Lovebettie - The Red Door EP

Lovebettie - The Red Door EP
2010, Lovebettie

Pittsburgh quartet Lovebettie practice their own proprietary blend of rock, pop and cutting edge soul.  Dubbed “Swagger Rock”, Lovebettie is one of the hottest acts in western Pennsylvania.  Showing a distinctive musical talent, Lovebettie struggles with their more commercial instincts on The Red Door EP.  Produced by Jim Wirt (Incubus, Fiona Apple, Hoobastank), The Red Door EP is the story of a band still trying to figure out their musical direction, but full of enough talent to succeed whichever they choose.

The Red Door EP opens with "Red Roses", a catchy rock n roll number with a walking bass line that grabs hold of listeners right out of the gate.  Alexandra Naples sings in a powerful and appealing voice over an angular guitar style that is appealing.  "Not Quite Right" opens with a killer bass riff that drives the song.  The stolid but catchy pop/rock chorus is a perfect complement here, filled with vocal harmonies that fill out the sound.  "Are You Out There" starts out with just piano and grows into a power ballad.  It's a bit bland and formulaic, but solid.  "Other Side" is a middle of the road album track that gets stuck in the momentum of "Are You Out There".  The Red Door EP closes with "Monsters", a catchy, guitar-driven number.  Naples is in fine voice, but the production choices here do her no favors. 

Lovebettie shows real potential on The Red Door EP, dancing on the edge of a highly original sound at times, but ultimately getting sucked into the formulaic sounds of Edge radio bands.  Much of this seems to be more of an issue of production choices overriding musical ones.  The Red Door EP wants to be itself, but ends up being a little too much like too many other songs on the radio to truly stand out.  ­­Alexandra Naples has a distinctive voice, but is too often hidden in the wash of sound here.  Bassist Dan Mulkeen is truly fantastic, and deserves a little more opportunity to make some hay like he does on the first two tracks.  If Lovebettie commits to the commercial sound they'll be very successful as a band.  If they commit to the more creative sides that are hinted at on The Red Door EP, they'll be very successful as artists.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lovebettie at www.myspace.com/lovebettie or www.facebook.com/lovebettie.   The Red Door EP is available digitally from Amazon.com and iTunes.

Life Size Ghost - Where We Started

Life Size Ghost - Where We Started
2010, Life Size Ghost

Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the home of Life Size Ghost, an eclectic six-piece band boasting the impressive Talitha Snowden on vocals (and keys). Unlike many such bands, Life Size Ghost doesn't exist simply to back Snowden. This collective is highly talented and original, with Erik Ryden (lead guitar); Curtis Hendershott (guitar); Dan Pavlovich (bass); Brian Thomas (drums) and Reese Gall (vibraphone) rounding out the roster. Unusual instrumentation and a distinctive sound bear fruit on Life Size Ghost's sophomore album Where We Started.

Life Size Ghost opens with "Old Design", a wonderfully dark jam rock excursion that shows both the power and finesse of Life Size Ghost while highlighting the impressive voice of Snowden. "Fight Or Flight" is a bit maudlin but follows an interesting compositional path touching on a blend of modern rock and classic/progressive rock. "Where We Started" features a strong performance from Snowden but feels stuck in its own musical inertia. The plodding course of the melody line weighs heavily on the song. "Every Other Word" is a slow, dynamic rocker that features outstanding work on the vibes and another strong vocal outing from Talitha Snowden. Life Size Ghost is hitting on all cylinders here in the sort of big rock anthem that has real radio potential. "Anytime, Anywhere" puts on some muscle in a dark, energetic rocker; a needful invitation that devolves into a generic reggae rhythm for the guitar solo before returning to form. "Well Aware" finds Life Size Ghost surfing mellow waters in an almost ambient rock opening before kicking in the big guitar sound that rears its head from time to time, but has a hard time escaping its own weight. Where We Started closes with "Count Me Out", a melancholy kiss off song that's more about personal escape and redemption than getting away.

When We Started has its dynamic moments. Life Size Ghost manages to construct some highly original and complex arrangements, but there are other moments when the process seems so burdensome you'll wonder how they got through it. Talitha Snowden has an original voice and uses it well, although she does appear to be stuck at one dynamic level throughout this album. Erik Ryden is a talent on guitar, and the band as a whole is very competent, to say the least. Where We Started isn't a negative experience, but you're likely to be left with the impression of Life Size Ghost as a band who is playing it safe. All of the components are here; it's just a matter of the right inspiration.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Life Size Ghost at http://www.lifesizeghost.com/ or www.myspace.com/lifesizeghost.  Where We Started is available as both CD and Download from CDBaby.com. 
.

Review: If You Will - Above The Earth

If You Will - Above The Earth
2009, If You Will

Mahtomedi, Minnesota's If You Will is back with Above The Earth, a five-song EP that serves as a follow-up to 2007's Flight Plan. Seth Lienard (bass, vox), Aaron Rosell (drums, piano, vocals) and Stefan Swanson (guitars, vox) bring five highly personal and emotional rockers on Above The Earth, showing significant growth both musically and lyrically over their debut album. For a band where all members are currently either nineteen or twenty years old, If You Will is maturing quickly into the sort of band that not only has a lot to say but can (and play) it well. Writing primarily from both Christian and Secular perspectives, If You Will manages to create music that is magical and refuses to be pigeonholed into one genre or type.

