Never Shout Never - Harmony

Never Shout Never - Harmony
2010 Loveway/Sire Records

Never Shout Never returned recently with their first full length album, Harmony. The band with roots in Joplin, Mississippi garnered a lot of attention with 2009’s Summer EP, earning features from outlets such as Billboard Magazine, Alternative Press, AMP Magazine and MTV’s TRL. Harmony finds Never Shout Never exploring new sounds, choosing a more acoustic folk/rock path than you might expect from their post-punk roots.

Harmony opens with the title track, a highly simplistic and redundant folk/rock track that is likely to have some commercial appeal. The acoustic arrangement here is appealing, but the repetitive nature of the song is likely to grate on a few nerves. "This Sh!t Getz Old" is a highly infectious bit of acoustic pop music that is so catchy you'll overlook the banal lyrical constructs it contains. "Cheatercheaterbestfriendeater" is a calling of accounts for a digital age; a somewhat clinical yet emotionally mature review of a shallow ending to a shallow relationship. "Lovesick" may be the emotional epilogue to "Cheatercheaterbestfriendeater", written with a flair that suggests someone's been listening to 1960's cabaret music rather than the current crop of pop songs. It's a well-constructed song with a great melody and a catchy but quiet feel.

"Piggy Bank" sings the praises of being with someone who appreciates the simple things, particularly when the simple things are all you can afford. It's a highly catchy tune that will have your toes tapping even if the rhyming scheme is occasionally on the far side of awkward. "First Dance" features some impressive vocal harmonies and has the sort of pacing and feel that leads to chart success. Rapid-fire lyrics in the verses resolve into a chorus you'll be humming in your sleep. "Trampoline" is about the building tension of a fledgling relationship and the stops and starts brought on by a prior bad experience. The arrangement is highly inventive and illustrative of the way such relationships might run; a surprisingly subtle bit of song craft. "Sweet Perfection" is a fun little country-style romp that attempts to convince an intended paramour how wonderful things might be. It's a charming tune with real life and is perhaps the most likely track on the album to be on continuous repeat on your MP3 player. On "Sellout" Never Shout Never take themselves and the music industry to task for the tendency to place image over music and creation; the sort of song a major label wouldn't have allowed even five/ten years ago. In the age of "independent" labels established with the financial support of the majors it's only a little less surprising. The song works, but does have a whiny quality to it that will turn some off.

Never Shout Never hit the big time and make a sudden left turn musically, sticking to mostly acoustic folk/rock songs on Harmony. The result is generally very good and occasionally stunning. Never Shout Never does occasionally suffer an awkward moment in their lyrics, but bulls their way through like it doesn't matter. The music tends to be so catchy and/or memorable they are probably right. Never Shout Never, in essence, takes several giant leaps forward artistically with Harmony, overcoming the sort of sophomore doldrums that afflict many bands with blunt acoustic force. The band has its idiosyncrasies, but there's something in the chemistry of Never Shout Never that makes you want to overlook the small blemishes; like that one friend in every group that's a little off-kilter but no one has a bad word to say about. Never Shout Never will sneak up on you and have you hooked on their melodies before you know what hit you.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Never Shout Never at http://www.nevershoutnever.com/ or www.myspace.com/nevershoutnever.  Harmony is available from Amazon.com as a Deluxe CD, Standard CD, Explicit Download, or Clean Download.  iTunes has the album in both Explicit and Clean versions.

Evan Bliss - ShhhPOW!

Evan Bliss - ShhhPOW!
2010, Holster Records

Former The Low Life front man Evan Bliss re-united with his old band Evan Bliss & The Welchers this year to release his second solo album, ShhhPOW! Writing in a sharply post-genre collection of styles, Bliss will recall for listeners such acts as Maroon 5, Ray LaMontagne, David Bowie and U2 on ShhhPOW!, while blending rock, soul and even a dash of reggae in the process.

ShhhPow! is a solid effort full of singer-songwriter songs with a quirky pop edge that's part Train and part Radiohead. Bliss has a voice that will stick out in your mind; it works very well on some songs but occasionally comes face to face with his limitations on ShhhPow! Bliss carries on either in spite of or oblivious to such concerns, delivering the songs as he hears them. The effort is generally successful, with highlights such as the thoughtful "On Live And Life", the Train-styled "Fleiss", and the Radiohead-essence of "Awake". Bliss is particularly enjoyable on the gritty R&B-based rocker "Passerby"; the wagon-train country-punk intensity of "Come Shine" and the messy but enjoyable "Shotgun Ho-Down". Make sure you stick around for "Pula Aena", a stirring gem stuck at the end of the album that features the African Children's Choir and voiceovers telling what the group is and how it came to be. Bliss is at his vocal best here, and the choir very accomplished on backing vocals.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more: website, MySpace

