The Audio Nut
February
06, 2005
Welcome back to The Audio Nut.
The changes to the page seemed to be a hit with almost all of you. I did bring
back the band interview due to all the requests for it. This time I caught up with
the band At Rest. I am also pleased to reveal our first installment of the section
called Readers Reviews. Thanks to everyone that wrote in with question, ideas and
reviews. I personally had no idea how many people had been checking out this page,
but the responses this past week has almost been overwhelming. I will answer all
e-mails even if it takes a couple days so if you have any questions or comments
feel free to e-mail me at anytime. You can also leave messages for me on my
personal
message board.
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
or
jsohn@nutzworld.net
This time around we will be doing reviews for c.d.’s
from:
1. and you
will know us by the trail of dead
2. Tobymac
3. Killswitch Engage
4. Kelly Clarkson
5. Kenny Chesney
6.
James Gang
7. Underoath
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Reviews |
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…and
you will know us by the trail of dead
Worlds Apart (parental
advisory)
2005 Interscope Records
Grade: A
http://www.trailofdead.com
http://www.interscope.com
If you
have never heard …and you will know us by the trail of
dead, don’t let the name scare you away. This isn’t some
doom and gloom band that barks or growls like a rabid dog
or plays annoyingly fast music to impress themselves and
their friends. Instead this is a group that plays
amazingly melodic music while still pushing the
song-writing envelope. Worlds Apart is the fourth release
from the band and shows that they are still growing both
musically and lyrically. It reminds me of artists like
Pink Floyd, Simon & Garfunkle, Coldplay and Sonic Youth
with a touch of Mozart all thrown into a blender. The band
is very eclectic in their influences and styles and it
shows nicely on this release. There isn’t a single bad
moment in any of the 11 songs on this c.d. I wish it had
11 more songs of it, because this is a band that I can’t
seem to get enough of. I highly recommend getting all of
the bands releases if you are into any of the
above-mentioned artists or like your ears and mind taken
on a musical journey.
I
didn’t think they could top the 2002 release Source
Tags& Scars, but I was wrong. Fans of earlier Trail of
Dead don’t listen to the negative critics of this album
because if you have been following the trail for any
length of time you are familiar with the progression of
the band and this release is a fitting chapter in the book
of rock-n-roll history that is being written.
Be sure
to get this c.d. as soon as possible and you can get a
limited edition DVD included.
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Tobymac
Welcome to Diverse City
2004 Forefront
Records/EMD
Grade: A
http://www.tobymac.com
http://www.forefrontrecords.com
Toby
MacKeehan is probably most known for his work in the
multi-platinum selling band d.c.Talk. The band has been on
hiatus for the past couple years while it’s members branch
out into solo recordings and other ventures. Toby has put
out his second recording and doesn’t disappoint. This
recording picks up where his first c.d. Momentum
left off, on the dance floor. Tobymac is known for getting
the party started with blends of rock and rap music. Don’t
confuse this with rap-rock. He keeps his styles mostly
separate, but equally impressive. From the first beat of
“Hey Now” until the last note of “Atmosphere” (a remix
featuring d.c.Talk) Toby has delivered a funky fresh
upbeat record to add to any music collection. Welcome
to Diverse City is a must for music fans that like
upbeat music that gets their booty moving. If you like
bands or groups like, d.c.Talk, Grits, John Ruben or
hip-hop-dance type music you should take a trip to Toby
Mac’s diverse city.
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Killswitch Engage
End
of Heartache
2004 Roadrunner
Records
Grade: B-
http://www.killswitchengage.com
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com
This is
the best album that Killswitch Engage has put out to date.
The bands new singer, Howard Jones can scream and growl
with the best of them in this genre, he also has a very
good singing voice. Some parts of the record remind me of
bands like Seven Dust, Demon Hunter and Lamb of God, but
over all this c.d. shows why KsE (as known by fans) are
becoming one of the most popular bands in the world when
it comes to the heavier, faster and louder bands. It’s a
high energy and intense performance from the band. Overall
the recording is good, but after a few listens the songs
don’t seem as impressive as the first time around. I’m
sure this is a c.d. that will grow on you if you don’t
like it after the first listen. The bottom line is KsE is
getting better at what they do, which is scary because
they are a pretty good band to start with.
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Kelly Clarkson
Breakaway
2004 RCA
Grade: C
http://www.kellyclarksonweb.com
http://www.rcarecords.com
Kelly
Clarkson is trying to get out of the shadow of American
Idol. On the c.d. Breakaway she seems to be taking
a step in the right direction. There are your pretty
ballads and some of the songs have a rougher rock-n-roll
feel to them. I’m sure there are a few songs on here that
America’s favorite music critic Simon Cowell will hate.
