Reviews

For a music critic, four months after an album release isn’t a third of a year, it’s an epoch. The rule has always been to review the album as soon as it’s released, or at least in the first week or two after release if you cannot acquire a prerelease copy. Anything after that is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. But here we are. Tame Impala’s Lonerism was released on October 9th, 2012. This review is going up in February. But the album is too good to ignore.

Introducing Winslow, an original blend of soulful pop rock complete with underlying elements of jazz and funk that will have you laughing, crying, and moving to the beat. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, this inspiring 6-piece group has a rich and cultured history when it comes to studying and performing music.

Golden Some Day is Jeremy Dion’s latest release and has much to commend it. Admittedly, there is a whole lot of variety to these arrangements and performances. First: Dion and his impressive band delivers rock solid playing like a well oiled machine. This is testament to hundreds of hours of rehearsal time no doubt. Second: Dion himself possesses a voice and an impassioned writing style that hits the mark remarkably well within the folk-pop music arena. He has the attributes required of an effective singer/songwriter.

The issue with calling any band a "jam band" is that you force them into an extreme marginalization that could come along with a stigma. The category "jam band" could encompass everything from Little Feat, The Disco Biscuits, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Phish, or MMW.

GNU’s subterranean FoCo sanctuary is a creative playground offering Art exhibits, artist workshops, benefits for many artists and organizations. Voted Westword 2012 “Best DIY Music Venue – Ft. Collins,” GNU Experience Gallery’s is an eccentric array of interactive experiences, which include performance art, films, comedy, and musical performances.

Regions of Light and Sound of God, the first album straight from the effervescent mind of Jim James, will be released on February 5. As a true headphone heretic, this project adds another dimension to James’s already genre bending discography which includes: My Morning Jacket, Monsters of Folk, and Yim Yames. The nine track LP is a powerful portrayal of how it feels to fall into darkness.While creating this album Jim James was heavily influenced by the 1929 graphic novel God’s Man created by Lynd Ward.

Certainly as time goes by, many genres have changed or rather have combined to create something new and original. A great example can be seen in the new album by New York's White Rhino.The Journey is, as the title indicates, a fantastic journey through sound. Lots of drama, tension, fun, and so many emotions and feelings that will wrap you up immediately. This can be seen in the first song "Something To Say," where the effects of piano with beats combine to create something epic and scary at the same time.

The Disco Biscuits love Colorado! And how can I blame them? I come from Philadelphia just like they do and fled the East for the happy humble vibe of Colorado. There is something very special about this area, especially regarding music. I am not sure if it is the natural beauty, the thin air, or generally just the kindness of the like-minded people that get attracted here from all over the world.

What can be considered real rap or hip hop music or just plain business? Many may argue that it's all in the lyrics. In that case, to some extent, we can say that Cousin J is perhaps not really a rapper. Among other things, it may be so or not.What there's absolutely no doubt about is that it is tremendously fun and entertaining, and that can be seen immediately in the first song that starts the album, "Love Me," where we can hear a bit of Kanye West, Wiz and Tinie Tempah Kalifah.

Shannon McNally is stomping her boots on the stage of the Fox Theatre as good as any other night crawler out there as she growls into the microphone like an early rocakbilly queen.

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