Above The Earth opens with Satellite, a song about the divisions that carve up humanity and their real source. The song has a vaguely spiritual way but deals with war and peace and reality of the space that exists between peoples and cultures. Ragnarok finds If You Will speculating on the end times in a heavy, guitar driven tune that finds a sense of peace within its own story line. Chloroform & Games is written from the perspective of an abused child. Message-wise it's a powerful song, although the musical development of the song may have been checked a bit by an urge to get the message right, as there are a few awkward moments in the song. If You Will breaks out some serious Blues licks for Time, exhorting listeners to stop worrying about things that do not matter and live their lives. Time finds If You Will hitting on all eight cylinders with four minutes of near-perfection. Above The Earth closes out with Saboteur, a relationship song about being with someone who so completely takes over a relationship they destroy what they love. It's a powerful song; extremely well-written and lyrically dense. If You Will chose the perfect closer here; a song that could easily be a Rock hit and has elements of 1970's classic rock mixed hand-in-hand with Funk and Modern Rock.

If You Will is a special outfit. It's unusual to hear a trio these days create such a full and textured sound as these guys, and the song-writing is generally outstanding. Perhaps what is most significant is that even when If You Will misses with a song it still tends to be highly listenable (just not up to their usual standard). If I were a betting man I'd say If You Will is destined for great things. Their relatively young ages, displayed development and baseline ability speak of a long career full of significant success. For now, If You Will continues to build on a regional following that is not inconsequential while writing great songs that wend their way through a maze of secular and spiritual issues. Oh yeah, and did I mention they rock, too? Make sure you check out Above The Earth. You'll be glad you did.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about If You Will at http://www.ifyouwill.net/ or www.myspace.com/iyw. You can purchase Above The Earth as either a CD or download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/ifyouwill2.

Review: Spy The Thinker - Ruby Kill Club

Spy The Thinker - Ruby Kill Club
2009, Spy The Thinker

Jersey boys Spy The Thinker hit hard with their debut album, Ruby Kill Club, independently released in 2009. The hard-rocking trio draws comparisons to early Red Hot Chili Peppers and Incubus. There are no pithy nuances to be found here, just straight ahead alternative rock. Playing out in large local markets such as New York City and Philadelphia, Spy The Thinker has generated a fair amount of excitement for their live shows.

Ruby Kill Club opens with Wake Up, crusty pop/punk at it's finest. This is a highly commercial tune that seems to draw comparisons between fame and addiction, and is insightful and musical in spite of the crunch. Skipping Stones has a sound that reminds me of The Lowest Of The Low. Lead vocalist Matthew has a dynamic voice that's gruff and lyric all at once. After that things slow down a bit, with decent but not overly notable songs. Cloudless Cold is an interesting listen on the first go but doesn't make a lasting impression. Tourist practically dances out of your speakers in a catchy and moderately upbeat arrangement. The album closes with Nobody Buy Me, a lively rock song that hits the energy and interest level of the opening tracks.

Spy The Thinker finds the knack for highly listenable songs a few times on Ruby Kill Club, but also manages to create some pleasant but unremarkable moments here. The more introspective material is fine but just doesn't show the same type of intensity of energy as their better material. If Spy The Thinker could manage to maintain that energy level in the slower more thoughtful songs they'd have a killer album here. The material itself is good, but the presentation is uneven.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Spy The Thinker at www.myspace.com/spythethinker. You can purchase a copy of Ruby Kill Club at www.cdbaby.com/cd/spythethinker.

Review: Falling Blind - Falling Blind

Falling Blind – Falling Blind
2008, Trip Six Records

Seattle’s Falling Blind claims heavy influences by both Incubus and Nirvana, and lays those influences out for all to hear on their debut EP, Falling Blind. With roots in Redding, California, this West Coast band has garnered a lot of industry attention already. They are touring the West Coast this Spring with their eyes on a wider audience in the future.

Falling Blind opens with Spoonfed Morality, a big guitar rock song with interesting arythmic sounds. Just A Distraction is up next, a classic sounding Pop/Metal ballad with some real kick in the bridge. Vocalist Clayton Marquiss is at his most soulful here. Where I Stand is your prototypical driving rock song with big guitars and heavy rhythms, whereas Modest Opinion marks a band that’s doing more than just cranking out tunes. Modest Opinion opens with one of the filthiest guitar licks you’re likely to hear and slams through a tight, compact rock arrangement that is a pleasure to listen to. This is an Indie classic. Dirty brings back the arrhythmic guitar style of Mike Davidson in a song with great movement running through the music. Falling Blind closes out with Is There A Reason, a classic, 1980’s Hair Metal sounding rocker.

Falling Blind is sure to find fans across the hard rock spectrum. For how much they stress influences like Nirvana and Incubus, Falling Blind ends up sounding wholly like themselves and no one else. Guitarist Davidson is a special find, with a style that could become distinctive and even signature over time. This is an excellent start.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Falling Blind at www.myspace.com/fallingblind. You can purchase a copy of Falling Blind at www.cdbaby.com/cd/fallingblind.