CD Review: Ted Garber “American Rail”

Life isn’t fair. Some people can write good lyrics, but they can’t write a good song. Some people can sing, but can’t play an instrument. Some can play, but can’t carry a tune if their lives depended on it. But some people have a monopoly on talent – they can do everything, and do it oh so right. Ted Garber is one of those monopolizers of talent who can write smart lyrics, craft jubilant songs, sing his heart out, and play his guitar and harp like nobody’s business. And on top of all that, he comes across like your average everyday nice guy.

Ted Garber calls his unique blend of music “BluesAmericanaRock” and says his latest effort, “”American Rail”, is a “deeply personal collection of songs steeped in American tradition with an international twist”. A few tunes in and you’ll catch his continental drift – while there is a bedrock of pure American party rock, you’ll hear some Brazilian Bossanova, some Afro-Cuban drumming, and some of that classic big band sound. Garber‘s lyrics can be heavy, but always inspirational, as in “Giving Tree”, a call to continue the efforts to rebuild what Katrina destroyed.

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Genius or Madman? Gary Reynolds Plans to Release 52 Songs and 12 Albums in 2010 – Really

Seattle-based singer/songwriter Gary Reynolds and his band, The Brides of Obscurity, have extraordinary plans for 2010: they plan to release a song a week and a full-length album a month throughout all of 2010. Yes, you read that correctly. The band will release fifty-two songs and twelve full-length albums this year and to keep things fresh the tracks will range in style from psychedelic indie-rock to power-pop to folk-inspired numbers.  So genius or madman? Read the interview, hear the tunes and make up your own mind!

Q: Wow! Tell us about the inspiration behind choosing to release 12 albums this year.

A: I came up with this concept of releasing a song a week. Basically, I’ve been playing music for a long time and officially, what happens is, in the past I would record an album. I have three “Chronicles” – Cretin Chronicles volumes 1, 2 and 3 – those were what I did in my college days and they’re Brit-poppy psychedelic garage rock. Remember the “Pebbles” series that came out?

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CD Review: Mark Nomad “Soul Proprietor”

Going all the way back to the advent of Rock And Roll, several other musical styles blended together to form this brand new style of music that would take the world by storm. Among those styles were blues, jazz, country and others. And it’s always good to remember where things started. From time to time, it’s good to discover a new musician who is keeping the foundation of the musical style alive. One such musician who is creating his own musical style by going back to the beginnings of Rock And Roll is Mark Nomad.

While most of Mark Nomad’s music is based in the blues, he blends other styles into his music to make it closer to rock than blues at times. With this blues-based musical style, Nomad is setting the New England area of the country on fire. Recently, Mark Nomad celebrated the release of his newest album entitled Soul Proprietor.

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The U.K.’s ‘AlterVertigo’ on Politics, Dali and Giving Their EP Away for Free

AlterVertigo are a sharp-edged, hard-hitting band from the Midlands in the U.K. who infuse electro rock style with a touch of ambience and plenty of passion. So who is AlterVertigo? Dean McCread is on guitar, vocals and programming, Russ Carlin is on bass, vocals and programming and Leeroy Evans provides drums, vocals and, you guessed it, programming. Like so many great three-piece bands, AlterVertigo produce an immense amount of sound with vast diversity and incorporate everything from screamo to ambient techno, all into one song.

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You want great Rock and Roll? Just say SHAZAM!!

Shazam – Meteor
Not Lame

Not only does this new album from rockers The Shazam mark the long-awaited return of one of the best power pop groups of the past twenty years or so but it also marks the return of THE best power pop label ever, Not Lame, if only temporarily. Two great treats in one! Seems the great folks behind Not Lame have decided to partner with The Shazam on this new CD but have no plans to revive the label outside of this release. Boo! Then again, if there was ever a reason to bother to start (or revive, as in Not Lame’s case) a label it is for a band as deserving and overlooked as The Shazam. For over a decade now, this powerpop juggernaut led by guitarist/songwriter/singer Hans Rotenberry have been at the forefront of the New Power Pop which sprung up in the mid-’90′s thanks to pioneering bands such as Jellyfish, The Posies and The Smithereens – bands who took the combination of melody and guitar bombast The Beatles, Badfinger, Big Star, and early Who represented and decided to bring it forward while giving it a much-needed kick in the ass with some modern technology and post-punk attitude. That the band hasn’t become more of a household name is very unfortunate as their distinctive blend of arena rock with razor-sharp pop hooks should have been the perfect bridge betwen the kind of FM hard rock fodder listeners have suffered through for over thirty years and the alternative rock of the mid-90′s and beyond. In fact, if Fountains of Wayne, Weezer and Foo Fighters were combined, it would sound like The Shazam.