Overall, Clarkson proves on this recording that she is a
really good singer and very marketable. The title track
“Breakaway” soared up the charts and record sales for this
release has surpassed anything any other American Idol
winner has done. If she can keep this up she probably will
outlast the TV reality show that helped make her famous.
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Kenny Chesney
Be As
You Are
2005 BNA Records
Grade: B-
http://www.kennychesney.com
http://www.bnarecords.com
After
collaborating with island party legend Jimmy Buffet on the
Hank Williams Sr. classic “Hey, Good Lookin’”, and
“License to Chill”, Kenny Chesney has developed a
hankering for umbrella drinks and palm trees. With Be
As You Are, Chesney has put out another recording that
his fans will love. Songs like, “Guitars and Tiki Bars,”
“Magic” and “Sherry’s in Paradise” will all likely become
favorites of his fans and the country music business.
Chesney has developed a repertoire over the years as an
upbeat and fun loving country boy and this record is no
exception. So if you are a fan of Kenny Chesney, Jimmy
Buffet or Hawaiian shirts this c.d. is for you. |
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Blast From The Past |
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James
Gang
Rides
Again
1970 MCA (re mastered
and reissued 2000)
Grade: A
After
taking some heat about my Blast from the Past segment not
featuring old enough music for some of the readers I have
decided to pull a classic recording out and dust it off. This
one should be sure to please you all.
Many of the
people that have heard or heard of Joe Walsh seem to be
familiar with his work in the Eagles or his solo recording
efforts. Years before Walsh joined (and improved) the Eagles
he was in the trio called James Gang.
Rides Again
is the bands second release and it is a pretty special
recording that has stood the test of time. Walsh’s guitar work
is a stellar mix of blues, rock and funk while the rhythm
section made up of Dale Peters (Bass) and Jim Fox (Drums)
keeps your head bopping and your foot tapping. This recording
will be 35 years old this year and can still be held up in
contrast with bands that seem to be guitar driven.
From the
opening riff of the undeniably groovy Funk #49 (a song that
probably everyone has heard and not many know the name of), to
the softer and smooth Ashes the Rain and I, this album is
truly a rock-n-roll classic. The first part of the recording
is more rock oriented while the second half seems to take a
softer approach while not losing the overall feel of the
album.
Anyone that
is interested in good old time rock-n-roll or playing rock
guitar should get this album as soon as possible and see what
you have been missing for all these years. If you have this
recording you already know what I’m talking about.
How Do I
Get Mine?
All of the
above c.d.’s can be bought new or used by going to
http://www.amazon.com,
your local music sellers or at their respective webpages.
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The Underground Spotlight |
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To be
considered for The Underground Spotlight send me an e-mail
with contact information to
jsohn@nutzworld.net
or
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
Underoath
They’re Only Chasing Safety
2004 Tooth & Nail
Records
Grade: A
http://www.underoath777.com
http://www.toothandnail.com
http://solidstaterecords.com
http://www.chasingsafety.com
Go to
http://www.myspace.com/underoath or
http://www.purevolume.com/underoath and you can download
songs for free!
Underoath
has been gaining so much momentum since the release of this
recording that I think they may almost be too big of a band to
fit into the Underground Spotlight, but I’m going to do it
anyway. They’re Only Chasing Safety is an emotionally
charged recording by this six-piece band from Tampa, Florida
and it has landed them a spot on the Taste of Chaos tour with
more commercially successful bands The Used and My Chemical
Romance. This is the second full-length release from the band
and it is blistering on the senses. I highly recommend
checking them out. Songs like “Some Will Seek Forgiveness,
Others Escape,” “Reinventing Your Exit,” and “It’s a Dangerous
Business Walking Out Your Front Door” will stick in your head
and are great songs to listen to while driving.
It was just
announced that the band would be doing a headlining tour
starting in March, which will be sure to sell out many of the
venues that are being booked. Yes, maybe Underoath is too big
for the Underground Spotlight, but this is a band that you
need to hear about. If you like bands like Taking Back Sunday,
The Used, or Brand New, Underoath is for you.
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7 Questions With... |
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Back by
popular demand is the segment called 7 Questions with… This
time we catch up with the band At Rest.
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Joe Zangrilli. I do guitars and lead vocals.
