treats the gay community. It’s a tough subject and one that definitely needs addressing. It could be debated ad nauseum whether or not it was necessary for Webb to curse to get his point across, so we won’t even get into that. In the end, the label and Webb made a compromise. Webb would be allowed to sell the original version of the record containing “What Matters More” on his website, but all commercial versions released to retailers would not contain the track. The album was released digitally in July and just saw a physical release earlier this month. The record itself is the most unique of Webb’s career. With the help of Caedmon’s bandmate and programming mastermind Josh Moore, Webb delves into the electronic side of his music. A side that was only briefly introduced on his One/Zero Remix album. There are samples and drum loops galore along with some really funky bass lines. One thing you won’t find much of is Webb’s signature acoustic guitar. It only shows up a couple of times and even when it does, it’s not in the forefront. The album is solid lyrically and lot of the songs have a depth to them that takes a few listens to get the full picture. Today’s song is where the album gets its title from and is a great tune about how we end up loving and pledging allegiance to things that hold us captive. You also can’t help but want to dance a little at the end. Luckily, you don’t have to take my word for it. The whole album is streaming right now at derekwebb.com. So check it out and see for yourself. That’s also the only place to purchase the full un-edited version of the record.
Mute Math have been wowing audiences with their brand of electro rock for quite a few years now. The New Orleans foursome put on a fierce live show and gained a wider audience a couple years ago when their single “Typical” became a hit, largely due to the incredible video. Fans have been anxiously waiting for nearly 3 years for a new record from Mute Math and in August that finally became a reality. Armistice is the result of endless tweaking and retweaking by the band to get everything just like they wanted. In fact the word is that they actually scrapped an entire album’s worth of material and restarted from scratch. Interestingly, the result isn’t too much of a far cry from their self titled debut, albeit the band sounds much tighter and more comfortable in their own skin this time around. There’s a good mix of high energy songs like opener “The Nerve” and more introspective tunes like “Pins and Needles” and “Lost Year.” There are also a lot more keys this time around. They’re never overbearing though, rather they are interwoven in the songs and tie them together. A standout track would have to be “Electrify,” a high energy love song with rapid fire vocal delivery from front man Paul Meany and a chorus that sticks with you. Today’s song is the title track and it features some outstanding percussion from drummer Darren King and some nice horns courtesy of New Orleans’ own Rebirth Brass Band. It also probably has the best hook on the record. Armistice is an excellent sophomore album from one the most original bands out there today. Even if you weren’t into them before, you should take a chance on this. And if you get the chance to see them live, don’t miss it.
Taking Back Sunday have been a favorite of mine for seven years since they broke onto the scene with Tell All Your Friends, an album that would become the blueprint for tons of emo wannnabe bands. Despite all the attempts by plenty of dudes with sideways haircuts, no one ever quite captured that same sound. Even TBS themselves weren’t content to stay in the same place and they continued to evolve with 2004’s Where You Want to Be and moved a little more into the mainstream with 2006’s Louder Now. In that time, Taking Back Sunday has been through 3 guitarists and as a result their sound has somewhat changed. Their newest record New Again lives up to its name by sounding like a band that is refreshed and looking forward and not backward. The energy is kept high throughout the record especially on the title track and first single “Sink Into Me.” New guitarist Matt Fazzi lends some secondary vocals like TBS’s previous guitarists were known to do, but he’s not nearly as prominent, meaning front man Adam Lazarra’s signature wail carries most of the weight. Lyrically, Lazarra is probably more straightforward than he’s been in the past, touching on things like drug abuse, his failed engagement and the band’s split with former guitarist Fred Maschinero. For the most part, the hooks are still there and the album only stumbles in a few places, such as the mostly forgettable ballad “Where My Mouth Is.” Today’s song is fitting for Labor Day, as it’s about the end of the summer and all the feelings that go along with that. On the whole, New Again may not be as great as the Taking Back Sunday of old, but it’s still a very solid record with plenty to like.
One new song everyday until I get tired of doing it again. Click on the artist's name to get more information about them. Click on the album art for purchase information. Click on the play button to listen for yourself. Enjoy.
Lorien is a relatively new rock band that formed in Nashville. Their debut record Esque hit stores back in February and for me it’s been the surprise hit of the year. I had never heard of Lorien until one night this summer when I flipped on the local college station (which I can rarely bring myself to do anymore) and heard today’s song. I was immediately hooked by back and forth male and female vocals courtesy of Kaleb Jones and Cara Pollack. When I got home, I checked out their Myspace and liked what I heard and made an impulse buy of the album. Easily the best money I’ve blindly spent on music this year. Esque is a great album through and through. From the dance rock of “Sowing Bad Seeds” to the melodramatic, piano heavy “Do the Regret,” Lorien deliver on every level. While the record is mostly guitar driven there are plenty of keyboard and string flourishes to keep the mix interesting. There are many gems on Esque and I think Lorien is a band that you should start liking now, because they could get huge soon.
