Album name: The Circle Artist name: Bon Jovi Genre: Rock Released: November 2009 Label: Island ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: bonjovi.com There are two possible scenarios that come to mind when I try to picture a Bon Jovi songwriting session. Obviously, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora are there. They’re probably joined by their co-writer of choice – say, Desmond Child or Billy Falcone or whoever – and they’re brainstorming ideas for a spanking new set…
Album name: Blue Record Artist name: Baroness Genre: Sludge Metal Released: October 13, 2009 Label: Relapse ZME Rating: 9/10 Website: myspace.com/yourbaroness Red and blue are interesting colors. They are two of the three “addictive primary colors,” the third being green. Red, generally signifying anger in modern culture, is assuredly addictive in American society: road rage, “You lie!,” talk radio, you get it. It would make sense, then, that Savannah quartet Baroness would name an album…
Album name: Black Gives Way To Blue Artist name: Alice in Chains Genre: Rock Released: September 29 2009 Label: EMI ZME Rating: 8/10 Website: aliceinchains.com There are lots of ways to open a review of Alice in Chains’ long-awaited return to the studio. The obvious approach is to eulogise Layne Staley, their sorely-missed lead singer. But I have some deep-seated neuroses that don’t let me do things the obvious way. (They also don’t let me…
Album name: Love 2 Artist name: AIR Genre: Electronica/Pop/Experimental Released: October 5th 2009 Label: Astralwerks (US) / Virgin (ROW) ZME Rating: 10/10 Website: http://en.aircheology.com ; http://www.myspace.com/intairnet ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… We all know this band, we all appreciate its uniqueness and most incredible talent. And they’ve done it again. they will release tomorrow what in my opinion is they’re best work – a new material called “Love 2” ! The French electronic pop duo AIR – Jean-Benoit Dunckel…
Album name: Comes and Goes Artist name: Default Genre: Rock Released: September 28 2009 (Canadian release only) Label: EMI Canada ZME Rating: 5/10 Website: Myspace You probably didn’t know this, or perhaps you’ve simply blocked it out of your memory, but back in the earlier part of this decade, Chad Kroeger wasn’t just the annoying, frog-faced, inexplicably popular lead singer of turd-rock band Nickelback. No, in the dark days of Space Year 2002, Kroeger tried…
Album name: Endgame Artist name: Megadeth Genre: Heavy/Thrash Metal Released: September 15, 2009 Label: Roadrunner Records ZME Rating: 10/10 Website: Megadeth.com It’s a well known fact that instead of blood, a fine mixture of metal, vodka and pure awesomeness runs through Dave Mustaine’s veins. It’s what led him to deliver some of what many fans consider to be Metallica (and metal’s) finest songs, create blazing solos and make millions of fans headbang, but it’s also…
Album name: Deflorate Artist name: The Black Dahlia Murder Genre: Melodic death metal Released: September 15 2009 Label: Metal Blade ZME Rating: 9/10 Website: myspace.com/blackdahliamurder Deflorate: Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. It’s important to note that word – important because The Black Dahlia Murder has after only four albums ascended to extreme metal’s throne. But keep in mind one thing: BDM isn’t a band in the band qua bandsense of the…
Album name: Backspacer Artist name: Pearl Jam Genre: Rock Released: September 22 2009 Label: Island ZME Rating: 8/10 Website: pearljam.com Look, I’m instigating a rule right now, okay? It’s very simple, and it goes like this: anyone who includes in their review of Backspacer – or any Pearl Jam album, for that matter – any allusion to Pearl Jam “getting their mojo back” or “returning to form” are forbidden to write about music for at…
Album name: They Came from the Shadows Artist name: Teenage Bottlerocket Genre: Powerchords and bubblegum Released: September 15, 2009 Label: Fat Wreck ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: Official (Note: I’m going to challenge myself that I can make it through a review of Teenage Bottlerocket without including one mention of the Ramones. Besides that one). Pop-punkers Teenage Bottlerocket are probably the best band out of Wyoming right now. Granted, I can only name one other band…
Album name: Broken Artist name: Soulsavers Genre: A Confused Shrug Released: August 17 2009 Label: V2 ZME Rating: 9/10 Website: Myspace I clearly don’t know about you – and let’s face it, you probably prefer it that way – but I’m not a particularly splendid example of a human being. You can tell by the kind of accusations that have been slung in my poxy, four-eyed face. No one’s ever verbally accosted me for giving…
Al Byrne
Steve Lampiris
Alex Petrache
Andrei Mihai
Tyler Sonic