Q. How did you come up with the name At Rest?
A. At my aunt’s wake, it said, "Cecelia is At Rest" on the
booklet they were handing out. I thought it seemed to be
fitting for the project.
Q. After hearing your new MP3's I am ready for a full length
c.d. Are there any plans for one, and what are you willing to
share with us about it?
A. Justin (bass and backing vocals) and I really believe in
3 song samplers for unsigned bands. It’s a cool way to always
have new material to hand out for free. People’s attention
spans are so short so we just try to take the 3 best songs we
have at the time and really concentrate on them. We are always
growing as musicians and our tastes are always changing, so by
just doing little samplers like twice a year, we get to always
have new material to promote. We are actually working on
another 3 song right now. It should be done in about 3 months.
Q. Are there any plans for a tour or any upcoming live
performances?
A. We just added a new guitarist (Mark Thomson) so we are
just finishing up rehearsing the set. We plan on hitting the
road pretty hard in the next two months. We have to live up to
our recordings live, so we really have to know our s**t
backwards and forwards.
Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and
non-musical?
A. Musically my influences are the Beatles, Queens of the
Stone Age, Kool Keith, all doo-wop music, and Phish.
Non-musically I’m am totally in love with director Takashi
Miike. He is the most insane/incredible director I have ever
seen.
Q. If you
could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. I’d be Bill Gates. So I could build clones of myself to
do all the promoting/booking/and music biz stuff for us. I’d
also build robot comedians to entertain me. That would be off
the heezy for sheezy!
Q. What are you listening to these days in your car/home
stereo?
A. I just got that Sirius satellite radio! I love it! I’ve
been all over the
Sirius gold station. ALL FIFTIES AND SIXTIES DOO WOP! I can’t
get enough of their singing techniques. It was way before pro
tools and auto tune. Those guys were just standing on the
street corner singing in perfect harmony around garbage can
bonfires and s**t! That is what music is all about!
At Rest (ex members of Colonel Stem and The Elvi) have posted
three new mp3s mixed by Manny Sanchez (Zwan / Umphrees McGee /
Riddlin Kids /Rod Stewart).
http://www.atrestmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/atrest
AT REST IS:
Joe Zangrilli (Vocals/Guitar)
Justin Boller (Bass/Backing Vocals)
Mark Thomson (Guitar)
Nick Kettman (Drums)
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Reader Reviews |
Bart F. Jackson, TN
Have you heard of the band Further Seems Forever? “Hide
Nothing” is their newest release and I love it. FSF is my
favorite band of all time! This c.d. is an A+!
(Hey Bart, I really dig FSF. I heard about them a couple
years ago and I think they are great. Check back in for the
next installment for a special surprise for fans of FSF!)
Shannon B. Tempe, AZ
I got the c.d. Love Liberty Disco by the Newsboys yesterday. I
know it’s an older c.d. (1999), but this thing is funky with a
capitol F. Have you ever heard it? Check it out!
(Shannon, I’ve got that disc. I’m not a big Newsboys fan,
but I think they are a very good band. Have you heard any of
Phil Joel’s solo work or the c.d. called Adoration?)
Lisa K. Norfolk, VA
You don’t like the Blake Shelton c.d.?
I love it I got it for Christmas from my sister and it is
AWESOME. Yes, Blake is a hottie, but he is a talented musician
and singer. I have all of his c.d.’s and this one is the best,
he is only getting better and better.
(Lisa, I’m sorry I didn’t like it. I’m not a big fan of pop
country, I try to listen to all of recordings and judge them
fairly. Hopefully you will like the Kenny Chesney review this
time.)
James H. Branson MO
I have a record by the band Sparta called Porcelain. Some of
the people in Sparta used to be in the band At The Drive-In.
When the band split up, two bands rose from the ashes, Mars
Revolta and Sparta. Mars Revolta is more like a weird spacey,
jazzy kind of band and Sparta is more alternative rock. This
is the second release by Sparta and it is pretty good. I give
it 5 out of 5.
(James, I haven’t heard the new c.d. in it’s entirety, but
I have their first disc Wiretap Scars and it is really, really
good.)
Thanks to everyone that sent in a review.
If you have anything that you’d like to share with us feel
free to send it to
theaudionut@nutzworld.net |
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Disclaimer
The opinions
stated above are that of J Sohn and The Audio Nut. They are
not the opinions of NutzWorld, EntertainmentNutz or any of the
above listed bands/artists; their record labels or associates
unless other wise noted. J Sohn, The Audio Nut, NutzWorld and
EntertainmentNutz are not responsible in any way for the
actions or business practices of the above listed
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