Buy: AmazonMP3, iTunes

Review: Broadcast Live - Boomerang Metropolis

Broadcast Live - Boomerang Metropolis
2009, Rebel Army Media

The Albany, New York region has long held a relatively un-noticed well of musical talent (perhaps due to its relative proximity to New York City). Artists such as Sirsy, Rosanne Raneri, Denise Culhane, Matt Smith, The Figgs, The McKrells, Katie Haverly, Eric Margan & The Red Lions, Peter Davis, John Nazarenko and Jeff Halstead have been consigned to trying to go outside of the area to gain significant attention or accepting the local market as something of a boundary. Some have done well for themselves; The Figgs have been together for close to twenty years now with multiple releases to their name and an extended gig as Graham Parker's touring band. Sirsy has made a long and successful career as a highly sought after Indie Act on the Eastern seaboard with significant critical acclaim. Matt Smith left for New York City and wound up as a highly sought after session guitarist. Nazarenko and Halstead still make music and double as educators. The McKrells are still together although not in their original and most dynamic form. Peter Davis continues to teach and play music running the gamut from Dixieland Jazz to country, folk and Rock N Roll. Denise Culhane had her career interrupted by health issues but continues to make music. Even some solo musicians have caught on, with two Saratoga Springs natives catching on with big bands. Dorian Crozier spent some time as touring drummer for The Rembrandts and has recorded with numerous artists, while Scott Underwood is the drummer for Train.

The point of all of this is that there is a wealth of under-noticed talent in the Albany region. I am certain there are several I have forgotten or overlooked as I haven't lived in the area in a few years, but the area continues to have a vibrant music scene. The latest band to make some big noise out of this small market is Broadcast Live, with their heavy dose of social commentary and atypical mix of Hip-Hop, Rock and Pop. Lead singer and resident urban poet laureate Victorio Reyes lists influences that range from KRS-One and Dead Prez to Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and Tracey Chapman. Even some of his raps have a very musical quality to them; spoken word with the cadences of a singer. The band is filled out by Gaetano Vaccaro (guitar, drums, and bass); Seantel Chamberlain (drums, bass, guitar, vox) and Jory Leanza-Carey (drums, guitar, vox). Suffice it to say that a live show could be interesting with members playing musical instruments both during and between songs.

To the music; Broadcast Live is as groundbreaking and unique in sound as Gym Class Heroes were when they first appeared on the scene, but with a wider range of sounds and more powerful social slant. Boomerang Metropolis opens with the title track, which compares landlords and bankers to drug dealers, implying that all trap people into need based relationships that working folks can't afford but can't afford to get out of. This song appears to be about the current "gentrification" trend in New York City where landlords buy cheaper properties in poorer neighborhoods and start the process of raising rents. This has the net effect of pushing the working class, the poor and a disproportionate number of minorities to furthest edges of the City and beyond. This isn't happening just in New York, but New York might be the place where it is most apparent.

One Metaphor sounds like a mellow pop song from the outset, an autobiographical soliloquy about the cathartic effect of writing for Victorio Reyes. It is a reminder that communication can be the most important means to overcoming adversity and moving beyond wherever you are. Spoken Vision is a musical call for unity that is a highly infectious listen. This song is radio-ready and could be a potential hit. A Bronx Tale is about doing the right thing, the best way you can, regardless of the cards you've been dealt. It's a sweet musical arrangement with some great piano work and a strong melody in the chorus. Commonplace attacks the mindset of prejudice, excusing no one in the process. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the album is the thrash-punk mayhem of Harry Potter Is Black, which closes out with something that sounds like Dobby The House Elf beat-boxing. Pledge Of Allegiance is done Body Count style, turning from the ideological roots of the US to an ironic statement of the darker hours of our collective history. Other highlights include the singer/songwriter style of New Orleans, Semiautomatic and Willie Lynch.

Broadcast Live takes you down to street level; not the glorified Gangsta culture version, but the real people trying to live day-to-day street. With songs yearning and entreating for social justice, Broadcast Live initiates a new-sounding hybrid of Hip-Hop, Pop, Latin and Rock that is bound to garner critical attention and praise. The music is organic from start to finish; the songs alive with real people and real places. You can't help but caught up in Boomerang Metropolis. Well done.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Broadcast Live at http://www.broadcastlive.org/ or www.myspace.com/broadcastlive. You can purchase a copy of Boomerang Metropolis at www.cdbaby.com/cd/boomerangmetropolis3.