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GARY PIG GOLD’s NINETIES TOP NINETEEN

Still in a most list-ful mood, but this round-up certainly wasn’t a very easy one for even a Rock and Roll Reporter to compile, I’ll have you know. The pickin’s were extremely, uh, thin, to say the very least.

Nevertheless (or should I say Nevermind)…..

Number One: Mark Johnson – 12 in a room (1992)
Powerful pop most firmly rooted within the Brill Building anteroom.

Two: Cowsills - Global (1998)
America’s once-and-forever First Family of Song leave no Partridge unspurned.

Three: Brian Wilson – Sweet Insanity (1991)
Just to make sure the Nineties weren’t ALL Pet Sounds re-issues.

Four: Dave Rave Group – Valentino’s Pirates (1992)
Wherein the former Soviet Union signs its first Western act, then promptly dissolves.

Five: Johnny Cash – American Recordings (1994)
Rick Rubin produces a Johnny we thought only Sam Phillips could.

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CD Review: King Washington “Grenadine” [EP]

“Grenadine” is the new EP from the L.A.-based band King Washington. Perhaps it is the sunny weather in L.A. that makes their sound so bright and energetic. Whatever the root cause, there is no denying the vibe of cheerfulness and positivity in their music.

King Washington‘s motto: “We’re trying to bring back what never should have left.” By this they largely mean those catchy melodies and feel-good harmonies perfected long ago by The Beatles. You’ll hear some of the most overt – and wondrous – John Lennon influences on this EP. While the boys maintain that songwriting is their focus, I would be remiss not to mention their amazing musical talents. Yes, these songs have a great melody at heart, but what truly takes them over the top is how well they are performed.

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WHOTUNE WILL SHOWCASE UNSIGNED PERFORMERS AT SXSW

Music site www.whotune.com will offer unsigned artists the opportunity to be seen by record company executives, managers, promoters and fans of music at the upcoming SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. Artists can use the company’s ‘Jam Cam’ to perform LIVE via webcam and be seen on the big screens at the whotune booth at SXSW. To perform all you need to do is register at whotune.com and schedule a time on the Jam Cam scheduler. See www.whotune.com.

CD Review: Hundred Days “Rise”

One year on from the quite brilliant debut release of “How a war is won”, UK rockers Hundred Days have returned with this six track mini album.

I have to be honest, their debut was of such good quality, any follow up would have to be as good, if not better to keep me satisfied.

‘Only Human’ kicks of proceedings in typically heavy fashion with it’s staccato riff and sing along chorus. ‘Just a mission’ is easily the stand out track on the album, with some very funky bass lines and solid drumming, with vocalist Stuart Curtin belts it out like his life depends on it.

The remaining tracks are all fine examples good song writing, especially the powerful and gentle ’The rise and fall’. The formula is simple. Start off with a catchy riff, add in some well thought out structures, sprinkle in a solid rhythm section, and finally pour in lashing of instantly recognizable melodies.

This is what Hundred Days do best, and on this mini album it is business as usual. Listening to “Rise” straight after their debut album it is clear to see the latter is superior in the song writing stakes, and hopefully the next full length offering will be on par.

For now this will no doubt keep fans palates whetted.

Aaron Phillips

www.hundreddays.co.uk

Rockers with a Cause: The 2nd Annual Blankfest Quebec Helps Out the Homeless of Montreal

The Rock and Roll Report is proud to once again be a part of the second annual Blankfest Quebec in partnership with Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission. With the slogan “It’s about the homeless. Nothing more, nothing less” Blankfest Quebec will run on February 19th, 2010 at Bar St. Laurent 2 located at 5550 St. Laurent corner St. Viateur.

This year we have another great four bands for your rock and roll pleasure. Performing in aid of a great cause will be:

• Special Ops (www.opsmission.com)
• Emery Street (www.myspace.com/EmeryStreet)
• Vinyl Hero (www.myspace.com/vinylheroband)
• The In & Outs (www.myspace.com/theinnouts)

Now the coolest part of this whole thing is that you are not going to just see four great bands but that by paying the entrance fee of one blanket or a warm article of clothing you will be directly help keep the homeless of Montreal warm this winter. Last year Blankfest donated over 500 items of clothing and blankets to the Old Brewery Mission and this year we are looking to up that number significantly so if you want to hear some great live rock and roll and do some good then head out to Bar St. Laurent 2 on February 19th with blanket in hand and help us rock the joint.

Somebody out there who is having a rough time of it would thank you if they could….

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